IO Group: https://groups.io/g/DARCskynet/topics

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/

Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.

Discussion Topic of the Evening.

Brenda WB5OZL

Venus Life?  

Artist’s Concept of Venus Atmosphere

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fastronomy.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F09%2Fastronomers-spy-phosphine-on-venus-a-potential-sign-of-life&psig=AOvVaw2hiHN5Kymjr7A-V6jJr06E&ust=1600606984466000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKjaxfGj9esCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP

Artist’s Concept “Erupting Volcanoes”

https://thumbs-prod.si-cdn.com/lQN9KX2CL3auNBwSS8IN_MKZpxs=/800×600/filters:no_upscale()/https://public-media.si-cdn.com/filer/db/78/db7806a8-3c2d-488f-a01a-3c10fa126c16/venus-volcanoes.jpg

Venus Atmosphere Dynamics

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.int%2FScience_Exploration%2FSpace_Science%2FVenus_Express%2FGreenhouse_effect_clouds_and_winds&psig=AOvVaw14Y806kpf1H-WQLrtlPRHo&ust=1600607154293000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKjPtb2k9esCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK

Waz Up

Tonight: Moon Phases, Autumnal Equinox, Jupiter/Saturn Celestial Encounter, Camelopardalidspeak Meteor Shower

Space Exploration and Space History 

Solar Cycle 25!

Spaceweather Solar Cycle Prediction Chart

https://spaceweatherarchive.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/youarehere.png

Solar Cycle 25 Auroras Photographed Sept. 14, 2020 (Finland)

https://spaceweatherarchive.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/jani-ylinampa-img_0468_1600072215.jpg

Dramatic Concept Photo of Solar Activity

https://watchers.news/data/thumbs/798_296/2019/12/solar-flare-f.jpg

Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week

This Week: Cygnus: The Swan

Space Launches For This Week

Space Coast Launches

Upcoming Rocket Launch List

Space Flight Now Launch Schedule

Launch Schedule

TBDFalcon 9 • Starlink 12

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 13th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 12. Scrubbed on Sept. 17 due to recovery weather. [Sept. 17]

Sept. 26

Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-44

Launch period: 0401-0535 GMT (12:01-1:35 a.m. EDT)

Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from June and Aug. 26. Scrubbed on Aug. 27 by pneumatics issue. Aborted at T-minus 3 seconds on Aug. 29. [Sept. 17]

NET September

Electron • STP-27RM

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: Launch Complex 2, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, Virginia

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch on its first mission from a new launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch customer is the U.S. Air Force, and the mission will launch an experimental mission for the Space Test Program called Monolith with a space weather instrument. The Monolith mission will demonstrate the ability of a small satellite to support large aperture payloads. Delayed from 2nd Quarter of 2019. Delayed from August 2020. [Aug. 4]

Sept. 28

Soyuz • Gonets M

Launch time: 1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT)

Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch three Gonets M communications satellites and a cluster of international rideshare payloads. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1b configuration with a Fregat upper stage. Moved forward from Sept. 29. Delayed from Sept. 24. [Sept. 14]

Sept. 29/30

Antares • NG-14

Launch time: 0226 GMT on 30th (10:26 p.m. EDT on 29th)

Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 15th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 14th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-14. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230 configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. Moved forward from October. Delayed from Aug. 31 and Sept. 7. Moved forward from Oct. 2. [Aug. 7]

Sept. 30/Oct. 1

Falcon 9 • GPS 3 SV04

Launch period: 0000-0400 GMT on 1st (8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. EDT on 30th/1st)

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s fourth third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The satellite is built by Lockheed Martin. Delayed from October, December, May, July and August. [Aug. 17]

Check-ins or comments  

Recent Astronomical Discoveries 

Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.

All times are “local” (Dallas) time.

X-37B

https://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=45606&lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST

Sept. 23

https://www.heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST&satid=45606&mjd=59115.4629518187&type=V

Sept. 24

https://www.heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST&satid=45606&mjd=59116.4893697301&type=V

Sept. 25

https://www.heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST&satid=45606&mjd=59117.4487123044&type=V

North Korean Satellite

https://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=39026&lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST

Sept. 21

https://www.heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST&satid=39026&mjd=59113.4967449429&type=V

Sept. 25

https://www.heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST&satid=39026&mjd=59117.4893025275&type=V

Sept. 28

https://www.heavens-above.com/passdetails.aspx?lat=33.0462&lng=-96.9942&loc=Lewisville&alt=0&tz=CST&satid=39026&mjd=59120.4999111604&type=V