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In the Sky this Week – April 20, 2021

By Robert Trembley  |  20 Apr 2021  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

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This entry is part 192 of 244 in the series In the Sky This Week

Mars Helicopter takes Flight!

The Ingenuity rovercraft has taken flight in the thin atmosphere of Mars, and it has looked down upon its shadow. It’s almost poetic that a tiny swatch of muslin fabric from the Wright Brother’s Flyer I is attached to the underside of Ingenuity’s solar panels. I’m so excited, I can barely contain myself!

I saw a report on my local news showing a gob-smacked reporter holding one of Ingenuity’s wings, and commenting how paper-light it was; I’d seriously like to see students have that same reaction! NASA should develop some sort of outreach program where teachers can get ahold of an Ingenuity wing replica for their classrooms – I’ve asked my volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador contacts if this is possible.

Witness the historic moment in full. The Mastcam-Z cameras on @NASAPersevere show us the takeoff, hovering and landing of the #MarsHelicopter. pic.twitter.com/ypdIWmC4D1

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) April 19, 2021

The little rotorcraft that could.🚁💨

Ingenuity documented its historic ascent today. Here's the #MarsHelicopter's POV during first flight. That's its shadow on the ground below. pic.twitter.com/wXgLyTDbjm

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) April 19, 2021

  • The Sky
  • The Moon
  • The Sun
  • Asteroids
  • Fireballs
  • The Solar System
  • Spacecraft News
  • Exoplanets
  • Aurora
  • Light Pollution
  • The Universe

Mars appears above the constellations Orion and Taurus in the western sky after sunset all week.

Western sky after sunset
Mars in the western sky after sunset. Credit: Bob Trembley / Stellarium.

The Moon appears near the star Regulus high in the southwestern sky after sunset on April 21st and 22nd.

Southwestern sky after sunset
The Moon near the star Regulus in the southwestern sky on April 21st. Credit: Bob Trembley / Stellarium.

The Moon appears near the star Spica in the southeastern sky after sunset on April 25th.

Southeastern sky after sunset
The Moon near Spica in the southeastern sky after sunset on April 25th. Credit: Bob Trembley / Stellarium.

Jupiter and Saturn appear in the southeastern predawn sky all week.

Southeastern predawn sky
Jupiter and Saturn in the southeastern predawn sky. Credit: Bob Trembley / Stellarium.

The sky overhead after sunset (from the northern hemisphere) on April 21st:

Sky overhead
The sky overhead after sunset on April 21st. Credit: Bob Trembley / Stellarium.

The Moon is at First Quarter Moon (April 20th) – it will be visible high in the southern sky in early evening.

After April 20th, the Moon will be a Waxing Gibbous – visible to the southeast in early evening, and up for most of the night. This whole week will be great for telescope observing of the Moon after sunset!

Moon
The Moon from 2021-04-20 – 2021-04-26. Visualizations by Ernie Wright / NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.

If you click on the Moon image above, or click this link, you will go to NASA’s Moon Phase and Libration, 2021 page – it will show you what the Moon looks like right now. If you click the image on that page, you will download a high-rez TIFF image annotated with the names of prominent features – helpful for logging your lunar observations!

Moon News:

The Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy is really looking great. The American flag and NASA logo were recently repainted for @NASAArtemis. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/dWq4FzeuAY

— NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (@NASAGroundSys) April 19, 2021

Sunspot AR2816 poses a threat for M-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI/SpaceWeather.com.

The Sun has 2 spots, and one is blowing flares – a reminder that solar flares can have negative effects on human-made electromagnetic infrastructure:

“M-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Sunspot AR2816 erupted during the late hours of April 19th (2342 UT), producing a strong M1-class solar flare. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash (see video below).

This is one of the strongest flares of young Solar Cycle 25. A pulse of X-rays and ultraviolet radiation from the flare ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean: blackout map. Mariners and ham radio operators in the area might have noticed unusual propagation conditions at frequencies below 10 MHz.

There is a chance that the explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. If so, it would probably arrive on April 22-23. The jury’s still out, though. We need to wait for more data from SOHO coronagraphs to confirm the CME.” – SpaceWeather.com.

Intense coronal loop activity in several spots; the southern coronal hole remains large, and appears to have merged with a larger coronal hole on the Sun’s face – making the southern hole look lop-sided.

https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/dailymov/2021/04/19/20210419_1024_0193.mp4
The Sun seen in 193 angstroms on April 19, 2021

Prominences, everywhere! Hedgerow in the lower-right! (I LOVE hedgerow prominences!)

https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/dailymov/2021/04/19/20210419_1024_0304.mp4
The Sun seen in 304 angstroms on April 19, 2021
Videos courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.
You can view the Sun in near real-time, in multiple frequencies here: SDO-The Sun Now.
You can create your own time-lapse movies of the Sun here: AIA/HMI Browse Data.
You can browse all the SDO images of the Sun from 2010 to the present here: Browse SDO archive.

 

Solar Activity on Facebook – Run by Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Pamela Shivak

Sun
SOLARACTIVITY PICTURE OF THE DAY for Monday, April 19th, 2021 goes out to Giampaolo Salvato for this great hi-res shot. Giampaolo commented: “Today AR 2816,refractor homemade truss 205mm focal length mm.7.200 with 4x Telecentric lens and filter Daystar Quantum P.e.”

Solar Corona

Solar wind speed is 583.7 km/sec, with a density of 6.6 protons/cm3 at 1140 UT.

Near real-time animation of the corona and solar wind from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO):

SOHO LASCO C2 Latest Image
Animated LASCO C2 Coronograph showing the solar corona above the Sun’s limb (the white circle). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech-SOHO

Sun News:

#ParkerSolarProbe has given scientists the first complete look at Venus’ orbital dust ring, a collection of microscopic dust particles that circulates around the Sun along Venus’ orbit. https://t.co/48CaAwboZW pic.twitter.com/xTQ0sPCOIt

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) April 16, 2021

  • Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) discovered this month: : 265 this year: 976, all time: 25,791 (+119)
  • Potentially hazardous asteroids: 2181 (+5, updated 2021-04-20)
  • Total Minor Planets discovered (NASA): 1,075,796 (+2226)
  • Total Minor Planets discovered (MPC): 1,043,047 (updated 2021-03-16)

Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:

Asteroid Date(UT) Miss Distance Velocity (km/s) Diameter (m)
2021 GX7 2021-Apr-20 6.5 LD 11 16
2019 HQ 2021-Apr-20 14.8 LD 8.8 20
2021 HD 2021-Apr-20 10.5 LD 11.3 20
2021 GJ3 2021-Apr-21 3.9 LD 13.5 63
2021 GD3 2021-Apr-21 10.8 LD 3.5 15
2021 GZ9 2021-Apr-22 16 LD 3.2 19
2021 GO16 2021-Apr-22 17.2 LD 12.6 50
2020 HO5 2021-Apr-22 16.5 LD 3.3 7
2021 GP4 2021-Apr-23 18 LD 8.9 35
2019 PS1 2021-Apr-23 14.5 LD 10 16
2016 QE45 2021-Apr-24 13.2 LD 15.3 162
2021 HG1 2021-Apr-24 6.4 LD 10.3 13
2021 FK3 2021-Apr-24 15.8 LD 14 119
2021 GF8 2021-Apr-26 5.5 LD 7.1 27
2015 HA177 2021-Apr-26 19.3 LD 8.8 10
2019 HF4 2021-Apr-26 7.8 LD 6.8 11
2021 GG11 2021-Apr-27 4.8 LD 14.8 88
2021 GT9 2021-Apr-28 10.9 LD 5.9 16
2021 HQ1 2021-Apr-28 18.1 LD 4.5 19
2021 HH 2021-Apr-29 14.4 LD 16.5 33
2021 HU 2021-Apr-29 9.8 LD 10.9 29
2021 EZ4 2021-Apr-29 14.9 LD 2.5 21
2021 HA 2021-Apr-30 7.8 LD 5.9 26
2021 HB1 2021-Apr-30 12.2 LD 10.7 32
2019 VT3 2021-May-01 12.1 LD 5.9 8
2021 HH1 2021-May-01 16.3 LD 15.2 69
2021 HT1 2021-May-04 13.9 LD 11.2 18
2021 AF8 2021-May-04 8.8 LD 9.4 344
2018 JP 2021-May-05 10.7 LD 7.8 12
2021 AE4 2021-May-06 18.5 LD 9.1 153
2021 HF1 2021-May-07 12.4 LD 2.8 10
2021 GM10 2021-May-10 12.7 LD 5.8 36
2021 GK1 2021-May-11 1.5 LD 2 13
2015 KJ19 2021-May-14 15.1 LD 23 118
478784 2021-May-18 15.8 LD 5 27
2021 FN4 2021-May-24 6.1 LD 8.3 86
2013 VO11 2021-May-25 3.5 LD 10.2 8
2018 LB 2021-Jun-01 2.9 LD 7.7 22
Notes: LD means “Lunar Distance.” 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. Table from SpaceWeather.com

Asteroid News:

ICYMI: On Mar. 21, #asteroid 2001 FO32 safely passed by Earth about 1.25 million miles away. #PlanetaryDefense experts used this flyby opportunity to capture radar data, helping refine the asteroid’s size and increase the precision of its orbit.

More: https://t.co/xL9EXrJpxI pic.twitter.com/bB2FhTFJIQ

— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) April 7, 2021

Four researchers were selected to join the Investigation Team for #DART, @NASA's first #PlanetaryDefense test mission.

The newly selected scientists will help enhance science return from the mission after DART’s impact with #asteroid Dimorphos.

More: https://t.co/h9o0W4NHKZ pic.twitter.com/9MO1WVk7sB

— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) April 15, 2021

On April 5, 2021, the NASA All Sky Fireball Network reported 24 fireballs!
(24 sporadics)

In this diagram of the inner solar system, all of the fireball orbits intersect at a single point–Earth. The orbits are color-coded by velocity, from slow (red) to fast (blue). Credit: SpaceWeather.com

Fireball News:

Everything you need to know about the #Lyrids
(that will peak on April 22nd!)https://t.co/RS23r6nF41 pic.twitter.com/WrFObOQafa

— AMSMETEORS (@amsmeteors) April 19, 2021

This fireball was bright enough to be seen from across the U.S. Southeast, and even from space!#fireballl #meteor #space #astronomy #Florida @amsmeteors https://t.co/sWf2GeKa0f

— Scott Sutherland, Science Writer (@ScottWx_TWN) April 13, 2021

If you see a bright meteor or a fireball, please REPORT IT to the American Meteor Society and the International Meteor Organization!

Position of the planets & several spacecraft in the inner solar system on April 20th. The Parker Solar Probe will soon be crossing the orbit of Mercury, heading toward perihelion #8 on April 29th. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft remains nearby asteroid Bennu until May 10th:

Inner Solar System
Position of the planets and several spacecraft in the inner solar system on April 20th, 2021. Credit: Bob Trembley / NASA Eyes on the Solar System

Position of the planets in the middle solar system:

Middle Solar System
Position of the planets in the middle solar system on April 20th, 2021 – the orbit of comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko is highlighted. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System

Position of the planets, and a several transneptunian objects in the outer solar system.

Position of the planets and several transneptunian objects in the inner solar system on April 12th, 2021. Credit: Bob Trembley / NASA Eyes on the Solar System

OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission:

Hot off the presses! NASA's #OSIRISREx spacecraft has left its mark on asteroid Bennu. This new image, taken during the spacecraft's final flyover on April 7, reveals the aftermath of sample collection. https://t.co/89XjV2T6G0 #ToBennuAndBack pic.twitter.com/HATDkLZWQi

— NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) April 15, 2021

International Space Station:

In the early morning hours of April 20, teams will complete the final major review for @NASA’s @SpaceX Crew-2 mission – the Launch Readiness Review. 🚀✅

An hour after completion, a prelaunch news conference will take place live on NASA TV. Learn more: https://t.co/r1KcvqQaxD pic.twitter.com/8C4Kz3TmLZ

— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) April 19, 2021

HiRISE – on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter:

HiPOD 19 Apr 21: Lava near Kasei Valles

Here it’s clear that there were either two south Kasei flows, or a major internal boundary. Worth a closer look since this makes it more likely that a small amount of an earlier flow is visible.https://t.co/ZJwwDZIRie

NASA/JPL/UArizona pic.twitter.com/R9XQjhxeey

— HiRISE: Beautiful Mars (NASA) (@HiRISE) April 19, 2021

Hi3D: Gullies from Layers in Asimov Crater

This pit crater contains many layers and many gullies at varying orientation. How does the morphology of the gullies differ depending on their orientation? https://t.co/GApNJkRGrq

NASA/JPL/UArizona pic.twitter.com/eSWVYjv4ON

— HiRISE: Beautiful Mars (NASA) (@HiRISE) April 19, 2021

Hubble Space Telescope:

Our latest Picture of the Week shows a close-up portrait of the magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4603, which lies over 100 million light-years away in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur).

🔗 https://t.co/EQce4bmjEC

Credit: @ESA / @Hubble_Space / @NASA , J. Maund pic.twitter.com/ZXyOk7L9RA

— HUBBLE (@HUBBLE_space) April 19, 2021

Landsat:

Eruptions at La Soufrière volcano have propelled ash & gas high into the air over Saint Vincent & Barbados in the Caribbean. The eruption is this volcano’s 1st explosive event since 1979.

Images via @NASA_Landsat (left; 4/9) & our Aqua satellite (4/10).https://t.co/mRzX96QMxB pic.twitter.com/gpxHfFVEba

— NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) April 14, 2021

Climate:

It's Earth Week! Are you registered for NASA's Virtual #EarthDay2021 Event? Here's a taste of what's happening, and be sure to share your photos and videos of your little place in space using #ConnectedByEarth: https://t.co/y3oznn76MX pic.twitter.com/v5SB4fHypp

— NASA Climate (@NASAClimate) April 19, 2021

See a list of current NASA missions here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/?type=current

Exoplanet

ex·o·plan·et /ˈeksōˌplanət/, noun: a planet orbiting a star other than the Sun.

All Exoplanets 4375
Confirmed Planets Discovered by Kepler 2394
Kepler Project Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed 2366
Confirmed Planets Discovered by K2 426
K2 Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed 889
Confirmed Planets Discovered by TESS 122
TESS Project Candidates Integrated into Archive (2021-03-27 13:00:02) 2645  (+31)
Current date TESS Project Candidates at ExoFOP 2645
TESS Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed 1453 (-10)

Data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive
* Confirmed Planets Discovered by TESS refers to the number planets that have been published in the refereed astronomical literature.
* TESS Project Candidates refers to the total number of transit-like events that appear to be astrophysical in origin, including false positives as identified by the TESS Project.
* TESS Project Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed refers to the number of TESS Project Candidates that have not yet been dispositioned as a Confirmed Planet or False Positive.

Exoplanet News

⚡️ “🚀🎉Happy 3rd launch anniversary to TESS this week!”https://t.co/fodvYoc1Ks

— NASA Exoplanets (@NASAExoplanets) April 19, 2021

Visit NASA’s Eyes on Exoplanets site and explore exoplanets in 3D: https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/exo/#/

Intense auroras. Taken by Sacha Layos  on April 18, 2021 @ Fairbanks, AK

SpaceWeather.com Realtime Aurora Gallery: https://spaceweathergallery.com/aurora_gallery.html

If you're just learning about what light pollution has to do with how we see the stars at night 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2TTftxdtpZ

— Cathrin Machin Space Art (@Cathrinmachin) April 13, 2021

Visit an International Dark Sky Park: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/parks/

If you live in Michigan, visit the Michigan Dark Skies site: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/darkskies/

For Teachers:

Neutron stars pack more mass than the Sun into a sphere about as wide as Manhattan Island is long!

Scientists are getting closer to understanding how matter behaves in these stars’ mysterious cores.

Learn more: https://t.co/xngTPz9K1a pic.twitter.com/yaGBeSNU7z

— NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) April 19, 2021

Hubble – Beautiful Universe: Abell 370

Galaxy cluster Abell 370.Credit: NASA, ESA/Hubble, HST Frontier Fields.

Abell 370 is one of the very first galaxy clusters in which astronomers observed the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, the warping of spacetime by the cluster’s gravitational field that distorts the light from galaxies lying far behind it. This manifests as arcs and streaks in the picture, which are the stretched images of background galaxies. – NASA/ESA.

Zoomable Image of Abell 370: https://esahubble.org/images/heic1711a/zoomable/


Stay safe, be well, and look up!


Software Apps used for this post:

NASA Eyes on the Solar System: an immersive 3D solar system and space mission simulator – free for the PC /MAC. I maintain the unofficial NASA Eyes Facebook page.
SpaceEngine: a free 3D Universe Simulator for Windows. Steam version with VR support available.
Stellarium: a free open source planetarium app for PC/MAC/Linux. It’s a great tool for planning observing sessions. A web-based version of Stellarium is also available.


Section header image credits:
The Sky – Stellarium / Bob Trembley
Observing Target – Turn Left at Orion / M. Skirvin
The Moon – NASA/JPL-Caltech
The Sun – NASA/JPL-Caltech
Asteroids – NASA/JPL-Caltech
Fireballs – Credited to YouTube
Comets – Comet P/Halley, March 8, 1986, W. Liller
The Solar System – NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley
Spacecraft News – NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley
Exoplanets – Space Engine / Bob Trembley
Light Pollution – NASA’s Black Marble
Aurora – Bob Trembley
The Universe – Universe Today

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More Posts in this Series:
"In the Sky This Week"

78  |  What Do We Lose When We Sacrifice Science?

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69  |  To err is human… to admit it, is science

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191  |  In the Sky this Week – April 6, 2021

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193  |  In the Sky this Week – May 4, 2021

By Robert Trembley  |  4 May 2021  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

194  |  In the Sky this Week – May 11, 2021

By Robert Trembley  |  11 May 2021  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

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