#NASA Solar System Exploration

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

This week, NASA's Scout impact hazard assessment system calculated in advance when and where a small, harmless asteroid would enter Earth's atmosphere – providing a useful demonstration of planetary defense capability.

You can retrace the asteroid's path in our "Eyes on Asteroids" experience: NASA Solar System Exploration

[theofficialastronomy101]

Clearest Image ever taken of Mars’ North Pole. Yes that’s water ice.

[traverse-our-universe]

Stunning New Images of Jupiter From NASA’s Juno Spacecraft (read article here)

[spacevoyagerx]

The Rose

ARP 273, also known as "the Rose", is a pair of interacting galaxies located in the constellation of Pegasus.

This system is notable for its striking appearance, which resembles a rose, hence the nickname.

The interaction between the two galaxies has led to significant star formation activity, resulting in bright regions of young, hot stars.

ARP 273 is classified as a part of the Arp catalog, which is a collection of peculiar galaxies compiled by astronomer Halton Arp in the 1960s.

Credits: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

[amnhnyc]

New research alert! With recent observations on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Museum astronomers and collaborators have uncovered a complex atmosphere on a free-floating “super-Jupiter” that’s about 20 light years from Earth. First discovered in 2006, the object SIMP 0136 is about 13 times the mass of Jupiter and spins extremely fast: a full rotation is just 2.4 hours. Because it doesn’t orbit a star, it is not classified as an exoplanet, but SIMP 0136 could be a rogue planet or a brown dwarf, an object with a mass between planets and stars.

“SIMP 0136 has always been one of my favorite objects to study,” said Jackie Faherty, a senior research scientist in the Museum’s Department of Astrophysics and co-author on the new study, published recently in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. “From previous work we knew it was young, nearby, and low mass, and that the light from it varied widely. We suspected it was an object with turbulent weather patterns, but we needed JWST to help solve the mystery.” Read about the findings in our latest blog post.

Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

[nasa]

Let's Explore a Metal-Rich Asteroid 🤘

Between Mars and Jupiter, there lies a unique, metal-rich asteroid named Psyche. Psyche’s special because it looks like it is part or all of the metallic interior of a planetesimal—an early planetary building block of our solar system. For the first time, we have the chance to visit a planetary core and possibly learn more about the turbulent history that created terrestrial planets.

Here are six things to know about the mission that’s a journey into the past: Psyche.

1. Psyche could help us learn more about the origins of our solar system.

After studying data from Earth-based radar and optical telescopes, scientists believe that Psyche collided with other large bodies in space and lost its outer rocky shell. This leads scientists to think that Psyche could have a metal-rich interior, which is a building block of a rocky planet. Since we can’t pierce the core of rocky planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars, and our home planet, Earth, Psyche offers us a window into how other planets are formed.

2. Psyche might be different than other objects in the solar system.

Rocks on Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth contain iron oxides. From afar, Psyche doesn’t seem to feature these chemical compounds, so it might have a different history of formation than other planets.

If the Psyche asteroid is leftover material from a planetary formation, scientists are excited to learn about the similarities and differences from other rocky planets. The asteroid might instead prove to be a never-before-seen solar system object. Either way, we’re prepared for the possibility of the unexpected!

3. Three science instruments and a gravity science investigation will be aboard the spacecraft.

The three instruments aboard will be a magnetometer, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, and a multispectral imager. Here’s what each of them will do:

Magnetometer: Detect evidence of a magnetic field, which will tell us whether the asteroid formed from a planetary body

Gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer: Help us figure out what chemical elements Psyche is made of, and how it was formed

Multispectral imager: Gather and share information about the topography and mineral composition of Psyche

The gravity science investigation will allow scientists to determine the asteroid’s rotation, mass, and gravity field and to gain insight into the interior by analyzing the radio waves it communicates with. Then, scientists can measure how Psyche affects the spacecraft’s orbit.

4. The Psyche spacecraft will use a super-efficient propulsion system.

Psyche’s solar electric propulsion system harnesses energy from large solar arrays that convert sunlight into electricity, creating thrust. For the first time ever, we will be using Hall-effect thrusters in deep space.

5. This mission runs on collaboration.

To make this mission happen, we work together with universities, and industry and NASA to draw in resources and expertise.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the mission and is responsible for system engineering, integration, and mission operations, while NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Services Program manages launch operations and procured the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Working with Arizona State University (ASU) offers opportunities for students to train as future instrument or mission leads. Mission leader and Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton is also based at ASU.

Finally, Maxar Technologies is a key commercial participant and delivered the main body of the spacecraft, as well as most of its engineering hardware systems.

6. You can be a part of the journey.

Everyone can find activities to get involved on the mission’s webpage. There's an annual internship to interpret the mission, capstone courses for undergraduate projects, and age-appropriate lessons, craft projects, and videos.

You can join us for a virtual launch experience, and, of course, you can watch the launch with us on Oct. 12, 2023, at 10:16 a.m. EDT!

For official news on the mission, follow us on social media and check out NASA’s and ASU’s Psyche websites.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[pangeen]

" Nasa's Deep Space Mission " //© Astro Voyagers

[united-in-cyberspace]

The Enchanted Learning Astronomy Dictionary

link

Some of the spectacular images from the Enchanted Learning astronomy dictionary.

[spaceadvances]

Earth, which is about 898 million miles (1.44 billion kilometers) away in this image, captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft 🚀

[celestialdaily]

And congrats to Mercury for being Tumblr's least favorite planet!

This one was expected, I love Mercury but it just looks (and is tbh) a little boring. Still a cool planet, love the craters!!

[daintybomb]

Saturn's south pole, Cassini spacecraft

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

Where will you be for the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses in the United States? NASA has released a new map that could help you decide.

[theofficialastronomy101]

Largest volcano in our solar system! As of right now.

[traverse-our-universe]

Details of Jupiter captured by NASA’s Juno Spacecraft provide insight into the ancient gas giant. (read article here)

[darkenergyslivers]

nasa: A stone cold look at Saturn 🗿

The giant planet gives us a look into its moody disposition. The Cassini spacecraft captured this image on Jan. 30, 2007, from a distance of 700,000 miles (1.1 million kilometers). As Saturn’s atmosphere rages with thunderous and hurricane-like storms, its majestic rings spin a tale of ancient collisions and cataclysms. A joint endeavor of NASA, @europeanspaceagency, and @agenziaspazialeitaliana, Cassini was a sophisticated robotic spacecraft sent to study Saturn and its complex system of rings and moons over the course of a decade. Lessons we took from Cassini helped in the planning of our #EuropaClipper mission, which is on its way to Jupiter and expected to arrive in April 2030. Image description: A black-and-white image of Saturn taken from a lower angle. The rings of Saturn frame the upper right portion of the planet in various widths. Details of stripes and swirls from storms can be seen along the face of the planet. The left side of the planet is encompassed in a shadow. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute #NASA #Space #Saturn #Rings #Storms #Atmosphere #Moody #Planet #SolarSystem #BlackAndWhite

[axololtls]