At the time, the car was 493,000 km (306,000) away, not far beyond the orbit of the Moon, receding from Earth about 3.7 km/s (8,300 mph). Reflecting sunlight, it shone about as brightly as a 16th magnitude star.
"It's the craziest thing I've ever captured with a telescope," he says. Like Valvasori, Kneip used an iTelescope at the Siding Spring Observatory to photograph the hurtling Tesla.
Dummy payload from the first launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle [on Feb. 6, 2018]. Consists of a standard Tesla Roadster automobile and a spacesuit-wearing mannequin nicknamed "Starman". Also includes a Hot Wheels toy model Roadster on the car's dash with a mini-Starman inside. A data storage device placed inside the car contains a copy of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" novels. A plaque on the attachment fitting between the Falcon Heavy upper stage and the Tesla is etched with the names of more than 6,000 SpaceX employees.
GROWING SUNSPOT: Sunspot AR2699 continues to grow, more than doubling in size since it appeared on Feb. 4th. This movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the sunspot expanding and turning toward Earth:
The sunspot has developed an unstable "beta-gamma" magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of such explosions on Feb. 9th. Free: Solar Flare Alerts.
With a sterling silver backface that says "I Love You to the Moon and Back," these blue jewels make great Valentine's gifts.
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education
ROARING BEAVER APPEARS IN NORTHERN LIGHTS: Seeing animals in clouds is a physiological phenomenon called pareidolia. On Feb. 6th, Markus Varik of Tromsø, Norway, experienced auroradolia. "We saw a roaring beaver in the Northern Lights!" he says.
Things got even stranger after that. "The shapes we witnessed were unlike anything I have ever seen before as an aurora tour guide," says Varik. "For about 30 minutes the lights transformed from a beaver to Mother Theresa and many other things. Our guests were as happy as can be!" Free: Aurora Alerts
All Sky Fireball Network |
(7 sporadics)
In this diagram of the inner solar system, all of the fireball orbits intersect at a single point--Earth. The orbits are color-coded by velocity, from slow (red) to fast (blue). [Larger image] [movies]
Near Earth Asteroids |
Asteroid |
Date(UT)
|
Miss Distance
|
Velocity (km/s)
|
Diameter (m)
|
2002 CB19 |
2018-Feb-03
|
10.1 LD
|
15.7
|
36
|
2018 CT |
2018-Feb-03
|
1.7 LD
|
19.1
|
25
|
2018 BN5 |
2018-Feb-03
|
15.9 LD
|
9.4
|
23
|
2018 BG3 |
2018-Feb-03
|
11.9 LD
|
14.2
|
60
|
2018 CA1 |
2018-Feb-04
|
7.9 LD
|
15
|
33
|
2018 AH12 |
2018-Feb-04
|
5.3 LD
|
5
|
15
|
276033 |
2018-Feb-04
|
11 LD
|
34
|
646
|
2018 BP6 |
2018-Feb-05
|
3.7 LD
|
13.7
|
44
|
2018 CL |
2018-Feb-06
|
2.4 LD
|
8.6
|
28
|
2018 CM |
2018-Feb-06
|
2.1 LD
|
9.6
|
10
|
2018 CC |
2018-Feb-06
|
0.5 LD
|
10.6
|
17
|
2018 CN |
2018-Feb-07
|
1.3 LD
|
19.9
|
18
|
2018 BL1 |
2018-Feb-09
|
16.5 LD
|
20.3
|
76
|
2018 CA |
2018-Feb-09
|
19.9 LD
|
7.6
|
68
|
511684 |
2018-Feb-09
|
12.9 LD
|
17.7
|
257
|
2018 CB |
2018-Feb-09
|
0.2 LD
|
7.3
|
23
|
1991 VG |
2018-Feb-11
|
18.4 LD
|
2.1
|
7
|
2018 CX |
2018-Feb-11
|
5.7 LD
|
11
|
32
|
2014 WQ202 |
2018-Feb-11
|
15.1 LD
|
19.8
|
62
|
2018 CB1 |
2018-Feb-15
|
9.5 LD
|
11.3
|
28
|
2018 CC1 |
2018-Feb-15
|
14.1 LD
|
15.4
|
65
|
2018 CJ |
2018-Feb-20
|
9.3 LD
|
15.3
|
66
|
2016 CO246 |
2018-Feb-22
|
15.3 LD
|
5.4
|
21
|
2017 DR109 |
2018-Feb-24
|
3.7 LD
|
7.4
|
11
|
2016 FU12 |
2018-Feb-26
|
13.2 LD
|
4.5
|
15
|
2014 EY24 |
2018-Feb-27
|
14.8 LD
|
8
|
54
|
2015 BF511 |
2018-Feb-28
|
11.7 LD
|
5.7
|
39
|
2003 EM1 |
2018-Mar-07
|
16.6 LD
|
8
|
45
|
2017 VR12 |
2018-Mar-07
|
3.8 LD
|
6.3
|
280
|
2015 DK200 |
2018-Mar-10
|
6.9 LD
|
8
|
27
|
2016 SR2 |
2018-Mar-28
|
18.7 LD
|
7.3
|
20
|
2010 GD35 |
2018-Mar-31
|
15.5 LD
|
11.6
|
45
|
2004 FG29 |
2018-Apr-02
|
4 LD
|
14.9
|
22
|
Cosmic Rays in the Atmosphere |
Essential web links |
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center |
The official U.S. government space weather bureau |
Atmospheric Optics |
The first place to look for information about sundogs, pillars, rainbows and related phenomena. |
Solar Dynamics Observatory |
Researchers call it a "Hubble for the sun." SDO is the most advanced solar observatory ever. |
STEREO |
3D views of the sun from NASA's Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory |
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory |
Realtime and archival images of the Sun from SOHO. |
Daily Sunspot Summaries |
from the NOAA Space Environment Center |
NOAA 27-Day Space Weather Forecasts |
fun to read, but should be taken with a grain of salt! Forecasts looking ahead more than a few days are often wrong. |
Aurora 30 min forecast |
from the NOAA Space Environment Center |
Heliophysics |
the underlying science of space weather |
Spaceweather.com welcomes two supporters of science communication: SEO Phoenix AZ and CRAS, the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. Only the best social media jobs in the United States |
Look no further to find the best Comox Valley Real Estate listings and homes for sale |
Buy real active Instagram followers |
Need a break from space weather? Relax with the best gaming headset |
Houston SEO Expert |
Guide for best car parts at prettymotors.com |
Chicago SEO Expert |
Spaceweather introduces you to fogut.com where you can read out some great good morning quotes for her. |
Search Kelowna Real Estate Listings & Homes for Sale easily. Find help on all Calgary Homes For Sale and Real Estate Listings. Great source for Edmonton Real Estate Listings & Homes For Sale |
Reviews here can help you to pick up best memory foam mattresses. |
These links help Spaceweather.com stay online. Thank you to our supporters! |
more links... source: http://spaceweather.com/ |
.
Look closer, and the aliens will find an in-car sound system playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on loop. In the dashboard, a sign is labelled “Don’t Panic” as a cheeky reference to Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy. On the car’s circuit board is a little message that says “Made on Earth by humans.” Any aliens that come across this thing will find tons of tidbits to pore over.
The SpaceX mission was a big success. Although only two of the three boosters landed safely as planned, the rocket took off and sent “Starman” on their journey without a hitch.