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New in this Issue
- World Science Festival (June 1-5)
- Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – High School Teacher Workshop (June 21-22)
- Move an Asteroid 2011 International Technical Paper Contest – Students & Young Professionals (Due July 1)
- Mountains of Sun, Making the Sun-Earth Connection For K-8 Educators – Workshop (July 8-9)
- Sky Rangers Outdoor Astronomy Interpretation Workshop (Apply by July 10)
- Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshop – Middle and High School Educators (July 16-17)
- Astronomical Society of the Pacific Annual Conference (July 30-Aug. 3)
- Dawn Mission’s Vesta Fiesta (Aug. 5-7)
Previously Broadcast
- COSEE-OS Educators Workshop at NASA – K-12 Educators (June 3-4; Pasadena, Calif.)
- Music and Astronomy Under the Stars (June 12-Oct. 28)
- Lunar Workshop for Middle and High School Educators (June 20-24)
- 2011 INSPIRE Project for High School Students (Application Deadline June 30)
- NASA’s Multi-Wavelength Universe Online Professional Development Course for Middle and High School Teachers (July 11-22)
- ESIP Workshop for Earth Science Teachers – Grades 6-12 (July 12-13; Santa Fe, N.M.)
- GLOBE 15th Annual Partner Meeting (July 17-22)
- Hands-On Programs for Classroom Teachers as Part of ASP Meeting (July 30-Aug. 3)
- NESTA Survey on Earth and Space Science Education Needs for K-12
- Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education
- Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador in the Classroom
- A Day At Goddard: Opportunity for DC Metro Teachers – Grades 8-12
- Summer of Innovation Mini-Grant Opportunity (Applications Due June 17)
- Earth Science Week 2011 – Toolkits Available for Order (Oct. 9-15)
- A New Era for NASA’s Space Place – New Websites for Elementary Students
- The Universe at Your Fingertips 2.0 – DVD and Activities
- Host a “From Earth to the Solar System” Exhibit
- Magnetospheric Multiscale Science Team Videos
- EarthSky22: What Caused April’s Deadly Tornados? – Podcast
- A Rare Eclipse of the Midnight Sun (May 31)
- New NASA Map Reveals Patterns of Tropical Forest Carbon Storage (May 31)
- NASA to Launch New Science Mission to Asteroid in 2016 (May 25)
- NASA’s Hubble Finds Rare ‘Blue Straggler’ Stars in Milky Way’s Hub (May 24)
- Radio Telescopes Capture Best-Ever Snapshot of Black Hole Jets (May 20)
- Cassini Spacecraft and Ground Telescope See Violet Saturn Storm (May 19)
- NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer Finds Dark Energy Repulsive (May 19)
- Free-Floating Planets May Be More Common Than Stars (May 18)
- Searching for Aliens on Kepler’s Planets (May 17)
- NASA Mission Will Observe Earth’s Salty Seas For Climate Clues (May 17)
- Unique Space Image of Alabama Tornado Tracks (May 16)
- Moon’s Rough ‘Wrinkles’ Reveal Clues To Its Past (May 13)
- NASA Spacecraft’s Data Reveal Magma Ocean Under Jupiter Moon (May 12)
- NASA’s Fermi Spots ‘Superflares’ in the Crab Nebula (May 11)
- NASA Dawn Spacecraft Captures First Image of Nearing Asteroid (May 11)
- A Story from the Tornado Zone (May 6)
- NASA Announces Results of Epic Space-Time Experiment (May 4)
- Two NASA Sites Win Webby Awards (May 3)
Programs & Events
New in this Issue
World Science Festival (June 1-5)
(June 1-5; New York, N.Y.)
The World Science Festival returns to New York City June 1-5 with an array of cutting-edge science programs designed to make the esoteric understandable and the familiar fascinating. The world’s leading scientific minds will be joined by renowned artists and influential thinkers for a five-day celebration of science through discourse and debate, dance and theater, film, music and the visual arts. This science happening has something for everyone, from invigorating discussions with researchers, to events for young scientists and their families, to performances and exhibitions.
For tickets and information on specific events, visit http://worldsciencefestival.com.
Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – High School Teacher Workshop (June 21-22)
(June 21-22; Houston, Texas)
This free workshop for high school teachers will take place at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. Participants will explore compare Martian geology to Earth’s, and examine the relationship between science and technology through the history of missions to Mars. For more information and to register, go to http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/workshops/mars/.
Move an Asteroid 2011 International Technical Paper Contest – Students & Young Professionals (Due July 1)
Move an Asteroid is an outreach project designed to raise awareness by offering students and young professionals (under the age of 35) the chance to come up with original ideas about Near Earth Object deflection and warning. The goal of this competition is to describe an innovative idea relating to one or more of these three areas:
- The safe deflection of an Earth-bound NEO
- The detection of NEOs
- A global impact warning system
Each entrant will submit a technical paper, up to ten (10) pages long, describing their design. The prize is a full scholarship to the International Astronautical Congress and the Space Generation Congress. For further information and a complete list of requirements, visit http://spacegeneration.org/index.php/activities/126-neo-move-an-asteroid.
Mountains of Sun, Making the Sun-Earth Connection For K-8 Educators – Workshop (July 8-9)
(July 8-9; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
Join a unique professional development opportunity for teachers – a two-day workshop that will take a look at the latest NASA solar science and explore how local plants and animals have adapted to living in proximity to our closest star. A talk on archaeoastronomy – learning how Native cultures view the Sun – is also part of the workshop. Participants will engage in hands-on science activities, visit the Park to see adaptations first-hand, visit schoolyard garden habitats as well as have a chance to visit a wildlife care center to see sun-loving reptiles and other animals. There will be takeaway materials that are ready for use in the classroom. CPE (1 credit) optional. To learn more and register, visit http://www.nps.gov/samo/forteachers/workshops.htm.
Sky Rangers Outdoor Astronomy Interpretation Workshop (Apply by July 10)
(Apply by July 10; Sept. 25-29; Acadia National Park, Maine)
This four-day workshop at Acadia National Park will cover hands-on astronomy activities for outdoor settings, sky navigation, and telescope operation. Participants will receive ten hours of hands-on telescope experience (weather permitting), learn about the science behind the various astronomical objects viewed through the telescopes, hear from experienced rangers on how to organize astronomy events and interpret the sky for park visitors, and develop their own observing lists and constellation tours.
The workshop is intended for beginners in astronomy, but will also appeal to those with more experience. Participants will receive a free toolkit of materials for outdoor astronomy activities. There is no workshop or materials fee. Lodging and some meals will be provided, but participants are responsible for their transportation to the workshop site. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.afguonline.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=1857.
Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshop – Middle and High School Educators (July 16-17)
(July 16-17; Hilo, Hawaii)
This workshop seeks to help participants become familiar with research-validated instructional strategies and assessment materials appropriate for their introductory Earth and space science courses. Really good implementation of teaching strategies is a skill unto itself and requires practice. In this participation-based workshop, presenters will first model the use of instructional strategies and illustrate how they can be used to create an active and intellectually engaging learning environment. Then it is the participants’ turn to take on the role of instructor, practicing their implementation of these instructional strategies. Workshop participants will also play the role of “critical colleague,” pointing out to their “instructors” in real time when they’ve strayed from best practices. Option field trips to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Mauna Kea Observatories will be offered. College credit through the University of Hawaii is available. For more information, visit http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov/workshopdetails/index.cfm?workshopID=80.
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Annual Conference (July 30-Aug. 3)
(July 30-Aug. 3; Baltimore, Md.)
The theme for the upcoming ASP Annual Conference is “Connecting People to Science.” NASA’s Chief Scientist, Waleed Abdalati, has recently been added to the schedule. He will discuss how space-based perspectives can give us a new understanding of planet Earth. Other featured sessions will include best selling author Chris Mooney giving the keynote address on “Unscientific America: What’s the Problem? What’s the Solution?” and America’s favorite public astronomer, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, discussing his experiences with social media and the “Twitterverse” as an avenue to public access. Randi Korn, one of the most creative of science education program evaluators, will discuss how best to plan and evaluate your projects.For more information and to register, visit http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html.
A series of short courses for teachers will also be held in correlation with the conference. Registration for the conference is not required to attend these courses. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/jvTBZV.
Dawn Mission’s Vesta Fiesta (Aug. 5-7)
After nearly four years and 1.6 billion miles, Dawn is catching up to the object of it’s first destination in the main asteroid belt: Vesta. Soon we will explore this exciting new world up close. It’s Vesta Fiesta time!
Taking advantage of three nights where Vesta is near full and visible for night sky viewing with a telescope, Dawn is inspiring fiestas across the nation. Learn about the Vesta flagship fiesta in Pasadena, Calif., Aug. 6th, featuring fun activities, engaging scientists and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Find out where other Vesta Fiesta are being held on our interactive map and join a party near you, or host your own Vesta Fiesta. For more information, visit http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/vesta_fiesta.asp.
Previously Broadcast
COSEE-OS Educators Workshop at NASA – K-12 Educators (June 3-4; Pasadena, Calif.)
June 3-4; NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
To celebrate the upcoming launch of the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite, the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence – Ocean Systems will conduct a workshop for K-12 educators at JPL. Aquarius will employ advanced technologies to make NASA’s first space-based measurements of ocean salinity across the globe. This free workshop will feature NASA scientists who will work collaboratively with educators to examine connections between the water cycle, ocean circulation, climate and sea surface salinity. Educators will also visit the JPL facility, learn how to use an online Concept Map Builder, and conduct hands-on activities that support workshop themes. To learn more and register, visit http://cosee.umaine.edu/programs/nasaaquarius/.
Music and Astronomy Under the Stars (June 12-Oct. 28)
Join us at this event which brings astronomy to the public, with free star-gazing at music concerts and festivals. Dr. Donald Lubowich, Coordinator of the Astronomy Outreach Program at Hofstra University, will give concert goers a glimpse of the heavens. This NASA-sponsored program will include optical and radio telescope observations of the Sun prior to the concerts, and the Moon, planets, multi-colored double stars, star clusters, and nebulae at intermission and after the concerts – combined with videos, posters, hands-on activities, and the sounds of the Sun. The first events will take place on June 12 & 20. For a full schedule, visit http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/PHYSIC/physic_underthestars.html.
Lunar Workshop for Middle and High School Educators (June 20-24)
June 20-24; Herrett Center for Arts and Science, Twin Falls, Idaho
June 27-July 1; Hinds Community College, Utica, Miss.
June 27-July 1; McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord, N.H.
July 25-29; Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.
Aug. 1-5; Arizona State University; Tempe, Ariz.
Educators of grades 6-12 are invited to attend a workshop focused on lunar science, exploration, and how our understanding of the Moon is evolving with the new data from current and recent lunar missions. Workshop participants will learn about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and its discoveries, reinforce their understanding of lunar science concepts, interact with lunar scientists and engineers, work with real LRO data, and learn how to bring this information to their students using hands-on activities aligned with local state and national standards. Laptops are strongly encouraged for participation in this workshop. For more information, to see other upcoming dates, and to register, visit: http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/lwe/index.html
2011 INSPIRE Project for High School Students (Application Deadline June 30)
U.S. high school students are invited to participate in NASA’s Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience, or INSPIRE, through an online learning community. INSPIRE is designed to encourage students in 9-12 grade to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students and parents will participate in an online learning community with opportunities to interact with peers, NASA engineers and scientists. The community also provides appropriate grade level educational activities, discussion boards and chat rooms for participants to gain exposure to opportunities available at NASA. Students selected for the program will also have the option to compete for unique grade-appropriate experiences during the summer of 2012 at NASA facilities and participating universities. Applications are being accepted through June 30. To apply and learn more, visit https://inspire.okstate.edu/index.cfm?liftoff=login.LoginForm.
Middle and High-School teachers (both pre- and in-service) are invited to register for an online professional development course sponsored by several different NASA missions exploring our Universe across the Electromagnetic Spectrum. The course is offered for academic or continuing education credit through Sonoma State University. At the conclusion of the course, participants will be able to use astronomical examples (images, phenomena, telescopes) to describe the nature of light and color in terms of the regions of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. They will also be able to explain why NASA uses a variety of telescopes and space-based instruments to make observations of the Universe, to identify NASA resources for the classroom, and to understand how NASA resources can be used to address common student misconceptions about the nature of light and color. For more information and to register, visit http://epo.sonoma.edu/multiu.php.
ESIP Workshop for Earth Science Teachers – Grades 6-12 (July 12-13; Santa Fe, N.M.)
July 12-13; Santa Fe, N.M.
The Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) teacher workshop is a 1.5 day event with an overall theme of Earth Science Education with an integral strand dedicated to Climate Change Education. Participating educators will learn about climate change science, climate resources, and ways to effectively communicate climate change topics. Educators will also be able to choose from several breakout sessions demonstrating ways that Earth science tools and data can be used in science classrooms. Workshop sessions will be led by ESIP members from NOAA, NASA, NOAA Cooperative Institutes, EPA, DOE, and several Universities from around the country. Educators are eligible to receive a $200 time and travel stipend. For more information visit http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/teacherworkshop/esip/.
GLOBE 15th Annual Partner Meeting (July 17-22)
July 17 – 22; DoubleTree Hotel, Bethesda, Md.
The GLOBE Program Office at UCAR/UCP invites scientists and educators to participate in the 15th GLOBE Annual Partner Meeting. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Expanding International Perspectives About Climate.” Participants will learn about the latest scientific research activities and other developments in the GLOBE Program, interact with GLOBE’s worldwide network of community members and scientists using GLOBE data in their research, and talk to top educators on effective methods of enhancing the GLOBE educational experience. For more details or to register, visit http://globe.gov/events/2011-annual-meeting.
Hands-On Programs for Classroom Teachers as Part of ASP Meeting (July 30-Aug. 3)
As part of the national education and public outreach meeting, “Connecting People to Science,” the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, in partnership with the American Geophysical Union and the Space Telescope Science Institute, is pleased to present a weekend workshop and six fascinating three-hour short courses for teachers in grades K-12 in Baltimore, Md. Presenters will include NASA mission education specialists and scientists, and most of the sessions include kits of materials and classroom-ready activity handouts. The sessions available for teachers are:
- In the Footsteps of Galileo: A Hands-On Workshop on Astronomy for Teachers in Grades 3-12 (July 30-31)
- Active Astronomy: Classroom Activities for Learning About the Electromagnetic Spectrum – Grades 6-12 (Aug. 1)
- Eye on the Sky: Exploring the Sun with Activities for the Elementary Classroom – Grades K-5 (Aug. 2)
- Light and Color in the Night Sky, in the City and in the Classroom – Grades K-8 (Aug. 2)
- Evidence-based Science: Climate in the Classroom – Grades 6-12 (Aug. 3)
- Global AND Local: Activity-based Explorations Connecting Global Climate Change to Change in Students Own Communities – Grades 6-12 (Aug. 3)
These sessions are open to all teachers; participants do not have to register for the full conference. Some scholarship support is available to help with registration fees and travel expenses. For more information, visit http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html.
NESTA Survey on Earth and Space Science Education Needs for K-12
In order to better serve Earth and space science teachers, the National Earth Science Teachers Association has prepared an anonymous survey to gather information about your Earth and space science education needs and concerns, your satisfaction with NESTA services (if you are a member), and your ideas about how NESTA can serve you better. Please take a moment to complete this survey at your earliest convenience. You may receive notice about the survey from a variety of sources, but please be sure to complete the survey only once: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NK7ZDGX.
Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education
Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education is a project to establish professional learning communities (PLCs) of high school trachers aimed at implementing effective teaching of climate change in existing courses. PLCs are identifying the best resources to use, comparing course outlines, and are hearing/seeing webinars by climate scientists, both live ans as archived presentations. PLCs are having real-time telemeetings, as well as asynchronous communication through shared websites, wikis, and other techniques to achieve the most effective ways to communicate without petroleum-fueled travel. If you are interested in joining a Lifeline PLC, or forming a PLC (becoming a PLC Leader) please see: http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/gss/lifelines/.
Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador in the Classroom
Let NASA take over your classroom for the day! Teachers in the DC Metro area and southern Pennsylvania are eligible for a visit from an SDO educator or scientist. Your students will learn about solar clocks, Earth’s place in the solar system, electricity and magnetism, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the Doppler effect. Visits are free, include all supplies for the activity, and can be customized for each teacher. Register at: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/educators/ambassador.php
A Day At Goddard: Opportunity for DC Metro Teachers – Grades 8-12
Teachers in the DC Metro area are invited to bring their students to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for a day spent learning what it is like to work for NASA. Field trips include a meet-and-greet at the visitor’s center featuring a scientist and engineer, a demonstration of the Science on a Sphere program, a tour of the satellite testing facility and an inquiry based science lab activity. Programs are highly customizable, teacher-friendly and designed for grades 8-12. Contact Aleya Van Doren (aleya.vandoren@nasa.gov) with your desired date and class information to reserve your spot. Slots fill up quickly so register today!
Funding Opportunities
Summer of Innovation Mini-Grant Opportunity (Applications Due June 17)
The NASA Office of Education is pleased to offer Summer of Innovation (SoI) Mini-Grant opportunities in partnership with the National Space Grant Foundation. The mini-grant aspect of the SoI enables local organizations to infuse NASA-themed science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content and activities to middle school students through existing summer and/or afterschool programs. NASA looks forward to forging ahead with these important collaborations to engage and inspire students across the country. Organizations are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in funding to incorporate SoI content and themes into their programming.
Second round applications are due June 17. For eligibility and applications information, visit http://soi.spacegrant.org/about.
Educational Resources
Earth Science Week 2011 – Toolkits Available for Order (Oct. 9-15)
Earth Science Week 2011 will be celebrated October 9-15. To give you plenty of time to prepare, the American Geological Institute (AGI) is now accepting advance orders for the 2011 Earth Science Week Toolkit, which contains educational materials for all ages that correspond to this year’s theme of “Our Ever-Changing Earth.” Government agencies such as NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have all contributed educational materials. Learn about fossils, geological heritage, Earth from space, the New Madrid earthquake and much more in this year’s extensive toolkit, filled with posters, brochures, bookmarks, fact sheets, postcards and more.
To learn more about this week and to pre-order your 2011 Toolkit, please visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/.
A New Era for NASA’s Space Place – New Websites for Elementary Students
Two award-winning websites for students have joined forces to further inspire a new generation of explorers. NASA’s science.nasa.gov/kids and spaceplace.nasa.gov have combined to provide several new Web features with interactive graphic design and easy, versatile navigation. The new site includes the extensive and rich science and technology content of the ‘old’ Space Place with over 50 NASA science missions enriched with content from science.nasa.gov/kids. These sites offer the best of NASA materials for elementary school students.
The site includes over 300 separate modules available in English and Spanish. Modules are sorted into menus for Space, Earth, Sun, Solar System, People and Technology, and Parents and Teachers. Information mirrors the missions of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, as well as the agency’s commitment to education and public engagement.
The site is available at http://science.nasa.gov/kids or http://spaceplace.nasa.gov.
The Universe at Your Fingertips 2.0 – DVD and Activities
The Universe at Your Fingertips 2.0 is a DVD featuring 133 activities for teaching Astronomy (and much more) from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The activities are field-tested from programs and projects around the U.S. The DVD also included 17 topical guides to sources of information in print and on the web, 52 background articles on astronomy and education, 55 introductory astronomy images with detailed captions, a guide to finding hundreds more images, and 12 short videos with instructions for doing some of the most often-used activities. The disk is available for the special price, through May 31, of $26.95 (free shipping). For more information, visit http://astrosociety.org/uayf/.
Host a “From Earth to the Solar System” Exhibit
Celebrating NASA’s Year of the Solar System, “From Earth to the Solar System” is a collection of high-resolution images that showcase the excitement of planetary exploration – our journey to understand the origin and evolution of the solar system, to the search for life elsewhere.
“From Earth to the Solar System” is freely available to organization worldwide to use to host their own exhibitions. The high-resolution images can be downloaded for free, and printed and displayed in any format, in any location. Tips for success are included on the website. The images are at once artistic and informative, weaving together themes in astrobiology, planetary science and astronomy. Including contributions from backyard astronomers, large telescopes in space, and even point-and-shoot cameras of field researchers, the collection represents the current state of exploration as seen through the eyes of the scientific community.
Magnetospheric Multiscale Science Team Videos
The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)) website features a collection of video interviews with mission scientists discussing the MMS mission, instrumentation, results, and practical applications of the mission science.
http://mms.rice.edu/mms/index_multimedia.php
EarthSky22: What Caused April’s Deadly Tornados? – Podcast
Weather Underground’s Jeff Masters on the science of the deadly April tornadoes in the U.S., in this 22 minute podcast of science and music.
http://earthsky.org/human-world/earthsky-22-the-science-of-aprils-deadly-tornadoes
Science News
A Rare Eclipse of the Midnight Sun (May 31)
(May 31) “It might sound like a contradiction to have a solar eclipse in the middle of the night, but this is what we will see in northern Norway, Sweeden and Finland on June 1st,” says Knut Joergen Roed Oedegaard, an astrophysicist at the Norweigan Centre for Science Education in Oslo.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/31may_midnightsun/
New NASA Map Reveals Patterns of Tropical Forest Carbon Storage (May 31)
(May 31) A NASA-led research team has used a variety of NASA satellite data to create the most precise map ever produced depicting the amount and location of carbon stored in Earth’s tropical forests. The data are expected to provide a baseline for ongoing carbon monitoring and research, and serve as a useful resource for managing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-172_Carbon_Map.html
NASA to Launch New Science Mission to Asteroid in 2016 (May 25)
(May 25) NASA will launch a spacecraft to an asteroid in 2016 and use a robotic arm to pluck samples that could better explain our solar system’s formation and how life began. The mission, called Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer, or OSIRIS-REx, will be the first U.S. mission to carry samples from an asteroid back to Earth.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/osiris-rex.html
NASA’s Hubble Finds Rare ‘Blue Straggler’ Stars in Milky Way’s Hub (May 24)
(May 24) NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has found a rare class of oddball stars called blue stragglers in the hub of our Milky Way, the first detected within our galaxy’s bulge.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-162_Blue_Stars.html
Radio Telescopes Capture Best-Ever Snapshot of Black Hole Jets (May 20)
(May 20) An international team, including NASA-funded researchers, using radio telescopes located throughout the Southern Hemisphere has produced the most detailed image of particle jets erupting from a supermassive black hole in a nearby galaxy.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-158_Black_Hole_Jets.html
Cassini Spacecraft and Ground Telescope See Violet Saturn Storm (May 19)
(May 19) NASA’s Cassini spacecraft and a European Southern Observatory ground-based telescope tracked the growth of a giant early-spring storm in Saturn’s northern hemisphere so powerful it stretches around the entire planet. The rare storm has been wreaking havoc for months and shot plumes of gas high into the planet’s atmosphere.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-151_Cassini_Saturn.html
NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer Finds Dark Energy Repulsive (May 19)
(May 19) A five-year survey of 200,000 galaxies, stretching back seven billion years in cosmic time, has led to one of the best independent confirmations that dark energy is driving our universe apart at accelerating speeds.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-155_Dark_Energy.html
Free-Floating Planets May Be More Common Than Stars (May 18)
(May 18) Astronomers, including a NASA-funded team member, have discovered a new class of Jupiter-sized planets floating alone in the dark of space, away from the light of a star. The team believes these lone worlds probably were ejected from developing planetary systems.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-148_Free_Planets.html
Searching for Aliens on Kepler’s Planets (May 17)
(May 17) Now that NASA’s Kepler space telescope has identified 1,235 possible planets around stars in our galaxy, astronomers at the University of California, Berkeley, are aiming a radio telescope at the most Earth-like of these worlds to see if they can detect signals from an advanced civilization.
http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/3974/searching-for-aliens-on-keplers-planets
NASA Mission Will Observe Earth’s Salty Seas For Climate Clues (May 17)
(May 17) Final preparations are under way for the June 9 launch of the international Aquarius/SAC-D observatory. The mission’s primary instrument, Aquarius, will study interactions between ocean circulation, the water cycle and climate by measuring ocean surface salinity.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-150_Aquarius.html
Unique Space Image of Alabama Tornado Tracks (May 16)
(May 16) NASA has released a unique satellite image tracing the damage of a monster EF-4 tornado that tore through Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 27th. It combines visible and infrared data to reveal damage unseen in conventional photographs. “This is the first time we’ve used the ASTER instrument to track the wake of a super-outbreak of tornadoes,” says NASA meteorologist Gary Jedlovec of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/16may_groundtracks/
Moon’s Rough ‘Wrinkles’ Reveal Clues To Its Past (May 13)
(May 13) Written on the moon’s weary face are the damages it has endured for the past 4 1/2 billion years. From impact craters to the dark plains of maria left behind by volcanic eruptions, the scars are all that remain to tell the tale of what happened to the moon. But they only hint at the processes that once acted – and act today – to shape the surface.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/moon-wrinkles.html
NASA Spacecraft’s Data Reveal Magma Ocean Under Jupiter Moon (May 12)
(May 12) New data analysis from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft reveals a subsurface ocean of molten or partially molten magma beneath the surface of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-144_Galileo_Moon.html
NASA’s Fermi Spots ‘Superflares’ in the Crab Nebula (May 11)
(May 11) The famous Crab Nebula supernova remnant has erupted in an enormous flare five times more powerful than any flare previously seen from the object. On April 12, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope first detected the outburst, which lasted six days.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-146_Crab_Nebula_Flare.html
NASA Dawn Spacecraft Captures First Image of Nearing Asteroid (May 11)
(May 11) NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has obtained its first image of the giant asteroid Vesta, which will help fine-tune navigation during its approach. Dawn expects to achieve orbit around Vesta on July 16, when the asteroid is about 117 million miles from Earth.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-139_Dawn_Image.html
A Story from the Tornado Zone (May 6)
(May 6) On Wednesday, April 27th, Science@NASA writer Dauna Coulter found herself near ground zero as a super-outbreak of tornadoes ripped through north Alabama. This is the story about the event she wrote and submitted from within the disaster zone.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/06may_tornado/
NASA Announces Results of Epic Space-Time Experiment (May 4)
(May 4) Einstein was right again. There is a space-time vortex around Earth, and its shape precisely matches the predictions of Einstein’s theory of gravity. Researchers confirmed these points at a press conference at NASA headquarters, where they announced the long-awaited results of Gravity Probe B (GP-B).
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/04may_epic/
Two NASA Sites Win Webby Awards (May 3)
(May 3) Two NASA websites have been recognized in the 15th Annual Webby Awards – the leading international honor for the world’s best Internet sites. NASA’s main website, www.NASA.gov, received its third consecutive People’s Voice Award for best government site. NASA’s Global Climate Change site, which won last year’s People’s Voice Award for science, won the 2011 judges’ award for best science site.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-136_Webby_Awards.html.
Calendar
June 2011
June 1-5 – World Science Festival http://worldsciencefestival.com/
June 3-4 – COSEE-OS Educators Workshop at NASA – K-12 Educators http://cosee.umaine.edu/programs/nasaaquarius/
June 6 – July 17 – Online Climate Change Graduate Courses from AMNH http://www.amnh.org/learn
June 9 – Aquarius Launch Date http://aquarius.nasa.gov/index.html
June 12 – Music and Astronomy Under the Stars (Bethel Woods, N.Y.) http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/PHYSIC/physic_underthestars.html
June 20-24 – Lunar Workshop for Middle and High School Educators; Twin Falls, Idaho http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/lwe/index.html
June 20 – Music and Astronomy Under the Stars (East Meadow, N.Y.) http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/PHYSIC/physic_underthestars.html
June 21-22 – Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – High School Teacher Workshop http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/workshops/mars/
June 27-July 1 – Lunar Workshop for Middle and High School Educators; Utica, Miss. and Concord, N.H. http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/lwe/index.html
June 28-July 1 – Changing Planet Faculty Study Group http://www.dickinson.edu/academics/distinctive-opportunities/sustainability-education/content/Climate-Education/
June 29 – Proposals Due – NASA Research Announcement for Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B75AAC7BF-2F69-6C73-2980-B1DCF25EA665%7D&path=open
June 30 – 2011 INSPIRE Project for High School Students Application Deadline https://inspire.okstate.edu/index.cfm?liftoff=login.LoginForm
July 2011
July 1 – Entries Due – Move an Asteroid 2011 International Technical Paper Contest http://spacegeneration.org/index.php/activities/126-neo-move-an-asteroid
July 4-Aug. 14 – Online Climate Change Graduate Courses from AMNH http://www.amnh.org/learn
July 8-9 – Mountains of Sun, Making the Sun-Earth Connection for K-8 Educators Workshop http://www.nps.gov/samo/forteachers/workshops.htm
July 10 – Applications Due for Sky Rangers Outdoor Astronomy Interpretation Workshop http://www.afguonline.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=1857
July 11-22 – NASA’s Multi-Wavelength Universe Online Professional Development Course for Middle and High School Teachers http://epo.sonoma.edu/multiu.php
July 12-13 – ESIP Teacher Workshop – Grades 6-12 http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/teacherworkshop/esip/
July 16-17 – CAE 2011 Professional Development Workshop Series for College Astronomy Instructors (Hawai’i National Park, Hawaii) http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov/workshops
July 17-23 – Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers http://www.seti.org/ASSET
July 18-22 – Heliophysics Educator Ambassador Program – Middle School Teacher Workshop http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/educate/pd
July 18-22 – NASA Planetary Science Summer School for Grads/Post-Docs http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov
July 17-22 – GLOBE 15th Annual Partner Meeting http://globe.gov/events/2011-annual-meeting
July 25-29 – Lunar Workshop for Middle and High School Educators; Laurel, Md. http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/lwe/index.html
July 30-Aug. 3 – 2011 ASP Education and Public Outreach Conference http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html
August 2011
Aug. 1-5 – NASA Planetary Science Summer School for Grads/Post-Docs http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov
Aug. 1-5 – Lunar Workshop for Middle and High School Educators; Tempe, Ariz. http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/lwe/index.html
Aug. 4 – Abstracts Due – AGU Fall Meeting http://www.agu.org/meetings/
Aug. 5-7 – Dawn Mission’s Vesta Fiesta http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/vesta_fiesta.asp
Aug. 8-11 – Climate Modeling and Data Tools Workshop http://www.dickinson.edu/academics/distinctive-opportunities/sustainability-education/content/Climate-Education/
September 2011
Sept. 25-29 – Sky Rangers Outdoor Astronomy Interpretation Workshop http://www.afguonline.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=1857
October 2011
Oct. 9-15 – Earth Science Week 2011: Our Ever-Changing Earth http://www.earthsciweek.org
Acknowledgements
NASA Science Mission Directorate: Jim Lochner, Stephanie Stockman and Ming-Ying Wei
Editor: Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
Writer: Morgan Woroner, IGES.
Contributions From: Whitney Cobb, McREL; Heather Dalton, LPI; Andrew Fraknoi, ASP; Nancy Leon, NASA; Patricia Reiff, Rice Space Institute; Daniella Scalice, NASA; Christine Shupla, LPI; Anita Sohus, NASA JPL; Mitchell Watkins, STScI
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