Author: NeRD

NASA Study Reveals Venus Crust Surprise

NeRD

3 min read NASA Study Reveals Venus Crust Surprise This global view of the surface of Venus is centered at 180 degrees east longitude. Magellan synthetic aperture radar mosaics from the first cycle of Magellan mapping are mapped onto a computer-simulated globe to create this image. Data gaps are filled with Pioneer Venus Orbiter data, or a constant mid-range value. Simulated color is used to enhance small-scale structure. The simulated hues are based on color images recorded by the Soviet Venera 13 and 14 spacecraft. NASA/JPL-Caltech New details about the…

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Using Our Facilities

NeRD

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland provides ground test facilities to industry, government, and academia specializing in the following:  Acoustics  Engine Components Testing  Full-Scale Engine Testing  Flight Research  Icing Research  Materials and Structures  Microgravity  Space Power and Propulsion  Wind Tunnels  Electromagnetic Interference Laboratory  Our unique facilities offer superior customer service, flexible scheduling, and state-of-the-art testing capabilities.  Facility Request Process  Customer contacts the facility manager and/or submits a test request form. See below for the Facility Request Form.  The facility manager will contact the customer to discuss the request and obtain…

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Hubble Comes Face-to-Face with Spiral’s Arms

NeRD

Explore Hubble Hubble Home Overview About Hubble The History of Hubble Hubble Timeline Why Have a Telescope in Space? Hubble by the Numbers At the Museum FAQs Impact & Benefits Hubble’s Impact & Benefits Science Impacts Cultural Impact Technology Benefits Impact on Human Spaceflight Astro Community Impacts Science Hubble Science Science Themes Science Highlights Science Behind Discoveries Hubble’s Partners in Science Universe Uncovered Explore the Night Sky Observatory Hubble Observatory Hubble Design Mission Operations Missions to Hubble Hubble vs Webb Team Hubble Team Career Aspirations Hubble Astronauts News Hubble News…

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Watch the moon and bright star Spica meet in a celestial dance on May 9

NeRD

The bright star Spica will appear to dance around Earth’s moon on the night of May 9. Here’s how to catch the celestial pair at play ahead of next week’s full ‘Flower Moon’. Stargazers should look for the moon and Spica hanging above the eastern horizon on May 9 after sunset. The waxing gibbous moon will shine brightly, with just a thin crescent of shadow along its edge. Look to its lower left after 10 p.m. local time — once astronomical twilight fades, the bright star Spica will become easier…

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ZWO Seestar S30 all-in-one smart telescope review

NeRD

ZWO’s entry into the smart telescope market is the Seestar S30, a compact and highly portable instrument. This model is available in both 30-mm- and 50-mm-aperture versions, but this review focuses on the former, which comes at a recommended retail price of just $349. But is the Seestar S30 the bargain of the century, or do you get what you pay for? ZWO Seestar S30 All-in-One Smart Telescope: Design The Seestar S30 has a compact, minimal design. (Image credit: Future) ★★★★ Compact design Very quiet mechanism Small 30-mm aperture, with…

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Cosmic imposter bathes distant nebula in fiery red glow: ‘This star should not be here’

NeRD

A dazzling new image from the European Southern Observatory’s VLT Survey Telescope in Chile has revealed an unusual cosmic tale unfolding 6,000 light-years away in the Serpens constellation. The snapshot features the vivid red nebula Sh2-46 — also known as Gum 80 — lit up in a fiery hue due to intense radiation coming from a brilliant blue-white star nestled at its heart. The stellar behemoth is among the rarest and most luminous stars in the universe, wielding significant influence over its surroundings. Despite its dominant presence, astronomers believe this…

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NASA Astronaut Anne McClain Works on Space Station

NeRD

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 flight engineer Anne McClain is pictured near one of the International Space Station’s main solar arrays during a spacewalk. NASA/Nichole Ayers In this May 1, 2025, photo taken by fellow NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain works near one of the International Space Station’s main solar arrays during a spacewalk. During the May 1 spacewalk – McClain’s third and Ayers’ first – the astronaut pair relocated a space station communications antenna and completed the initial mounting bracket installation steps for an International Space Station Rollout…

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NASA Earns Two Emmy Nominations for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Coverage

NeRD

3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s coverage of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse has earned two nominations for the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominations on May 1, recognizing NASA’s outstanding work in sharing this rare celestial event with audiences around the world. The winners are set to be unveiled at a ceremony in late June. “Total solar eclipses demonstrate the special connection between our Earth, Moon, and Sun by impacting…

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‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ returns to theaters later this year for 50th anniversary of Transylvanian aliens landing on Earth

NeRD

Forget tossing Milk Duds and Diet Cokes during “Minecraft: The Movie” multiplex viewings, the original audience participation flick “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is back in the news, celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary this year with a sparkling 4K UHD Blu-ray release en route for fans and special birthday screenings sometime later this year. Directed by Jim Sherman, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has become a cinematic cult classic that began life in London as a campy 1973 sci-fi horror stage musical written by eccentric actor Richard O’Brien. After a…

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India delays 1st Gaganyaan astronaut launch to 2027

NeRD

India now plans to launch astronauts to space no sooner than 2027, shifting the goal post for the country’s first human spaceflight yet again. Indian space minister Jitendra Singh announced the latest delay during a press conference Tuesday (May 6), running through the progress of India’s crewed spaceflight program and providing an updated timeline for its first Gaganyaan crewed missions. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now targeting the first quarter of 2027 for its first astronaut launch, which was originally planned to fly in 2022. The landmark human…

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