Space News Update - April 8, In the News Story 1: Story 1: NASA Selects Explorer Investigations for Formulation Story 2: Story 2: Scientists to Io: Volcanoes are in the Wrong Spot Story 3: Story 3: More Evidence That Mars Lost Its Atmosphere Departments The Night Sky ISS Sighting Opportunities NASA-TV Highlights Space Calendar Food for Thought Space Image of the Week

NASA Selects Explorer Investigations for Formulation

Scientists to Io: Volcanoes are in the Wrong Spot

More Evidence That Mars Lost Its Atmosphere

The Night Sky Monday, April 8 As spring advances, wintry Orion tilts farther over as it declines in the west-southwest after dark. Orion's Belt in its middle is now almost horizontal. Orion is brightly framed on its right by Jupiter and on its left by Sirius. Tuesday, April 9 The upright Sickle of Leo, with Regulus on the bottom of its handle, crosses the meridian high in the south these evenings. It's shaped like a backward question mark, and it stands about 1½ fist-widths tall. Wednesday, April 10 By 10 p.m. or later (depending on where you live), the bright "Summer Star" Vega is rising in the northeast, beginning a long evening apparition that will continue for the rest of the year. New Moon (exact at 5:35 a.m. EDT). Thursday, April 11 Jupiter's moon Io reappears out of eclipse from Jupiter's shadow around 10:23 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Europa emerges from Jupiter's shadow around 10:11 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Both reappear just east of the planet. Friday, April 12 As twilight fades this evening, look far lower right of Jupiter for the crescent Moon, and then less far above the Moon for the Pleiades emerging into view – as shown at right.

ISS Sighting Opportunities Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting InformationSatellite Sighting Information ISS For Denver:

NASA-TV Highlights (all times Eastern Daylight Time) April 8, Monday 11:05 a.m. - ISS Expedition 35 In-Flight Educational Event with the Mary Marek Elementary School in Alvin, TX - JSC (All Channels) April 9, Tuesday 1:25 a.m. - ISS Expedition 35 In-Flight Event for the Canadian Space Agency for a Student Science Event in Edmonton, Alberta - JSC (All Channels) April 11, Thursday 12:05 p.m. - ISS Mission Control Console Interview with the Digital Learning Network - JSC (All Channels) April 12, Friday :30 a.m. - NASA Cherry Blossom Social - GSFC (Education Channel) Watch NASA TV online by going to the NASA websiteNASA website

Space Calendar JPL Space Calendar  Apr 08 - Cassini, Orbital Trim Maneuver #347 (OTM-347)Cassini  Apr 08 - Comet C/2011 R1 (McNaught) Closest Approach To Earth (1.960 AU)Comet C/2011 R1 (McNaught)Closest Approach To Earth  Apr 08 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults TYC (12.3 Magnitude Star)Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults TYC  Apr 08 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults 2UCAC (12.4 Magnitude Star)Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults 2UCAC  Apr 08 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults 2UCAC (12.4 Magnitude Star)Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults 2UCAC  Apr 08 - Asteroid 2013 EJ89 Near-Earth Flyby (0.071 AU)Asteroid 2013 EJ89Near-Earth Flyby  Apr 09 - Comet P/2012 F2 (PANSTARRS) Perihelion (2.897 AU)Comet P/2012 F2 (PANSTARRS)Perihelion  Apr 09 - Dwarf Planet Haumea At Opposition ( AU)Dwarf Planet HaumeaAt Opposition  Apr 10 - Comet 63P/Wild Perihelion (1.950 AU)Comet 63P/WildPerihelion  Apr 10 - Asteroid 3 Juno Occults TYC (12.2 Magnitude Star)Asteroid 3 Juno Occults TYC  Apr 10 - Asteroid 6136 Gryphon Closest Approach To Earth (2.083 AU)Asteroid 6136 Gryphon  Apr 10 - Asteroid 6442 Salzburg Closest Approach To Earth (1.657 AU)Asteroid 6442 Salzburg  Apr 11 - [Apr 06] Comet 171P/Spahr At Opposition (2.316 AU)Comet 171P/SpahrAt Opposition  Apr 11 - Asteroid 2013 FY13 Near-Earth Flyby (0.092 AU)Asteroid 2013 FY13  Apr 11 - Asteroid 5905 Johnson Closest Approach To Earth (1.183 AU)Asteroid 5905 Johnson  Apr 11 - Asteroid 5231 Verne Closest Approach To Earth (1.994 AU)Asteroid 5231 Verne  Apr 11 - Asteroid 719 Albert Closest Approach To Earth (2.496 AU)Asteroid 719 AlbertClosest Approach To Earth  Apr 12 - Cassini, Distant Flyby of Titan & PolydeucesCassini  Apr 12 - Asteroid 2013 FZ7 Near-Earth Flyby (0.062 AU)Asteroid 2013 FZ7Near-Earth Flyby  Apr 12 - Asteroid Ampere Closest Approach To Earth (0.988 AU)Asteroid Ampere  Apr 12 - Yuri's Night: World Space PartyYuri's Night: World Space Party

Food for Thought Black hole wakes up and has a light snack

Space Image of the Week The Moon's Saturn Image Credit & Copyright: Jens Hackmann