Defense Weather Satellite System Stops Work
(JAN 24) LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. - The U.S. Air Force
has stopped work on the Defense Weather Satellite System to implement the FY
2012 National Defense Authorization Act and FY12 Consolidated Appropriations
Act.
The Defense Weather Satellite System was created out of the Executive Office of
the President restructure of the National Polar-orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System program into separate civil and military space
programs in February of 2010.
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems is the prime contractor for the military DWSS
program and is responsible for developing the satellite including the
Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite provided by a subcontract with Raytheon
Space and Airborne Systems.
Today the Air Force Defense Meteorological System Program constellation of
satellites continues to provide high-quality and timely weather data to
forecasters with two more satellites yet to be launched.
Los Angeles AFB
Moon and Venus at Dusk
(JAN 22) If the sky is clear, skywatchers in the Southwest and beyond can see
a close pairing of the night sky's two brightest objects next week.
The celestial pairing occurs on the evening of January 26 when the Moon's slow
eastward movement takes it approximately 7 degrees from the planet Venus.
Although the objects will appear to be close to one another, Venus will actually
lie some 105 million miles behind the crescent Moon.
To see the close pairing, look in the southwest about 25 minutes after sunset.
All you'll need to see the dusk duo are clear skies and the unaided eye.
Brian Webb
Cruise Ship Disaster
The cruise ship Costa Concordia lies on her side after striking a reef off of Giglio, Italy on Friday, January 13. DigitalGlobe's WorldView-1 commercial reconnaissance satellite recorded this amazing view of the disaster from orbit. WorldView-1 was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg AFB, Claif. on 2007 September 18. Image courtesy of DigitalGlobe
Keeping an Eye on the Universe
(JAN 13) Astronomers from the California Institute of Technology and the
University of Arizona have released the largest data set ever collected that
documents the brightening and dimming of stars and other celestial objects
200 million in total. More
Snow in the Rockies
Fresh snow from a New Year storm blankets the Rocky Mountains and surrounding
areas on January 2. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image during a pass over
the region early that afternoon. The features visible in this view include the
Gulf of California (lower left corner) and the Great Salt Lake (green area near
the upper left margin). Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team,
NASA GSFC
Mirror Lab Tours
(JAN 2) TUCSON, Ariz. - The Steward Observatory Mirror Lab on the University of
Arizona campus offers a unique opportunity to experience the groundbreaking work
being done at our facility, located under the UA football stadium.
The mirror lab is renowned for developing and implementing technologies that
enable production of the world’s largest and most challenging ground-based
telescope mirrors.
A tour provides visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge optical
technology and the revolutionary spin-casting processes involved in making
these giant telescope mirrors.
Starting with the construction of the mold, to spin-casting, to grinding and
polishing, the final result is a lightweight mirror ready for transportation to
a mountaintop observatory where it will peer into remote regions of the cosmos,
exploring the edges of the universe in an effort to answer a vast array of
astronomical questions and make new discoveries.
Tours are conducted at 1 p.m and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Advance
reservations are required and can be made by calling 520-626-8792.
Admission: $15 adults, $8 students
Audience: All, Small (1-50)
University of Arizona
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