You know the old problem of how to portray the round globe of Earth on a flat map? Now a trio of map experts has worked together to solve this problem. Their new map is 2-sided and round. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/astrophysicists-new-design-world-map…
Tag: pacific ocean
This is what happens to spacecraft when they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere
When one of the Russian Progress resupply ships undocks from the International Space Station, timing is everything. The Progress needs to fire its engines at just the right time to instigate the deorbit burn in order for the ship to enter the atmosphere at just the right place so that its destructive re-entry occurs over the Pacific Ocean. That way, any…
Saturday’s strong earthquake in Japan called ‘aftershock’ of deadly 2011 quake
No fatalities have been reported in the February 13, 2021 strong earthquake in Japan, which occurred off Japan’s east coast, near the epicenter of the 2011 9.0-magnitude Tohoku earthquake. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/feb-13-2021-7-magnitude-quake-japan-aftershock-2011…
Virgin Orbit Just Successfully Launched a 70-Foot Rocket From Its 747
CNN reports: A 70-foot rocket, riding beneath the wing of a retrofitted Boeing 747 aircraft, detached from the plane and fired itself into Earth’s orbit on Sunday — marking the first successful launch for the California-based rocket startup Virgin Orbit. Virgin Orbit’s 747, nicknamed Cosmic Girl, took off from California around 10:30 am PT with the rocket, called LauncherOne, nestled beneath…
SpaceX Cargo Dragon succeeds in 1st autonomous undocking
SpaceX’s CRS-21 Cargo Dragon undocked from the International Space Station’s Harmony module on January 12, 2021, succeeding in the world’s first-ever autonomous undocking and testing of several new vehicle upgrades. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/space-x-cargo-dragon-1st-autonomous-undocking-jan-2021…
Spectacular! Moon and Venus before sunrise
Over these next few days – December 11, 12 and 13, 2090 – watch for the waning crescent moon to pass by the dazzling planet Venus. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/spectacular-moon-and-venus-before-sunrise…
South American total solar eclipse December 14
The new moon moves smack-dab in front of the sun on December 14, 2020, to present this year’s one and only total eclipse of the sun. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/south-american-total-solar-eclipse-december-14…
Orca deaths found to be a result of human activity
A team that looked at how 55 orcas in the Pacific Ocean died found cases linked both directly and indirectly to human activity Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2261328-orca-deaths-found-to-be-a-result-of-human-activity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Ancient fragment of the Pacific Ocean found buried 400 miles below China
Scientists have identified an old piece of the Pacific Ocean – the ancient remains of its long-ago seabed – extending hundreds of miles underneath China, as it is pulled downward into Earth’s mantle transition zone. Source: https://www.livescience.com/ancient-fragment-of-pacific-ocean-under-china.html
This asteroid just skimmed Earth’s atmosphere
The asteroid – 2020 VT4 – is estimated to be between 16 and 36 feet (5-11 meters). It skimmed the top of our atmosphere on Friday, November 13, 2020. Astronomers spotted it one day later. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2020-vt4-skimmed-atmosphere-fri-nov-13-2020…