NASA, the renowned space agency, recently hosted the fifth biennial Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise. This exercise aimed to simulate national and international responses to a hypothetical asteroid impact threat. The outcomes of this event, which took place at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), on April 2 and 3, 2024, will be discussed in a virtual media briefing.

NASA’s Commitment to Planetary Defense:
In collaboration with FEMA and the U.S. Department of State Office of Space Affairs, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office organized this exercise. The primary objective was to assess our ability as a nation to respond effectively to potential asteroid or comet hazards. This exercise aligns with NASA’s planetary defense strategy, which focuses on protecting our planet and leveraging innovation for the betterment of humanity.

What to Expect at the Virtual Briefing:
Diving into the details of the tabletop exercise, a virtual media briefing will take place on Thursday, June 20, at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The briefing will be led by key participants, each bringing unique perspectives to the topic. Lindley Johnson, NASA’s Planetary Defense Officer Emeritus, Leviticus “L.A.” Lewis, FEMA detailee to NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, and Terik Daly, planetary defense section supervisor at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, will share their insights.

Streaming and Registration Details:
For those interested in witnessing this informative event, the briefing will be streamed live on NASA TV and NASA’s YouTube channel. Media representatives planning to attend the briefing should RSVP to Alise Fisher at alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov no later than two hours before the event. Media accreditation policy can be found on NASA’s website.

The Significance of Simulated Exercises:
While there are no known significant asteroid impact threats in the foreseeable future, these hypothetical exercises play a crucial role in preparing our response capabilities. By conducting these simulations every two years, the United States gains valuable insights into how to effectively respond to a potential asteroid impact threat. This proactive approach ensures that we are adequately equipped in the event of such a crisis.

Notable Inclusions in this Year’s Exercise:
This year’s tabletop exercise was particularly significant as it saw the participation of NASA’s international collaborators in planetary defense. By engaging global partners, NASA aims to enhance and strengthen cooperative efforts to protect our planet. Additionally, the exercise benefited from real data obtained from NASA’s successful DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission. DART is the world’s first space technology demonstration focused on defending Earth against potential asteroid impacts.

Since its establishment in 2016, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office has diligently worked towards managing the agency’s efforts in protecting our planet from asteroid hazards. The outcome of the fifth biennial Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise will provide valuable insights and recommendations for future preparedness. Together, with collaborative international efforts and continuous innovation, we can confidently safeguard our planet.

To learn more about planetary defense at NASA, visit: 

https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-defense

Source: NASA

To read more science related articles, visit our Science Section, where you can dive into an array of fascinating topics, discover the latest breakthroughs, and keep up with innovative research. From cutting-edge technology to the awe-inspiring wonders of the natural world, our Science Section has something for every curious mind. Whether you are a seasoned expert or just starting your journey into the realm of science, you’ll find content that piques your interest and expands your knowledge.

Discover in-depth articles, expert interviews, and detailed analyses that delve into the fundamental questions of our universe and beyond. Our writers are dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date information, ensuring that your thirst for scientific knowledge is thoroughly quenched.

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NASA is set to embark on an exciting new mission of studying the Sun and understanding its massive solar eruptions. With the selection of the Joint EUV coronal Diagnostic Investigation (JEDI) instrument by NASA, scientists will have access to groundbreaking observations in extreme ultraviolet light. The collaboration with the European Space Agency’s Vigil space weather mission, scheduled for launch in 2031, aims to provide an unprecedented perspective on the Sun’s activity and its impact on Earth’s space weather.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Solar Eruptions:
JEDI’s primary objective is to capture images of the Sun’s corona, the middle layer of its atmosphere. This region plays a vital role in the creation of the solar wind and the eruptions that cause space weather phenomena. By observing the corona using extreme ultraviolet light, JEDI will reveal the underlying mechanisms behind these eruptions, helping scientists understand the Sun’s drivers of space weather and inform improved warnings.

An Illuminating Perspective:
The Vigil space mission will be positioned at Sun-Earth Lagrange point 5, a stable point about 60 degrees behind Earth in its orbit. This unique vantage point will provide researchers and forecasters with an unprecedented, constant view of the Sun in extreme ultraviolet light. JEDI’s integration into the Vigil mission marks the first instrument to enable such observations from this perspective. This new angle will unlock a trove of invaluable data that will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun and its impact on our planet.

Enhancing Space Weather Monitoring:
Our dependence on satellites for communication, navigation, and weather forecasting makes it crucial to accurately predict and mitigate the effects of space weather. JEDI’s role in monitoring the Sun’s activity will be complementary to the Vigil mission’s space weather monitoring capabilities. Together, these technologies will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Sun’s behavior, enabling improved warnings for potential disruptions to satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts in space, as well as to technological systems on Earth.

Leadership and Funding:
The JEDI project is led by Don Hassler at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. It is funded by the NASA Heliophysics Space Weather Program, with a budget not exceeding $45 million. The project’s management will be overseen by the Living With a Star Program of the Explorers & Heliophysics Projects Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

NASA’s selection of the JEDI instrument for integration into the ESA’s Vigil space weather mission promises to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun and its role in space weather. By capturing images of the Sun’s corona in extreme ultraviolet light, JEDI will unlock scientific breakthroughs, linking the Sun’s surface features with its atmosphere. This unprecedented level of observation will enhance our ability to predict and mitigate space weather effects, safeguarding our technological systems in space and on Earth. The collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency sets the stage for significant advancements in heliophysics research and space weather forecasting.

For the latest updates on NASA’s groundbreaking heliophysics missions, be sure to visit:

https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics

About NASA?

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government. It is responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. Established in 1958, NASA took over from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) with the aim of giving the U.S. space development effort a distinct civilian focus, emphasizing peaceful applications in space science. Since then, NASA has been at the forefront of America’s space exploration programs, leading projects like Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the Apollo Moon landing missions from 1968 to 1972, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA supports the International Space Station (ISS) and the Commercial Crew Program, while also overseeing the development of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System for the lunar Artemis program.

NASA’s science division is focused on several key areas: understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System, advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate’s Heliophysics Research Program, exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft such as New Horizons and planetary rovers such as Perseverance, and researching astrophysics topics, such as the Big Bang, through the James Webb Space Telescope, the Great Observatories and associated programs. The Launch Services Program oversees launch operations for its uncrewed launches. https://www.nasa.gov/

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Spring nights are set to dazzle with the arrival of the Lyrid meteor shower, marking the first of two celestial spectacles gracing our skies this season. As we gear up for a weekend of shooting stars, let’s delve into what makes the Lyrids special, how to witness their peak, and what to expect for this year’s show.

What Makes the Lyrid Meteor Shower Special?

Originating from debris shed by Comet Thatcher, the Lyrid meteor shower is an annual springtime event renowned for its vibrant fireballs and occasional bursts of meteor activity. These bursts, which occur approximately every 60 years, promise an awe-inspiring display of shooting stars, though the next anticipated outburst isn’t slated until 2042.

How to See the 2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower

Running from April 14 to 30, with peak activity occurring overnight from April 21-22, the Lyrid meteor shower offers skywatchers a celestial extravaganza. To catch a glimpse of this cosmic show, look toward the constellation Lyra, rising above the northeast horizon around 10 p.m. While technically visible from the southern hemisphere, the northern hemisphere provides the optimal viewing conditions.

Will 2024 Be a Good Year for the Lyrid Meteor Shower?

This year, the Lyrids coincide with a bright waxing gibbous moon, potentially obscuring many meteors from view. However, don’t let this deter you; seek out dark-sky destinations for enhanced visibility, or await the upcoming Eta Aquariids shower, peaking on May 6 under a dim, near-new moon.

As we anticipate the Lyrid meteor shower’s peak this weekend, let’s embrace the wonders of the cosmos and revel in the beauty of shooting stars streaking across the night sky. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a casual observer, this celestial event promises to inspire awe and ignite a sense of wonderment in us all.

Facts About the Lyrids!

The April Lyrids meteor shower is a celestial event that occurs annually from April 15 to April 29. The radiant of this meteor shower is located in the vicinity of the constellations Lyra and Hercules, near the bright star Vega. Typically, the peak of the shower is around April 22-23 each year.

The April Lyrids meteor shower is caused by the particles of dust shed by the long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. This is the most intense annual shower of meteors that results from the debris of a long-period comet. The reason for its intensity is that the comet Thatcher has a relatively short orbital period of about 415 years as compared to other intermediate long-period comets with orbital periods of 200-10,000 years. The Lyrids have been visible and recorded since 687 BC. No other modern shower of meteors has been observed and reported as far back in time as the Lyrids.

The peak of the shower usually occurs around April 22 and the morning of April 23. Typically, there are 5 to 20 meteors per hour, with an average of around 10. However, the number of meteors seen will depend on the observer’s location, as light pollution in cities will make it harder to see them compared to rural areas. The best time to observe the meteors is during nights without the Moon in the sky, and most April Lyrid meteors are usually around magnitude +2. Some meteors can be brighter and are known as “Lyrid fireballs”. These fireballs can cast shadows for a split second and leave behind smokey debris trails that last for minutes.

Once every 60 years, the shower intensifies as the planets direct the dust trail of the comet, which has completed one orbit, onto Earth’s path. This leads to an outburst of April Lyrid meteors. Previously, it was believed that the outbursts were caused by a dust cloud moving in a 60-year orbit. However, observations in 1982 and 1922 showed rates of 90 April Lyrids per hour at the peak. An even stronger storm occurred in 1803, with up to 700 meteors per hour, witnessed by a journalist in Richmond, Virginia.

Shooting stars. This electrical phenomenon was observed on Wednesday morning last at Richmond and its vicinity, in a manner that alarmed many, and astonished every person that beheld it. From one until three in the morning, those starry meteors seemed to fall from every point in the heavens, in such numbers as to resemble a shower of sky rockets …

In recorded history, the oldest meteor shower is the one that occurred on March 23.7, 687 BC (according to the proleptic Julian calendar), which was noted in Zuo Zhuan. The shower was described as follows: “On the 4th month in the summer in the year of xīn-mǎo (of year 7 of King Zhuang of Lu), at night, the sky is so bright that some fixed stars become invisible because of the meteor shower; at midnight, stars fell like rain.” In the Australian Aboriginal astronomy of the Boorong tribe, the Lyrids are associated with the scratchings of the Mallee fowl (represented by Vega) during its nest-building season.

(Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrids