NASA gives everyone access to data from an Earth-mapping spacecraft

NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

If you’ve been studying the Earth’s surface or are just curious about what’s happening on the planet’s surface. NASA and the Japanese government are giving access to data from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument for free. Before anyone interested in using the data had to pay if you were interested in more than the basic topographical maps. Now, 16 years’ worth of near-infrared elevation and thermal data are available for everyone to use and see.

Source: NASA | Via: Engadget

Microsoft HoloLens takes augmented reality to space

Astronauts are known to be surrounded by some of the best and most advanced innovations the tech world has to offer. It’s a geek’s paradise. Proving it’s also the best place to try out new tech, astronaut Scott Kelly tweets a photo of him donning a pair of Microsoft HoloLens on the International Space Station (ISS). It isn't surprising that the HoloLens shows up aboard the ISS as NASA tested the device last year with its Weightless Wonder C9 jet for an experiment called Project Sidekick. The project used HoloLens to help astronauts communicate with ground operators and get more use out of existing devices on the ISS. Now, it isn’t known how Kelly is using the HoloLens up there but it could help with things like complex repairs being done in orbit.

Source: Mashable

Here’s a selfie of the Curiosity rover on a Martian dune

This is a selfie we don’t mind seeing. As Curiosity continues to roam the Martian landscape it takes self-portraits along the way. The latest one it captured is at a place called “Namib Dune.” The image above is a composite of 57 images taken on January 19^th by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), which was attached to the end of the rover’s arm (think high-tech selfie stick).

This area is part of the dark sand dune field northwest of Mount Sharp. Curiosity was in the area to collect sand for lab analysis as part of NASA’s plans to study how Martian winds move and get a better picture of the planet’s environment.

Source: NASA | Via: Engadget

NASA shows glimpse of asteroid that passes by on Christmas Eve

These images of an asteroid 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) long were taken on Dec. 17 (left) and Dec. 22 by scientists using NASA's giant Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSSR

'Twas the night  before Christmas when Asteroid 2003 SD220 passes by and makes its closest approach to Earth. NASA was able to take a few radar images of the asteriod. The space agency assures everyone that this pickled-shape asteroid will not be a threat to our planet at all. It'll pass by the planet at a distance  of 6.8 million miles. As Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for NEO Studies at JPL, said: "The closest this object will come to Santa and his eight tiny reindeer is about 28 times the distance between Earth and the moon." It'll pass by closer to us at 1.8 million miles in 2018 and then 1.7 million miles in 2070.

Source: NASA JPL