Astronomy News (January 2024) - Yashraj Sharma

Indian Space News-

PC- pencilmaker

Aditya L-1 deploys a state-of-the-art Magnetometer in the Sun's Halo orbit

On January 11, 2024, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft accomplished the successful deployment of its 6-meter-long magnetometer boom in space at Lagrange Point-1. This milestone occurred 132 days after the satellite's launch, while it was positioned in a halo orbit at Lagrange point L-1.

Chandrayaan-3 lander serves as a location marker on the South Pole of the moon 

On January 19, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that an instrument on the lander has started serving as a "marker" near the lunar South Pole. The Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), is being used as a fiducial point, to precisely locate the location of the lander on the Moon for reference.

India is working towards building its own space station, tests for it next year, said ISRO chief

ISRO plans to carry out tests, for the proposed 'Bhartiya Space Station', next year. Discussions are on with the manufacturers to launch its first module in the year 2028, ISRO chief, S Somanath, said on Thursday. Along with that, he announced to the media that, India's first Venus mission is also likely to be launched in 2028. "Venus mission has already been proposed once, we are looking at how to bring down costs. There are some high-value items, and we want to bring down the cost", the words of the ISRO chief.

International Space News-

Japan's explains how it made an upside-down moon landing

Japan became the fifth nation to land on the moon on Saturday, but its spacecraft ended up in an awkward and rather embarrassing position, with its engine nozzle pointed up toward space. By design, the Japanese spacecraft, known as Smart Lander for Investigating Moon or SLIM, was supposed to land on its side to avoid it tipping over on the sloping surface of the moon's landing site. "But, about 150 feet above the landing spot, one of SLIM's two engines appears to have failed", said officials at JAXA, the Japanese space agency.

Ingenuity, NASA's helicopter flying over Mars, ends its mission

The robot flew over 72 times, aiding the Perseverance rover in search of evidence that there was once life on the red planet. At least one rotor (robotic motor) broke down during the machine's most recent flight, last week, announced NASA officials on Thursday. But, Ingenuity is still in contact with its companion, the Perseverance rover, which has been exploring and excavating a dried-up river bed in search of 'extinct' Martian life. Sadly, Ingenuity will be left behind.

NASA's Perseverance rover confirms the presence of an ancient dried-up lake, that may hold clues for past life on the red planet

Evidence of ancient lake sediments was found at the base of Mars' Jerezo crater to give new hopes of finding traces of life in the samples collected by the Perseverance rover. The rover touched down on the crater on Feb. 18, 2021. Since, then, it has been on a continuous search for samples of extinct life on Mars.

Yashraj Sharma
Astronomy Club Captain

(My Good School)

This is the monthly newsletter for our Astronomy club. At the end of each month, a newsletter will be published covering all the important headlines regarding space and the universe, from India and the world.

Conquering new frontiers in space with Slooh

Reimagine how you teach astronomy with Slooh's Online Telescopes. Space is a vast wilderness. Slooh is like a national park with trails and guides.

Explore space in real-time from your home using Slooh online telescopes. Learn about the different objects in our solar system, track asteroids and deep sky objects like nebulas, galaxies, etc. Teachers, Students, and Astronomers can work together to observe and photograph astronomical objects.

Replace City Lights with Starlight
Siddhant Abani, our Slooh India Youth Ambassador and Intern at 
My Good School will help you navigate the spaceship!

Launch your child into Space with Slooh

In season 10, episode 11, Anna Paolucci is in conversation with Sandeep Dutt, the Founder of the Learning Forward India Foundation. 

Slooh has democratized school space access through innovation, and in association with the Learning Forward India Foundation, Slooh is spreading the joy of learning in India #JoyOfLearning. 

Space Program Technology: From backyard telescopes to networked mountaintop observatories, 15 online robotic telescopes, including a flagship observatory at a top site in the world U.S. Patent 7,194,146 B2, issued in 2006 for instant imaging via networked telescopes, 18 hours of live feeds per day, 1000 plus daily "Missions" to space 

Community: From a solitary experience to a social one Student communities sharing control of the observatories Live Star Parties syndicated to the media attract millions of viewers Education: From textbooks to experiential learning Gamified, asynchronous STEAM curriculum from elementary to college Fulfils NGSS requirements by enabling the capture of phenomena for analysis Join a global community, and explore space via a network of robotic mountaintop telescopes. 

Live online telescope feeds unique astronomical events from Slooh's observatories in the Canary Islands and Chile. School Space Program makes learning a fun process. My Good School curriculum focuses on service, skill, sport and study. The Slooh program adds value to the school curriculum. 

The Learning Foward India Foundation through My Good School encourage schools and students to become involved in activities beyond study; this helps develop confidence, knowledge and networks.

To discover more, please visit www.Slooh.org.in.

Ahlcon's Eyes On The Skies - Slooh

Slooh India partners with Slooh and spreads the joy of learning with community Astronomy.

Witness the beautiful Blood Moon Eclipse of 16th May. Hope you enjoy this excellent presentation!

Slooh makes real-world, real-time space exploration accessible for every student without the hassle of purchasing, storing, and maintaining a fleet of expensive student-grade telescopes.

Presented by (members of Slooh Astronomy Club):

Vanshika, Dakshya and Daksha
www.Slooh.org.in
#JoyOfLearning

Lunar Eclipse - Dakshya Mishra

Right here is an image of the lunar eclipse on the 16th of May as the Moon reached totality. The photo was taken from Mobile 3, active during the great eclipse! Believe me, it wasn't visible here in India. Total Lunar eclipses aren't as rare as they happen occasionally. Hope you enjoy this wonderful image!

Dakshya Mishra of Class 8-D Ahlcon Public School has been a member of Slooh since December 2021. He has earned 12119 gravity points, loads and observations and is active all day!

www.Slooh.Org.IN
Join a global community, and explore space via a network of robotic mountaintop telescopes. 

Slooh @ the Ahlcon Astronomy Club

 

Join a global community to explore space via a network of robotic mountaintop telescopes. Live online telescope feeds of unique astronomical events from Slooh's observatories in the Canary Islands and Chile. School Space Program makes learning a fun process.

https://goodschools.in/space-program