APOD - To Fly Free in Space

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 December 31

To Fly Free in Space
Image Credit: STS-41B, NASA

Explanation: What would it be like to fly free in space? At about 100 meters from the cargo bay of the space shuttle Challenger, Bruce McCandless II was living the dream -- floating farther out than anyone had ever been before. Guided by a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), astronaut McCandless, pictured, was floating free in space. McCandless and fellow NASA astronaut Robert Stewart were the first to experience such an "untethered space walk" during Space Shuttle mission 41-B in 1984. The MMU worked by shooting jets of nitrogen and was used to help deploy and retrieve satellites. With a mass over 140 kilograms, an MMU is heavy on Earth, but, like everything, is weightless when drifting in orbit. The MMU was replaced with the SAFER backpack propulsion unit.

Memorial: Astronaut Bruce McCandless II Dies at 80
Tomorrow's picture: sun ring

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
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He passed a disease on to his son. Would brain implants save them both?

Dystonia is a rare, degenerative nerve disorder that causes painful spasms. Carl Luepker showed signs of it when he was 10; when his son Liam was the same age, Carl realized Liam was getting it too. The best chance for treatment was letting surgeons open his skull and place electrodes in his brain.

Source: Employment Policies Institute Credit: Brittany Mayes/NPR For many on minimum wage across the U.S., the new year will put a bit more money in their pockets Despite a more than 17 percent increase in the cost of living, the federal minimum wage hasn’t gone up since 2009. But 18 states and 20 localities are giving their lowest-paid workers a boost in 2018. But where labor advocates see an influx of money into the economy, conservatives see job losses. Meredith Rizzo/NPR It doesn’t take much know-how to design a nuke. This truck driver just needed a lot of research. "Compared to what they do in manufacturing today for making a light bulb, these are simple," says John Coster-Mullen of the first American nuclear weapons. One expert on the devices calls the exacting schematics crafted by the hobbyist "the gold standard." Coster-Mullen and others say that once North Korea had enough fuel, building a city-destroying weapon was a piece of cake. Jenn Ackerman for NPR His hand cramped during violin lessons. He tripped on the stairs. For his dad, 'it was my worst fear': A shared degenerative disease. Seeing his son suffering the same spasms he'd dealt with for decades caused Carl Luepker a lot of shame — and pushed him toward a radical decision. He came to believe deep brain stimulation — the implanting and triggering of electrodes to calm affected neurons — was Liam's best chance at a normal life. And he knew he couldn't let his son take the risk blind. "I have no choice; I have to get this surgery done." Jane Arraf/NPR At the heart of the former Islamic State, an orphanage cares for the group’s youngest victims As they retreated or were killed, the militant group’s fighters left behind young children. Some were the results of forced marriages and sex slavery experienced by Yazidi women, whose families forced them to give the children up. Other children were taken from their families. Some are so young they can’t remember their own names — or any parents other than those they knew under ISIS. "That's the worst thing — when the father arrives and the children say, 'I don't know him.' " Nikada/Getty Images/iStockphoto Americans import huge — and expensive — amounts of spices. Some think that needs to change. Aside from chili peppers and garlic, farmers here don't grow the flavorings in large quantities, though some U.S. climates are suited to coriander, ginger and other such crops. The late-fall harvest would even work well for vegetable farmers, experts say. In Vermont, they're giving it a shot with one of the most valuable spices: saffron. You received this message because you're subscribed to our Best of NPR emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

APOD - Apollo 17 VIP Site Anaglyph

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 December 30

Apollo 17 VIP Site Anaglyph
Image Credit: Gene Cernan, Apollo 17, NASA; Anaglyph by Erik van Meijgaarden

Explanation: Get out your red/blue glasses and check out this stereo scene from Taurus-Littrow valley on the Moon! The color anaglyph features a detailed 3D view of Apollo 17's Lunar Rover in the foreground -- behind it lies the Lunar Module and distant lunar hills. Because the world was going to be able to watch the Lunar Module's ascent stage liftoff via the rover's TV camera, this parking place was also known as the VIP Site. In December of 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent about 75 hours on the Moon, while colleague Ronald Evans orbited overhead. The crew returned with 110 kilograms of rock and soil samples, more than from any of the other lunar landing sites. Cernan and Schmitt are still the last to walk (or drive) on the Moon.

Tomorrow's picture: to fly free

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

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Erica Garner, Who Became An Activist After Her Father's Death, Dies

Erica Garner, Who Became An Activist After Her Father's Death, Dies She became a prominent figure calling for an end to police brutality after New York City officers put her father in a fatal chokehold. She suffered brain damage following a heart attack. Read More You received this message because you're subscribed to our Breaking News Alerts emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

Cold Much? Here Are Tips From NPR Member Stations

Cold Much? Here Are Tips From NPR Member Stations Ringing in the new year with frigid weather? Our member stations offer their solutions for dealing with the cold. Merino wool gets a big shout-out; so do flannel-lined pants. Warming up the car is a good idea — but stay in the car in Eau Claire, Wis., or you'll face a steep fine. Read More You received this message because you're subscribed to our Breaking News Alerts emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

APOD - M78 Wide Field

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 December 29

M78 Wide Field
Image Credit & Copyright: Fabian Neyer

Explanation: Interstellar dust clouds and glowing nebulae abound in the fertile constellation of Orion. One of the brightest, M78, is centered in this colorful, wide field view, covering an area north of Orion's belt. At a distance of about 1,500 light-years, the bluish reflection nebula is around 5 light-years across. Its tint is due to dust preferentially reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars. Reflection nebula NGC 2071 is just to the left of M78. To the right, and much more compact in appearance, the intriguing McNeil's Nebula is a recently recognized variable nebula associated with a young sun-like star. Deeper red flecks of emission from Herbig-Haro objects, energetic jets from stars in the process of formation, stand out against the dark dust lanes. The exposure also brings out the region's fainter pervasive glow of atomic hydrogen gas.

Tomorrow's picture: free parking

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< | Archive | Submissions | Index | Search | Calendar | RSS | Education | About APOD | Discuss | >

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

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APOD - Recycling Cassiopeia A

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 December 28

Recycling Cassiopeia A
Image Credit: NASA, CXC, SAO

Explanation: Massive stars in our Milky Way Galaxy live spectacular lives. Collapsing from vast cosmic clouds, their nuclear furnaces ignite and create heavy elements in their cores. After a few million years, the enriched material is blasted back into interstellar space where star formation can begin anew. The expanding debris cloud known as Cassiopeia A is an example of this final phase of the stellar life cycle. Light from the explosion which created this supernova remnant would have been first seen in planet Earth's sky about 350 years ago, although it took that light about 11,000 years to reach us. This false-color Chandra X-ray Observatory image shows the still hot filaments and knots in the Cassiopeia A remnant. High-energy emission from specific elements has been color coded, silicon in red, sulfur in yellow, calcium in green and iron in purple, to help astronomers explore the recycling of our galaxy's star stuff - Still expanding, the blast wave is seen as the blue outer ring. The sharp X-ray image, spans about 30 light-years at the estimated distance of Cassiopeia A. The bright speck near the center is a neutron star, the incredibly dense, collapsed remains of the massive stellar core.

Tomorrow's picture: more star stuff

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

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Judge Rejects Roy Moore's Move Seeking To Delay Certification Of Senate Vote

Judge Rejects Roy Moore's Move Seeking To Delay Certification Of Senate Vote The Alabama Republican claimed election fraud was "sufficient to overturn the outcome" of the election he lost early this month. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill says he expects the vote will be certified Thursday, as planned. Read More You received this message because you're subscribed to our Breaking News Alerts emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

Some Of 2017's Biggest National Stories, In Pictures

Some Of 2017's Biggest National Stories, In Pictures As the year draws to a close and the news cycle continues its daily churn, let's pause to revisit some of the most important news events from 2017. Read More RELATED STORIES 50 Wonderful Things From 2017 Favorite Visual Stories Of 2017 You received this message because you're subscribed to our Breaking News Alerts emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

Scrambling To Prepay 2018 Property Taxes? Maybe You Shouldn't

Scrambling To Prepay 2018 Property Taxes? Maybe You Shouldn't The tax overhaul limits the amount of state and local taxes deductible on federal returns. The IRS says taxes can be prepaid and deducted if they are levied in 2017 and paid by Dec. 31. Read More You received this message because you're subscribed to our Breaking News Alerts emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

A Mosul Orphanage Shelters The Smallest Victims Of ISIS

A Mosul Orphanage Shelters The Smallest Victims Of ISIS Some of the children lost their entire families in the war against the terrorist group. Others are the product of rape or were kidnapped from their birth parents. One baby boy was left "as bait to lure Iraqi soldiers," the founder of the orphanage said.  Read More You received this message because you're subscribed to our Breaking News Alerts emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002

APOD - The Horsehead Nebula

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 December 27

The Horsehead Nebula
Image Credit: CFHT, Coelum, MegaCam, J.-C. Cuillandre (CFHT) & G. A. Anselmi (Coelum)

Explanation: One of the most identifiable nebulae in the sky, the Horsehead Nebula in Orion, is part of a large, dark, molecular cloud. Also known as Barnard 33, the unusual shape was first discovered on a photographic plate in the late 1800s. The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming. Light takes about 1,500 years to reach us from the Horsehead Nebula. The featured image was taken with the large 3.6-m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii, USA.

Free APOD Lectures: January 5 in NYC & January 9 in DC
Tomorrow's picture: explosion afterglow

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

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