Emerging Galaxy Forum Asia Architecture to Advance Education, Philanthropy
With its pioneering launch on 4 July 2008 in California, USA, the Galaxy Forum program is beginning to catalyze classrooms throughout Hawaii, mainland USA, Canada and China with its mission to enhance and advance 21st Century Education through awareness of our Milky Way Galaxy. Now entering its third year, the Galaxy Forum architecture is emerging in Asia with Forums scheduled in Bangalore, India (9 August), Beijing, China (14 Aug) and Tokyo, Japan (4 December), and others being planned for 2011 and beyond. Following 2 successful Galaxy Forums in Beijing in 2008 and 2009, this year’s China event will take place at the Beijing Planetarium 23-meter Dome featuring prominent astronomy artist and Galaxy Garden creator Jon Lomberg (BL) and International Lunar Observatory Association Director Steve Durst (CL). China press coverage on the Galaxy Forum Beijing is expected to attract considerable national and international attention throughout the world’s most populous country and beyond. The events in India and Japan will be hosted at the Nehru Planetarium and Miraikan Space and Science Center, respectively. The Galaxy Forums connect educators, teachers, students and astronomers of all kinds in a series of community events featuring local experts discussing topics related to our Galaxy and others, as well as ways to integrate learning about our place in the Galaxy into all levels of all classrooms around the world. Galaxy Forum is also designed to attract philanthropic sponsors for the upcoming International Lunar Observatory mission, set to conduct observation and communication on the surface of the Moon NET December 2012 starting with the highly directional, educational and iconic “Galaxy First Light” image. Pictured: Professor U.R. Rao (BC) (Credit: Galaxy Garden, Nehru Planetarium, Beijing Planetarium, ISRO, ILOA)
Small Satellites, Space Elevator Focus of Innovative Technology Conferences
Space industry leaders and advocates worldwide will gather in the USA to discuss the latest technological advances in space exploration. On August 9-12, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Utah State University will hold the 24th Annual Conference on Small Satellites in Logan UT. Small satellites have become instrumental in the space community with low manufacturing costs and a proven track record in scientific and commercial missions. This year’s theme, ‘Connecting the Dots: Bringing Visionaries, System Implementers & Mission Sponsors Together,’ will focus on the increasing need for small satellites and enhancing synergistic efforts between technology advocates and investors. Jean‐Michel Contant (TL), International Academy of Astronautics Secretary General will deliver the keynote address followed by technical sessions covering mission payloads, future missions of small satellites and a current market overview. Undergraduate and graduate students will also showcase their work on small satellite concepts and missions in the 18th Frank J. Redd Scholarship Competition. On Aug 13-15, The Space Engineering and Science Institute will present the 4th Space Elevator Conference in Redmond WA. Participants will discuss the International Space Elevator Consortium study on space debris and the 4 Pillars of Space Elevator Development in fields of science / technical, political / social, legal and economic. The 3-day technical event will feature SE overview, a keynote address on space debris mitigation by Jerome Pearson (BR), The NASA Centennial Challenge and Strong Tether Competition, 5 minute shotgun science sessions and free public presentations. (Credit: smallsat.org, spaceelevatorblog.com, NASA, n2jrf.com, Alan Chan)
= All times for terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for space events, and…
= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time;’ Greenwich, England).
Weekly Planet Watch – Morning Planets: Jupiter (S) / Evening Planets: Mercury (W), Venus (W), Mars (W), Saturn (W), Jupiter (SE).
MONDAY
Aug 9 — International Space Station, LEO: E-24 crew members prepare for upcoming spacewalk on Wednesday to restore a faulty cooling system.
Aug 9 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: LRO operating nominally in low polar orbit (50km) and continues to return global data of lunar surface.
Aug 9 — Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Red Planet: Scientists continue observations of Mars surface with MRO HiRISE Camera, recently adding 314 images to teams camera site and NASA’s Planetary Data System.
Aug 9 — International Lunar Observatory Association, Bangalore, India: ‘Galaxy Forum India 2010: Galaxy Education in the 21st Century,’ held at Nehru Planetarium.
Aug 9-12 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Utah State University, Logan UT: ‘24th Annual Conference on Small Satellites: Bringing Visionaries, System Implementers and Mission Sponsors Together.’
Aug 9 — Moon: 3.6° SSW of Beehive Cluster, 00:00; New Moon, 17:08.
Continued from . . .
Jun 26 — International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France and Stuttgart, Germany: ‘ISU Summer Session Program;’ through Aug 27.
Aug 1 — International Astronomical Youth Camps (IAYC), Klingenthal, Germany: ‘IAYC 2010;’ through Aug 21.
Aug 8 — American Geophysical Union, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil: ‘The Meeting of the Americas 2010,’ science program to will cover topics in all areas of geophysical sciences; through Aug 12.
TUESDAY
Aug 10 — NASA Lunar Science Institute, Moffett Field CA: ‘NLSI Executive Council Meeting.’
Aug 10 — Ames Research Center, Moffett Field CA: NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun to hold media briefing to discuss important role of ARC to advance NASA innovation and technology at 13:00 PDT.
Aug 10-11 — NASA, Washington DC: ‘Exploration of Near-Earth Objects (NEO) Objectives Workshop.’
Aug 10 — Cassini OTM-259, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #259 today.
Aug 10 — Moon: At Perigee (Distance 56.11 Earth Radii); 08:00.
Aug 10 — Asteroid 6239 Minos: Near-Earth Flyby (0.098 AU)
WEDNESDAY
Aug 11 — The SETI Institute, Mountain View CA: ‘SETI REU Student Presentations.’
Aug 11-14 — Astronomical Institute of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Bamberg, Germany: ‘Planetary Systems Beyond the Main Sequence.’
Aug 11 — Moon: 2.2° SSW of Mercury; 14:00.
Aug 11 — Asteroid 3173 McNaught: Closest Approach to Earth (0.772 AU)
THURSDAY
Aug 12 — United Launch Alliance, Launch Atlas 5 / AEHF 1, Cape Canaveral FL: ULA Rocket Atlas 5 to launch 1st Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite of the Space-Based Surveillance System to track satellites in orbit around Earth.
Aug 12-14 — Satellite Educators Association, Los Angeles CA: ‘13th Satellite Educators Association Conference.’
Aug 12 — Perseids Meteor Shower Peak: One of the year’s most impressive meteor showers with 50-80 meteors per hour, radiating from constellation Perseus.
Aug 12 — Moon: 7.3° SSW of Saturn, 16:00; 4.2° SSW of Venus; 22:00.
Aug 12 — Asteroid 2010 HZ103: Near-Earth Flyby (0.053 AU)
FRIDAY
Aug 13-15 — The Space Engineering and Science Institute, Redmond WA: ‘2010 Space Elevator Conference.’
Aug 13-15 — The SETI Institute, Santa Clara CA: ‘SETIcon 2010.’
Aug 13 — Moon: 5.5° SSW of Mars; 16:00.
Aug 13 — Asteroid 2002 AC9: Near-Earth Flyby (0.044 AU)
SATURDAY
Aug 14 — United Launch Alliance LLC, Launch Atlas 5 / AEHF 1, Cape Canaveral FL: The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 (AV-019) rocket set to launch USAF 1st Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite.
Aug 14 — International Lunar Observatory Association, Beijing, China: ‘Galaxy Forum 2010: Galaxy Education in the 21st Century,’ held at Beijing Planetarium.
Aug 14 — Moon: 3.1° S of Spica; 06:00.
SUNDAY
Aug 15-20 — International Glaciological Society, Columbus OH: ‘Earth’s Disappearing Ice: Drivers, Responses and Impacts.’
Aug 15 — Asteroid 2010 CB55: Near-Earth Flyby (0.048 AU)