Here's a really cool & easy night sky observing treat for those on the USA's Eastern Seaboard. The waxing gibbous Moon will pass in front of a bright star, Regulus, the night of April 25th.
You need to look up times for your specific area to see the cool part: when the star suddenly winks out.
Don't forget to duck today as 2013 GM3, an asteroid the size of a small tractor-trailer, passes by Earth just inside the orbit of the Moon.
Silver lining: if they stink then I might be able to get bleacher tickets for less than $150
What struck me most about Artemis II was how casual and cool both the crew and ground controllers sounded for the whole ten-day flight.
They both sounded like they were genuinely having fun, in addition to practicing every checklist and maneuver until they could read them out in their sleep.
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could turn an asteroid into a comet, they didn't stop to think if they should turn an asteroid into a comet
Boston, yes! I will see you there!
A waxing gibbous Moon sits just above the treetops in a perfectly clear, blue sky
It took until Mission Day 7, but the clouds finally cleared in Boston and I got my first view of the Moon since the Artemis II crew lifted off last week.
The extremely famous "Earthrise" photo taken by William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission. A small, partially lit Earth hangs in the center of a black sky. In the foreground, the gray, cratered surface of the Moon looms large.
In 1980s North Carolina, there was a little girl with the famous Apollo 8 Earthrise photo on her wall.
Today that little girl, Christina Koch, becomes the first woman to watch an Earthrise in person when the #artemisII mission slingshots around the Moon.
Today's #artemisII wake up message included a greeting from Apollo veteran Jim Lovell, welcoming the crew to his "old neighborhood."
His advice for today's historic flyby? Don't forget to enjoy the view.
Checking the #artemisII livestream every few minutes this morning, and you can *feel* the Moon getting closer.
Happy new human distance record day!
The #artemisII astronauts got a wake-up message from Apollo 16 Moonwalker Charlie Duke today. Chills!
One Angry Man
You've been a monochrome caricature in my head for like fifteen years. This is better!
Looks like you've got your work cut out for you once again...
Four astronauts in khakis and pullovers are crammed into a corner of a medium-sized space capsule. Equipment and supplies are secured to the walls of the capsule with black netting. In the foreground, a small plush Moon wearing an Earth hat is visible. The astronauts look happy and relaxed.
So amazing to see the #artemisII crew relaxed and enjoying their downlink chats with the media while on their way out to swing around the Moon.
One of the more poetic facts about the mission so far.
Four humans sitting in a tin can on the Earth's surface. Thirteen minutes later, farther from Earth than anyone in five decades.
Speaking with the press, it seems the main complaint from the #artemisII crew is that the cabin feels a little chilly. Victor Glover can't wait to put his knit cap back on. Artemis III better bring the heavy-duty sleeping bags.
I know people are coming into #artemisII from so many different places, but as someone who has been anticipating and talking about humans headed back to the Moon for almost two decades...it's surreal. It's really happening.
I am wondering if the #artemisII crew have plans for any kind of ceremony to mark the occasion when the Orion capsule reaches its furthest distance from Earth.
With future Artemis missions to the surface that might not need the same type of trajectory, this new record could stand for decades
Ziti-sized is a wonderful size comparison. Putting it in the rotation.
Turned on the #artemisII feed this morning just in time to hear Christina Koch radio Houston, ask about the timeline for wake-up music, and say goodnight.
Sleep tight crew!
They're on their way! #artemisII #nasa
We're back in! T-4 minutes!
HOLD HOLD HOLD
Fairly common for rocket launches, so let's wait to see how long to troubleshoot #nasa #artemisII
The #ArtemisII crew aren't going just a bit farther than we have since 1972. They will be one *thousand* times farther from Earth than the #iss
For scale, imagine Earth as Connecticut and our furthest spaceflight in 54 years as a trip 5 miles past the border. Today's crew is headed to Denver #nasa
Today, we go back to the Moon.
The 322-foot SLS rocket is now filling with fuel. We're less than ten hours away from the first steps that will lead to the next giant leap for Earthlings.
It's confirmed that the Artemis II crew are at the Astronaut Beach House with their families tonight, a tradition that dates back to the early days of spaceflight. #artmemis #nasa
Today's poll was go, and NASA is actively counting down to the Artemis II launch Wednesday evening! It's happening, people! #artemis #nasa
Four astronauts in blue flight suits sit close together on a bench. Two hold microphones. Their expressions are thoughtful. Each of them wears two watches.
The #artemis astronauts are taking questions from their ongoing quarantine ahead of their planned Wednesday launch around the Moon!
One image shows a parachuting shell above Mars. It supports a scaffolding below. Three mini helicopters are attached to the scaffolding. The second image shows the same, from below, after the helicopters spin up and begin flying away.
As laughably implausible as sending a nuclear-propelled mission to Mars as soon as the late 2028 window is, the idea of three little helicopter musketeers popping out of a parachuting backshell IS. SO. UNBELIEVABLY. COOL. #nasa #ignition