Latest news with #Pollux
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prominent bird researcher from Maine killed in last week's North Slope helicopter crash
Jun. 9—The crash of a helicopter on a chartered flight over Alaska's North Slope last week killed a well-known East Coast shorebird researcher as well as the pilot. The pilot and sole passenger were killed in the crash, which occurred 25 to 30 miles southwest of Deadhorse. The Robinson R-66 helicopter was operated by Pollux Aviation. The helicopter took off from Deadhorse at 10:30 or 10:40 a.m., according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Pollux lost contact with its tracking signal just before 11 a.m. The pilot received a weather clearance before taking off, federal officials say. The Special Visual Flight Rules clearance is commonly used, especially in rural Alaska, to land in low ceilings or visibility. The crash occurred on flat, featureless, snow-covered terrain, NTSB Alaska chief Clint Johnson said Monday. An NTSB investigator reached the crash site by helicopter on Friday for an on-scene examination but the agency still needs to remove the wreckage, Johnson said. Bad weather "pushed them off the site" and back to Deadhorse on Friday, he said. The agency is hoping to get a helicopter out Monday to sling out the wreckage. The North Slope Borough has not publicly identified either the pilot or the passenger. A spokesperson on Monday morning said the borough was awaiting permission from family members. A Pollux representative on Monday declined to identify the pilot. Passenger Shiloh Schulte was identified by Manomet Conservation Sciences, the Massachusetts avian research nonprofit that employed him as senior shorebird scientist. The nonprofit is involved in research from Alaska to Argentina, according to its website. Schulte was conducting conservation work at the time of the crash, according to a statement from Manomet. He was coordinator for the American Oystercatcher Recovery Program. "Shiloh worked tirelessly and resourcefully, collaborating with partners along the Eastern Seaboard to help rebuild the American Oystercatcher population by 45%," the statement said. "Shiloh gave his life in the service of something greater than himself, dedicating himself to preserving the natural world for future generations." The nonprofit created an online memorial site that by Monday featured numerous accounts from friends and colleagues as well as several photos of Schulte in various aircraft conducting research. Schulte was from Kennebunk, Maine, according to local media reports. A separate GoFundme fundraising site set up by Schulte's family called him "a lifelong birdwatcher, conservationist and scientist whose passion for the natural world was infectious" and said he died while conducting remote field research in Alaska. "Shiloh was doing what he loved most — working in nature to protect the birds and wild places he cherished so deeply," it said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Two stunning conjunctions will light up the night sky in June. Here's how to see them.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Two rare twilight pairings will grace the June 2025 sky as the moon first passes close to elusive Mercury and then gets stunningly close to Mars. Mercury is typically difficult to see and the conjunction between Mars and the moon will be particularly close, so both will be special sights for skywatchers. The moon and Mercury meet-up comes as the "Swift Planet," which orbits the sun every 88 days, emerges from our star's glare into the post-sunset sky between June 21 and 30. According to NASA, Mercury will be visible just above the western horizon for 30 to 45 minutes after sunset. On Thursday (June 26), a very slim crescent moon will appear between Mercury and the two bright stars in the constellation Gemini — Pollux and Castor — causing a brief line of lights in the post-sunset night sky. On Friday (June 27), the crescent moon will be higher in the sky, just above Mercury. Precisely how low Mercury is, and how long it's observable during this period, depends on your location, so check or Stellarium. That also applies to seeing what is arguably the skywatching highlight of the month on Sunday (June 29), when amateur astronomers will get a stunning view of a 24%-illuminated crescent moon directly beneath Mars in the constellation Leo, with just 0.2 degrees (12 arcminutes) separating them. The two worlds will appear so close that a fingertip held at arm's length will cover them. RELATED STORIES —The 10 best stargazing events of 2025 —Full moons of 2025: When is the next full moon? —Have all 8 planets ever aligned? The sight will be high in the western sky and easily visible without any equipment, but the two celestial bodies will be so close that they'll fit into the same field of view of a telescope. Although it's rare to see the moon and Mercury together in the night sky, and the closeness of the moon and Mars is also unusual, conjunctions between our natural satellite and planets are not uncommon. Planets orbit the sun on more or less the same plane, called the ecliptic. It's the same path the sun takes through the daytime sky as seen from Earth. The moon's orbit of Earth isn't quite the same, but its rather wobbly path differs from the ecliptic by only five degrees. Twice a month, the moon crosses the ecliptic (hence the name, because that sometimes causes solar and lunar eclipses), so it can come particularly close to a planet as seen from our terrestrial viewpoint. The next significant close planetary conjunction will be the meeting of Venus and Jupiter in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 12, when the two brightest planets will form a dazzlingly close pair. Originally published on Live Science.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NTSB: Helicopter in crash that killed 2 near Deadhorse received weather clearance
Jun. 5—The helicopter that crashed on the North Slope on Wednesday received a special weather clearance before taking off, federal officials say. The pilot and sole passenger were killed in the crash, which occurred 25 to 30 miles southwest of Deadhorse, according to a statement from the North Slope Borough. The Robinson R-66 helicopter was operated by Pollux Aviation. A company pilot was behind the controls, along with a passenger from a private company that had contracted the helicopter to conduct wildlife surveys, according to Clint Johnson, Alaska chief with the National Transportation Safety Board. The helicopter took off from Deadhorse around 10:30 or 10:40 a.m., Johnson said. Pollux lost contact with its tracking signal just before 11 a.m., he said. The company contacted the Rescue Coordination Center, which contacted the NTSB, triggering a search by the North Slope Borough Search and Rescue Department, officials said. The search and rescue team confirmed the fatalities. The pilot and passenger have not been officially identified. A North Slope Borough spokesperson on Thursday said there was no new information she could release. Johnson described the topography in the area of the crash as "snow-covered, flat featureless terrain." He said the pilot had received what's known as a Special Visual Flight Rules clearance. The clearance is commonly used, especially in rural Alaska, to land in low ceilings or visibility. Authorized by a national Federal Aviation Administration rule, it gives pilots the option of relying on what they can see, rather than cockpit instruments, to fly in and out of airports in deteriorating weather. The last contact that controllers had with the Pollux pilot Wednesday was when he flew out of the specific zone where the clearance applied, Johnson said. The NTSB will be investigating the weather conditions in the area of the crash, he said. "As far as visibility, other aircraft were operating. Our intent is to figure out in real time what was going on weather-wise," Johnson said. Investigators with the agency plan to conduct an initial on-scene investigation, and then transport the wreckage back to a secure area either in Deadhorse or at Prudhoe Bay, Johnson said.
Economic Times
29-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Smiley Face in US Sky: What is this rare celestial event, when will it appear, and what is best time and place to watch
On May 29, a crescent moon will align with the bright stars, Castor and Pollux, to create a face with a smile in the western US sky. Skywatchers can observe this rare alignment around 45 minutes after sunset until it disappears around midnight. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads When will Smiley Face Appear? Best Time and Place to Watch Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Greek Mythology Connection Crescent Moon to Grow FAQs A rare celestial event will be visible across the United States on May 29. A crescent moon will appear with two bright stars, Castor and Pollux , forming a pattern that looks like a smiley face. The event will take place in the western sky shortly after moon will appear around 45 minutes after the sun sets. At that time, the sky will begin to darken. This will make bright celestial bodies easier to see. The moon will be a thin crescent, positioned about 20 degrees above the horizon. It will form the 'smiley face' shape in the the moon, the stars Castor and Pollux will be visible. They will appear roughly 5 degrees above the moon. Castor will be on the right, and Pollux on the left. Together with the crescent moon, they will create a pattern that looks like a face with a lopsided in the US will have about three hours to see the event. It will be visible until around midnight, depending on location. A stargazing app can help find the best local times. The stars will be the last part to set below the and Pollux are named after twin figures in Greek mythology. They are the two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation. Pollux is a red giant, while Castor is a six-star system. Castor shines less brightly than the event, the crescent moon will continue to grow. It will reach its first quarter phase by June 2. At that time, half the moon will be visible from best time is about 45 minutes after sunset on May 29. The event lasts until around midnight, depending on your apps can guide viewers to Castor and Pollux. Holding your fist out can also help estimate distances between stars and the moon.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Smiley Face in US Sky: What is this rare celestial event, when will it appear, and what is best time and place to watch
A rare celestial event will be visible across the United States on May 29. A crescent moon will appear with two bright stars, Castor and Pollux , forming a pattern that looks like a smiley face. The event will take place in the western sky shortly after sunset. When will Smiley Face Appear? The moon will appear around 45 minutes after the sun sets. At that time, the sky will begin to darken. This will make bright celestial bodies easier to see. The moon will be a thin crescent, positioned about 20 degrees above the horizon. It will form the 'smiley face' shape in the sky. Above the moon, the stars Castor and Pollux will be visible. They will appear roughly 5 degrees above the moon. Castor will be on the right, and Pollux on the left. Together with the crescent moon, they will create a pattern that looks like a face with a lopsided smile. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Roteirizador Pathfind - O planejador de rotas mais completo do mercado Sistema TMS embarcador Saiba Mais Undo Also Read: The Chosen: Will Season 6 finale and Season 7 premiere hit theatres? Details here Best Time and Place to Watch Viewers in the US will have about three hours to see the event. It will be visible until around midnight, depending on location. A stargazing app can help find the best local times. The stars will be the last part to set below the horizon. Live Events Greek Mythology Connection Castor and Pollux are named after twin figures in Greek mythology. They are the two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation. Pollux is a red giant, while Castor is a six-star system. Castor shines less brightly than Pollux. Also Read: Marvel Rivals Season 2.5: Will Ultron join the roster? Here's release date and new map Crescent Moon to Grow After the event, the crescent moon will continue to grow. It will reach its first quarter phase by June 2. At that time, half the moon will be visible from Earth. FAQs When is the best time to view the crescent moon and stars event? The best time is about 45 minutes after sunset on May 29. The event lasts until around midnight, depending on your location. What tools can help locate Castor and Pollux in the night sky? Stargazing apps can guide viewers to Castor and Pollux. Holding your fist out can also help estimate distances between stars and the moon.
