Moon Fly-By Today

Above, Artemis I approaches the moon in December. NASA photo.

The much-anticipated fly-by of the moon will take place today as Artemis II will set a new record for distance from Earth. It will surpass the record set by Apollo 13.

According to NPR:

The crew of NASA's Artemis II will make its closest approach to the moon Monday afternoon after launching from Kennedy Space Center last week.

It marks a critical milestone of the agency's Orion space capsule, sending humans on a mission to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. As the capsule loops around the moon, the astronauts will reach farther into space than humans have ever ventured.

The Orion spacecraft is now in the lunar sphere of influence, meaning the moon's gravity has more pull on the vehicle than the Earth. At 1:46 p.m. ET, the crew will surpass the record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans, which was set by the Apollo 13 mission at 248,655 statute miles from Earth. At 2:45 p.m., the crew will begin making observations of the surface of the moon during the flyby.

To read more, go here. 

NASA's Artemis II Live Views From Orion

Thanks to RV Travel, I was alerted to the following YouTube video featuring NASA's live feed from Artemis II's trip to the moon,

Summary:

As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from the Orion spacecraft, without commentary, as it makes its journey around the Moon. Viewers will see a blue screen if there is a loss of signal, or if the bandwidth is needed for mission activities. Viewers may see what appears to be a black screen when the vehicle is in darkness. 

This stream started as Artemis II began its ascent into space and will conclude shortly before Orion splashes down into the Pacific Ocean.

24/7 streaming coverage of Artemis II operations and mission updates will be available on our YouTube channel. We're also streaming Artemis II events on NASA+, Amazon, X, Facebook, and Twitch. See the full schedule: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-first-artemis-crewed-mission-around-moon/

Artemis II Flight

Artemis II is currently in Earth orbit. If all of the Orion spacecraft's systems are functioning correctly, they will fire the Trans Lunar Injection rocket burn to send them on the way to the moon. This will come later today.

From Space.com:

 NASA's Artemis 2 mission is officially underway.

After a successful launch on April 1 (and a slight toilet issue), the four-person crew is now in Earth orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft, settling in for their first night of sleep as ground teams continue to check the vehicle's systems.

Today marks a critical moment in the Artemis 2 mission.

The astronauts are not yet on their way to the moon. Instead, mission teams are preparing for a crucial maneuver later today — the translunar injection burn — which will send Orion out of Earth orbit and toward the moon.

It's a major commitment point for the mission. If all systems are go, Artemis 2 will become the first crewed flight to travel beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo era.

To read more, go here. 

Artemis II Launch Video

It was an emotional moment of pride for many that we're finally sending astronauts to the moon.

The launch of Artemis II yesterday was spectacular. It would have been more spectacular had the camera work of the launch were better. (Compare the launch video below with the one of Apollo 17 I posted yesterday. The camera tracked Apollo 17's Saturn V rocket much better.)

Still, it is great to see the launch. I noticed that political pundits like Glenn Beck and Benny Johnson were covering the launch. 

Here's a video of yesterday's launch: 

I will be at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas this month. They should have some interesting goodies related to the Artemis II flight to purchase.

Lighting Up The Night | The Launch of Apollo 17

If everything goes as planned today, the flight of Artemis II will mark the first time in 50 years since man traveled to the vicinity of the moon.

The last time was in December 1972 when Apollo 17 was sent to the moon. It was the last moon mission of the Apollo program. I remember the flight as I was at the "ripe old age" of 18 at the time. 

Here's the launch of Apollo 11.

Summary: 

On this edition we remember the anniversary of the flight of Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan,  Harrison Jack Schmitt & Ronald Evans.

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1972 the Apollo 17 crew lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a Saturn V rocket becoming the last astronauts to attempt a lunar landing and bringing a close to the the Apollo program.  Cernan & Schmitt took their Lunar Module called Challenger to a landing in the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon.  The Apollo 17 crew returned to Earth from the Moon on December 19, 1972. 

 

Artemis II Launch Today

Above, Artemis II on launch pad. By NASA Headquarters / NASA/Joel Kowsky

We'll have something to watch this afternoon!

Artemis II is scheduled to launch four astronauts to the moon from Cape Canaveral. This will be the first crewed mission for the new spacecraft.

According to NASA:

As the Artemis II countdown moves steadily toward liftoff no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, April 1, launch teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue completing a sequence of highly choreographed steps to ready the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the crew’s journey around the Moon. 

The weather forecast for launch day shows an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions with primary concerns being cumulus clouds, ground winds, and solar weather. NASA and weather officers with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 will continue to monitor the weather leading up to liftoff. 

Engineers began the day by finishing critical health checks on the rocket’s four RS‑25 engines, confirming that sensors, connections, and diagnostics were all performing as expected. Their readiness marks an important milestone as cryogenic operations approach. 

To read more, go here. 

Songs By Elvis and Jimi Hendrix Now On The Moon

Above, Jimi Hendrix on September 17, 1970.

A U.S. spacecraft has touched down on the moon for the first time since 1972 when Apollo 17 landed there. The spacecraft was unmanned, but it did contain digitalized recordings of top rock superstars including Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley.

Far Out Magazine reported:

For the first time since 1972, an American spacecraft has touched down on the moon, bringing digitised recordings from some of the greatest musicians ever, including Jimi Hendrix.

The spacecraft, called Odysseus, has tucked tunes into the time capsule resting on the moon’s surface from legendary 20th-century artists including Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Santana, Chuck Berry, Sly & the Family Stone, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin, The Who as well as Hendrix.

To read more, go here. 

About Last Night's Supermoon...

Well, I missed last night's supermoon.

We had heavy cloud cover, along with some downpours, which we need. Therefore, the moon was obscured.

I've seen others (if you've seen one, you've seen them all) before. One thing though, a couple of nights ago, the moonlight shined in my bedroom window and it was pretty bright. 

Here's one supermoon from March 2020:

Return To The Moon: First Step Today

Above, Artemis I on the launch pad (39B) this morning. 

The U.S. Space Program is the only worthwhile government program we have. This has been my contention for years.

Am I a fan of the Space Program? You bet, ever since Project Mercury.

If all goes well, the first test flight of Artemus I will take place today. It is unmanned. Right now, there is an unplanned hold due to some rocket engine issues.

From Fox 35 Orlando:

For the first time in nearly 50 years, NASA is preparing for a historic first, launching a new powerful moon rocket, the Space Launch System, on its maiden voyage. 

The last time the space agency conducted a test flight of a moon rocket was the mighty Saturn V in 1967. Two years later, a Saturn V rocket would launch the Apollo 11 mission, sending astronauts to the moon. Now, NASA is preparing to launch the SLS and Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida under the Artemis program, named for Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology.  

NASA is targeting Aug. 29 for liftoff sending the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis-1 test flight, a 42-journey orbiting the moon and back. No astronauts will be on board the test flight. However, if it goes well, four astronauts will launch on Artemis-2, orbiting the moon before the Artemis-3 moon landing in 2025.

To see how the SLS compares to the Saturn 5, go here.

UPDATE: Today's launch has been scrubbed due to a faulty hydrogen bleed test that didn't get it to the right temperature. The next availability to launch is September 2.

Lunar Eclipse Was Eclipsed By Clouds

Above, a partial lunar eclipse from 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night's lunar eclipse was a dud.

At least that's as far as Jamestown, New Mexico was concerned. Before the eclipse, cloud cover moved into the area, obscuring any views of it. Oh, well.

I've seen many others before, so it wasn't too much of a loss for me.

According to Newsweek:

A total lunar eclipse appeared in the night sky, with people across the globe enjoying a spectacular phenomenon—and photographers took the opportunity to capture the dazzling celestial event.

A total lunar eclipse happens when the sun, Earth and moon form a near-perfect line-up in space. During these moments, which only occur during a full moon, the Earth casts a shadow on our natural satellite, changing its color and brightness.

To read more and see some photos, go here.

Moon-themed Resort Is Coming To Las Vegas

Above, a winter moon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Leave it to Las Vegas to come up with things to draw visitors so that they can be parted from their money in the casinos.

The latest is a moon-themed resort.

Travel + Leisure reported:

Space tourism is slowly becoming a reality with billionaires making seemingly regular visits to the stars and the world's first space hotel planned to make its debut in 2027. Despite the promising progress, it may take a while before space tourism is available at a more accessible price point.

So what's the next best thing in the meantime? Perhaps this new moon-shaped hotel coming to the Las Vegas Strip.

Canadian-based company Moon World Resorts Inc. has announced plans for a $5 billion, 5.5-million-square-foot hotel whose signature feature will be a replica of the moon standing at 735 feet tall and 650 feet wide.

The replica will only be 1/75,000 the size of the moon, but that's large enough to accommodate 4,000 guest rooms and suites. Plans for Moon Resorts Las Vegas also include a 75,000-square-foot spa, 50,000-square-feet of food and beverage offerings, 75,000-square-feet of retail, and 150,00-square-feet of clubs and lounges.

To read more, go here. 

Last Night's Snow

Above, what I awoke to this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Just as it was forecast, we got snow overnight.

From what's on the garage roof, it appears about an inch of it came down overnight. 

Above, a view of last night's snow and moon setting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the National Weather Service, we have a 30% chance of more snow coming down today and 20% tonight.

Well, We Tried

Above, tonight's moon didn't help with our viewing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, Russell, Victor and I went out to the Barking Spider Acre to view the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

I brought out my Celestron reflector telescope for the viewing. Unfortunately, while loading it into the Jeep, one of the fastener fittings pieces for the finderscope broke off. I found that without it, it would be near impossible to try to get the planets in the telescope.

On top of that, the temperature was down into the 30s and even though we were wearing gloves, the cold got to our fingers. Painfully so. My fingers hurt until I made a cup of coffee and the heat from the cup "thawed" them.

Above, the Celestron reflecting telescope. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At least Victor brought along a pair of binoculars and we were able to see the conjunction through them.

I found the broken finderscope piece inside the Jeep and I fixed it with some Crazy Glue. 

I learned a lesson today, it is to not bother to stargaze in bitter cold weather.

Last Attempt At Comet Watching

Above, last night's moon and some stars. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night's sky was the first clear sky in days, so I thought I would try to see Comet NEOWISE one last time.

Unfortunately, although the sky was clear, the comet has gone too far from the sun for any kind of brilliance. I couldn't spot it, even with binoculars. Having a half-moon out last night didn't help with visibility either as it probably made the sky too bright for seeing the comet.

At least I got to see it last week.

Tonight's Moon and Venus

About a half hour ago, I went outside to put my Jeep into the garage for the night. While doing so I spotted the moon and Venus in the western sky. Naturally, I had to take some photos of them.

So I aimed my phone's camera at them and shot the following two photos. Sometimes, strangely enough, I can get better photos of stars and planets than with my two Canon cameras.

Supermoon 2

With the moon a bit higher in the sky, I went out and took some more photos. Again, I did some experimenting with the settings. It was a lot easier to take moon photos with film cameras because you can play with the manual settings.

Here's the best of the bunch:

Supermoon

As tonight's supermoon was rising, I went outside with my zoom lens.

Unfortunately, there was some cloud cover where the moon was rising. But I did manage to get a few shots. I experimented with different settings.

I'll try to get more shots as the moon gets above the cloud cover.

Supermoon Tonight

Above, a supermoon shot from Abilene, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We're in for a treat tonight!

We'll be having a supermoon tonight.

According to Fox News:

Skywatchers are in for a treat next week when the full worm supermoon rises in the sky. 

“March’s full Moon, called the full Worm Moon, reaches peak fullness at 1:48 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 9,” explains the Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Look for the spectacularly bright Moon as it rises above the horizon that evening!” 

The celestial event will be the first of three supermoons in 2020, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. EarthSky notes that the full worm moon will be the second-closest of the year’s supermoons.

To read more, go here.

Snow Coming This Weekend

Above, last night's moonrise. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been chilly during the past several days with the temperatures hovering around the mid-40s during the day and in the 20s at night.

Coming Sunday, it's going to get chillier as a storm system is expected to bring snow into the area.

According to the National Weather Service:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph.

Saturday Night

A chance of rain showers before 11pm, then a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday

Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Tonight's Moonrise

There's one thing about living out in a rural area, it's pitch-dark at night except for a few lights from homes. That allows better dark sky gazing as more stars are visible and brighter moon viewing. In other words, no light pollution.

I had to take some trash out to the trash container outside and saw a beautiful moonrise. I stopped and snapped the photo below with my phone. If I went back inside to get a camera, the moon would've been a little higher and not as beautiful (in my opinion).