Space Contents Archive

First light! Obligatory M31

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket is less than two hours from liftoff. The launch window at Kennedy Space Center opens at 5:56pm EST (2256 GMT) for the US Space Force's USSF-67 mission. There's a greater than 90% chance of good weather for launch. Coverage: https://t.co/EP5RHRpQm3 https://t.co/OMVnCgWi5l

On this day in 2006, cometary particles collected by the Stardust spacecraft, the first U.S. space mission dedicated solely to returning extraterrestrial material from outside the Earth-Moon orbit, returned to Earth. 📷: Comet Sample Return Capsule https://t.co/sW2JcMk5Lx

M1: The Crab Nebula|APOD | 2023 January 15

The Gemini twins lie on their sides these January evenings, well up in the east left of Orion. Their head stars, Castor and Pollux, are farthest from Orion, one over the other. (Castor is the top one.) The Castor figure is just left of Orion's Club. https://t.co/qbqLLiQwx8 https://t.co/X5DJSe0b3V

#ESO60Years Here's Elise Vernet, ELT Deputy Optomechanics Project Manager, on what it is like to work at ESO. Video below 👇 https://t.co/855LLBLpeH

On this day in 1976, Helios 2 launched to investigate solar processes. It was put into heliocentric orbit and made its closest approach to the Sun (27 million miles) in April of that year, becoming the record holder at the time for the closest flyby of the Sun. https://t.co/jIUN1De5rq

For those well north of the equator, January’s long nights provide lots of time to enjoy the starry sky — and the stars of winter are spectacular! This month’s celestial highlights include a close pass of Saturn and Venus, a strong meteor shower, and more. https://t.co/rkeIiTBWSW https://t.co/4X9INPSObE

SpaceX is reusing two side boosters from a Nov. 1 flight for today's Falcon Heavy launch on the USSF-67 mission. The boosters will land back at Cape Canaveral after today's launch for reuse on the USSF-52 mission, a Falcon Heavy launch this spring. https://t.co/rQKl2HaQcg https://t.co/giBvkjhpqA

The Elephant Trunk Nebula in narrowband

Here's a replay of SpaceX's fifth Falcon Heavy rocket blasting off from Kennedy Space Center at 5:56pm EST (2256 GMT). The Falcon Heavy hauled two satellites into orbit for the US Space Force. https://t.co/EP5RHRpQm3 https://t.co/guBStFlNfD

Milky Way Core (untracked)

T-minus 22 minutes. The "big vent" just started from the Falcon Heavy strongback at Kennedy Space Center. Kerosene fueling of the second stage is complete. Next will be loading of liquid oxygen onto the second stage. Watch live: https://t.co/8OmvkhrTWv https://t.co/AqS1xDKolL

Goodnight Oppy is a wonderful show!

If you have access, watch the show "Goodnight Oppy" about the Mars Rover missions, Spirit and Opportunity. A wonderful show!

The Elephant Trunk Nebula in narrowband