March 3rd 1959 launch of Pioneer 4
Pioneer 4 was part of the Pioneer programme of probes to by pass the Moon. It passed the Moon by about 60,000 km. It was the first US satellite to enter orbit around the Sun. Contact was lost on March 6th 1959.
Sunday, 2 March 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Monday 3rd March 2014
On This Day
March 3rd 1959 launch of Pioneer 4
Pioneer 4 was part of the Pioneer programme of probes to by pass the Moon. It passed the Moon by about 60,000 km. It was the first US satellite to enter orbit around the Sun. Contact was lost on March 6th 1959.
March 3rd 1959 launch of Pioneer 4
Pioneer 4 was part of the Pioneer programme of probes to by pass the Moon. It passed the Moon by about 60,000 km. It was the first US satellite to enter orbit around the Sun. Contact was lost on March 6th 1959.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Saturday March 1st 2014
On This Day
March 1st 1982 First Colour photograph from surface of Venus
The Russian Venera 13 space craft landed and then transmitted the first colour photographs from the surface of Venus, the space craft survived fro two hours before the Venusian atmosphere destroyed the probe.
March 1st 1982 First Colour photograph from surface of Venus
The Russian Venera 13 space craft landed and then transmitted the first colour photographs from the surface of Venus, the space craft survived fro two hours before the Venusian atmosphere destroyed the probe.
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Friday 28th February 2014
On This Day
February 28th 1908 discovery of Jupiter Moon Pasiphae
This moon was first observed on a glass plate at the Royal Greenwich Observatory by Philibert Melotte, a British astronomer who had Belgium parents.
It was not until 1975 that the moon was named Pasiphae who was the wife of Minos and mother of the Minotaur. From its discovery in 1908 until 1975 Pasiphae was simply known as Jupiter VIII.
February 28th 1908 discovery of Jupiter Moon Pasiphae
This moon was first observed on a glass plate at the Royal Greenwich Observatory by Philibert Melotte, a British astronomer who had Belgium parents.
It was not until 1975 that the moon was named Pasiphae who was the wife of Minos and mother of the Minotaur. From its discovery in 1908 until 1975 Pasiphae was simply known as Jupiter VIII.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Thursday 27th February 2014
On This Day
February 27th 2000 death of J S Hey
James Stanley Hey was born in Nelson, Lancashire and became a physicist and a pioneer radio astronomer. He noticed a connection between radio interference and Solar flares in 1942 about the time of the channel dash by German Battle-cruisers in WW2. He concluded that jamming was not caused by the Germans but due to the Sun.
Later, in 1945, Hey used radar to track the paths of V2 rockets approaching London. When the V-2 attacks ceased, the echoes did not; Hey concluded that meteor trails were responsible and that radar could be used to track meteor streams, by day and night.
February 27th 2000 death of J S Hey
James Stanley Hey was born in Nelson, Lancashire and became a physicist and a pioneer radio astronomer. He noticed a connection between radio interference and Solar flares in 1942 about the time of the channel dash by German Battle-cruisers in WW2. He concluded that jamming was not caused by the Germans but due to the Sun.
Later, in 1945, Hey used radar to track the paths of V2 rockets approaching London. When the V-2 attacks ceased, the echoes did not; Hey concluded that meteor trails were responsible and that radar could be used to track meteor streams, by day and night.
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Wednesday 26th February 2014
Eye in the Sky
On February 26th the Moon and Venus will rise at about 05.00hrs and be only 40 arc minutes apart as they appear above the east south east horizon.
On This Day
February 26th 1943 Harold Dennis Taylor died.
H.D. Taylor worked at the Thomas Cooke factory in York, he was an optical designer and inventor.
In 1893 he invented the Cooke Triplet Lens that allowed the elimination of most of the colour distortion or Aberration in a lens. It would be the fore runner of all future lenses.
On February 26th the Moon and Venus will rise at about 05.00hrs and be only 40 arc minutes apart as they appear above the east south east horizon.
On This Day
February 26th 1943 Harold Dennis Taylor died.
H.D. Taylor worked at the Thomas Cooke factory in York, he was an optical designer and inventor.
In 1893 he invented the Cooke Triplet Lens that allowed the elimination of most of the colour distortion or Aberration in a lens. It would be the fore runner of all future lenses.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Tuesday 25th February 2014
On This Day (1)
February 25th 1598 The Black Saturday Eclipse
The total eclipse of 1598 seen in Scotland is often referred to as the Black Saturday Eclipse, according to stories it became so dark that some people lost their way at the time of the eclipse and perished in the snow.
On This Day (2)
February 25th 1964
Construction begins of facilities to design probes to soft land on the Moon.
Construction begins in San Diego at the CENTRAL DYNAMICS/ASTRONAUTICS factory of a test facility in which the CENTAUR/SURVEYOR combination will rehearse it lunar mission
February 25th 1598 The Black Saturday Eclipse
The total eclipse of 1598 seen in Scotland is often referred to as the Black Saturday Eclipse, according to stories it became so dark that some people lost their way at the time of the eclipse and perished in the snow.
On This Day (2)
February 25th 1964
Construction begins of facilities to design probes to soft land on the Moon.
Surveyor 1 became the first NASA soft lander mission to the Moon on June 2nd 1966
Construction begins in San Diego at the CENTRAL DYNAMICS/ASTRONAUTICS factory of a test facility in which the CENTAUR/SURVEYOR combination will rehearse it lunar mission
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Astronomy Scrapbook Monday 24th February 2014
On This Day (1)
February 24th 453AD
"Even the Sun appeared hideous, so that scarcely a third part of it gave light, I believe on account of such deeds of wickedness and the shedding of innocent blood". Gregorius Turonensis refers to the solar eclipse of 24th February 453 when Atiila the Hun was raiding Italy.
On This Day (2)
February 24th 1964
NASA reveals an extensive series of experiments are to be flown on the X-15 craft in the coming months, effectively guaranteeing the vehicles work until the end of 1968. The experiments will be supplied by either NASA or USAF; they will cover ramjet research, stellar ultraviolet photography, structures and materials investigations, optical research and micrometeorite collection and study.
February 24th 453AD
"Even the Sun appeared hideous, so that scarcely a third part of it gave light, I believe on account of such deeds of wickedness and the shedding of innocent blood". Gregorius Turonensis refers to the solar eclipse of 24th February 453 when Atiila the Hun was raiding Italy.
On This Day (2)
February 24th 1964
NASA reveals an extensive series of experiments are to be flown on the X-15 craft in the coming months, effectively guaranteeing the vehicles work until the end of 1968. The experiments will be supplied by either NASA or USAF; they will cover ramjet research, stellar ultraviolet photography, structures and materials investigations, optical research and micrometeorite collection and study.
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