Dianne L. McMillan, PMP, CSM, SSM on LinkedIn: Why is the Total Solar Eclipse so “Awe”some? (2024)

What kinds of extreme life can survive in lava caves? Lava tubes are caves formed from lava during volcanic eruptions. Some lava tubes form underground networks of tunnels that are hundreds of kilometers long. Similar lava tube environments are likely present on the Moon and Mars. Astrobiologists like me are hoping to find alien life or signs of life (biosignatures) still present in lava tubes on Mars, since they are sheltered there from the harsh conditions on the surface of the Red Planet. That is why we study lava tubes on Earth to understand what kind of life could potentially still exist on Mars today.I'm happy to share that together with my collaborators from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other institutions, we recently published a scientific publication about our astrobiology research on life in lava tubes in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 😊. In this study, we used DNA sequences to identify which microbes are present in lava tubes, as well as which metabolisms they can use to survive. We found several novel species and that there is a great diversity of microbial communities that can live in these environments. Our findings have implications for how to search for life and collect astrobiological samples on Mars.It was a pleasure and honor to work with the team from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Georgetown University, University of Maryland and other institutions on this project 😊. ➡️ You can find the full publication here:https://lnkd.in/e-XNcYzT#NASA #NASAGoddard #astrobiology #analogastronaut #astronaut #analogmission #HISEAS #lavatube #alienlife #ZenaZMarsu #AWomanFromMars #MichaelaMusilova #AstroSevenSummits #womeninstem #womeninspace #astrobiologist #publication

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As the shadow of the Moon sweeps across our planet, a rare celestial event unfolds—a total solar eclipse.This isn't just a magnificent spectacle; it's an opportunity for discovery.Enter the Eclipse Megamovie, a project harnessing the power of citizen science to unlock the mysteries of the Sun's corona.On April 8, 2024, North America will witness day turn to twilight as the Moon obscures the Sun, revealing the glowing corona.This isn't an everyday sight; a total solar eclipse is a dance of celestial precision.The path of totality will carve a dark band from Texas to Maine, while outside this path, a partial eclipse will grace the sky.As Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, puts it, it's a "global celebration of solar science."But what makes the Eclipse Megamovie special?It's the involvement of people like you.The Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse (CATE) 2024 project, led by Amir Caspi of the Southwest Research Institute, will deploy 35 teams along the eclipse path to capture the corona in polarized light.As Caspi explains, "light we see from the corona is sunlight that gets bounced around by the corona before it reaches our eyes."This data is invaluable, and anyone can contribute to NASA's citizen science projects during this heliophysics big year.Now, imagine being part of a moment that's larger than us all contributing to a tapestry of knowledge that spans our solar system.As the eclipse approaches, join hands with NASA and the global community in a quest to uncover the secrets of our Sun.Visit NASA's citizen science portal, and discover how you can participate in this historic event.And don't forget to share your experiences with the world using the hashtags #inergency, #egreenews, and #Evideosecurity.Together, let's make the Eclipse Megamovie not just a film, but a legacy of shared science and wonder.

As the shadow of the Moon sweeps across our planet, a rare celestial event unfolds—a total solar eclipse.This isn't just a magnificent spectacle; it's an opportunity for discovery.Enter the Eclipse Megamovie, a project harnessing the power of citizen science to unlock the mysteries of the Sun's corona.On April 8, 2024, North America will witness day turn to twilight as the Moon obscures the Sun, revealing the glowing corona.This isn't an everyday sight; a total solar eclipse is a dance of celestial precision.The path of totality will carve a dark band from Texas to Maine, while outside this path, a partial eclipse will grace the sky.As Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, puts it, it's a "global celebration of solar science."But what makes the Eclipse Megamovie special?It's the involvement of people like you.The Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse (CATE) 2024 project, led by Amir Caspi of the Southwest Research Institute, will deploy 35 teams along the eclipse path to capture the corona in polarized light.As Caspi explains, "light we see from the corona is sunlight that gets bounced around by the corona before it reaches our eyes."This data is invaluable, and anyone can contribute to NASA's citizen science projects during this heliophysics big year.Now, imagine being part of a moment that's larger than us all contributing to a tapestry of knowledge that spans our solar system.As the eclipse approaches, join hands with NASA and the global community in a quest to uncover the secrets of our Sun.Visit NASA's citizen science portal, and discover how you can participate in this historic event.And don't forget to share your experiences with the world using the hashtags #inergency, #egreenews, and #Evideosecurity.Together, let's make the Eclipse Megamovie not just a film, but a legacy of shared science and wonder.

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New Post: What to know about Monday’s celestial event – NBC Chicago -The 2024 solar eclipse is just days away, bringing a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to skies across large parts North America, including Illinois. For those in Illinois that end up missing it, it’ll be decades before you’ll see another one. From protective eyewear and timing to the forecast and why this celestial event is so special, here’s... The 2024 solar eclipse is just days away, bringing a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to skies across large parts North America, including Illinois.For those in Illinois that end up missing it, it'll be decades before you'll see another one.From protective eyewear and timing to the forecast and why this celestial event is so special, here's everything you need to know about Monday's total solar eclipse.What time is the solar eclipse?According to NASA scientists, the eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8 in the afternoon hours across the North American continent, with the area of totality impacting areas in southern Illinois and central Indiana.During a total solar eclipse, the new moon intersects the path of the sun in the sky, causing the sun to be partially and then nearly completely blocked from view.In Carbondale, Illinois, the partial eclipse on April 8 will begin at approximately 12:42 p.m. During this time, special glasses will be needed to view the eclipse, though there are other ways of seeing the moon’s impact on the sun’s light reaching the Earth.At approximately 1:59 p.m., “totality” will begin in Carbondale, and during this time, stargazers will be able to look at the eclipse without any aid whatsoever, with darkened skies and the famed “corona” blazing around the edges of the moon.This period will not last for very long, as totality is expected to end at approximately 2:03 p.m., according to NASA scientists.The partial eclipse will continue for another hour, ending at approximately 3:18 p.m.Here's a city-by-city breakdown for those in the Chicago area and in the path of totality in Illinois.Where is the "path of totality?"The eclipse's "path of totality" will start in Southwest Texas and move northeast.The path of totality includes the southern tip of Illinois, central and southern Indiana and Indianapolis. From there, it will race across Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York and into Maine.The below map from the Adler Planetarium shows what the eclipse will look like in Illinois, with Carbondale, Mount Vernon, Metropolis and Mount Carmel among the southern Illinois cities in the path of totality.What is the forecast and will you be able to see it if it's cloudy?Recent forecast projections indicate some cloudy conditions could be in store for the rare celestial event, which could still alter what you see in the sky, but much could change in the lead-up to the event. According to the latest prediction from the National Weather Service, conditions ap

Atmospheric Escape From Three Terrestrial Planets In The L 98-59 System #astrobiology #Exoplanet #atmosphere #habitability

Here’s What Solar Eclipses Look Like on MarsTypically, the Perseverance rover is looking down, scouring the Martian terrain for rocks that whitethorn uncover aspects of the planet’s past past. But implicit the past respective weeks, the intrepid robot looked up and caught two singular views: star eclipses connected the Red Planet, arsenic the moons Phobos and Deimos passed successful beforehand of the Sun.Why Bitcoin won’t scope $1,000,000Full star eclipses don’t hap connected Mars. The planet’s moons are excessively tiny to afloat artifact retired the Sun arsenic they walk successful beforehand of it. When they bash pass, though, their movements tin hint researchers into the moons’ orbits, arsenic good arsenic however the moons’ movements impact the Martian interior.Perseverance landed connected Mars successful February 2021; since then, the rover has kept engaged imaging the planet’s geology and coring stone samples for their—cross your fingers—eventual return to Earth. Perseverance deed 1,000 sols (that is to say, Martian days) connected the satellite successful December 2023.The rover spotted the satellite Deimos passing successful beforehand of the Sun connected January 20 corresponding to Sol 1037. Weeks later, corresponding to February 8 connected Earth, Perseverance witnessed Phobos making the aforesaid crossing.Phobos (meaning fear) is six times much monolithic than Deimos (panic); successful footage of the 2 moons eclipsing Mars, their size quality is apparent. Phobos blocks retired much of the Sun’s airy than Deimos. Deimos is besides astir 2.5 times farther from Mars than Phobos, making it look similar a pebble against the Sun compared to Phobos’ large, potato-shape silhouette.Fun fact: Phobos is connected a collision people with Mars; it volition either interruption up oregon clang into the satellite successful tens of millions of years, according to NASA. Conversely, the tiny Deimos is slowly moving distant from Mars.Thankfully, that gives Perseverance plentifulness of clip to regard astatine the Martian moons. That is, erstwhile it’s taking a interruption from its typical, and arguably much crucial, duty: searching for signs of past beingness connected Mars.More: Abigail Allwood’s Hunt for Alien Fossils connected Mars Has Begunhttps://ift.tt/DJg2aiB

The discovery of apatite in ancient lunar rocks challenges our understanding of the moon's water history. This remarkable finding in Nature Astronomy not only enriches lunar science but also reshapes our assumptions about water in the solar system. As we anticipate the Artemis missions, this insight is invaluable for future exploration strategies. Thoughts on how this could impact lunar research? #MoonWater #LunarScience #ArtemisMission #SpaceExploration Join the discussion!Original article: https://lnkd.in/ePHjVw7R

1 Minute Space! [DAY 42: The Solar Family - Dwarf Planets]A dwarf planet orbits the Sun and possesses sufficient mass to assume a roughly spherical shape due to its gravitational self-attraction. Dwarf planets do not satisfy all the criteria necessary for full planetary status. Within our solar system, multiple dwarf planets exist, each showcasing distinctive properties and attributes. As of 2008, the astronomical community has officially recognized five dwarf planets,Pluto: Perhaps the most famous dwarf planet, Pluto was once considered the ninth planet in our solar system until it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).Eris: Eris is one of the largest dwarf planets and is located in the Kuiper Belt. It gained attention when its discovery in 2005 sparked the debate that eventually led to the reclassification of Pluto.Haumea: Haumea is another Kuiper Belt dwarf planet known for its unusual elongated shape, resembling a stretched ellipsoid. It was discovered in 2004.Makemake: Makemake is one of the largest objects in that region. It is known for its reddish surface and lack of a significant atmosphere. It was discovered in 2005.Ceres: Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered in 1801, well before Pluto and 45 years before Neptune.Thanks for reading. We're posting more stuff Daily! ✨If you find this informative, please Like and Follow us for more. 👍🏻Thank You.🙂#science#astronomy#space#planet#technology#explore#nasa#isro#inspiration#life#spaceexploration#spacetechnology#facts#universe#galaxy

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A star about 12,000 light-years away has been observed gobbling up a planet, marking the first time such an event has been witnessed. #MIT #astrophysicist Kishalay De discovered the dramatic event while looking for binary stars using data from the Palomar Observatory in California. A brief burst of light, captured by telescopes, was likely caused by a planet 10 times the mass of #Jupiter being swallowed by its sun. As the star consumed the planet, a stream of cold dust sailed away like cosmic breadcrumbs from a stellar snack.While the evidence of #planet-devouring #stars has been circ*mstantial, they are probably relatively common in the #universe, according to #UCLA astrophysicist Smadar Naoz. Upcoming observatories with large #infrared #cameras should allow astronomers to look for bright, long-lived infrared emissions that might reveal more planet-eating stars.The process is still unclear, but Naoz suggests that a star might consume a planet that wanders too close in its orbit, while a dying star will swallow a planet as the star swells to become a red giant. The planet-eater in this study is turning into a red giant, but it is still early in its transformation.De notes that our sun will evolve into a #red giant and consume the #Earth in about 5 billion years. However, the effects will be more subdued because the Earth is much smaller than Jupiter. Identifying Earth-like engulfments will be challenging, but astronomers are actively working on ideas to do so.The links of the article and the paper are in the comment section below. #scienceandtechnology #astronomy #NASA #researchanddevelopment #articleoftheday #interestingread #event

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