Geminid Meteor Shower Peak (Geminids)
WorldwideThe meteors from this shower are slow moving. The shower is thought to be intensifying every year and recent showers have seen 120–160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, generally around 02:00 to 03:00 local time.
Ursid Meteor Shower Peak (Ursids)
WorldwideThe Ursid (URS) meteor shower is named for its radiant point which is located near the star Beta Ursae Minoris (Kochab) in the constellation Ursa Minor. The Ursids are associated with Comet 8P/Tuttle, also sometimes known as Mechain-Tuttle's Comet. Peak meteor shower activity: December 21-22
Anniversary of Chang’e 3 Launch (2013)
China National Space Administration (CNSA)Fifth anniversary of the launch of China's moon lander and rover, Chang'e, in 2013. More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e_3
Anniversary of Pioneer 10’s Jupiter Flyby (1973)
In orbitMore information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_10#Encounter_with_Jupiter
Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peak (Quadrantids)
WorldwideThe Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the year's best, often producing more than 100 meteors per hour from a radiant near the North Star.
Anniversary of Pioneer Venus 1’s Venus Orbit Insertion (1978)
In orbitMore information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Orbiter
Anniversary of Chang’e 3 Lunar Orbit Insertion (2013)
In orbitMore information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e_3
Anniversary of Pioneer Venus 2’s Venus Arrival (1978)
In orbitMore information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Multiprobe
Anniversary of Great Leonids Meteor Shower of 1833
185th anniversary of the Great Leonids Meteor Shower of 1833. More info...
Anniversary of Chang’e 3 Moon Landing (2013)
In orbitMore information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e_3
Anniversary of the Buran Launch (1988)
Baikonur Cosmodrome BaikonurMore information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_(spacecraft)
Anniversary of the Skylab 4 Launch – Last Launch to Skylab (1973)
More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab_4
Anniversary of Wright Brothers’ First Airplane Flight (1903)
More information: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/wright.htm
Anniversary of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) Launch (2013)
More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAVEN
Anniversary of Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Launch (2011)
WorldwideMars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a robotic space probe mission to Mars launched by NASA on November 26, 2011, which successfully landed Curiosity, a Mars rover, in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012. On Twitter: @MarsCuriosity
Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak (Lyrids)
WorldwideThe April Lyrids (LYR, IAU shower number 6) are a meteor shower lasting from April 16 to April 26 each year. The radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Lyra, near this constellation's brightest star, Alpha Lyrae (proper name Vega). Their peak is typically around April 22 each year.
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peak (Eta Aquarids)
Worldwide(Photo by Rocky Raybell) The Eta Aquarids are a meteor shower associated with Halley's Comet. The shower is visible from about April 21 to about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6. Unlike most major annual meteor showers, there is no sharp peak for this shower, but rather a plateau […]
Perseid Meteor Shower Peak (Perseids)
WorldwideThe Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift–Tuttle. The Perseids are so called because the point from which they appear to come, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Perseus. The stream of debris is called the Perseid cloud and stretches along the orbit of the comet Swift–Tuttle. The cloud consists of […]
OSIRIS-REx Sample Returns to Earth
TBA Huntsville, ALOSIRIS-REx sample from asteroid Bennu returns to Earth today!
Draconid Meteor Shower Peak (Draconids)
WorldwideThe October Draconids are a meteor shower whose parent body is the periodic comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The Draconids are best viewed after sunset in an area with a clear dark sky. The 1933 and 1946 Draconids had Zenithal Hourly Rates of thousands of meteors visible per hour, among the most impressive meteor storms of the 20th century. Rare outbursts […]