Satellite News

XM Satellite Radio announced the appointment of Nate Davis to the newly created position of President and Chief Operating Officer.

Raytheon Company and NASA successfully achieved early National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) data transfer and system compatibility testing.

France Telecom has signed an agreement to sell its entire stake in France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications for EUR60 million (US$76 million) to Apex Partners.

Iridium Satellite LLC reported financial results for the second quarter 2006.

SpaceDev subsidiary Starsys, Inc. has completed a 3.5 million cycle life test on the actuator system for the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS), an instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).

Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) and Orbital Sciences Corporation have entered into a strategic relationship to support the NASA COTS programme and other applications of RpK’s space transportation system.

Artist impression of RS Ophiuchi. Image credit: CfAClick to enlarge
Consider the dramatic binary system of RS Ophiuchi. A tiny white dwarf star, about the size of our Earth, is locked in orbit with a red giant star. A stream of material is flowing from the red giant to the white dwarf. Every 20 years or so, the accumulated material erupts as a nova explosion, brightening the star temporarily. But this is just a precursor to the inevitable cataclysm – when the white dwarf collapses under this stolen mass, and then explodes as a supernova. Dr. Jennifer Sokoloski has been studying RS Ophiuchi since it flared up earlier this year; she discusses what they’ve learned so far, and what’s to come.

NGC 188. Image credit: NOAO/AURA/NSFClick to enlarge
Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! Welcome to a land of all sight and no sound… A land where shadow meets substance. Welcome to the “X” zone! Caught in a time warp? Not this week. Be sure to enjoy some of the best observing of the year as we head towards the center of our galaxy, walk on the lunar surface and chase shooting stars. So head out into the twilight, because….
Here’s what’s up!