79: A crack in Earth's magnetic shield

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*A crack in Earth's magnetic shield A crack has been detected in Earth’s magnetosphere. The event -- which lasted over two hours -- was caused by a powerful blast from the Sun known as a Coronal Mass Ejection. 

*Over 15 thousand potentially deadly near Earth asteroids discovered 

Over 15 thousand potentially deadly near Earth asteroids have now been discovered by astronomers. Scientists are now detecting about 30 new asteroids in near Earth orbit’s – so called NEOs -- each week. 

*NASA opens new deep space communications dish near Canberra 

NASA has formally commissioned its latest dish at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex near Tidbinbilla. The new 34 metre antenna -- DSS36 – is part of a 120 million dollar upgrade by NASA to increase capacity at the Canberra facility by building two new dishes. 

*Japan launches new weather satellite 

Japan has launched its new Himawari 9 weather satellite aboard an H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Centre south of Tokyo. The new spacecraft together with its twin -- Himawari 8 launched two years ago – will provide the Japan Meteorological Agency and Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology with visible, infrared, and near-infrared images of cloud cover, sea surface temperatures, and particle movements from volcanic eruptions. 

*China launches its biggest rocket ever 

China has carried out the maiden flight of its biggest rocket ever – the new Long March 5. The 57 metre tall heavy lift launch vehicle blasted into orbit from Beijing’s new Wenchang spaceport located on an island in the South China Sea. 

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#astronomy #space #technology #science #news #NASA #China #Himawari8

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