|
|
| Titan Fly-by - 22 June 2009 |
| On Monday, 22 June, the Cassini spacecraft returns to Titan for the mission's fifty-eighth targeted encounter with Saturn's largest moon: T-57. The closest approach to Titan occurs at 18:32:35 UTC, at an altitude of 955 kilometres above the moon's surface and at a speed of 6.0 kilometres per second. The latitude at closest approach is 42.2°S and the encounter occurs on orbit number 113. |
| Date: 19 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| Herschel's sneak preview: PACS images of M51 |
| On 14 June 2009, precisely one month after launch, Herschel opened its eyes as the cryocover, the cryostat lid, was commanded to open. The images obtained by the PACS instrument during the remainder of the operational day (14-15 June) are shown below. |
| Date: 19 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| Cluster & Double Star: 1000 publications |
| The Cluster and Double Star missions have reached the milestone of 1000 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals. After almost nine years in space, the four Cluster spacecraft, which are still in good health, continue to produce new science and cross new regions of space. Last year, 2008, produced the most publications in a single year since launch. |
| Date: 18 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| From SMART-1 to LRO/LCROSS: precursors for lunar exploration |
| On the occasion of the launch of the two NASA missions LRO and LCROSS (due on Thursday 18 June, 21:12 GMT), we have asked some questions to Bernard H. Foing (BHF), ESA project scientist for SMART-1 and Executive director for the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG). |
| Date: 17 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| At last! After 10 years a new Soft Gamma Repeater is observed |
| Detailed observations of the first new Soft Gamma Repeater in 10 years strengthen the unified view of the magnetar phenomenon; the INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton target of opportunity programmes played a fundamental role in obtaining these successful observations of SGR 0501+4516. This is reported by Nanda Rea and colleagues in an article in the MNRAS published online on 15 June 2009. |
| Date: 16 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| Dutch astronomy-themed stamps feature ESA missions |
| To commemorate the launch this year of two major ESA astronomical spacecraft, Herschel and Planck, and in recognition of the International Year of Astronomy, Royal TNT Post in the Netherlands has issued a collection of limited edition stamps, entitled 'The Universe - Yours to Discover'. |
| Date: 16 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| SMART-1 latest maps for Kaguya's lunar impact |
| Japan's lunar orbiter Kaguya yesterday concluded its successful scientific mission with a controlled impact on the lunar surface. The impact occurred at 18:25 UT on the Moon's near side, close to the limb, at lunar coordinates ~80.4°E and ~65.5°S. The location and time made the impact visible from Earth's southern hemisphere, and one early result has already been reported from the AAT telescope in Australia. |
| Date: 11 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| Commissioning Hubble - preparing for science observations |
| The fifth and final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope may be over but for the ESA Hubble scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, USA, the end of the servicing mission signalled the start of a period of intense investigation and analysis as the two new, and two repaired, instruments are commissioned and prepared for scientific observations. |
| Date: 09 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| Titan Fly-by - 6 June 2009 |
| On Saturday, 6 June, the Cassini spacecraft returns to Titan for the mission's fifty-seventh targeted encounter with Saturn's largest moon: T-56. The closest approach to Titan occurs at 20:00 UTC, at an altitude of 965 kilometres above the moon's surface and at a speed of 6.0 kilometres per second. The latitude at closest approach is 32.1°S and the encounter occurs on orbit number 112. |
| Date: 04 Jun 2009 |
|
|
| Groningen Discovery Truck continues its journey of infrared inspiration |
| The Groningen Discovery Truck is continuing to bring the excitement of the infrared and Herschel, ESA's newest infrared space observatory, to a wide variety of audiences across Europe. In the first five months of the International Year of Astronomy around 20 000 visitors, including 13 000 school students, have passed through its doors to experience the world through infrared eyes. The main purpose of the Discovery Truck is to stimulate an interest in, and understanding of, science among secondary school students. However, to reach the widest possible audience, the Truck will also be present at special public events during 2009. |
| Date: 29 May 2009 |
|
|
| XMM-Newton probes the inner mechanisms of Active Galactic Nuclei |
| Spectral analysis of XMM-Newton observations of 1H0707-495 (a narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy) has for the first time revealed the presence of broad K and L iron lines. The simultaneous detection reveals hitherto unobserved details of the geometry and dynamics of the supermassive black hole at the centre of this galaxy. This is reported by Fabian et al in the 28 May 2009 issue of Nature. |
| Date: 27 May 2009 |
|
|
| AKARI (ASTRO-F) Post-Helium Phase Announcement of Opportunity |
| Dear Colleague,
I am pleased to invite you to respond to the "Announcement of Opportunity" to submit proposals for observations to be performed with AKARI in the 2nd year of its Post-Helium phase. |
| Date: 25 May 2009 |
|
|
| Historic Hubble Servicing Mission 4 ends with successful landing [heic0908] |
| The historic and successful Hubble Servicing Mission 4 concluded with a trouble-free Space Shuttle landing on Sunday. During a series of unprecedented spacewalks, astronauts replaced and repaired a total of four instruments. The Wide Field Camera 3 and Cosmic Origins Spectrograph were installed and the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph were successfully repaired. |
| Date: 24 May 2009 |
|
|
| Herschel and Planck commissioning has begun |
| After a perfect injection by the Ariane 5 launcher on 14 May, the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) for Herschel and Planck has started to wind down, while commissioning of the scientific instruments and subsystems on both spacecraft has begun. |
| Date: 20 May 2009 |
|
|
| Titan Fly-by - 21 May 2009 |
| On Thursday, 21 May, Cassini returns to Saturn's largest moon for the mission's fifty-sixth targeted encounter with Titan: T55. The closest approach to Titan occurs at 21:26:41 UTC at an altitude of 965 kilometres above the surface and at a speed of 6.0 kilometres per second. The latitude at closest approach is 22°S and the encounter occurs on orbit number 111. |
| Date: 19 May 2009 |
|
|
| ESA en route to the origins of the Universe |
| ESA PR 10-2009: Two of the most ambitious missions ever attempted to unveil the secrets of the darkest, coldest and oldest parts of the Universe got off to a successful start this afternoon with the dual launch of ESA's far infrared space telescope Herschel and cosmic background mapper Planck on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
|
| Date: 14 May 2009 |
|
|
| Ariane 5 carrying Herschel and Planck lifts off |
| At 15:12:02 CEST, at the beginning of a 55-minute launch window, the Herschel and Planck satellite pair lifted off on board an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
|
| Date: 14 May 2009 |
|
|
| Two major ESA astronomical missions set for launch |
| The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch two major astronomical spacecraft, Herschel and Planck, at 15:12 CEST (13:12 UTC) on 14 May 2009 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Proudly displayed on the fairing of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher will be the logo and motto of the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
|
| Date: 13 May 2009 |
|
|
| ESA support team in action for HST servicing mission |
| The fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is now underway. Although most eyes will be on the astronauts as they carry out the instrument replacement activities a lot of behind-the-scenes work will be going on in support of these activities. This includes the work of a dedicated ESA engineering support team monitoring the ESA hardware on the HST. |
| Date: 13 May 2009 |
|
|
| Herschel and Planck are on the launch pad |
14 May 2009: The launch can be followed live on the ESA mogulus channel, and on the Arianespace webcast pages:
See timeline of key events for the Herschel and Planck launch at the end of this page.
|
| Date: 13 May 2009 |
|
|
