An update on that ‘gel’ on the moon

New image from China’s Yutu-2 rover, showing the bright specks of material resembling impact glass in the center of a small crater on the moon. Formerly, Chinese media were reporting this substance as “gel-like.” This image is the enhanced, high-contrast version, showing the bright specks in some detail. For the unenhanced image, see below. Image via CNSA/ CLEP/ Space.com.

Last July, China’s Yutu-2 rover discovered something with an unexpected color and luster during its travels on the far side of the moon. On September 1, a tweet from People’s Daily – largest newspaper group in China – used the words “gel-like” to describe this substance. Weird! The choice of words piqued a lot of curiosity, although some scientists stated at the time the rover had probably stumbled on something more like impact glass, created after a meteorite hits the lunar surface.

Now, it appears those scientists were right. The China Lunar Exploration Program has released a new photo of the substance, and the bright specks do resemble other impact glass – known as impactite and resembling trinitite on Earth – that’s been seen on the moon before. The photo, taken by the Yutu-2 rover’s main camera, shows the center of the small crater, with numerous small bright spots on the lunar regolith.

The image doesn’t look too unusual, just showing the grey regolith with the small bright flecks in the center of the crater. It was analyzed and processed to bring out more detail by Daniel Moriarty, a NASA Postdoctoral Program fellow at the Goddard Space Flight Center. As he explained:

The shape of the fragments appears fairly similar to other materials in the area. What this tells us is that this material has a similar history as the surrounding material. It was broken up and fractured by impacts on the lunar surface, just like the surrounding soil.

I think the most reliable information here is that the material is relatively dark. It appears to have brighter material embedded within the larger, darker regions, although there is a chance that is light glinting off a smooth surface. But we’re definitely looking at a rock.

Unenhanced image of what’s probably impact glass on the center, in the center of a small crater, likely created in a meteorite impact. Image via CNSA/ CLEP/ NASA/ GSFC/ Dan Moriarty)/ Space.com.

The material could have been excavated from deeper below the surface by the impact, or it could be a form of breccia – sedimentary rocks composed of large angular fragments over two millimeters in diameter – containing a mixture of impact glass, crust, and basaltic rock. It also resemble the “orange soil” found by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, formed from molten drops that sprayed from a lunar volcanic eruption some 3.64 billion years ago.

The new findings would appear to dash the hopes of those hoping the material would be something a bit more exotic, but it is still of great interest to scientists.

The odd material was first noticed by a Yutu-2 drive team member back in July. It was interesting enough that the drive team decided to have the rover check it out up close, instead of traveling further west, as originally planned. When Our Space, a Chinese-language science-outreach publication, used the term jiao zhuang wu (“gel-like”) to describe the material, it created a lot of speculation, needless to say.

View of the edge of the crater containing the bright material, and tire tracks from the rover. Image via CNSA/CLEP/Space.com.

The first images, however, were of low resolution, so making a determination about the material would have to wait. The rover used its Visible and Near-Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS) to analyze the bright spots. The drive team was cautious though, as there was some concern the rover might get stuck in the crater. Additional analysis was done in August, but so far the results have not been announced yet.

Yutu-2, along with the lander, Chang’e-4, touched down in Von Kármán Crater on the far side of the moon on January 3, 2019. Since then, the small rover has travelled approximately 950 feet (289 meters). That may not sound like a lot, but the rover and lander need to power down during the two-week-long and bitterly cold lunar nights, when temperatures can plunge to -310 degrees Fahrenheit (-190 degrees Celsius). The rover also make periodic stops to inspect interesting features on the ground, like the impact glass. Since landing, the rover has experienced 10 lunar days so far. Lunar day 11 began on October 22, 2019.

In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts discovered unusual orange-colored soil on the moon. The material discovered by Yutu-2 may be something similar. Image via NASA/Space.com.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) also assists in keeping track of the rover from orbit, making periodic passes over the landing site.

China’s previous moon rover, Yutu, landed on December 14, 2013 as part of the Chang’e-3 mission. The mission last 31 months, until July 31, 2016.

So if the new image is any indication, the “gel-like” substance found by Yutu-2 isn’t too mysterious after all. As previously noted, the word gel was probably a case of miscommunication or mis-interpretation from the Chinese reports. But the finding is still important, scientifically. It can be compared to other discoveries of impact glass, including that by Apollo 12, and provide new clues as to how the moon formed and evolved.

The Yutu-2 rover as seen from the Chang’e-4 lander, in early January 2019. Image via CNSA/CLEP/The Planetary Society.

Bottom line: A new image of the odd “gel-like” material seen by China’s Yutu-2 rover on the moon appears to show that it is impact glass, similar to that found previously by the Apollo 17 astronauts.

Via Space.com

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2BNtP07

New image from China’s Yutu-2 rover, showing the bright specks of material resembling impact glass in the center of a small crater on the moon. Formerly, Chinese media were reporting this substance as “gel-like.” This image is the enhanced, high-contrast version, showing the bright specks in some detail. For the unenhanced image, see below. Image via CNSA/ CLEP/ Space.com.

Last July, China’s Yutu-2 rover discovered something with an unexpected color and luster during its travels on the far side of the moon. On September 1, a tweet from People’s Daily – largest newspaper group in China – used the words “gel-like” to describe this substance. Weird! The choice of words piqued a lot of curiosity, although some scientists stated at the time the rover had probably stumbled on something more like impact glass, created after a meteorite hits the lunar surface.

Now, it appears those scientists were right. The China Lunar Exploration Program has released a new photo of the substance, and the bright specks do resemble other impact glass – known as impactite and resembling trinitite on Earth – that’s been seen on the moon before. The photo, taken by the Yutu-2 rover’s main camera, shows the center of the small crater, with numerous small bright spots on the lunar regolith.

The image doesn’t look too unusual, just showing the grey regolith with the small bright flecks in the center of the crater. It was analyzed and processed to bring out more detail by Daniel Moriarty, a NASA Postdoctoral Program fellow at the Goddard Space Flight Center. As he explained:

The shape of the fragments appears fairly similar to other materials in the area. What this tells us is that this material has a similar history as the surrounding material. It was broken up and fractured by impacts on the lunar surface, just like the surrounding soil.

I think the most reliable information here is that the material is relatively dark. It appears to have brighter material embedded within the larger, darker regions, although there is a chance that is light glinting off a smooth surface. But we’re definitely looking at a rock.

Unenhanced image of what’s probably impact glass on the center, in the center of a small crater, likely created in a meteorite impact. Image via CNSA/ CLEP/ NASA/ GSFC/ Dan Moriarty)/ Space.com.

The material could have been excavated from deeper below the surface by the impact, or it could be a form of breccia – sedimentary rocks composed of large angular fragments over two millimeters in diameter – containing a mixture of impact glass, crust, and basaltic rock. It also resemble the “orange soil” found by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, formed from molten drops that sprayed from a lunar volcanic eruption some 3.64 billion years ago.

The new findings would appear to dash the hopes of those hoping the material would be something a bit more exotic, but it is still of great interest to scientists.

The odd material was first noticed by a Yutu-2 drive team member back in July. It was interesting enough that the drive team decided to have the rover check it out up close, instead of traveling further west, as originally planned. When Our Space, a Chinese-language science-outreach publication, used the term jiao zhuang wu (“gel-like”) to describe the material, it created a lot of speculation, needless to say.

View of the edge of the crater containing the bright material, and tire tracks from the rover. Image via CNSA/CLEP/Space.com.

The first images, however, were of low resolution, so making a determination about the material would have to wait. The rover used its Visible and Near-Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS) to analyze the bright spots. The drive team was cautious though, as there was some concern the rover might get stuck in the crater. Additional analysis was done in August, but so far the results have not been announced yet.

Yutu-2, along with the lander, Chang’e-4, touched down in Von Kármán Crater on the far side of the moon on January 3, 2019. Since then, the small rover has travelled approximately 950 feet (289 meters). That may not sound like a lot, but the rover and lander need to power down during the two-week-long and bitterly cold lunar nights, when temperatures can plunge to -310 degrees Fahrenheit (-190 degrees Celsius). The rover also make periodic stops to inspect interesting features on the ground, like the impact glass. Since landing, the rover has experienced 10 lunar days so far. Lunar day 11 began on October 22, 2019.

In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts discovered unusual orange-colored soil on the moon. The material discovered by Yutu-2 may be something similar. Image via NASA/Space.com.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) also assists in keeping track of the rover from orbit, making periodic passes over the landing site.

China’s previous moon rover, Yutu, landed on December 14, 2013 as part of the Chang’e-3 mission. The mission last 31 months, until July 31, 2016.

So if the new image is any indication, the “gel-like” substance found by Yutu-2 isn’t too mysterious after all. As previously noted, the word gel was probably a case of miscommunication or mis-interpretation from the Chinese reports. But the finding is still important, scientifically. It can be compared to other discoveries of impact glass, including that by Apollo 12, and provide new clues as to how the moon formed and evolved.

The Yutu-2 rover as seen from the Chang’e-4 lander, in early January 2019. Image via CNSA/CLEP/The Planetary Society.

Bottom line: A new image of the odd “gel-like” material seen by China’s Yutu-2 rover on the moon appears to show that it is impact glass, similar to that found previously by the Apollo 17 astronauts.

Via Space.com

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Is Earth on fire?

View larger. | Global fires detected in August 2018 in contrast to August 2019. The Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas recorded 79,000 wildfires in August 2019, compared to just over 16,000 fires during the same period in 2018. Image via ESA.

Is Earth on fire? The European Space Agency was asking this question late last week (October 25, 2019), as multiple fires burned in Lebanon, in California, and elsewhere on the globe. Is Earth on fire, and, if it is, how do we know? How do scientists track earthly fires from one year to the next? How do they distinguish between a “normal” years for wildfires – since wildfire is indeed a normal and natural occurrence on Earth – and an exceptional year, like 2019? ESA wrote:

[The fires in Lebanon and California] are just some of the many fires 2019 has seen. Fires in the Amazon sparked a global outcry this summer, but fires have also been blazing in the Arctic, France, Greece, Indonesia as well as many other areas in the world.

ESA said that in the context of announcing an updated tool for tracking fires around the globe, called the Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas, whose prototype product and algorithm were presented at an international conference in Rome on October 3. ESA explained some insights gathered with the new tool this way:

Data from the Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas shows that there were almost five times as many wildfires in August 2019 compared to August 2018, but a detailed analysis reveals precisely where these fires have been occurring – most of which were in Asia.

The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission recorded 79,000 fires in August this year, compared to just over 16,000 fires detected during the same period last year. These figures were achieved by using data from the Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas Prototype, which is also able to provide a breakdown of these fires per continent.

The data reveal 49% of fires were detected in Asia, around 28% were detected in South America, 16% in Africa, and the remaining were recorded in North America, Europe and Oceania.

EarthSky 2020 lunar calendars are available! They make great gifts. Order now. Going fast!

The trend of wildfires detected in 2019 are shown in red, while fires detected in 2018 can be seen in green. The Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas shows 70,000+ fires in August 2019, compared to just over 16,632 fires in August 2018. Image via ESA.

ESA explained that sensors on the Sentinel-3 satellite work:

… like thermometers in the sky [measuring] thermal infrared radiation to take the temperature of Earth’s land surfaces. This information is used to detect and monitor the heat emitted by the fires.

And, ESA added:

Even if the atlas cannot pick up all fires due to satellite overpass constraints and cloud coverage, it is statistically representative from one month to the other and from one year to the other.

Speaking specifically of the year 2019, ESA’s Olivier Arino commented:

We have never seen an increase of wildfires of this kind since the ATSR World Fire Atlas was created in 1995.

View larger. | Each orange dot in this FIRMS Fire Map image from October 26, 2019, represents a hotspot detected over the previous 24 hours by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA’s Terra and Aqua Earth observing satellites. Image courtesy of NASA FIRMS.

The European Space Agency isn’t alone in tracking fires around the globe, of course. NASA’s raw fire data comes largely from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments aboard its Terra and Aqua satellites. According to an article titled Wildfires Can’t Hide from Earth Observing Satellites – by Josh Blumenfeld of NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) – you can sign up with NASA to receive Fire Alerts. Blumenfeld wrote:

Between July 15 and 22, 2019, [a NASA-affiliated product called] the Global Forest Watch Fires – an online platform that monitors and responds to forest and land fires – sent out 782,366 worldwide Fire Alerts via email. A majority of alerts over this seven-day period were sent to subscribers in Russia (178,484), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (136,087), Angola (109,512), and Zambia (52,801).

While these fires burn, though, they can’t hide. Even in the most remote corners of the globe, their heat signatures can be detected by sensors aboard Earth observing satellites. The ability to rapidly provide information about the approximate location and movement of individual wildfires using instruments aboard Earth observing satellites is a global success story that is helping save lives and property.

Sign up here to receive Fire Alerts from NASA FIRMS

Also, in August, 2019, NASA announced the Global Fire Atlas, which it called:

… an easily accessible database chronicling the dynamics of 13.3 million fires [between 2003 and 2016].

This atlas operates differently from ESA’s World Fire Atlas, providing:

For each fire, the atlas contains detailed information about when each fire started and ended, in what direction it spread, how quickly it moved, and more.

Go to NASA’s new Global Fire Atlas

Bottom line: Tracking wildfires is part of the service provided by both NASA and ESA satellites. An ESA spokesperson said that the year 2019 saw an increase in the number of wildfires seen, bigger than any increase since ESA’s World Fire Atlas was created in 1995.

Via ESA: Is Earth on Fire?

Via NASA: A New Global Fire Atlas

Via NASA: Wildfires Can’t Hide from Earth Observing Satellites

Read more: 6 Trends to Know about Fire Season in the Western U.S. from NASA Earth Observatory

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2PxLmld

View larger. | Global fires detected in August 2018 in contrast to August 2019. The Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas recorded 79,000 wildfires in August 2019, compared to just over 16,000 fires during the same period in 2018. Image via ESA.

Is Earth on fire? The European Space Agency was asking this question late last week (October 25, 2019), as multiple fires burned in Lebanon, in California, and elsewhere on the globe. Is Earth on fire, and, if it is, how do we know? How do scientists track earthly fires from one year to the next? How do they distinguish between a “normal” years for wildfires – since wildfire is indeed a normal and natural occurrence on Earth – and an exceptional year, like 2019? ESA wrote:

[The fires in Lebanon and California] are just some of the many fires 2019 has seen. Fires in the Amazon sparked a global outcry this summer, but fires have also been blazing in the Arctic, France, Greece, Indonesia as well as many other areas in the world.

ESA said that in the context of announcing an updated tool for tracking fires around the globe, called the Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas, whose prototype product and algorithm were presented at an international conference in Rome on October 3. ESA explained some insights gathered with the new tool this way:

Data from the Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas shows that there were almost five times as many wildfires in August 2019 compared to August 2018, but a detailed analysis reveals precisely where these fires have been occurring – most of which were in Asia.

The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission recorded 79,000 fires in August this year, compared to just over 16,000 fires detected during the same period last year. These figures were achieved by using data from the Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas Prototype, which is also able to provide a breakdown of these fires per continent.

The data reveal 49% of fires were detected in Asia, around 28% were detected in South America, 16% in Africa, and the remaining were recorded in North America, Europe and Oceania.

EarthSky 2020 lunar calendars are available! They make great gifts. Order now. Going fast!

The trend of wildfires detected in 2019 are shown in red, while fires detected in 2018 can be seen in green. The Sentinel-3 World Fire Atlas shows 70,000+ fires in August 2019, compared to just over 16,632 fires in August 2018. Image via ESA.

ESA explained that sensors on the Sentinel-3 satellite work:

… like thermometers in the sky [measuring] thermal infrared radiation to take the temperature of Earth’s land surfaces. This information is used to detect and monitor the heat emitted by the fires.

And, ESA added:

Even if the atlas cannot pick up all fires due to satellite overpass constraints and cloud coverage, it is statistically representative from one month to the other and from one year to the other.

Speaking specifically of the year 2019, ESA’s Olivier Arino commented:

We have never seen an increase of wildfires of this kind since the ATSR World Fire Atlas was created in 1995.

View larger. | Each orange dot in this FIRMS Fire Map image from October 26, 2019, represents a hotspot detected over the previous 24 hours by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA’s Terra and Aqua Earth observing satellites. Image courtesy of NASA FIRMS.

The European Space Agency isn’t alone in tracking fires around the globe, of course. NASA’s raw fire data comes largely from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments aboard its Terra and Aqua satellites. According to an article titled Wildfires Can’t Hide from Earth Observing Satellites – by Josh Blumenfeld of NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) – you can sign up with NASA to receive Fire Alerts. Blumenfeld wrote:

Between July 15 and 22, 2019, [a NASA-affiliated product called] the Global Forest Watch Fires – an online platform that monitors and responds to forest and land fires – sent out 782,366 worldwide Fire Alerts via email. A majority of alerts over this seven-day period were sent to subscribers in Russia (178,484), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (136,087), Angola (109,512), and Zambia (52,801).

While these fires burn, though, they can’t hide. Even in the most remote corners of the globe, their heat signatures can be detected by sensors aboard Earth observing satellites. The ability to rapidly provide information about the approximate location and movement of individual wildfires using instruments aboard Earth observing satellites is a global success story that is helping save lives and property.

Sign up here to receive Fire Alerts from NASA FIRMS

Also, in August, 2019, NASA announced the Global Fire Atlas, which it called:

… an easily accessible database chronicling the dynamics of 13.3 million fires [between 2003 and 2016].

This atlas operates differently from ESA’s World Fire Atlas, providing:

For each fire, the atlas contains detailed information about when each fire started and ended, in what direction it spread, how quickly it moved, and more.

Go to NASA’s new Global Fire Atlas

Bottom line: Tracking wildfires is part of the service provided by both NASA and ESA satellites. An ESA spokesperson said that the year 2019 saw an increase in the number of wildfires seen, bigger than any increase since ESA’s World Fire Atlas was created in 1995.

Via ESA: Is Earth on Fire?

Via NASA: A New Global Fire Atlas

Via NASA: Wildfires Can’t Hide from Earth Observing Satellites

Read more: 6 Trends to Know about Fire Season in the Western U.S. from NASA Earth Observatory

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2PxLmld

Saguaro

Image via Sean Parker

Sean Parker in Arizona captured this majestic saguaro cactus on October 22, 2019. He said:

Pretty stoked on this shot I got tonight! It’s something I’ve always wanted to get but never had a 50ft ladder or any other way of backlighting the saguaro from so high. Sooo I took the drone up with the lume cubes and was able to snag it in a single shot.

Thanks Sean!

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2MOUIam

Image via Sean Parker

Sean Parker in Arizona captured this majestic saguaro cactus on October 22, 2019. He said:

Pretty stoked on this shot I got tonight! It’s something I’ve always wanted to get but never had a 50ft ladder or any other way of backlighting the saguaro from so high. Sooo I took the drone up with the lume cubes and was able to snag it in a single shot.

Thanks Sean!

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2MOUIam

Uranus closest to Earth on October 27

Above photo: Crescent Uranus as seen by Voyager 2 in 1986, just after the craft’s flyby. From Earth, even through the most powerful telescopes, Uranus never appears as a crescent but is always seen at or near full phase. Image via NASA/JPL

The planet Uranus, 7th planet outward from the sun, comes closest to Earth for 2019 on October 27 at 21 UTC. Hours later, on opposition on October 28 at 8 UTC, Uranus will reach its yearly opposition, when it is most directly opposite the sun as viewed from Earth. In other words, our planet Earth in its smaller, faster orbit is swinging in between the sun and Uranus around now. We’re now squarely in the middle of the best time of year to see this planet. Why? Because Uranus is now opposite the sun in our sky, rising in the east as the sun sets in the west, generally at its closest for the year.

Because Uranus is opposite the sun, it climbs highest up for the night at midnight (midway between sunset and sunrise) and sets in the west at sunrise. Not only does Uranus stay out all night long, but this world is now shining at its brightest best in our sky.

Even at its brightest, Uranus is still quite faint. It is barely perceptible as a dim speck of light to the unaided eye. At a magnitude of 5.67, Uranus shines no more brilliantly than the sky’s faintest stars. Given a dark sky free of light pollution, you might see Uranus with the eye alone – but only if you know right where to look for this distant world in front of the rather faint constellation, Aries. Uranus is in the southwest corner of Aries, hovering close to the Pisces border.

Click here for a detailed sky chart showing Uranus, via Sky and Telescope.

Constellation chart via IAU. We label the star Omicron Piscium in the constellation Pisces for you. This star, which is visible to the eye alone on a dark night, is close to the ecliptic in the sky chart, at the far eastern (or far left) portion of the constellation Pisces. Once you find this star, try star-hopping from there to Uranus in the southwest corner of Aires.

As good fortune would have it, this year the new moon – a moon most nearly between the Earth and sun for this month – falls on October 28, too, only about four hours before Uranus reaches opposition. The moon turns new at 3:38 UTC. That means there is no moonlight to wash out the 2019 Uranus’ opposition. Take advantage of these upcoming moon-free nights because next year’s opposition of Uranus will fall on the same date as the Blue Moon – the second of two October 2020 full moons – on October 31, 2020.

Even at its closest point to Earth, Uranus does not come particularly close to Earth. It’ll be just shy of 19 astronomical units away from Earth and 20 astronomical units from the sun. (By the way, one astronomical unit = sun-Earth unit of distance). Click here to find out the present distance of Uranus and the other solar system planets.

Uranus is quite easy to view with binoculars, through which it appears as a rather faint star. Again, you have to know precisely where to look to find the 7th planet from the sun. Your best bet is to find a good sky chart and then star-hop from the 4th-magnitude star Omicron Piscium, which is fairly easy to see with the eye alone on a dark night. Good luck!

Bottom line: Earth is closest to the 7th planet Uranus on October 27, 2019. Hours later, on October 28, Uranus reaches its yearly opposition, when it is most directly opposite the sun from Earth. The moon turns new on October 28, providing a dark night for viewing Uranus in front of the constellation Aries.

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Above photo: Crescent Uranus as seen by Voyager 2 in 1986, just after the craft’s flyby. From Earth, even through the most powerful telescopes, Uranus never appears as a crescent but is always seen at or near full phase. Image via NASA/JPL

The planet Uranus, 7th planet outward from the sun, comes closest to Earth for 2019 on October 27 at 21 UTC. Hours later, on opposition on October 28 at 8 UTC, Uranus will reach its yearly opposition, when it is most directly opposite the sun as viewed from Earth. In other words, our planet Earth in its smaller, faster orbit is swinging in between the sun and Uranus around now. We’re now squarely in the middle of the best time of year to see this planet. Why? Because Uranus is now opposite the sun in our sky, rising in the east as the sun sets in the west, generally at its closest for the year.

Because Uranus is opposite the sun, it climbs highest up for the night at midnight (midway between sunset and sunrise) and sets in the west at sunrise. Not only does Uranus stay out all night long, but this world is now shining at its brightest best in our sky.

Even at its brightest, Uranus is still quite faint. It is barely perceptible as a dim speck of light to the unaided eye. At a magnitude of 5.67, Uranus shines no more brilliantly than the sky’s faintest stars. Given a dark sky free of light pollution, you might see Uranus with the eye alone – but only if you know right where to look for this distant world in front of the rather faint constellation, Aries. Uranus is in the southwest corner of Aries, hovering close to the Pisces border.

Click here for a detailed sky chart showing Uranus, via Sky and Telescope.

Constellation chart via IAU. We label the star Omicron Piscium in the constellation Pisces for you. This star, which is visible to the eye alone on a dark night, is close to the ecliptic in the sky chart, at the far eastern (or far left) portion of the constellation Pisces. Once you find this star, try star-hopping from there to Uranus in the southwest corner of Aires.

As good fortune would have it, this year the new moon – a moon most nearly between the Earth and sun for this month – falls on October 28, too, only about four hours before Uranus reaches opposition. The moon turns new at 3:38 UTC. That means there is no moonlight to wash out the 2019 Uranus’ opposition. Take advantage of these upcoming moon-free nights because next year’s opposition of Uranus will fall on the same date as the Blue Moon – the second of two October 2020 full moons – on October 31, 2020.

Even at its closest point to Earth, Uranus does not come particularly close to Earth. It’ll be just shy of 19 astronomical units away from Earth and 20 astronomical units from the sun. (By the way, one astronomical unit = sun-Earth unit of distance). Click here to find out the present distance of Uranus and the other solar system planets.

Uranus is quite easy to view with binoculars, through which it appears as a rather faint star. Again, you have to know precisely where to look to find the 7th planet from the sun. Your best bet is to find a good sky chart and then star-hop from the 4th-magnitude star Omicron Piscium, which is fairly easy to see with the eye alone on a dark night. Good luck!

Bottom line: Earth is closest to the 7th planet Uranus on October 27, 2019. Hours later, on October 28, Uranus reaches its yearly opposition, when it is most directly opposite the sun from Earth. The moon turns new on October 28, providing a dark night for viewing Uranus in front of the constellation Aries.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2Wii2QJ

What’s a new moon?

Youngest possible lunar crescent, with the moon’s age being exactly zero when this photo was taken — at the instant of new moon – 07:14 UTC on July 8, 2013. Image by Thierry Legault.

When the moon is new, it’s most nearly between the Earth and sun for any particular month. There’s a new moon about once a month, because the moon takes about a month to orbit Earth. Most of the time, the new moon passes not in front of the sun, but simply near it in our sky. That’s why, in most months, there’s no solar eclipse.

On the other hand, the moon must be at the new phase in order for a solar eclipse to take place.

The photo of a new moon at the top of this page shows the moon as it passed near the sun on July 8, 2013. There was no eclipse that day; it was an ordinary new moon. New moons typically can’t be seen, or at least they can’t without special equipment and a lot of moon-photography experience. Thierry Legault was able to catch the photo at top – the moon at the instant it was new – because the moon that month passed to one side of the sun, and the faintest of lunar crescents was visible.

Either way – in front of the sun or just near it – on the day of new moon, the moon travels across the sky with the sun during the day, hidden in the sun’s glare.

Some people use the term new moon for a thin crescent moon visible in the west after sunset. You always see these little crescents – which set shortly after the sun – a day or two after each month’s new moon. Astronomers don’t call these little crescent moons new moons, however. In the language of astronomy, this slim crescent is called a young moon.

New moons, and young moons, are fascinating to many. The Farmer’s Almanac, for example, still offers information on gardening by the moon. And many cultures have holidays based on moon phases.

Start looking for the young moon – a slim crescent visible in the west after sunset – around August 31, 2019. Read more.

Bottom line: When astronomers say the moon is new, they mean it’s crossing the sky with the sun during the day. New moons generally can’t be seen.

Read more: Year’s closest new supermoon on August 30

Read more: What’s the youngest moon you can see?

Read more: 4 keys to understanding moon phases

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Youngest possible lunar crescent, with the moon’s age being exactly zero when this photo was taken — at the instant of new moon – 07:14 UTC on July 8, 2013. Image by Thierry Legault.

When the moon is new, it’s most nearly between the Earth and sun for any particular month. There’s a new moon about once a month, because the moon takes about a month to orbit Earth. Most of the time, the new moon passes not in front of the sun, but simply near it in our sky. That’s why, in most months, there’s no solar eclipse.

On the other hand, the moon must be at the new phase in order for a solar eclipse to take place.

The photo of a new moon at the top of this page shows the moon as it passed near the sun on July 8, 2013. There was no eclipse that day; it was an ordinary new moon. New moons typically can’t be seen, or at least they can’t without special equipment and a lot of moon-photography experience. Thierry Legault was able to catch the photo at top – the moon at the instant it was new – because the moon that month passed to one side of the sun, and the faintest of lunar crescents was visible.

Either way – in front of the sun or just near it – on the day of new moon, the moon travels across the sky with the sun during the day, hidden in the sun’s glare.

Some people use the term new moon for a thin crescent moon visible in the west after sunset. You always see these little crescents – which set shortly after the sun – a day or two after each month’s new moon. Astronomers don’t call these little crescent moons new moons, however. In the language of astronomy, this slim crescent is called a young moon.

New moons, and young moons, are fascinating to many. The Farmer’s Almanac, for example, still offers information on gardening by the moon. And many cultures have holidays based on moon phases.

Start looking for the young moon – a slim crescent visible in the west after sunset – around August 31, 2019. Read more.

Bottom line: When astronomers say the moon is new, they mean it’s crossing the sky with the sun during the day. New moons generally can’t be seen.

Read more: Year’s closest new supermoon on August 30

Read more: What’s the youngest moon you can see?

Read more: 4 keys to understanding moon phases

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News digest – detecting ‘undetectable’ cancer, Britain’s Got Talent junk food ads, childhood brain tumour treatment and museum exhibit flags cancer

Cancer Research UK joins forces with US scientists to detect ‘undetectable’ cancers

A new research alliance with the US is setting out radical new strategies to detect the very earliest stages of cancer, in an effort to improve early detection of the disease. According to The Guardian, £55 million will be invested in the project, bringing together experts from six research institutes across the UK and US. Read more about the ambitious alliance in our press release.

Entertainment TV ads could be fuelling childhood obesity

According to The Telegraph, just one episode of Britain’s Got Talent could cause a child to eat an extra 50 calories a day thanks to the junk food advertising around the show. We’ve spoken before to a former junk food advertising executive about some of the tactics used to entice children. And we’re calling for a 9pm watershed on adverts for unhealthy foods to help curb the rise in childhood obesity.

Sunscreen could protect you for 10 times longer in the future

Scientists say a sunscreen which could last 10 times longer than today’s average sun protection could be possible. And according to the Independent, a sun-protecting protein found in the leaves of plants could be key to absorbing harmful Ultraviolet (UV) light. For now we know the best way to protect your skin from the sun is to regularly reapply sun cream, spend time in the shade and cover up with clothes.

Scientists developing potential new treatment for children with brain tumours

Researchers are developing a drug that could be used to treat children living with a currently untreatable form of brain tumour. The work, which has been funded in part by the charity Abbie’s Army, began with scientists identifying a faulty gene that could be driving this type of cancer. According to The Guardian, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) affects 30-40 children aged between five and 10 every year.

Chest x-rays miss nearly a quarter of lung cancers

The Sun reports that up to 23 in 100 lung tumours are not being picked up by x-ray scans. This has led some experts to suggest that doctors should use CT scans instead, but as the latest study didn’t compare the two techniques, we can’t say for sure if CT scans would be any better. Guidelines say all doctors should be aware of the possibility of false negative results and refer people with ongoing symptoms for further tests.

Why many women in Pakistan could be missing out on breast cancer treatment

BBC News explores the cultural and social taboos that could mean some women in Pakistan don’t get treatment for their breast cancer. Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia, with around 17,000 women every year dying from the disease.

Cancer patients suffer in silence to save overworked NHS staff

A survey by Macmillan Cancer Support found two thirds of newly diagnosed cancer patients are not getting the medical attention they need. The survey suggests patients aren’t asking for advice about side-effects because they don’t want to bother overworked NHS staff. The results were picked up by The Telegraph. 

Tobacco companies could be undermining packaging laws

According to a report in the British Medical Journal, tobacco companies have been stretching the boundaries of plain packaging laws by introducing marketing gimmicks like bevelled edges, and ‘pro-seal’ closing mechanisms to make their cigarettes stand out from rival brands. The Guardian has more.

Rise in pancreatic cancer may be linked to obesity

Expert say a 10% rise in cases of pancreatic and bowel cancer worldwide may be linked to an increase in the number of people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes. Read the full story in the Mail Online.

Unravelling how colon cancer develops

New technology has allowed scientists to identify mutations linked to colon cancer development in healthy tissue. But while these DNA changes may be occurring more frequently than previously thought, most of the cells carrying mutations won’t go on to become cancerous. Scientists hope to use this information to understand more how healthy cells become cancerous, as the Independent explains.

And finally…

A woman with breast cancer says a thermal imaging camera at an Edinburgh museum led to her diagnosis after revealing an abnormal ‘hot spot’ on her chest. But despite this good news story, so far thermography hasn’t been found to be an effective way to detect breast cancer and isn’t an approved method of diagnosing breast cancer on the NHS. The Mail Online reports more on this story.

from Cancer Research UK – Science blog https://ift.tt/2PmeUSK

Cancer Research UK joins forces with US scientists to detect ‘undetectable’ cancers

A new research alliance with the US is setting out radical new strategies to detect the very earliest stages of cancer, in an effort to improve early detection of the disease. According to The Guardian, £55 million will be invested in the project, bringing together experts from six research institutes across the UK and US. Read more about the ambitious alliance in our press release.

Entertainment TV ads could be fuelling childhood obesity

According to The Telegraph, just one episode of Britain’s Got Talent could cause a child to eat an extra 50 calories a day thanks to the junk food advertising around the show. We’ve spoken before to a former junk food advertising executive about some of the tactics used to entice children. And we’re calling for a 9pm watershed on adverts for unhealthy foods to help curb the rise in childhood obesity.

Sunscreen could protect you for 10 times longer in the future

Scientists say a sunscreen which could last 10 times longer than today’s average sun protection could be possible. And according to the Independent, a sun-protecting protein found in the leaves of plants could be key to absorbing harmful Ultraviolet (UV) light. For now we know the best way to protect your skin from the sun is to regularly reapply sun cream, spend time in the shade and cover up with clothes.

Scientists developing potential new treatment for children with brain tumours

Researchers are developing a drug that could be used to treat children living with a currently untreatable form of brain tumour. The work, which has been funded in part by the charity Abbie’s Army, began with scientists identifying a faulty gene that could be driving this type of cancer. According to The Guardian, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) affects 30-40 children aged between five and 10 every year.

Chest x-rays miss nearly a quarter of lung cancers

The Sun reports that up to 23 in 100 lung tumours are not being picked up by x-ray scans. This has led some experts to suggest that doctors should use CT scans instead, but as the latest study didn’t compare the two techniques, we can’t say for sure if CT scans would be any better. Guidelines say all doctors should be aware of the possibility of false negative results and refer people with ongoing symptoms for further tests.

Why many women in Pakistan could be missing out on breast cancer treatment

BBC News explores the cultural and social taboos that could mean some women in Pakistan don’t get treatment for their breast cancer. Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia, with around 17,000 women every year dying from the disease.

Cancer patients suffer in silence to save overworked NHS staff

A survey by Macmillan Cancer Support found two thirds of newly diagnosed cancer patients are not getting the medical attention they need. The survey suggests patients aren’t asking for advice about side-effects because they don’t want to bother overworked NHS staff. The results were picked up by The Telegraph. 

Tobacco companies could be undermining packaging laws

According to a report in the British Medical Journal, tobacco companies have been stretching the boundaries of plain packaging laws by introducing marketing gimmicks like bevelled edges, and ‘pro-seal’ closing mechanisms to make their cigarettes stand out from rival brands. The Guardian has more.

Rise in pancreatic cancer may be linked to obesity

Expert say a 10% rise in cases of pancreatic and bowel cancer worldwide may be linked to an increase in the number of people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes. Read the full story in the Mail Online.

Unravelling how colon cancer develops

New technology has allowed scientists to identify mutations linked to colon cancer development in healthy tissue. But while these DNA changes may be occurring more frequently than previously thought, most of the cells carrying mutations won’t go on to become cancerous. Scientists hope to use this information to understand more how healthy cells become cancerous, as the Independent explains.

And finally…

A woman with breast cancer says a thermal imaging camera at an Edinburgh museum led to her diagnosis after revealing an abnormal ‘hot spot’ on her chest. But despite this good news story, so far thermography hasn’t been found to be an effective way to detect breast cancer and isn’t an approved method of diagnosing breast cancer on the NHS. The Mail Online reports more on this story.

from Cancer Research UK – Science blog https://ift.tt/2PmeUSK

Watch for false dawn or dusk

Photo above: Yuri Beletsky in Chile caught the zodiacal light in the evening around the new moon, on September 10, 2018.

The September equinox came on September 23, 2019, and the moon is new on October 28. That combination makes these next few weeks ideal for seeing the zodiacal light, also known as the false dawn. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, look east, about an hour before the light of true dawn.

Southern Hemisphere? Your spring equinox was September 23, and the moon phase, of course, is the same for all of us. But you’re more likely to see zodiacal light in the evening now, as Yuri Beletsky did (see photo, top of post). Look west about an hour after the sun goes down.

You need a dark sky location to see the zodiacal light, someplace where city lights aren’t obscuring the natural lights in the sky. The zodiacal light is a pyramid-shaped glow in the east before dawn (or after twilight ends in the evening). It’s even “milkier” in appearance than the starlit trail of the summer Milky Way.

From the Northern Hemisphere now, the zodiacal light can be seen for up to an hour or so before true dawn begins to break. Look for it about 120 to 80 minutes before sunrise. It also lingers that long after evening twilight ends. Unlike true dawn or dusk, though, there’s no rosy color to the zodiacal light.

The reddish skies at dawn and dusk are caused by Earth’s atmosphere, and the zodiacal light originates far outside our atmosphere. When you see the zodiacal light, you are looking edgewise into our own solar system. The zodiacal light is actually sunlight reflecting off dust particles that move in the same plane as Earth and the other planets orbiting our sun.

This light can be noticeable and easy to see from latitudes relatively close to Earth’s equator – for example, like those in the southern U.S. You might see it while driving a lonely highway far from city lights, mistaking the zodiacal light for the lights of a city or town just over your horizon.

Meanwhile, skywatchers in the northern U.S. or Canada sometimes say wistfully that they’ve never seen it, although in recent years we’ve seen many photographs of the zodiacal light taken from those northerly latitudes.

Read more: Everything you need to know about zodiacal light or false dawn

Here’s the zodiacal light as captured on film in Canada. This wonderful capture is from Robert Ede in Invermere, British Columbia.

Bottom line: People in the Northern Hemisphere can look for the zodiacal light in the east before dawn now. People in the Southern Hemisphere can look west after sunset.

An almanac can help you find the clock time for sunrise in your sky

Donate: Your support means the world to us

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2MNi6or

Photo above: Yuri Beletsky in Chile caught the zodiacal light in the evening around the new moon, on September 10, 2018.

The September equinox came on September 23, 2019, and the moon is new on October 28. That combination makes these next few weeks ideal for seeing the zodiacal light, also known as the false dawn. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, look east, about an hour before the light of true dawn.

Southern Hemisphere? Your spring equinox was September 23, and the moon phase, of course, is the same for all of us. But you’re more likely to see zodiacal light in the evening now, as Yuri Beletsky did (see photo, top of post). Look west about an hour after the sun goes down.

You need a dark sky location to see the zodiacal light, someplace where city lights aren’t obscuring the natural lights in the sky. The zodiacal light is a pyramid-shaped glow in the east before dawn (or after twilight ends in the evening). It’s even “milkier” in appearance than the starlit trail of the summer Milky Way.

From the Northern Hemisphere now, the zodiacal light can be seen for up to an hour or so before true dawn begins to break. Look for it about 120 to 80 minutes before sunrise. It also lingers that long after evening twilight ends. Unlike true dawn or dusk, though, there’s no rosy color to the zodiacal light.

The reddish skies at dawn and dusk are caused by Earth’s atmosphere, and the zodiacal light originates far outside our atmosphere. When you see the zodiacal light, you are looking edgewise into our own solar system. The zodiacal light is actually sunlight reflecting off dust particles that move in the same plane as Earth and the other planets orbiting our sun.

This light can be noticeable and easy to see from latitudes relatively close to Earth’s equator – for example, like those in the southern U.S. You might see it while driving a lonely highway far from city lights, mistaking the zodiacal light for the lights of a city or town just over your horizon.

Meanwhile, skywatchers in the northern U.S. or Canada sometimes say wistfully that they’ve never seen it, although in recent years we’ve seen many photographs of the zodiacal light taken from those northerly latitudes.

Read more: Everything you need to know about zodiacal light or false dawn

Here’s the zodiacal light as captured on film in Canada. This wonderful capture is from Robert Ede in Invermere, British Columbia.

Bottom line: People in the Northern Hemisphere can look for the zodiacal light in the east before dawn now. People in the Southern Hemisphere can look west after sunset.

An almanac can help you find the clock time for sunrise in your sky

Donate: Your support means the world to us

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2MNi6or