The Moon’s shadow darkens a portion of the Earth’s surface

The Moon’s shadow darkens a portion of the Earth’s surface

The Moon passes in front of the sun casting its shadow, or umbra, and darkening a portion of the Earth's surface during the annular solar eclipse. The International Space Station was soaring 260 miles above the U.S.-Canadian border as this picture was taken pointing southward toward Texas.
iss070e003785 (Oct. 14, 2023) — The Moon passes in front of the sun casting its shadow, or umbra, and darkening a portion of the Earth’s surface during the annular solar eclipse. The International Space Station was soaring 260 miles above the U.S.-Canadian border as this picture was taken pointing southward toward Texas.
NASA

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Mark A. Garcia

Double Asteroid Redirection Test Post-Impact Image Gallery

Double Asteroid Redirection Test Post-Impact Image Gallery

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Double Asteroid Redirection Test Post-Impact Image Gallery

After 10 months flying in space, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) – the world’s first planetary defense technology demonstration – successfully impacted its asteroid target on Monday, September 26 at 7:14 p.m. EDT. as the world’s first attempt to move an asteroid in space.

Over the coming weeks, ground based observatories around the world will characterize the ejecta produced by DART’s impact and precisely measure Dimorphos’ orbital change to determine how effectively DART deflected the asteroid. Below you will find a gallery that will continue to be updated as new images are taken of the Didymos asteroid system. 

DART’s target asteroid is not a threat to Earth but is the perfect testing ground to see if this method of asteroid deflection – known as the kinetic impactor technique – would be a viable way to protect our planet if an asteroid on a collision course with Earth were discovered in the future. 

DART's LICIACube
This movie uses images from the LUKE camera on ASI’s LICIACube, captured just after the impact of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirect Test, or DART, spacecraft with the asteroid Dimorphos on Sept. 26, 2022. The video begins with LICIACube around 500 miles away from the asteroid, passes by, and then continues to around 200 miles away. The video clearly shows the ejection of material streaming off of Dimorphos due to the impact.
ASI/NASA

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Tricia Talbert

Celebrate International Observe the Moon Night at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Celebrate International Observe the Moon Night at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

2 min read

Celebrate International Observe the Moon Night at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

The public is invited to celebrate International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. EDT rain or shine at NASA Goddard’s Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Whimsical illustration of a skyline of monuments from all over the world representing different countries and cultures, looping behind a logo of Observe the Moon.
International Observe the Moon Night occurs annually in September or October, when the Moon is around first quarter – a great phase for evening observing.
NASA/Vi Nguyen

International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people around the world. The public is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon.

During the Goddard event, attendees will be able to participate in a variety of interactive hands-on activities, including making your own eclipse art, exploring rocks from Earth and space, recreating the Moon’s phases with cookies, designing your own lunar lander, and much more! We’ll also have a photo booth, Moon-themed presentations, and lunar and astronomical observing with telescopes. 

International Observe the Moon Night occurs annually in September or October, when the Moon is around first quarter – a great phase for evening observing. A first-quarter Moon offers excellent viewing opportunities along the terminator (the line between night and day), where shadows enhance the Moon’s cratered landscape.

International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission and the Solar System Exploration Division of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with support from many partners. LRO is managed by Goddard for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

No registration is needed.

To participate in International Observe the Moon Night from wherever you may be, check out our official NASA TV broadcast at 7- 8 p.m. EDT here:

https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/participate/live-streams/

For directions to the Goddard Visitor Center, go to:

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/directions/index.html

To learn more about the program, visit:

https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/

For more information about LRO, visit:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lro

Nancy Neal Jones
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Nancy.N.Jones@nasa.gov

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Oct 16, 2023

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Jamie Adkins

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Jamie Adkins