Sabtu, 31 Oktober 2020

Asteroid dust and the badly closed door | Science |... - AlKhaleej Today

Cis this week that we will know more – although, in fact, it may not be until September 2023, when he returns, that we will have all the answers to the most important questions: how many grams of asteroid Bennu will the probe bring back to Earth?

Already, the maneuver was almost unprecedented: gradually approach the space probe of this cosmic pebble barely 500 meters wide (around which it has been circling since December 2018), so that its arm touches the ground and, at the same time, “breaths”. Very loud – a powerful jet of nitrogen – causing a large amount of dust to rise. It happened on October 20, and the engineers at NASA estimated that with any luck, they had collected 60 grams of that Bennu dust.

On October 23, however, it turned out that they probably had 400 grams of it – but a few misplaced fragments were preventing the compartment from closing. And suddenly, if nothing is done to close this door, with each sudden maneuver of the probe, a few grams of matter will be lost in space.

While waiting to decide on the most judicious action to take to close the door, the engineers pushed back the maneuver that was to send Osiris-Rex back into orbit around the asteroid: because in microgravity, a little blow of retro rockets to slowing down is more than enough to blow up a quantity of dust inside the container, some of which will find its way out.

Note that if we say that the maneuver is “almost” new, it is because the Japanese space agency has already had two similar missions: its Hayabusa probe grazed the surface of an asteroid in 2005, and brought back a sample in 2010… representing less than a milligram of dust. Which was still enough for a fine analysis to conclude that such asteroids, formed closer to the Sun at the dawn of the solar system, could potentially have brought water to Earth. Hayabusa 2 grazed another asteroid in 2018-2019, Ryugu, and is on its way to Earth with its precious cargo.

To cross Earth’s orbit in September 2023, Osiris-Rex must leave Bennu’s vicinity in mid-2021. Upon arrival, she will drop a small capsule inside which will be – hopefully -on – this dust from afar.

*We just want readers to access information more quickly and easily with other multilingual content, instead of information only available in a certain language.

*We always respect the copyright of the content of the author and always include the original link of the source article.If the author disagrees, just leave the report below the article, the article will be edited or deleted at the request of the author. Thanks very much! Best regards!

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vYWxraGFsZWVqdG9kYXkuY28vdGVjaG5vbG9neS81MjQ1ODc4L0FzdGVyb2lkLWR1c3QtYW5kLXRoZS1iYWRseS1jbG9zZWQtZG9vci0tU2NpZW5jZS0uaHRtbNIBAA?oc=5

2020-11-01 02:10:18Z
52781154716330

Once in a blue moon – full on Halloween; and clocks go back too - countylive.ca

Once in a blue moon – full on Halloween; and clocks go back too

The first Halloween full moon since 1974 unfolds tonight and won’t shine again on Oct. 31 until 2039. The blue Hunter moon is part of its name, but it will look more yellow, or orange, and is the smallest of the year’s full moons. It’s called blue as the second full moon in a month.

Clocks ‘fall back’ an hour Sunday at 2 a.m. as Daylight Saving Time ends – making it lighter earlier in the morning, and darker, and darker earlier in the evening.

Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue reminds this is also a good time to replace smoke detector batteries, test and check CO detectors – and check manufacture dates on them as most need replacing at five or 10 years.

Most cell phones and computers will change the time on their own, but clocks and appliances in homes may have to be changed manually.

People who experience a ‘jet lag’ feeling when the clocks change in spring and fall are watching the Ontario government and others who may be putting an end to “Spring Forward, Fall Back”.

A new private members’ bill in its second reading would implement permanent daylight saving time.

Filed Under: Featured Articles

About the Author:

Trackback URL

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiV2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNvdW50eWxpdmUuY2Evb25jZS1pbi1hLWJsdWUtbW9vbi1mdWxsLW9uLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi1hbmQtY2xvY2tzLWdvLWJhY2stdG9vL9IBAA?oc=5

2020-11-01 00:18:17Z
52781153701647

Blue moon to light up Halloween sky - Sudbury.com

Not only is it Halloween, but Saturday night also marks two rare lunar events.

We are in for a blue moon and a micromoon.

According to NASA, a blue moon occurs about seven times every 19 years.

The moon will not actually be blue Saturday night, the term refers to the time when a second full moon occurs in one month.

The last full moon was on October 1. 

A micromoon, opposite to a supermoon, is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. 

Victor Arora, observatory co-ordinator at the University of Waterloo, said not only will the special moon be visible all night, but Mars will also be easy to spot.

"On this evening you'll be looking at the confluence of these two or three different cosmic events...it makes it a little bit more meaningful...If you want to see the full moon rise just basically look towards the sun, and turn around so your back is against the sun, and that's the direction the moon will be rising from." 

Arora added being outdoors and enjoying a unique event such as a blue moon, is a great pandemic-friendly activity.

"There has been an uptick in interest among people wanting to observe in the evenings. Things like telescope sales have gone through the roof - I've heard, and spending time with your close circle and getting out into nature." 

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiUGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN1ZGJ1cnkuY29tL2JleW9uZC1sb2NhbC9ibHVlLW1vb24tdG8tbGlnaHQtdXAtaGFsbG93ZWVuLXNreS0yODQwMDIw0gFUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VkYnVyeS5jb20vYW1wL2JleW9uZC1sb2NhbC9ibHVlLW1vb24tdG8tbGlnaHQtdXAtaGFsbG93ZWVuLXNreS0yODQwMDIw?oc=5

2020-10-31 21:00:00Z
52781153701647

Watch a NASA spacecraft approach and touch down on asteroid Bennu - Mashable

The rock-strewn asteroid Bennu.
The rock-strewn asteroid Bennu.
Image: nasa

Touchdown.

Earlier in October, NASA successfully collected rocky samples from asteroid Bennu, a relatively small, well-preserved space rock some 200 million miles from Earth. On Friday, NASA released footage of the spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, approaching and briefly touching down on the rubbly Bennu. The events, seen in the space agency's tweet below, show OSIRIS-REx carefully descending to Bennu's rock-strewn surface.

The spacecraft collected some 60 grams, or about two ounces, of fine-grained material during the quicktouchdown, which lasted under 16 seconds. To planetary scientists, this asteroidal stuff is invaluable: Bennu hasn't changed much since the formation of our solar system (4.5 billion years ago), so the samples provide a glimpse into our past, and how our planets formed.

"They are like time capsules from the beginning of our solar system," Richard Binzel, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a scientist working on the OSIRIS-REx mission, told Mashable. "This is like sampling the original ingredients for making planets."

(The first ambitious mission to carry asteroid samples back to Earth, Japan's Hayabusa mission, returned in 2010.)

NASA called the endeavor a "Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection event." The maneuver was indeed a quick "tag" of Bennu's surface. OSIRIS-REx carefully approached the asteroid for over four hours before briefly touching down and firing nitrogen gas to stir up fragments into Bennu's sample collector. Then, the spacecraft promptly blasted away. 

OSIRIS-REx captured so much surface material that some of the fine grains even escaped before the collector was stowed away for the return trip home. The spacecraft is expected to arrive on Earth with the invaluable cargo on Sep. 24, 2023. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiRWh0dHBzOi8vbWFzaGFibGUuY29tL2FydGljbGUvd2F0Y2gtbmFzYS10b3VjaC1kb3duLW9uLWFzdGVyb2lkLWJlbm51L9IBSGh0dHBzOi8vbWFzaGFibGUuY29tL2FydGljbGUvd2F0Y2gtbmFzYS10b3VjaC1kb3duLW9uLWFzdGVyb2lkLWJlbm51LmFtcA?oc=5

2020-10-31 15:32:00Z
52781154716330

Blue moon to light up Halloween sky - KitchenerToday.com

Not only is it Halloween, but Saturday night also marks two rare lunar events.

We are in for a blue moon and a micromoon.

According to NASA, a blue moon occurs about seven times every 19 years.

The moon will not actually be blue Saturday night, the term refers to the time when a second full moon occurs in one month.

The last full moon was on October 1. 

A micromoon, opposite to a supermoon, is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. 

Victor Arora, Observatory Coordinator at the University of Waterloo said not only will the special moon be visible all night, but Mars will also be easy to spot.

"On this evening you'll be looking at the confluence of these two or three different cosmic events...it makes it a little bit more meaningful...If you want to see the full moon rise just basically look towards the sun, and turn around so your back is against the sun, and that's the direction the moon will be rising from." 

Arora added being outdoors and enjoying a unique event such as a blue moon, is a great pandemic-friendly activity.

"There has been an uptick in interest among people wanting to observe in the evenings. Things like telescope sales have gone through the roof - I've heard, and spending time with your close circle and getting out into nature." 

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtpdGNoZW5lcnRvZGF5LmNvbS9sb2NhbC1uZXdzL2JsdWUtbW9vbi10by1saWdodC11cC1oYWxsb3dlZW4tc2t5LTI4Mzk4MTDSAVlodHRwczovL3d3dy5raXRjaGVuZXJ0b2RheS5jb20vYW1wL2xvY2FsLW5ld3MvYmx1ZS1tb29uLXRvLWxpZ2h0LXVwLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi1za3ktMjgzOTgxMA?oc=5

2020-10-31 13:15:00Z
52781153701647

Weather: A classic Halloween day (without the trick-or-treating part) - Ottawa Citizen

Article content

Saturday will tick all the boxes for everything you’d want in a Halloween. Cold, crisp, clear weather, a full moon, and, it falls on a weekend. But COVID. So we’ll adapt, as we have for the other events in this very strange year.

Who needs all that sugar, anyway?

Environment Canada is predicting sunny skies for Saturday, becoming a mix of sun and cloud this afternoon. Winds will be out of the south up to 15 km/h.

The high should reach 6 C, with a wind chill of -11 in the morning.

Saturday evening should be partly cloudy, with a low of 0 C overnight.

Sunday is looking gloomier (but warmer). The day will start off  cloudy, with showers beginning near noon. Winds will be out of the southeast 20 km/h becoming light in the afternoon. Highs should reach 9 C.

Sunday evening into Tuesday should be cloudy and cool with chances of showers or snow flurries, but the prediction for Wednesday through Friday is sunny skies with highs hovering around 11 C.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vb3R0YXdhY2l0aXplbi5jb20vbmV3cy9sb2NhbC1uZXdzL2EtY2xhc3NpYy1oYWxsb3dlZW4tZGF5LXdpdGhvdXQtdGhlLXRyaWNrLW9yLXRyZWF0aW5nLXBhcnTSAZIBaHR0cHM6Ly9vdHRhd2FjaXRpemVuLmNvbS9uZXdzL2xvY2FsLW5ld3MvYS1jbGFzc2ljLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi1kYXktd2l0aG91dC10aGUtdHJpY2stb3ItdHJlYXRpbmctcGFydC93Y20vZTE3YjZhZTktNGEzZi00OGJlLTlmZDMtZmZkOTVlZWQ2MTU4L2FtcC8?oc=5

2020-10-31 12:08:16Z
52781153701647

First Halloween Blue moon in 19 years - CBC.ca

They call it a blue moon, but it has nothing to do with the colour. It's really a reference to its rarity.

What is even rarer is for there to be a blue moon on Halloween, says Jack Burnett, managing editor for The Old Farmers Almanac. 

The last one was 19 years ago on Oct. 31, 2001 according to Burnett. 

The blue moon is the second full moon in the same month. 

"It only comes up once, sometimes twice a year," said Burnett. 

"The moon has always been a mysterious orb in the sky, and it's always been felt to have sort of mysterious powers," Burnett said. 

That obsession with the moon goes back to Celtic traditions and the early Christian All Hallows Day celebrated on Nov. 1. The night before, All Hallows Eve, is believed by many to originally be a Celtic harvest festival, which gave the moon great relevance in daily life.

"So because... the moon has always been so mysterious, it's been associated with Halloween.

And of course, now we see that we have the full hunter's Blue Moon on Saturday night, it makes it all the more spookier and you know, all the more Halloweenier," Burnett said. 

Traditionally, hunters would be out hunting for food this time of year using the light of the moon to help them. 

Ever wonder where the saying once in a blue moon comes from? According to Burnett it comes from an old English word that meant betrayed. 

"So that meant that they felt it had betrayed the normal cycles of the moon by showing up, you know, an extra time. So that's one theory as to how the actual word came about." 

And is it blue? No, not unless there is ash or something else in the air to make it appear blue, Burnett said.

In addition to the rare full moon on Halloween, don't forget that early Sunday morning, clocks will also fall back one hour.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNiYy5jYS9uZXdzL2NhbmFkYS9uZXctYnJ1bnN3aWNrL2JsdWUtbW9vbi1oYWxsb3dlZW4tMS41NzgzNjI40gEgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2JjLmNhL2FtcC8xLjU3ODM2Mjg?oc=5

2020-10-31 12:00:00Z
52781153701647

Halloween 2020: Spooky date ideas to trick-or-treat your partner with stolen kisses and cuddling ex... - Hindustan Times

Maybe you have outgrown the idea of dressing up in a punny costume and hitting the town or the Covid-19 might have dampened your thrill for Halloween 2020 but we are just in time to try and lift up your mood with a flood of suggestions to give your partner a good scare on your Halloween date and bond closer together than on an ideal romantic date. The list caters to those wanting to take the date to next level or those simply in a mood for racing heartbeats and rekindling of romantic sparks.

Check out from this list of date ideas with a spooky vibe to boost attraction and create intimacy between you and your partner:

1. Camp out under the blue moon

There is nothing that brings couple closer than getting fresh air and enjoying nature together and since there will be a blue moon on October 31, 2020, you can camp outdoors and enjoy the “once in a blue moon” moment. The blue moon occur just once every 18 or 19 years and since this is the second full moon of the month, set up a tent, howl if you want to and enjoy the show.

2. Visit a haunted house

Every city, town and even malls have a ridge, a broken down premises or a haunted house which is off the limits for everyday activities or makes you change directions every time you pass it. Well, the time to pay it a visit is now.

From getting your blood pumping to screaming, shrieking and holding on to each other for dear life, it will be once in a lifetime experience to bond together with your partner.

3. Opt for a quarantine-o-ween scavenger hunt

Those living physically distant from their partners amid Covid-19 quarantine, do a zombie apocalypse scavenger hunt. All you need for this is an app on zombie scavenger and drop yourself in the middle of your respective cities to work together and try to outrun those pesky zombies while sharing a mix of laughs and spooky moments as you live through a Zombie Apocalypse.

Call up your friends and their partners and convert it into a big group date to make it even more fun and bring you all closer together.

4. Eerie confessions of frightful tales

Those looking to minimize the risk of outdoors amid the ongoing pandemic, snuggle inside during the official cosy season and share eerie stories of your past that spooked you out. To get in the Halloween vibe, switch off the lights and keep only your mobile torch on as you narrate your creepy and spooky experiences that add to a night full of fright.

This will not only get your adrenaline pumping but it will also bring you and your partner closer.

5. Scary movie marathon

Another option for the lover of indoors is a backyard scary movie screening or work your way through horror classics while cuddling on the couch. If not a horror flick, opt for at least a psychological thriller and spend the entire night squeezing each other since being scared just gives you a good excuse to cuddle up.

The blue moon, the intimacy of confessions, frightful tales and others are all you need to draw closer to your partner this Halloween and a perfect time to trick or treat your lover with stolen kisses.

Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5

2020-10-31 06:10:06Z
CAIiELw46xV6b2dk8Hk8EOG71lQqFggEKg4IACoGCAoww7k_MMevCDCT2gE

Jumat, 30 Oktober 2020

Well-known Okanagan resort voluntarily closes following positive COVID-19 test - Global News

One of the Okanagan’s better-known resorts has temporarily closed its doors following a positive COVID-19 test.

In a statement issued Friday, Sparkling Hill Resort in Vernon said it was closing for 11 days following a positive test by a staff member.

The closure was effective immediately, Friday, Oct. 30, and was being called a “proactive and precautionary measure” for the continued safety of its guests, staff and vendors.

Read more: B.C. adds 272 new COVID-19 cases, grants powers for region-specific health orders

“The precaution comes as a result of Interior Health informing the resort on Oct. 30 of a confirmed case of COVID-19 with one staff member,” the resort said.

According to the resort, the staff member contracted COVID-19 outside of the resort and started self-isolating immediately.

Story continues below advertisement

It added that “due to the extensive COVID-19 plan in place at the resort, Interior Health confirmed there is no concern for any guests that stayed recently.”

Click to play video 'Regional orders a ‘possibility’ amid surge in B.C. coronavirus cases' Regional orders a ‘possibility’ amid surge in B.C. coronavirus cases
Regional orders a ‘possibility’ amid surge in B.C. coronavirus cases

The resort also said staff members who had been in close contact with the affected staff member have been identified and contacted by Interior Health.

The resort expects to resume operations on Monday, Nov. 9, adding that the closure was voluntary and not required by Interior Health.

Contacted by Global News, Interior Health said that it has not ordered any businesses to close, adding they may choose to close on their own.

Click to play video 'Coronavirus: Toronto businesses say provincial data proves they were unfairly targeted' Coronavirus: Toronto businesses say provincial data proves they were unfairly targeted
Coronavirus: Toronto businesses say provincial data proves they were unfairly targeted

Advertisement

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSmh0dHBzOi8vZ2xvYmFsbmV3cy5jYS9uZXdzLzc0MzM5OTEvb2thbmFnYW4tcmVzb3J0LXBvc2l0aXZlLWNvdmlkLTE5LXRlc3Qv0gFOaHR0cHM6Ly9nbG9iYWxuZXdzLmNhL25ld3MvNzQzMzk5MS9va2FuYWdhbi1yZXNvcnQtcG9zaXRpdmUtY292aWQtMTktdGVzdC9hbXAv?oc=5

2020-10-30 23:34:40Z
52781157251542

Rare blue moon expected on Halloween - CTV News

TORONTO -- Trick-or-treaters around the world will be treated to more than candy this Halloween as a rare blue moon is expected to illuminate the sky Saturday night. 

The spectacle occurs when two full moons coincide in the same calendar month, and this year it will be visible in every time zone.

 

WHY IS IT CALLED A BLUE MOON?

Despite its name, the moon’s colour is not actually blue. Instead, a blue moon is a common way to refer to the second full moon in October, as the first is typically referred to as a harvest moon.

However, there is also an alternate definition of a blue moon that says it is the third full moon of four occurring in a single season, according to NASA.

 

HOW RARE IS A BLUE MOON?

Contrary to the saying, blue moons are not all that uncommon as they occur every 2.5 years in different time zones.

What makes this blue moon so rare is that it will be seen in every time zone. The last time that happened was in 1944, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

On top of that, it’s happening on Halloween, making the phenomenon that much rarer.

On average, blue moons appear on Halloween once every 19 years and are only visible to those who live in certain time zones. The last full moon that appeared on Halloween was on Oct. 31, 2001 and it was only seen by people in central and Pacific time zones.

“Any time the moon is technically full on October 31, it will also have to be a blue moon because the lunar cycle is only 29.5 days long,” the Farmer’s Almanac’s website states.

People who live towards the east of the international date line will see this full moon on Nov. 1 and will have a blue moon at the end of November as it will be their second full moon of the lunar cycle.

Blue moons are a direct result of the lunar cycle. Since the cycle is shorter than most calendar months -- lasting only 29.5 days -- blue moons are bound to eventually occur in October.
The next blue moon is expected fall on Halloween in 2039.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmN0dm5ld3MuY2Evc2NpLXRlY2gvcmFyZS1ibHVlLW1vb24td2lsbC1iZS1zZWVuLW9uLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi1hY3Jvc3MtY2FuYWRhLTEuNTE2ODcyNdIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-30 22:35:00Z
52781153701647

An International Agreement to Collaborate on Artemis on This Week @NASA – October 30, 2020 - NASA

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

  1. An International Agreement to Collaborate on Artemis on This Week @NASA – October 30, 2020  NASA
  2. Why NASA's moonshot, Boeing, Bezos and Musk have a lot riding on U.S. election  Reuters Canada
  3. NASA's New Discovery Could Spark A Moon Mining Frenzy  OilPrice.com
  4. Water on the moon more widespread than known - More water than expected  Economic Times
  5. NASA Announces the Discovery of Water in the Sunlit Parts of the Moon  Universe Today
  6. View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9WGt6QjRVWmUxSkXSAQA?oc=5

2020-10-30 21:40:56Z
52781153679086

No new COVID-19 cases reported Friday in Peterborough - ThePeterboroughExaminer.com

There were no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the area, Peterborough Public Health reported Friday.

This keeps the total number of cases confirmed since March to 149. There are seven active cases, 140 resolved and there have been two deaths.

There have been about 34,250 people from the city and county, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation tested.

COVID-19 tests are now by appointment only, and are held at Northcrest Arena and on weekdays at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

PRHC appointments are for people with symptoms and are available seven days a week.

To book an appointment, visit prhc.on.ca and at peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

Testing can also be arranged in the home by calling 705-743-1000.

Some people can be tested at the Shoppers Drug Mart at High and Lansdowne streets, by appointment. Call 705-748-6141 or email asdm614@shoppersdrugmart.ca to book an appointment. This is for people who meet certain criteria: Residents or workers in long-term care homes; Visitors to a long-term care home; Residents or workers in homeless shelters; International students who have passed their 14-day quarantine period; Farm workers; Individuals who require a COVID-19 test for international travel clearance and self-identified Indigenous people.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMihgFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVwZXRlcmJvcm91Z2hleGFtaW5lci5jb20vbmV3cy9wZXRlcmJvcm91Z2gtcmVnaW9uLzIwMjAvMTAvMzAvbm8tbmV3LWNvdmlkLTE5LWNhc2VzLXJlcG9ydGVkLWZyaWRheS1pbi1wZXRlcmJvcm91Z2guaHRtbNIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-30 21:23:25Z
52781157400050

2 full moons in October - Skywatching - Castanet.net

It was a dark and stormy night. The full moon stared through the scudding clouds and the bare tree branches.

It seems  in almost all the spooky movies on TV around Halloween, the moon is always full. Interestingly ,the moon is full on that night only once every 19 or so years, and when it does happen, it is always the second full moon that month.

Two full moons in the same month comes up every two or three years. This second full moon of the month is often referred to as a Blue Moon.

This is where the expression "Once in a Blue Moon" came from, referring to something that does not happen very often. However, this definition of a Blue Moon might not be correct. Apparently the 13th full moon in any given year is referred to as a Blue Moon.

The phases of the moon are caused by the changing arrangement of Sun, Earth and moon as the moon orbits the Earth.

A full moon happens when the Earth lies between the moon and Sun, and we see the moon lit with the light coming from behind us.

The complications in the timing of these events arise because Mother Nature does not seem to like whole numbers.

The interval between two consecutive full moons is 29.5306 days, and a year, the time the Earth takes to go around the Sun, is 365.25635 days.

This is why we have to have leap years, leap seconds and other adjustments to keep the date in step with the seasons. There are therefore 12.3687 lunar phase cycles in a year. 

Just as 13 fence posts in a line have 12 gaps between them, the time interval covered by 13 full moons is 354.3672 days. Therefore, if the first full moon of the year turns up early enough in the year, there will time for a 13th full moon before the year ends.

This can lead to a confusing situation. If the first full moon of the year occurs at 1 a.m. on Jan. 1 Eastern Standard Time, then that year will be a Blue Moon year for inhabitants of Ontario and points east.

However, in B.C. that moment will happen at 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Dec. 31 the preceding year, so that year would have been a Blue Moon year for those in British Columbia.

This sort of confusion is why in science we use just one time zone. By international agreement it is Universal Time, the standard time at the Old Greenwich Observatory, in the U.K., located on the zero degrees of longitude meridian.

Compared with the size of the Earth, the moon is unusually large. This has often led to astronomers referring to the Earth-Moon combination as a double planet.

For example, Mars has two moons: Phobos and Deimos, both of which are tiny. One day, when we are standing on the surface of the red planet, looking up, we will see those moons as small, star-like objects.

The fact that the moon looms so large in our skies, and its phases are so obvious, led to it becoming the basis of our calendar, which is where the word month (moonth) comes from.

The problem of managing a lunar calendar based on 12.3687 lunar months for each orbit of the Earth around the Sun has led to abandonment of the moon as a calendar basis over much of the world.

However, the moon's presence in our daily and cultural life is more intimate than just something associated with the date. It has been associated with religious events for thousands of years.

Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon falling on or after the spring equinox.

In addition, think of the amount of classical, jazz and popular music where the moon is featured, or its widespread presence in poetry and art.

This helps explain why, on those stormy nights in those old, spooky movies, the moon is always there.

  • After dark, Saturn and Jupiter lie low in the south
  • Mars is rising in the east.
  • Venus rises in the early hours.
  • Mercury lies low in the dawn glow.
  • The moon reaches Last Quarter on the 8th. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNhc3RhbmV0Lm5ldC9uZXdzL1NreXdhdGNoaW5nLzMxNDkwNi8yLWZ1bGwtbW9vbnMtaW4tT2N0b2JlctIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-30 18:00:00Z
52781153701647

What you need to know about the rare Halloween full moon - Global News

This will be the first time a full moon has fallen on Halloween since 1974 and it won’t happen again until 2039, but there are a few other reasons why this October full moon will be extra spooky.

“You could call it a Boo-Blue-Super Mini-Hunter Full Moon,” said Rick Stankiewicz, publicity director for the Peterborough Astronomical Association.

READ MORE: Full Hunter’s Blue Moon to rise on Halloween before clocks fall back

Here is why Stankiewicz might say that: 

Story continues below advertisement

  • Boo: Full moon falls on Halloween
  • Blue: Second full moon in the month.
  • Super Mini: Furthest from Earth and appearing as the smallest full moon of 2020. The apogee — that is, when the moon’s orbit takes it furthest from Earth — technically occurs on Oct. 30, when the Moon will be 406,394 km away.
  • Hunter Moon: The full moon that follows the Harvest Moon (Oct. 1, 2020), which is always the first Full Moon closest to the Fall Equinox. The Hunter Full Moon will usually be in October or November.

Stankiewicz said the blue moon part of the name is a bit deceiving. “It won’t look blue,” he said. “At moonrise, 6:24 p.m., it might look yellowish or orange if we are lucky.”

Click to play video 'A rare blue moon will light up the sky on Halloween' A rare blue moon will light up the sky on Halloween
A rare blue moon will light up the sky on Halloween

He said the best time to see the Moon is shortly after moonrise, low in the eastern sky. That’s because it will be closer to the horizon. “The Moon will look a little bigger then,” he said. “The odds of having a hint of colour is always better when it is near the horizon because of the atmosphere it has to shine through.”

Story continues below advertisement

If you miss the view this time around, you’ll have to wait until 2039 to see it again.

“It is not the rarest celestial event because it does repeat itself every 19 years,” Stankiewicz said. “But let’s face it, there are lots of ‘stars aligning’ for all these moon-types to be coming together on a Halloween night.”

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiPGh0dHBzOi8vZ2xvYmFsbmV3cy5jYS9uZXdzLzc0MzIyMjkvZnVsbC1tb29uLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi0yMDIwL9IBQGh0dHBzOi8vZ2xvYmFsbmV3cy5jYS9uZXdzLzc0MzIyMjkvZnVsbC1tb29uLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi0yMDIwL2FtcC8?oc=5

2020-10-30 15:30:14Z
52781153701647

Rare full moon, Daylight Saving makes for a uniquely spooky Halloween – despite COVID-19 - Chilliwack Progress

We might not be able to attend big parties this Halloween but it sure is to be an eventful weekend – because of and despite the ongoing pandemic.

Saturday, Oct. 31, marks a rare astronomical moment: a rare second second-in-the-month full moon. In fact, this will be the first time since WW2 that the entire world will be able to see the Blue Moon, instead of just certain regions.

According to NASA, a full moon landing on Halloween isn’t expected to happen again until 2039.

It’s not just the skies that will be making this weekend different from others – overnight Saturday, British Columbians aside from of a few Kootenay cities will be gaining an hour as they “fall back” for Daylight Saving Time.

Despite hopes that this could be the last time change to have to happen in the province, the U.S. Congress still has to approve the change for western states, bringing B.C.’s legislation to a halt.

ALSO READ: B.C. still awaiting U.S. approval to eliminate daylight saving time

In response to a growing number of new daily COVID cases Halloween parties have been curtailed in B.C. this year, with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issuing a health order barring gatherings to just those in a household plus a person’s safe six.

In Fraser Health, the region currently seeing the lions share of new cases, residents are being urged to stick to just those in their household.

ALSO READ: B.C. reports 234 new COVID cases, 1 death of senior who had attended small birthday party

Henry’s advice? Swap the costume party for a spooky movie and keep trick-or-treating small and look ahead to making next year’s spooky season all that more special.


@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Want to support local journalism? Make a donation here.

Halloween

Get local stories you won't find anywhere else right to your inbox.
Sign up here

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMif2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXByb2dyZXNzLmNvbS90cmVuZGluZy1ub3cvcmFyZS1mdWxsLW1vb24tZGF5bGlnaHQtc2F2aW5nLW1ha2VzLWZvci1hLXVuaXF1ZWx5LXNwb29reS1oYWxsb3dlZW4tZGVzcGl0ZS1jb3ZpZC0xOS_SAQA?oc=5

2020-10-30 15:00:00Z
52781153701647

Asteroid samples successfully sealed in capsule to return to Earth, NASA says – Barrie 360 - Barrie 360

William Harwood – CBS News

An estimated two pounds or more of rock and soil collected from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft have been successfully sealed up in a protective re-entry capsule for return to Earth in 2023, project managers said Thursday.

While detailed hands-on analysis cannot begin until the samples are returned, scientists have already gained insights into the flaky nature of Bennu’s soil, or regolith, by watching how it behaved when the rocks and soil were collected on October 20.

And that is already feeding into discussions about how to possibly one day divert a threatening asteroid from a collision with Earth.

“The OSIRIS-REx mission has collected a phenomenal data set about asteroid Bennu, which is a potentially hazardous asteroid with approximately (a) 1-in-2,700 chance of impacting the Earth late in the 22nd century,” said Dante Lauretta, the mission’s principal investigator.

“The biggest uncertainties on the mission where the response of the regolith to the TAGSAM (sample collector) pressing down onto the surface. And I know already different groups within NASA and other agencies have been able to use our data set for scenarios of the kind that you’re describing.”

Said Lori Glaze, director of planetary science at NASA Headquarters: “I think this information is going to be incredibly important as we think about how to mitigate future potential impacts from these potentially hazardous objects.”

But the primary goal of the OSIRIS-REx mission was to collect a minimum of 60 grams — 1.1 ounces — of rock and soil from Bennu, and the spacecraft appears to have far exceeded that modest requirement.

During a dramatic touch-and-go impact October 20, the spacecraft slowly descended to the surface of Bennu, pressing its TAGSAM collector down onto the soil as compressed nitrogen gas was released, stirring up a blizzard of rocks and fine-grained particles.

The collector was designed so the gas would drive small particles into internal chambers, capturing them for return to Earth. In fact, the TAGSAM captured so much material a flap intended to seal the material inside the collector was jammed open by a rock fragment, allowing small fragments to escape.

As a result, mission managers opted to stow the collector well ahead of schedule, foregoing plans to “weigh” the collected samples by slowly spinning the spacecraft and carefully analyzing its motion compared to earlier measurements when the sample collector was empty.

But with soil and small rock fragments working their way out of the collector, time was of the essence. Earlier this week, flight controllers carried out a 36-hour procedure to reposition OSIRIS-REx’s robot arm so the TAGSAM collector on the far end could be stowed and sealed inside a protective capsule.

If all goes well, OSIRIS-REx will begin the two-year trip back to Earth next spring. The sample capsule will be released in September 2023 for a parachute descent to Utah where recovery crews will be waiting to rush the material to a lab at the Johnson Space Center for initial analysis.

Because mission managers decided not to attempt weighing the collected samples, they do not know for sure how much material was captured. But based on the amount visible to OSIRIS-REx’s cameras, Lauretta said he is confident at last two pounds or rock and soil were scooped up as the TAGSAM pressed into and blow Bennu’s surface.

“There was very little resistance to the spacecraft’s downward motion from the asteroid regolith,” he said. “And so we were continuing to penetrate and burrow underneath the subsurface of the asteroid while the TAGSAM gas was being injected into the regolith.

“Current assessments are that we penetrated a minimum of 24 centimeters (9.4 inches) … and possibly as deep as over 48 centimeters (18.9 inches) with TAGSAM gas firing and collecting and driving material into the collection chamber during that entire time. So we are highly confident … the TAGSAM was was full to capacity.”

Even though a few “tens of grams” of material managed to float free of the sample collector before it could be stowed, Lauretta said he believes “we still have hundreds of grams of material in the sample collector head, probably over a kilogram easily.”

“But of course, we have to wait till 2023 to open up the TAGSAM and be sure.”

banner image via NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vYmFycmllMzYwLmNvbS9hc3Rlcm9pZC1zYW1wbGVzLXN1Y2Nlc3NmdWxseS1zZWFsZWQtaW4tY2Fwc3VsZS10by1yZXR1cm4tdG8tZWFydGgtbmFzYS1zYXlzL9IBAA?oc=5

2020-10-30 14:43:00Z
52781154716330

Full moon to provide spooktacular Halloween treat - STV News

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

  1. Full moon to provide spooktacular Halloween treat  STV News
  2. There’s a once-in-a-generation blue moon lighting the skies this Halloween — here’s when you can see it  Yahoo Canada Sports
  3. Rare full moon, a Hunter's Blue Moon, to appear on Halloween – Jasper's source for news, sports, arts, culture, and more  the fitzhugh
  4. Hunter's full 'blue' moon rising on Halloween - BC News  Castanet.net
  5. Full moon on Halloween will be 1st time since 1944  13 ON YOUR SIDE
  6. View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9eWRUbUJVLWNPVFnSAQA?oc=5

2020-10-30 13:28:26Z
52781153701647

"What the Heck is That?" - Moon Edition - NASA Goddard

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

"What the Heck is That?" - Moon Edition  NASA Goddard
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9MGZhN1pfQ2paVFHSAQA?oc=5

2020-10-30 14:00:16Z
CCAiCzBmYTdaX0NqWlRRmAEB

RHODE EXTRA: Once in a Blue Moon... - therhodeshow

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9a3RiMUprM0xqcmfSAQA?oc=5

2020-10-30 13:02:21Z
52781153701647

Rare Halloween blue moon to light up sky this weekend - WellandTribune.ca

Skywatchers will get a rare treat on Halloween, with a blue moon expected to appear Saturday.

The Halloween blue moon is so rare, you can say it happens even less than once in a blue moon.

A blue moon is described as being the second full moon to fall within the same month. Blue moons are seen roughly every two and a half years — which explains the poetic phrase to describe a rare event.

But a blue moon only falls on Halloween every 18 to 19 years; the last time was Oct. 31, 2001, although it was only visible to Central and Pacific time zones, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

This is the first time a Halloween blue moon will be visible to all time zones since 1944.

Despite its name, the moon will not look blue, but its usual white glow.

Simon Smith, a regular stargazer, says he plans to sit on his porch Saturday night and catch the view.

“I try to keep an eye out for full moons,” Smith said. “They make stargazing harder, but the full moon is so lovely in it’s own right that it deserves a bit of celebration every 28 days.”

The first full moon this month took place Oct. 1.

Michael Reid, an associate professor in University of Toronto’s department of astronomy and astrophysics, told the Star that on average, there are 13 full moons in a year.

The Halloween blue moon will be a “mini-moon,” meaning it is the farthest from the Earth in its orbit.

“The distance between the earth and the moon changes because the moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle,” Reid said. “It’s a slightly elliptical orbit, more of an oval. So as it orbits, sometimes it’s a little closer to the Earth, sometimes it’s a little farther from the Earth.”

Although the moon is technically further away, the size change cannot be seen with the naked eye.

A full moon is seen when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the Earth.

Once a month, this causes the light of the sun to fully illuminate one side of the moon.

“A true full moon is just an instant. The moon is constantly moving, so the exact moment when it’s opposite the sun is the instant of full moon,” Reid said.

“Only half the people on the planet can see that at any given moment because it’s only the side of the Earth facing the moon that can actually see that instant of full moon.”

Loading...

Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...

Since the “true” blue moon will happen during the day Saturday at 10:49 a.m. ET, it will not be visible. But Reid says you will still be able to see the moon on Halloween night in Toronto.

“For the average person who doesn’t care about seeing it at the exact instant when it’s full, just go out when it’s dark.”

Cheyenne Bholla

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LndlbGxhbmR0cmlidW5lLmNhL3RzL25ld3MvZ3RhLzIwMjAvMTAvMzAvcmFyZS1ibHVlLW1vb24tdG8tbGlnaHQtdXAtaGFsbG93ZWVuLXNreS10aGlzLXdlZWtlbmQuaHRtbNIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-30 12:26:08Z
CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LndlbGxhbmR0cmlidW5lLmNhL3RzL25ld3MvZ3RhLzIwMjAvMTAvMzAvcmFyZS1ibHVlLW1vb24tdG8tbGlnaHQtdXAtaGFsbG93ZWVuLXNreS10aGlzLXdlZWtlbmQuaHRtbNIBAA

Why NASA's moonshot, Boeing, Bezos and Musk have a lot riding on U.S. election - Financial Post

Article content continued

A Biden campaign spokesman pointed to earlier remarks from Biden. In August, after SpaceX launched and returned the first astronauts from U.S. soil on a trip to the ISS in nearly a decade, Biden said he looked forward to “leading a bold space program that will continue to send astronaut heroes to expand our exploration and scientific frontiers.”

Representatives for Blue Origin and Boeing declined to comment. SpaceX and the Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

FIGHT OVER BOEING ROCKET

But the Biden space group is divided on what to do about Boeing’s SLS, several sources said.

The super heavy-lift rocket has been beset by development delays and cost overruns, but supports tens of thousands of jobs in Alabama and California and is seen by backers as central to NASA’s exploration plans and the only path to Trump’s 2024 timeline for the Artemis mission.

Critics say the rocket’s aging technology and launch costs of $1 billion or more per mission should prompt a formal White House or Congressional review of the program, particularly if SpaceX and Blue Origin are able to offer new rockets at lower cost.

It costs as little as $90 million to fly Musk’s massive but still less-powerful Falcon Heavy, and some $350 million per launch for United Launch Alliance’s legacy Delta IV Heavy.

Whether a Biden space policy would be more friendly to SLS or to newer commercial alternatives from “new space” players will be heavily influenced by his choice for NASA administrator, a role the campaign wants to be filled by a woman, two people said.

NASA views SLS as its only human-rated ride to the moon in the near term, said Doug Loverro, the former NASA head of human spaceflight.

“But is that the long-term direction to continue to pursue?” Loverro asked. (Reporting by Joey Roulette in Washington, D.C. and Eric M Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Greg Mitchell and Edward Tobin)

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vZmluYW5jaWFscG9zdC5jb20vcG1uL2J1c2luZXNzLXBtbi93aHktbmFzYXMtbW9vbnNob3QtYm9laW5nLWJlem9zLWFuZC1tdXNrLWhhdmUtYS1sb3QtcmlkaW5nLW9uLXUtcy1lbGVjdGlvbtIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-30 10:03:36Z
52781153679086

Kamis, 29 Oktober 2020

Free Saturday parking in Vernon must wait for budget talks – Vernon Morning Star - Vernon Morning Star

The idea of free parking every Saturday in an effort to support local business amid the COVID-19 pandemic will have to wait until City of Vernon council discusses next year’s budget.

The Downtown Vernon Association pitched the idea ahead of council’s Monday, Oct. 26, meeting, asking the city to consider implementing free metered parking every Saturday in 2021.

Over the years, the city has granted an average of seven free parking days and two non-enforcement days per year in support of the DVA’s annual events and promotion calendar.

“Due to COVID-19, the DVA’s marketing strategy for the BIA (business improvement area) has shifted focus from large public events to sustained activity-based promotions and ambient entertainment that allows for downtown Vernon to be physically distant yet socially connected,” DVA executive director Susan Lehman wrote.

The merits of the two-hour metered parking system are recognized by the DVA, Lehman wrote, but free metered parking on Saturdays, in line with the city’s free surface Saturday parking, would benefit all businesses in the core.

City council previously waived the enforcement of metered parking in April as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Free’ parking was available to Vernon residents until July 1, 2020. City staff reported a $102,000 revenue loss per month in May.

“We are requesting that the City of Vernon recognizes that the small businesses downtown, many of whom cannot take advantage of the city’s generous sidewalk and patio programs due to the nature of their business or industry, would benefit from having free metered parking,” Lehman wrote.

“The City of Vernon’s support is crucial to the recovery efforts to downtown business owners.”

Council voted to refer the item to 2021 budget discussion Oct. 26.


@caitleerach
Caitlin.clow@vernonmorningstar.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

READ MORE: ‘Free’ COVID-19 Vernon parking until Canada Day

READ MORE: WATCH: Heater theft leaves Vernon business cold

Get local stories you won't find anywhere else right to your inbox.
Sign up here

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZlcm5vbm1vcm5pbmdzdGFyLmNvbS9uZXdzL2ZyZWUtc2F0dXJkYXktcGFya2luZy1pbi12ZXJub24tbXVzdC13YWl0LWZvci1idWRnZXQtdGFsa3Mv0gEA?oc=5

2020-10-30 01:30:00Z
CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZlcm5vbm1vcm5pbmdzdGFyLmNvbS9uZXdzL2ZyZWUtc2F0dXJkYXktcGFya2luZy1pbi12ZXJub24tbXVzdC13YWl0LWZvci1idWRnZXQtdGFsa3Mv0gEA

Retired NBA star trying to erase cannabis stigma - CityNews Edmonton

{* profilePhotoCustom *}

{* public_profileBlurb *}

{* public_displayName *}

{* public_name *} {* public_gender *} {* public_birthdate *} {* public_emailAddress *} {* public_address *} {* public_phoneNumber *}

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vZWRtb250b24uY2l0eW5ld3MuY2EvdmlkZW8vMjAyMC8xMC8yOS9yZXRpcmVkLW5iYS1zdGFyLXRyeWluZy10by1lcmFzZS1jYW5uYWJpcy1zdGlnbWEv0gEA?oc=5

2020-10-29 21:36:58Z
CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vZWRtb250b24uY2l0eW5ld3MuY2EvdmlkZW8vMjAyMC8xMC8yOS9yZXRpcmVkLW5iYS1zdGFyLXRyeWluZy10by1lcmFzZS1jYW5uYWJpcy1zdGlnbWEv0gEA

NASA's OSIRIS-REx Successfully Stows Sample of Asteroid Bennu - NASA

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

  1. NASA's OSIRIS-REx Successfully Stows Sample of Asteroid Bennu  NASA
  2. Asteroid samples tucked into capsule for return to Earth  The Outlook
  3. NASA's OSIRIS-REx secures asteroid sample after surprise leak  National Geographic
  4. OSIRIS-REx begins stowing asteroid sample into return capsule  Spaceflight Now
  5. OSIRIS-REx is Literally Overflowing with Asteroid Samples From Bennu  Discover Magazine
  6. View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5hc2EuZ292L3ByZXNzLXJlbGVhc2UvbmFzYS1zLW9zaXJpcy1yZXgtc3VjY2Vzc2Z1bGx5LXN0b3dzLXNhbXBsZS1vZi1hc3Rlcm9pZC1iZW5uddIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-29 20:28:49Z
52781154716330

Asteroid samples tucked into capsule for return to Earth - The Outlook

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A NASA spacecraft more than 200 million miles away has tucked asteroid samples into a capsule for return to Earth, after losing some of its precious loot, scientists said Thursday.

Flight controllers moved up the crucial operation after some of the collected rubble spilled into space last week.

article continues below

The Osiris-Rex spacecraft gathered pebbles and other pieces of asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20, briefly touching the surface with its robot arm and sucking up whatever was there. So much was collected — an estimated hundreds of grams' worth — that rocks got wedged in the rim of the container and jammed it open, allowing some samples to escape.

Whatever is left won’t depart Bennu's neighbourhood until March, when the asteroid and Earth are properly aligned. It will be 2023 — seven years after Osiris-Rex rocketed from Cape Canaveral — before the samples arrive here.

This is the first U.S. mission to go after asteroid samples. Japan has done it twice at other space rocks and expects its latest batch to arrive in December.

Rich in carbon, the solar-orbiting Bennu is believed to hold the preserved building blocks of the solar system. Scientists said the remnants can help explain how our solar system's planets formed billions of years ago and how life on Earth came to be. The samples also can help improve our odds, they said, if a doomsday rock heads our way.

Bennu — a black, roundish rock bigger than New York's Empire State Building — could come dangerously close to Earth late in the next decade. The odds of a strike are 1-in-2,700. The good news is that while packing a punch, it won't wipe out the home planet.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZW91dGxvb2suY2EvYXN0ZXJvaWQtc2FtcGxlcy10dWNrZWQtaW50by1jYXBzdWxlLWZvci1yZXR1cm4tdG8tZWFydGgtMS4yNDIyOTc4NdIBAA?oc=5

2020-10-29 18:54:51Z
CBMiXWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZW91dGxvb2suY2EvYXN0ZXJvaWQtc2FtcGxlcy10dWNrZWQtaW50by1jYXBzdWxlLWZvci1yZXR1cm4tdG8tZWFydGgtMS4yNDIyOTc4NdIBAA

NASA's New Discovery Could Spark A Moon Mining Frenzy - OilPrice.com

NASA's New Discovery Could Spark A Moon Mining Frenzy | OilPrice.com
MINING.com

MINING.com

MINING.com is a web-based global mining publication focusing on news and commentary about mining and mineral exploration. The site is a one-stop-shop for mining industry…

More Info

Related News

It has long been accepted that the moon lacks the bodies of liquid water that are the hallmark of Earth, but lunar water may be more widespread than previously known.

While space mining is a concept still out of this world to some, it is real for the mining industry. After long being considered mostly science-fiction, governments are now implementing programs and legislation that allow them to join the race for mining in space. The confirmed presence of water on the moon bodes well for future space mining.

During a NASA press conference on Monday, researchers of two studies published in the journal Nature Astronomy presented their respective findings, confirming that water is a relatively plentiful lunar presence, with molecules trapped within mineral grains on the surface and more water perhaps hidden in ice patches residing in permanent shadows.

This means water does not only exist at the lunar poles but also in the sunlit part of the moon and regions that have been devoid of sunlight.

They believe this discovery could prove important to future astronauts and robotic missions seeking to extract and use water for drinking supply or as a fuel ingredient.

Molecular water on the lunar surface

In the first study, researchers used the agency’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy airborne telescope — also known as SOFIA — to observe the moon at a wavelength that revealed the signature of molecular water or H2O trapped within natural glasses or between debris grains.

While research 11 years ago indicated water was relatively widespread in small amounts on the moon, this is the first time that detection of water molecules on the lunar surface has been confirmed. Previous observations have suffered from ambiguity between water and its molecular cousin hydroxyl, but the new detection used a method that yielded unambiguous findings.

Related: The Car Giants That Knew About Climate Change 50 Years Ago

The only way for this water to survive on the sunlit lunar surfaces where it was observed was to be embedded within mineral grains, protecting it from the frigid and foreboding environment, the study suggested.

“A lot of people think that the detection I’ve made is water ice, which is not true. It’s just the water molecules — because they’re so spread out they don’t interact with each other to form water ice or even liquid water,” Casey Honniball, the scientist who led the team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said.

Widespread ice

At the same time, another team led by planetary scientist Paul Hayne of the University of Colorado, Boulder reported that the moon possesses roughly 15,000 square miles (40,000 square kilometres) of permanent shadows that potentially could harbor hidden pockets of water in the form of ice.

Related: Tech Breakthrough Promises Hydrogen Gas From Plastic Waste

Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, the team focused on so-called cold traps on the moon, regions of its surface that exist in a state of perpetual darkness where temperatures are below about negative 260 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 163 degrees Celsius). It is believed some of these cold traps may have evaded the sun for billions of years.

“If you can imagine standing on the surface of the moon near one of its poles, you would see shadows all over the place,” Hayne said during the press conference. “Many of those tiny shadows could be full of ice.”

“Our results suggest that water could be much more widespread in the moon’s polar regions than previously thought, making it easier to access, extract and analyze,” he added.

By Mining.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Join the discussion | Back to homepage



Related posts

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vb2lscHJpY2UuY29tL0xhdGVzdC1FbmVyZ3ktTmV3cy9Xb3JsZC1OZXdzL05BU0FzLU5ldy1EaXNjb3ZlcnktQ291bGQtU3BhcmstQS1Nb29uLU1pbmluZy1GcmVuenkuaHRtbNIBcGh0dHBzOi8vb2lscHJpY2UuY29tL0xhdGVzdC1FbmVyZ3ktTmV3cy9Xb3JsZC1OZXdzL05BU0FzLU5ldy1EaXNjb3ZlcnktQ291bGQtU3BhcmstQS1Nb29uLU1pbmluZy1GcmVuenkuYW1wLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-10-29 18:30:00Z
52781153679086