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Broadcast Pro
8 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
NASA launches mission to study Earths magnetic shield
Riding along with TRACERS aboard the Falcon 9 were NASAs Athena EPIC, PExT and REAL missions, three small satellites to demonstrate new technologies and gather scientific data. NASA has launched its latest space science mission, TRACERS, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Short for Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, the twin TRACERS spacecraft will explore how Earths magnetic field interacts with solar activity, offering new insights into the forces shaping space weather and their impact on the planet. This mission marks a pivotal moment in NASAs heliophysics research, as the twin satellites will orbit through the polar cusp, an open area of Earth's magnetic field near the North Pole, to examine magnetic reconnection events. These magnetic explosions occur when the Suns magnetic field, carried by solar wind, collides with Earth's magnetosphere, triggering rapid changes that send charged particles hurtling into the atmosphere. Flying just seconds apart, the two TRACERS satellites will collect a 3,000 measurements within a year to build a detailed, time-sequenced picture of how this dynamic process unfolds. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said: 'NASA is proud to launch TRACERS to demonstrate and expand American preeminence in space science research and technology. The TRACERS satellites will move us forward in decoding space weather and further our understanding of the connection between Earth and the Sun. This mission will yield breakthroughs that will advance our pursuit of the Moon, and subsequently, Mars.' Joe Westlake, Heliophysics Division Director at NASA Headquarters in Washington, added: 'NASAs heliophysics fleet helps to safeguard humanitys home in space and understand the influence of our closest star, the Sun. By adding TRACERS to that fleet, we will gain a better understanding of those impacts right here at Earth.' Ground controllers successfully established communication with both TRACERS spacecraft within hours of launch. Over the next month, engineers will conduct a commissioning phase to ensure all instruments and systems are functioning correctly. Once operational, the satellites will begin their 12-month mission, measuring how incoming solar particles interact with Earth's magnetic shield and affect near-Earth space. David Miles, TRACERS Principal Investigator at the University of Iowa, stated: 'The successful launch of TRACERS is a tribute to many years of work by an excellent team. TRACERS is set to transform our understanding of Earths magnetosphere. Were excited to explore the dynamic processes driving space weather.' In addition to TRACERS, three other NASA missions, Athena EPIC, PExT and REAL, rode along on the Falcon 9 rocket. These small satellites are designed to test new technologies and gather scientific data. Athena EPIC, led by NASAs Langley Research Centre in partnership with NOAA and the US Space Force, will demonstrate a flexible commercial satellite architecture and collect longwave radiation measurements from Earth. PExT will test a wideband polylingual terminal that can switch between commercial and government networks, paving the way for more adaptable space communications. REAL, a CubeSat from Dartmouth College, will study how energetic electrons are scattered from the Van Allen radiation belts into the atmosphere, improving understanding of particles that pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The TRACERS mission is led by the University of Iowa with support from the Southwest Research Institute and other academic partners, including UCLA and UC Berkeley. The mission is managed by NASAs Heliophysics Explorers Programme at Goddard Space Flight Centre under the Heliophysics Division in Washington. The launch was carried out under NASAs Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract, overseen by the Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Centre.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
a day ago
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
These are the best spots to watch the Perseids meteor shower in the UAE
One of the most popular annual stargazing events is returning later this month, and we're already looking out the binoculars to make the most of it. An annual meteor shower, named the Perseid meteor shower, is making an appearance again, as the planet moves through a debris trail left by a former comet. Typically, you'll be able to see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions between now and the end of August in Dubai skies. But the absolute peak time to see the Perseids Meteor Shower will be between Tuesday August 12 and Wednesday August 13. This year's peak will fall under a bright moon with 89 percent illumination on August 12 and 80 percent illumination on August 13. While this will mean a lovely, bright full moon in the skies it will wash out may of the fainter meteors. The Perseid meteor shower is always worth catching, especially for casual skywatchers. (Credit: CanvaPro) And the best bit? You don't need any high-tech equipment to enjoy it (yes, even those binoculars) as it is visible with the naked eye. For the best conditions, you will need to get away from the bright city lights, however and find a nice dark spot to go stargazing. Dubai Astronomy Group will host a special viewing event at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah on the night of August 12. The event will include deep-sky telescope observations, educational sessions, expert guidance and a comfortable dark-sky setup to help you make the most of it. If you can't make that one, then we've rounded up some of the best spots in the country to see the Perseids meteor shower at its best below. The best spots to watch the Perseid meteor shower in the UAE Al Quaa Milky Way Spot View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dubai Astronomy Group (@dubaiastronomy) A quiet and open spot (away from night pollution) is always a good bet for stargazing. Around 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi towards Al Ain, is the Al Quaa Milky Way Spot. If you're planning a visit on your own, you'll need a 4×4 to get there and be adept at desert driving. It has its own location tag on Google Maps (23.604633,54.750256.) Free. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Abu Dhabi. Al Qudra Desert View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dubai Astronomy Group (@dubaiastronomy) A regular spot for Dubai Astronomy's stargazing events, this desert can be found around a one and a half hour drive from Abu Dhabi. You can also head here on your own accord and set up camp for a night under the stars. Shuweihat Island If you are interested in seeing a place that looks spectacular day or night, then Shuweihat Island is a must. Around a 2 hour and 40 minute drive from Abu Dhabi, you'll find salt flats and serenity. A 4×4 car is recommended when visiting. Free. Shuwaihat Island. Hatta Hajar mountain location Hatta, which is just two-and-a-half hours away from the city of Abu Dhabi, can be a good spot to see the night sky, but as the spot isn't as deep into the wilderness as some of the others, there may be some light. More going on in Abu Dhabi Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names Wow, look at this line-up Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Rare total solar eclipse to plunge Middle East into darkness in 2027
A rare and dramatic moment of darkness will take place in the afternoon over parts of the Middle East on August 2, 2027, as a total solar eclipse sweeps across three continents. Parts of Saudi Arabia and Yemen will plunge into night-like conditions for six minutes, an experience that will not happen again for another 100 years. The total eclipse, one of the longest of the century, will also pass over southern Europe and North Africa, with millions of people to witness the celestial wonder. 'This alignment will bring more than six minutes of total darkness in some areas, particularly in Luxor, Egypt, where totality will last up to six minutes and 23 seconds, making it the longest eclipse visible from land this century,' said Khadijah Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group. The event in Luxor will make it the longest land-based total eclipse since 1991 and until the year 2114, according to Nasa. Cities like Jeddah will also be under the path of totality, and will witness the Moon fully block the Sun in midafternoon, turning skies dark, revealing the solar corona, or the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere. 'In the UAE, along with countries like Oman, Jordan, Iraq and parts of India, a partial eclipse will be visible,' said Ms Ahmed. 'In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Moon will cover around 55 per cent of the Sun, creating a mesmerising crescent-shaped Sun at the peak of the eclipse.' A rare event for the region Solar eclipses take place when there is perfect alignment between the Earth, Moon and Sun, a coincidence does not repeat in the same spot for hundreds of years. Its path of totality also stretches across some of the most densely populated areas in the world, including southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The totality will take place in the midafternoon for many regions, which means there will be chances of clear skies and good visibility. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in parts of the Middle East was in 1999. Safety first It is unsafe to look at the Sun during an eclipse. Special glasses are recommended for those observing the event. Ms Ahmed said that even a brief glance can cause permanent eye damage. 'Always use ISO 12312-2 certified solar viewing glasses … regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe,' she said. 'If using binoculars, cameras or telescopes, ensure they are fitted with solar filters over the front lens. Using optical equipment without proper filters can concentrate sunlight and cause instant eye damage.' A moment for science A solar eclipse also gives researchers an opportunity to study the Sun in more detail. When the Moon fully blocks the Sun, it reveals the faint outer atmosphere known as the corona, which is difficult to observe because of the Sun's intense glare. Researchers use this brief window to study solar activity, including magnetic fields, solar wind and coronal mass ejections, which can disrupt satellites and communication systems on Earth. Last month, the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission helped create an artificial solar eclipse, when two satellites flew in perfect formation to mimic the effect of the Moon blocking the Sun. This allowed scientists to observe the Sun's corona for several hours instead of just a few minutes. When is the next solar eclipse? A total solar eclipse will not appear in the region until 2081. A partial solar eclipse will take place in the UAE on June 1, 2030. A total lunar eclipse, when the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, will be visible in the UAE on September 7, 2025. The eclipse will begin at 7.28pm UAE time, with totality to start at 9.30pm before it reaches its peak at 10.11pm.
