Transit of Venus Event – June 5, 2012 at OMSI in Portland, OR

Watch the Transit of Venus on June 5-6, 2012

CELESTIAL EVENT OF A LIFETIME
Rare transit of Venus viewing: June 5, 2012 from 3‐9 p.m. at OMSI

Portland, OR (May 29, 2012) The last to occur in our lifetime, a rare celestial event called a transit of Venus is set to transpire on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Rose City Astronomers Club will host a free transit of Venus viewing party in OMSI’s south parking lot for this exciting occurrence. Filtered solar telescopes and indirect viewing methods will be available for safely observing the transit. NASA TV and San Francisco’s Exploratorium will display the transit of Venus from viewing sites around the world. OMSI will show their broadcasts live in the museum’s auditorium. The auditorium doors will open at 2:30 p.m. and admission to the televised transit is free (no reservations required).

A transit of Venus is the observed passage of the planet Venus across the disk of the sun. It occurs when Venus, orbiting the sun “on the inside track,” catches up to and passes the slower Earth. To viewers, Venus will appear as a small dot in the foreground, making its passage (or “transit”) from left to right across the face of the sun.

For Portland, the transit will commence at 3:05 p.m. when Venus appears to the east of the Sun. The greatest transit movement will occur at 6:29 p.m. when Venus appears just off-center to the right of the northern area of the sun. The sun will set at 8:55 p.m. and the transit will end at 9:44 p.m. as Venus exits to the west of the sun.

It is important to use eye protection or indirect viewing techniques when observing this transit activity. Viewers should use only an approved solar filter which blocks dangerous ultraviolet and infrared radiation as well as visible light. Special solar viewing glasses are available at the OMSI Science Store for $2 (http://www.omsi.edu/science-store).

Transits of Venus always occur in pairs that are spaced eight years apart. Each pair of occurrences is then not repeated for more than a century. For example, the last transit of Venus took place on June 8, 2004, and of course the next one will be visible this June of 2012. The previous pair of transits occurred in December, 1874 and December, 1882. After 2012, the next transits of Venus will take place in December, 2117 and December, 2125.

Learn how to view the Venus transit with the experts by joining us for the event at OMSI! You can find more information by visiting http://www.omsi.edu/starparties or by calling 503.797.4000.

About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit http://www.omsi.edu.

Request For Information (RFI) on Science Objectives and Requirements for the Next NASA UV/Visible Mission Concepts

Request For Information (RFI) on Science Objectives and Requirements for the Next NASA UV/Visible Mission Concepts
Solicitation Number: NNH12ZDA008L
Release Date: May 25, 2012
Response Date: August 10, 2012

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), through the Astrophysics Division, solicits information pertaining to potential ultraviolet (UV) and visible wavelength astrophysics science investigations. Specifically, NASA seeks information that can be used to develop a cohesive set of science goals that motivate and support the development of the next generation of UV/Visible space astrophysics missions. Information may include broad science goals, justifications for investigations that support Cosmic Origins (COR) Program science goals (for examples, visit http://cor.gsfc.nasa.gov/), specific measurements or proxy observing plans for well-defined astrophysical experiments, or any aspect of scientific inquiry in the UV/Visible that supports the above COR goals.

This is a RFI only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that NASA will take procurement action in this matter. Further, neither NASA, nor the Government will be responsible for any costs incurred in furnishing this information.

This RFI is posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select ‘Solicitations’ then ‘Open Solicitations’ then ‘NNH12ZDA008L’).

ISS Research and Development Conference June 26-28, 2012

Announcing the 1st Annual ISS Research and Development Conference Results and Opportunities, June 26 – 28, 2012 at the Denver Marriott City Center http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/iss_conference.html. The Agenda, registration and hotel information can be found at http://www.astronautical.org/ .

This conference will focus on ISS research and development research results and future opportunities in physical sciences, life sciences, Earth and space sciences, and spacecraft technology development. Plenary sessions will highlight major results and pathways to future opportunities. Plenary and Parallel Session speakers will be discussing their research results and plans for future utilization of the ISS. A workshop for new users will be held on the 3rd day to help them develop ideas for their own experiments using this unique laboratory.

Conference registration is online. Potential researchers can get a leg up on building their ideas by visiting NASA’s space station Research and Technology website.

The conference is organized by the American Astronautical Society in cooperation with NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS).

ROSES-12 Amendment 6 Appendix C.21: In-Space Propulsion Technology Program: Astrodynamics Research Grants

The In-Space Propulsion Technology: Astrodynamics Research Grants (ISPT:ARG) Program is seeking astrodynamics research that falls into two categories: 1) Research or development of an astrodynamics algorithm or methodology suitable for infusion into one of ISPT’s existing tools (Mystic, MALTO, Copernicus, SNAP, and/or OTIS) and 2) Research or development applicable to the development of a new tool to meet the needs of future NASA planetary science missions.

Notices of Intent are due by June 11, 2012 and 7-page proposals are due by August 20, 2012. Tables 2 and 3 of the Summary of Solicitation for this NRA will be updated to reflect these changes.

On or about May 21, 2012, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2012″ (NNH12ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and will appear on the RSS feed at: http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2012

2012-2013 National Student Solar Spectrograph Competition – Registration Deadline Sept 30, 2012

Enter the National Student Solar Spectrograph Competition

The National Student Solar Spectrograph Competition is the Montana Space Grant Consortium’s Education Program for NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, mission. IRIS will use spectrography and imaging in ultraviolet wavelengths to reveal the dynamics of the sun’s chromospheres and transition region.

This yearly competition is open to undergraduate interdisciplinary teams from colleges and universities across the U.S. Teams are challenged to design and build a working ground-based solar spectrograph and demonstrate the capabilities of the spectrograph as defined by their science goal. Typical teams have three to six students and must have a faculty advisor.

Both substantial scholarship prizes and travel prizes will be given in four categories: best design, best build, best science observations and best presentation of results. Teams may apply for funding of $2,000 per team for project materials. Priority for build funds will be given to minority-serving institutions, community colleges and institutions with less aerospace activity.

Applications for build awards and registrations are due on Sept. 30, 2012.

The competition will be held in Bozeman, Mont., in May 2013. For more information and to register online, visit http://www.spacegrant.montana.edu/IRIS/index.html

Free Webinar – Where is the Solar System in this Image? – May 10, 2012

The May 10 webinar, “Where in the Solar System is this Image?”, features an interactive presentation connecting students with a scientist at the NASA Johnson Space Center.

NASA’s Expedition Earth and Beyond (EEAB) Program promotes student-led research investigations in the classroom using NASA data and resources. Students will view astronaut imagery of Earth and remote sensing imagery of other planetary bodies in our Solar System as they identify features, planetary locations, and learn the significance behind imagery being shared.

For registration and information, go to http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ares/eeab/event_05102012.cfm

ROSES-12 Amendment 4: Final Text for Appendix B.8, Heliophysics Data Environment Enhancements

This program solicits proposals designed to upgrade existing Heliophysics data products to improve the quality, utility, and accessibility of datasets relevant to Heliophysics research. Also solicited are proposals to continue existing data services, which would typically have a period of award no longer than two (2) years, featuring data from Heliophysics missions that have terminated or will soon terminate.

This amendment presents final text for Appendix B.8, Heliophysics Data Environment Enhancements (HDEE), which replaces the previous text in its entirety. Please Note: a call for Value Added Services, similar to that in previous HDEE calls, and for Virtual Observatories will be issued later this year as a separate call.

The due dates for HDEE have not changed. Notices of intent are due May 11, 2012 and proposals are due on July 20, 2012.

On or about April 18, 2012, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2012″ (NNH12ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and will appear on the RSS feed

at: http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2012.

Questions concerning Appendix B.8, HDEE, may be addressed to D. Aaron Roberts, Heliophysics Division, Code 672, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771. Email: aaron.roberts@nasa.gov Telephone: (301) 286-5606.

Mars Student Imaging Project – Summer 2012

The Mars Student Imaging Project is seeking educator applicants to participate in a virtual experiential opportunity for the 2011-2012 school year and the summer of 2012. Students will have the opportunity to ask a research question about Mars, use real Mars data to answer the question, interact with Mars scientists and target a brand new image of Mars using a special camera on the Mars Odyssey Spacecraft. This is an opportunity to do authentic research, build science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, experiences, and possibly make a new discovery on Mars!

For more information about the project and to apply online, visit the Mars Student Imaging Project website at http://marsed.mars.asu.edu/msip-home

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Jessica Swann at jlswann@asu.edu or Anthony Zippay at jzippay@asu.edu.