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New Images Of Stranded New England Astronaut Spark Concerns New Images Of Stranded New England Astronaut Spark Concerns
New Images Of Stranded New England Astronaut Spark Concerns NASA is assuring the public that a Massachusetts astronaut is in good health after recent photos of the woman sparked concerns to the contrary. Pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, has been stuck aboard the International Space Station since early June after NASA discovered multiple problems with the Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft. The 59-year-old retired Navy officer, along with her colleague Butch Wilmore, were originally scheduled to return home after eight days. They’ll now hitch a ride back to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025. Earlier …

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by Michael Mashburn
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Celestial Event Has Skywatchers In Awe Celestial Event Has Skywatchers In Awe
Celestial Event Has Skywatchers In Awe Stargazers are being treated to a once-in-a-lifetime event this month — make that 1,000 lifetimes.  Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS made a guest appearance in the night sky as it came within 44 million miles of our homeworld last week, and it is dazzling astronomers and novice skywatchers alike.  Stargazers got their best view of the comet on Tuesday, Oct. 15, but it will remain visible with the unaided eye through the end of the month as it rises higher and higher in the night sky until it is gone, according to NASA.  The comet won't make another pass of Earth for another 80,…

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by Josh Lanier
News
'Once In Lifetime' Comet Will Be Visible To Naked Eye In Night Sky: Here's When To Watch 'Once In Lifetime' Comet Will Be Visible To Naked Eye In Night Sky: Here's When To Watch
'Once In Lifetime' Comet Will Be Visible To Naked Eye In Night Sky: Here's When To Watch You'll want to keep an eye on the sky in the coming days and weeks. A newly discovered comet is about to make its closest pass by Earth later in the week and is expected to be visible through the end of October. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or C/2023 A3, which was first identified last year, is expected to be especially vivid, and its brightness could even compare to Jupiter, according to The New York Times. The comet will be closest to earth -- about 44 million miles, mind you -- on Saturday, Oct. 12, according to NASA. “This one is, I would say, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said astro…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Stranded Astronauts Will Hitch Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Troubles Stranded Astronauts Will Hitch Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Troubles
Stranded Astronauts Will Hitch Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Troubles After spending months in limbo aboard the International Space Station, an astronaut from Massachusetts finally has a return date to Earth. Pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore will abandon Boeing’s troubled Starliner and instead hitch a ride on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025, NASA confirmed Saturday, Aug. 24. The stunning decision capped off 11 weeks of uncertainty after NASA discovered numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with Starliner’s thrusters following its launch from Florida's Space Coast on Wednesday, June 5. Ea…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Blue Supermoon: What You Need To Know About Rare Lunar Event Blue Supermoon: What You Need To Know About Rare Lunar Event
Blue Supermoon: What You Need To Know About Rare Lunar Event There's an out-of-this-world lunar event set to begin this week.  From Monday, Aug. 19, through Wednesday, Aug. 21, the moon will appear bigger and brighter in the night sky than normal. It's called the supermoon. It's the first one of the year, but that's not why this one is special.  A supermoon occurs when the moon is full and closest to Earth in its orbit, according to NASA. That closeness makes the rocky satellite appear 15 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter.  What makes August's supermoon so unique is that it's a blue moon. No, the light of the moon won't change co…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
Here's When To Watch Most Popular Meteor Show Of Year Here's When To Watch Most Popular Meteor Show Of Year
Here's When To Watch Most Popular Meteor Show Of Year The best meteor shower of the year is about to peak. The Perseid meteor shower, marked by swift and bright streaks, frequently leaves long "wakes" of light and color behind as it moves through Earth's atmosphere, according to NASA.  The most significant activity is expected to occur on the night of Sunday, Aug. 11, into the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 12, and possibly Tuesday, Aug. 13. Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though meteors from this shower can be seen as early as 10 p.m. NASA says. EarthSky.com says that "the best t…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner What was supposed to be an eight-day trip to the International Space Station may end up lasting much, much longer for an astronaut from Massachusetts. Two months after the Boeing-built Starliner blasted off from Florida’s Space Coast on its first crewed flight, NASA announced that pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore may not come home until February 2025. In a mission update Wednesday, Aug. 7, NASA and Boeing leaders said they were still figuring out how to safely bring the pair back to Earth and that they may have to ride back on a Sp…

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by Michael Mashburn
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NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles
NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles Nearly two months after blasting off from Florida’s Space Coast, a pair of NASA astronauts – including a Massachusetts native – still have no idea when they’ll return to Earth. In a mission update Thursday, July 25, NASA and Boeing leaders still could not commit to a return date for Starliner pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore. The pair – serving as guinea pigs of sorts for Starliner’s first crewed mission – remain in limbo aboard the International Space Station after numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with the spacecraft’s thrus…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Stuck In Space: Mass Astronaut Faces Uncertain Return Date Amid Starliner Troubles Stuck In Space: Mass Astronaut Faces Uncertain Return Date Amid Starliner Troubles
Stuck In Space: Mass Astronaut Faces Uncertain Return Date Amid Starliner Troubles A Massachusetts native is among two American astronauts facing an uncertain return date to Earth amid ongoing problems with the Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft. Pilot and Needham native Suni Williams, along with commander Butch Wilmore, remains stuck on the International Space Station nearly a week after their expected departure date while NASA crews work to understand several issues that have arisen since the pair launched into orbit on Wednesday, June 5. Among the problems sparking concern are malfunctions of the vehicle’s thrusters and numerous helium leaks that sprang up during their…

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by Michael Mashburn