AstrotalkUK

Not for profit website/blog on astronomy, space and my writing

Episode 103 -Observing the Solar System with the JWST

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The James Webb Space Telescope has already wowed astronomers and the general public with some incredibly spectacular deep space images. But did you know, NASA has set aside a substantial number of hours for JWST to observe the objects in the solar system? What’s more that programme kicks in this autumn so some images of planets and their moons along with asteroids and comets will be published before the end of this year.

Dr Connr Nixon

A team of astronomers including planetary scientist Dr Connor Nixon will make use of the Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO) to observe the objects in the solar system from Mars and beyond. JWST cannot look towards the Sun so excludes the Earth, Venus or Mercury. The program is led by Dr. Heidi B. Hammel.

In this interview recorded in July during COSPAR2022 in Athens, Connor Nixon talks about the GTO and his role in it looking at Titan.

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Comet Neowise

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So here are a few pics with limited post processing. These are my first pictures of a comet since Hale-Bopp in 1997! Got some nice pictures of Hale-Bopp from San Francisco during WWW06 in April 1997. Hale-Bopp has a period of 2500 years and comet Neowise about twice that. So both are once-a-life-time events.

After a couple of futile attempts last week when I did see it between the gaps in the clouds but these were fleeting moments and I got no pictures. The following pictures were taken during the early hours of 20th July 2020.

Yes, I know, this is a pretty feeble attempt compared to some stunning images (I and you will have) seen elsewhere. But ..

Comet Neowise

Philae Landing on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

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Philae

ESA’s Rosseta mission highlight is now imminent. Philae will be start its landing phase on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on 11th November and actually land on the 12th November 2014. This PDF detailed timeline lists events leading up separation, landing and just after separation. All the times are in GMT.

In the end Philae performed 3 landings,15:33, 17:26 & 17:33. Still not secured to the comet’s surface but telemetry indicating all science instruments are OK. If it has ended up in a shadow zone behind a big bolder – it will only survive for the 2 days its charged battery allows. In sunshine it could last several months but is unlikely to survive the close approach of the sun around spring next year.

More via @Philae2014  (or search using #CometLanding) and live feed below once the actions starts.

Episode 56: 7th October 2012 – SpaceguardUK

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SpaceguradUK As the dinosaurs on the Earth 64 million years ago discovered, comets and asteroids have the potential for unexpected arrival with devastating consequences.

The spectacular collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter in July 1994 dramatically raised awareness and no doubt a little concern amongst the heads of governments across the planet.

Since then, the British government has not really got engaged and so it is left to a handful of skilled and dedicated individuals through Spaceguarduk to provide the UK with its only organisation to address the hazards of Near Earth Objects.

The fireball over Europe in September 2012, demonstrated the risks are with us today.

The Spaceguard Centre was established by Jay Tate in 1997.

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