Observer's Page
(Background image of M1, the Crab Nebula, comes from Bill Arnett's Messier page crediting the National Optical Astronomy Observatories.)
(Last updated 3/9/2015.)
For beginners
For Everyone!!!
- Ask the Astronomer - 3001 questions answered. For new questions see next link.
- Astronomy picture of the day - Something new every day!!
- Astronomy picture of the day Archive - All the old APODs, too.
- Basic facts about the Sun - Basic facts about the Sun.
- CNN News, Science, Technology, Space - The latest news reports about space stuff.
- Did MEN land on the Moon? Yes - Go here for a debunking of the Fox tv show.
- Donald Simanek's Page - Lots of links for skeptics, philosophers, about de-hoaxing hoaxes, etc.
- Hobby Space - A web guide to space activities and hobbies.
- Hubble Images - A plethora of pictures since 1994.
- JPL News Flashes - A lot of astronomy related news, press releases, etc.
- More Hubble Stuff - More info about Hubble Space Telescope, as well as education and games.
- NASA's Planetary Photojournal - Provides easy access to publicly released images of the planets, etc.
- Science at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center - Science headlines from Marshall Space Flight Center.
- SETI@Home - Search for extraterrestrials yourself in your own home.
- Skywatching Center - An index of something to look for in the sky each night.
- Starry sky com - What's up in the sky at this instant. Customize for your location.
- The Star Gazer (Jack Horkheimer) - If you can't see the show, you can read it here.
- The Sky at a Glance - Updated weekly about what's up in the sky.
- World Wide Telescope - Explore, take guided tours, without leaving your computer.
- Wiki Sky - A growing list of stellar objects to look at, etc.
Amateur Astronomy Info
- Amateur Telescope Making - Resources and techniques for the amateur...
- Aurora Page - Forecasts, links and images Of the 'Northern Lights.'
- Current Comets - Current comets that are visible and other comet information.
- Comets and Meteor Showers - Information on Comets, Meteor Showers and Asteroids.
- Expanding Universe - A classified search tool for amateur astronomy.
- Eclipse home page - New and improved web page for solar and lunar eclipses.
- Heavens Above - Locate satellItes visually in Maryland.
- Humans in Space - Links to the latest info on the space shuttle and space station.
- IAU Circulars - Home page of he Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.
- ISS Visibility - The naked-eye visibility of the International Space Station.
- Learn What's Up - Updated on or before the first of every month.
- Lunar Info for Amateur Astronomers - Some links about the Moon including fictional stories.
- The Messier Catalog - There's a lot of info on the Messier objects here.
- Meteor Showers Online - Contains information on how to observe meteors and when.
- The Moon - Almost anything you want to know about the Moon can be found here.
- Moon Phases - See images of what the moon will look like on a certain date.
- Nearby Star Observers - Exchanging info about stars within 20 parsecs (65.2 light years).
- Noctilucent Cloud Observer's Homepage - How to observe and report noctilucent cloud observations.
- Phases of the Moon - See images of what the moon will look like on a certain date.
- Planetary Nebula Observer's Home Page - Mucho info on PNs and links, too.
- Satellite Overpasses - Can predict the times a satellite will pass overhead and where.
- SETI@Home - Search for extraterrestrials yourself in your own home.
- Skyeye at Obliquity - A guide to this month's celestial events.
- Sky Maps - Free sky maps for the northern or southern hemisphere.
- Sky Watch - Personalized sky calendar that sends emails about events to look for from you location.
- Space Shuttle Sightings - Want to see the Space shuttle, and other spacecraft naked eye? Go here.
- Sunrise, sunset times - Sunrise and sunset times from the USNO. And more info.
- Supernovae, The Latest Visible - A list of currently observable supernovae.
- Terry's Hunt of the Month - Contains 5 monthly observing lists from the Messier, Herschel, Herschel II, FWAS Favorites, and the Beyond Messier lists.
- Unisys Weather - Make your own forecastes with these maps.
- Virtual Telescope - The Internet's Virtual Telescope. Pictures at any wavelength.
- Visual Satellite Observer's Home Page - Why, when and what satellites to look for.
- What satellites are visible from the ground? - Find out what time and which satellites are passing overhead.
- World Wide Telescope - Explore, take guided tours, without leaving your computer.
Amateur Astronomy Orgs
Archeoastronomy
Astrobiology
Basics of Astronomy
Beyond the solar system
Cosmology and miscellaneous info
History of Astronomy
Humor
K-12 Teachers
Observatories, et al.
- Allegheny Observatory - At the University of Pittsburgh.
- Armagh Observatory - Founded in 1790, but still doing research today.
- Australian Astronomical Observatory - A world-class observing facility for British and Australian astronomers.
- Australia Telescope National Facility - Has 4 telescopes, mostly for radio astronomy.
- BREC, LSU, BRAS Highland Road Park Observatory - A astronomical observatory for education and recreation in Louisana.
- Chinese Academy of Science - National Astronomical Observatories - The HQ of the NAOC are located in Beijing, China.
- Cangaroo (Collaboration of Australia and Nippon (Japan) for a Gamma Ray Observatory in the Outback) - To study gamma rays in the southern sky.
- DOT - Dutch Open Telescope - Monitoring the Sun from La Palma.
- Earth Observatory - You can monitor regional and global changes as they happen, almost.
- European Southern Observatory - A intergovernmental European astronomical observatory in Chile, South America.
- Gettysburg College Observatory - Mainly looking for asteroids.
- Griffith Observatory - Located in Los Angeles.
- Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory - Some 65 km NW of Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Howard Astronomical League Observatory - was built at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville, MD, just north of I-70.
- Keck Observatory - Located on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
- Kitt Peak National Observatory - Home of 22 optical and 2 radio telescopes above the Sonoran desert.
- Lick Observatory - On the Santa Cruz campus of the University of California.
- Lowell Observatory - Near Flagstaff, Arizona.
- Meyer-Womble Observatory - Located on top of Mt Evans, the highest elevation of any observatory.
- National Air & Space Museum - You don't have to go to DC to see the exhibits, but its worth it to go at least once.
- Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System) - To discover and characterize Earth-approaching objects.
- Royal Observatory Greenwich - Home of the Prime Meridian of the world.
- South African Astronomical Observatory - Located on the high arid Karoo plateau.
- Subaru telescope - The newest telescope on Mauna Kea, HI, with the largest single piece mirror also.
- Sudbury Neutrino Observatory - The observatory is still uder construction, but is proceeding well.
- Univ of Maryland Observatory - Open to the public on the 5th and 20th of every month.
- U.S. Naval Observatory - Provides data to measure the Earth's rotation and maintains the Master Clock for the U.S.
- Very Large Telescope Array - The Very Large Telescope Array is located at the European Southern Observatory in nothern Chile.
- Whipple Observatory - Located near Amado, AZ on Mount Hopkins.
Online 'scopes the public can use
Other Instruments
Radio Astronomy
Research Astronomy
Solar system topics
- Asteroids - A web page describing asteroids, their types, etc.
- Asteroids (by NASA) - Photos, missions, and other resources about asteroids.
- Center for Mars Exploration - News, information, maps and educational resources concerning Mars.
- Dr. SOHO's FAQ - Many questions about the Sun answered using SOHO data.
- Helioseismology - The science of studying vave oscillations of the Sun.
- Hitchhiker's guide to the Moon - Contains phases and maps of the Moon, links to other Lunar stuff.
- The Moon - Almost anything you want to know about the Moon can be found here.
- Nine Planets, The - Info on the planets and its moons.
- Oort Cloud, The - Where do comets come from?
- Planetary Image Atlas - You can search, display and download images from many planetary missions.
- Planet Quest - Interactive site using the full capabilities of the Internet.
- Solar System Live! - An orrery of the solar system on the web.
- Solar System Simulator - Want to ride on Voyager? See what you would see here.
- Space Watch - Studying the statistics of comets and asteroids to understand the evolution of collisions in the solar system.
- Views of the Solar System - And much info about the Solar System.
- Windows to the Universe - An innovative approach to learn about the Earth and the Space Sciences.
Space Art
Spacecraft/Satellite info (past)
- AcrimSat - Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor - Will measure the solar radiation incident on the Earth's atmosphere.
- Apollo - Info and pictures about all the Apollo spacecraft.
- ASCA (Astro-D) - The fourth x-ray satellite launched by the Japanese.
- Beacon C - Recorded observations of electron content between the earth and the satellite.
- Beagle 2 - British led effort to land on Mars as part of ESA's Mars Express Mission.
- BLITS - (Ball Lens in The Space) - Experimental verification of the spherical glass retroreflector satellite concept.
- Chang'e-1 - China's first satellite to the Moon.
- Clementine - DoD does space science also.
- COBE - Legacy Archive for Microwave Background Data Analysis.
- Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory - NASA's second great observatory, measuring from 30keV to 30Gev.
- Constellation - Developiong new rocket engines for future space exploration.
- Contour - Contact was lost when trying to leave Earth orbit.
- COS-B - All aspects of COS-B mission in a nutshell. Gamma-rays survey of the galaxy.
- Daichi (ALOS) - Japan's contribution to Pakistan Flood Rescue Activities.
- Darwin - A study to search for Earth-like planets.
- Deep Impact - Will got o comet Temple 1 and impact the surface of the comet.
- Deep Space 1 - Not another Star Trek show, but a real spacecraft testing new technology.
- Deep Space 2 - This Deep Space craft is going to Mars to look for clues of life.
- EUVE - Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer - To study the wavelength range of 70-760 Angstroms in the universe.
- EXOSAT - ESA's first X-ray observatory mission.
- Explorer - America's first spacecraft.
- FAST - Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer/a> - Studying the Earth's aurora.
- FUSE - Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer - To study the origin and evolution of Hydrogen and Deuterium.
- FUYO-1 (JERS-1) - Japanese Earth Resources Satellite.
- Galileo - Orbiting Jupiter and its satellites.
- Gemini - Info on past missions, the Russian counterpart and more.
- Genesis - Will take a piece of the Sun and return to Earth for analysis.
- GIOTTO - Flew by Comets Halley and Grigg-Skjellerup.
- GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) - An active constellation of Russian satellites for GPS.
- Glory - Observing the Earth's aerosols ad solar irradiance.
- GPS (Global Positioning System) - An active constellation of 24 satellites for GPS.
- GRANAT - A Russian satellite taking pictures in the X- and gamma-ray regimes.
- Gravity Probe B - To test 2 unverified predictions of General Relativity.
- Halca (Muses-B) - Acts like an antenna for VLBI (very long baseline interferometry).
- Hayabusa Project - Spacecraft with ion engine at 1.5 AU from Earth.
- HETE-II (High Energy Transient Explorer) - To carry out a multiwavelength study of gamma ray bursts.
- HIPPARCOS - Measured the positions, distances, motions, brightness and colors of stars.
- Hiten (Muses-A) - Demonstrated a lunar orbiting technique.
- IMAGE - Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration to study the Earth's magnetosphere.
- Infrared Space Observatory - Was operated in the range of 2.5-240 microns.
- Infrared Telescope in Space (IRTS) - First Japanese orbiting telescope for IR astronomy.
- IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) - Analyzed ultraviolet of stars that are blocked by the Earth's ozone layer.
- Jason-1 - An oceanography mission to discover the tie between oceans and atmosphere, etc.
- JAWSAT - A Joint Air Force Academy Weber State Univ. Satellite project.
- Kaguya - Also called SELenological and ENgineeting Explorer (SELENE - a hyperspectral instrument looking at the Moon.
- Lageos (LAser GEOdynamics Satellite-1) - First spacecraft dedicated to laser-ranging.
- Lageos (LAser GEOdynamics Satellite-2) - Lageos-2 was built by the Italian Space Agency based on the Lageos-1 design.
- Landsat Program - To search for, access information about or obtain Landsat satellite data.
- LCROSS - Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite. Crashed into the Moon's south pole and found water.
- Lunar Prospector - Scientists hoping to determine the resources, structure and origins of the Moon.
- Magellan - Venus Radar Mapper - Mapped 98% of the surface of Venus.
- MAP (Microwave Anisotropy Probe) - Will answer 3 fundamental questions of cosmology.
- Mariners 1-2 - Mariner 1 blown up on launch failuer. Mariner 2 visited Venus in 1962.
- Mariners 3-4 - Mariner 3 failed to open properly. Mariner 4 visited Venus in 1965. First Mars flyby.
- Mariners 5 - Mariner 5 was originally a backup Mars spacecraft was sent on a Venus flyby in 1967.
- Mariners 6-7 - Mariners 6 and 7 completed first dual mission to Mars in 1969.
- Mariners 8-9 - Mariner 8 failed on launch. Mariner 9 made it to Mars in 1971.
- Mariner 10 - Visited Mercury in 1973-74 using Venus' gravity to get there.
- Mariner Missions - A summary of theplanetary Mariner missions.
- Mars Climate Orbiter - Instruments will map mineralogy, morphology and elemental compostion of the surface. Also to study radiation risks to humans.
- Mars Global Surveyor - Instruments will map mineralogy, morphology and elemental compostion of the surface. Also to study radiation risks to humans.
- Mars Observer - Instruments will map mineralogy, morphology and elemental compostion of the surface. Also to study radiation risks to humans.
- Mars Pathfinder - Landed July 4, 1997. Investigated the structure of the atmosphere and composition of rocks and soil, etc.
- Mars Polar Lander - Searching for water on Mars.
- Mars Exploration Program - Images, science reports, mission status.
- Mercury Program - A history of Project Mercury.
- MIR - Get the latest info on the Mir Space station here.
- MOS - Modular Optoelectronic Scanner - An imaging spectrometer for the 400-1010 nm range.
- Near Earth Asteroid Rendevous - Passing Eros, getting ready for a controlled crash landing.
- Nozomi (Planet B) - Also known as Planet B, is to study the upper atmosphere of Mars.
- NSCAT - A microwave radar scatterometer that measured near-surface wind vectors over the oceans.
- Orbiting Carbon Observatory - Mission failed when the payload failed to separate from the launch vehicle.
- Phoenix - A Mars lander that studied a Martian arctic site.
- PHOBOS GRUNT - Probing the origins of Mars' small moon.
- Pioneer 3-4 - Pioneer 3 failed to reach the Moon. Pioneer 4 flewby the Moon (now orbiting the Sun).
- Pioneer Venus Orbiter - Consisted of 2 spacecraft to study Venus, the Orbiter and the Multiprobe.
- POAM (Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurements) - Used to study the ozone hole.
- POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth Reflectance) - Provided spectral, directional and polarized properties of solar radiation reflected by the Earth.
- QuikSCAT - Will collect important information of ocean winds.
- Ranger - Designed to crash into the Moon and send back close-up pictures.
- SAMPEX - The Solar Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer satellite.
- Seasat - Seasat flight-tested 4 instrumnents that used radar to study Earth and its seas.
- SELENE - Also called SELenological and ENgineeting Explorer "Kaguya" (SELENE - a hyperspectral instrument looking at the Moon.
- SIR-C/X-SAR Missions - These flew on the space shuttle to provied multifrequency and multipolarization radar data.
- Skylab - An overview of the mission and access to data/pictures.
- SMART-1 - Tested solar electric propulsion and other deep space technologies while observing the Moon.
- SNOE - Student Nitric Oxide Explorer - Measuring parameters that affect the density of nitric oxide (NO) in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
- Sojourner - Mars Rover - Primarily built to demonstrate that it could be done.
- Solar Mesosphere Explorer - Studied ozone in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
- Soviet Lunar Missions - Data on 20 successful Soviet missions to the Moon.
- Space Shuttle - Shuttle home page for the current mission and past missions.
- Space Technology 5 - 3 micro-satellites explored the Earth's magnetic fields.
- Space Technology 6 - To gather science info without human interaction.
- Spartan - Studying the Sun's corona after launching by the space shuttle.
- SPOT (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre) - System for observing the Earth.
- Stardust - This satellite will probe the comets and bring back some cametary material.
- Stardust-NExT - Follow-on to Stardust. No web page yet.
- Starshine 2 & 3 - An optically reflective spherical spacecraft for students to observe upper atmospheric densities.
- Surveyors to the Moon - The first Earth instrument to reach the Moon.
- SWAS - Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite - To investigate the coposition of dense interstellar clouds.
- TacSat-2 - 11 on-board experiments were conducted during the mission.
- TERRIERS - Tomographic Experiment using Radiative Recombinative Ionospheric EUV and Radios Sources -To study ionospheric/thermospheric processes.
- Three Corner Satellite - Will be controlled by an artificial intelligence brain for several months.
- TOMS - Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer - Studying ozone, ultraviolet light, aerosols and more.
- Topex/Poseidon - Trying to understand the oceans and climate from space.
- Trace - Transition Region and Corona explorer, exploring the Sun's upper atmosphere.
- UARS - Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite - Studying global ozone change.
- Ulysses - Polar orbit around the Sun.
- Virtual Space Museum - An index for information on the Soviet space program.
- Viking 1 & 2 - The first missions to Mars.
- WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) - Making fundamental measurements of cosmology.
- WIRE - Wide-Field Infrared Explorer - WIRE will perfrom a 4-month survey at 12 and 25 microns.
- Yohkoh - Japanese X-ray telescope focusing on the Sun.
Spacecraft/Satellite info (operational)
- ACE - Advanced Composition Explorer - Providing 24 hr coverage of solar wind and energetic particles.
- AIM - Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere - To study noctilucent clouds.
- AJISAI (EGS) - Experimental Geodetic Satellite.
- Akari (Astro-F) - Japanese infrared imaging satellite.
- Akebono (EXOS-D) - Aurora observation satellite.
- ALOS-2 - Advanced Land Observing Satellite - 2.
- AMOS 2-5 - By Spacecom provides internet and cable for customers.
- Aqua - More Earth studies in the afternoon.
- Aquarius - Focused on measureing Sea Surface Salinity.
- Argos - French weather satellites since 1978.
- ArianeSpace - Contains info about Ariane 4 and 5.
- Astro-E2/Suzaku - Observing x-rays from the universe in low Earth orbit.
- Aura - Will enable new research into how the Earth's ozone, air quality and climate.
- Beacon C - Used passively now for satellite laser ranging.
- BeiDou - The first space-based navigation and positioning network developed by China.
- BeppoSAX - Covering X-ray astronomy from .1 to over 200 keV.
- CALIPSO - Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Patherfinder Satellite Observations - To study the role of clouds and aerosols in regulatin Earth's weather.
- Cassini - on its way to Saturn via Venus and Earth.
- Chandra X-ray Observatory - Looking at the universe in X-rays better than ever before.
- Chandrayaan-1 - India's first scientific mission to the Moon.
- CHIPS - Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer. Studying the "Local Bubble" of our Solar System at ultraviolet wavelengths.
- CINDI - Coupled Ion Neutral Dynamic Investigation - To study the elements that influence space weather near the equator.
- CloudSat - Revealing the inner secrets of clouds.
- Cluster - Two satellites studying the Earth's magnetic environment and the solar wind.
- DAWN - Going to visit the asteroid Vesta, among other things.
- COROT (Convection, Rotation and planetary Transits) - To search for rocky planets around near-by stars.
- Cryosat - A synthetic aperture radar designed to measure ice-sheet elevation and sea-ice height protruding the water.
- Cryosat-2 - Follow-on to Cryosat. A synthetic aperture radar designed to measure ice-sheet elevation and sea-ice height protruding the water.
- DAWN - Going to visit the asteroid Vesta, among other things.
- Dragon - A spacecraft that will resupply the ISS space station when the space shuttle is shut down.
- DSCOVR - Deep Space Climate Observatory will go to the Lagrange-1 point (L-1) and look at the earth.
- Elektro-L - Will fly past Comet Hartly 2 in November 2010.
- Elisa - 4 microsatellites will map the positions of radar and other transmitters and their characteristics.
- Envisat - Observing Europe from space.
- EO-1 (Earth Observing) - The first Earth Observing Mission of the New Millenium Program.
- Epoxi - The first Russian meteorological satellite in geostationary oribit.
- Etalon 1 - The first geodynamic satellite launched byt the former Soviet Union.
- Etalon 2 - Etalon are a Russian family of geodetic satellites dedicated to satellite laser ranging.
- Falcon 9 - This is actually a launch vehicle not a spacecraft commercially built.
- Fermi - Gamma-ray Space Telescope - The next generation high energy gamma-ray observatory.
- GAIA - To create the largest and most precise 3-D chart of our Galaxy.
- GALEX - Galaxy Evolution Explorer - Exploring the universe in ultraviolet light.
- Galileo - Galileo achieved In-Orbit Validation Element preparing for a European satellite navigation system.
- GOES-O - The latest weather satellite developed by NASA to aid meteorologists and climate scientists.
- GEOTAIL - Magnetospheric observation satellite.
- GIOVE-A - Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element testing a European satellite navigation system.
- GIOVE-B - Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element testing a European satellite navigation system.
- GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) - An active constellation of Russian satellites for GPS.
- GOCE - Dedicated to measuring Earth's gravitational field and modeling the geoid.
- GOES 8-10 - Observing the Earth from space.
- GOSAT - Measuring carbon dioxide on the Earth from space.
- GPM - Global precipitation measurement satellite.
- GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) - Twin satellites measuring Earth's gravitational field.
- GRAIL - Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory - Twin spacecrafts orbiting the Moon to measure it's gravity.
- GSTB-V2/A - Has been renamed to GIOVE-A.
- GSTB-V2/B - Has been renamed to GIOVE-B.
- Helios - Surveillance for prevention, deterrence and peacekeeping purposes.
- Herschel FIRST - Far Infra-Red and Submillimetre Telescope - Designed to observe the birth of stars and galaxies throughout the universe.
- HINODE (Solar-B) - This is the follow-on mission to the Japanese Yohkoh (Solar-A) mission.
- Hubble Space Telescope - The first space-based observatory.
- HY-2A - A Chinese satellite for marine remote sensing.
- IASI - Designed to provide more detailed data about atmospheric humidity and temperature profiles.
- IBEX - The Interstellar Boundary Explorer - Exploring the Galactic frontier.
- Ibuki(GOSAT) - Measuring carbon dioxide on the Earth from space.
- ICESat - An EOS mission for measuring ice sheet mass balance, cloud and aerosol heights, vegetation and land canopy.
- Ikaros - Small solar power sail demonstration.
- INTEGRAL - For gamma-ray spectroscopy in the 15 keV-10MeV range with X-ray (3-35 keV) and optical (V-band, 550 nm) bands.
- INTERBALL - Aimed to study various plasma processes in the Earth's magnetosphere.
- International Space Station - Keep up with the latest developments the ISS.
- Jason-2 - An oceanography mission to discover the tie between oceans and atmosphere, etc.
- JUNO - Unlocking Jupiter's mysteries, i.e., clues about our early solar system. Launched 8/5/2011.
- Kepler - Searching for habitable planets.
- KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII) - Engineering Test Satellite VIII testing mobile communications.
- KIZUNA (WINDS) - Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite.
- KODAMA (DRTS) - Data Relay Test Satellite performing inter-satellire communications.
- KOMPSAT-5 - A Korean for all-weather day/night monitoring of the Korean peninsula.
- LADEE - Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer - Will orbit to Moon to characterize it's atmosphere.
- Lageos-3 (LAser GEOdynamics Satellite) - Lageos-3 would be used to measure the gravitational magnetic dipole moment.
- Landsat - Low-cost, multipurpose land remote sensing data of the Earth.
- LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite) - A small satellite that will measure the Earth's gravitomagnetic field and the Lense-Thirring effect.
- LRO - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter - Gathering data to assist with long-term missions in the future.
- Mars Exploration Rovers - Both Opportunity and Spirit are still working; looking at rocks and soils on Mars.
- Mars Express - Searching for sub-surface water from orbit.
- Mars Global Surveyor - Returning lots of cool pictures, but no Face on Mars.
- Mars Odyssey - On a search that water existed on Mars for a long period of time.
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - On a search that water existed on Mars for a long period of time.
- Mars Science Laboratory - Will study the early environmental history of Mars.
- Megha Tropiques - Will provide scientific data on the contribution of the water cycle to the tropical atmosphere.
- MESSENGER - Mercury Surface Space environment Geochemistry and Ranging mission. To study Mercury.
- MICHIBIKI - Quasi-zenith satellite - 1, to enhance GPS availability over Japan.
- Mission and Spacecraft Library - To find those spacecraft not listed here.
- MSG (Meteosat Second Generation) - Dedicated to operational metrology to monitor climate and improve weather forecasting.
- NASA/s Discovery Program - Designed to enhance our understanding of the solar system.
- New Horizons - The first satellite to flyby Pluto. It's already more than halfway there.
- NOAA-N - 15th is in a series of polar-orbiting satellites dating back to 1978.
- NOAA-N-Prime - 16th is in a series of polar-orbiting satellites dating back to 1978.
- NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) - Collecting land, ocean and atmospheric data to better understand climate change.
- NuStar - Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array - To study the sky through high energy x-rays.
- ODIN - Detecting millimeter waves in the upper atmosphere only now.
- OMI - Ozone Monitoring Instrument - Studying ozone, ultraviolet light, aerosols and more.
- Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 - Providing global maps of carbon dioxide and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence.
- Orsted Satellite Project - To survey the Earth's magnetic field in 1999 and 2000.
- PAMELA (Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophsics) To investigate cosmic radiation.
- PARASOL (Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Scicned coupled with Observations from a LIDAR) - To do what it's called.
- PICARD - A microsatellite that will send back data needed to improve models for forecasting solar activity.
- Pioneer 10/11 - 2 0f 4 man-made objects to leave the Solar System.
- Planck - With a 1.5 m scope, Planck will produce sky maps at 9 different frequencies.
- PLEIADES - Optical satellites that will provide imagery with a resolution of 0.7 meters.
- POES - Polar Operational Environmental Satellites - Providing data for long-range weather forecasting.
- Polar - To study the plasma, magnetic, ionic fields and other properties of the Sun.
- QZS-1 - Quasi-zenith satellite - 1 (MICHIBIKI), to enhance GPS availability over Japan.
- RBSP (Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission - Exploring the extremes of space weather.
- REIMEI (INDEX) - Performing in-orbit demonstrations of cutting edge technology.
- RHESSI - Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. To explore the basic physics of particle acceleration and energy release in solar flares.
- Rosetta - To study the nucleus and environment of a comet for 2 years.
- Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer - Studying the time variability of x-ray emissions in the sky.
- SeaWiFS - Aboard the Seastar spacecraft to measure the ocean color due to phytoplankton.
- SDO - Solar Dynamics Observatory - Designed to study the Sun's influence on the Earth.
- Shizuku (GCOM-W) - Global change observation mission - Water satellite.
- SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) - To provide global mapping of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state.
- SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) - To observe soil moisture over the Earth's landmasses and salinity over the oceans.
- SOHO - at the L1 Lagrangian point to look at the Sun 24 hours a day.
- SOLSTICE - The Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment, to study the Sun in the UV.
- SORCE - The Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment, to study the Sun at all wavelengths.
- Spitzer Space Telescope - Studying the universe in infrared.
- SPOT (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre) - System for observing the Earth.
- SPOT 5 (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre) - The latest satellite in the SPOT series.
- Starlette - Small, French passive satellites for laser-ranging.
- Stella - Small, French passive satellites for laser-ranging. Mainly used for gravity field recovery.
- STEREO - 2 spacecraft 90 degrees apart looking at coronal mass ejections from the Sun.
- Suzaku (Astro-EII) - Japanese x-ray astronomy satellite.
- SWARM - 3 satellites in different orbits to monitor changes in the Earth's magnetic field over time.
- Swift - A mulit-wavelength observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray bursts.
- TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite K/L) - Continous communications since 1983.
- Terra (EOS AM-1) - Will enable new research into how the Earth's land, ocean, air, ice and life functions.
- TerraSAR-X - An German-made X-band synthetic aperture radar for scientific research and applications.
- THEMIS - A mission to study Earth's aurorae and how they change dramatically.
- TIMED - Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics and Dynamics - Will explore the Earth's upper atmosphere (60-180 km).
- TRMM - Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission - To study tropical rainfall and the associated energy release.
- Venus Express - Orbiting Venus in an elliptical quasi-polar orbit.
- Voyager - Latest info on both Voyagers.
- Wind - Similar to the Polar mission except in a different orbit around the Sun.
- WISE - Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer - A follow-on toe WIRE which performed a 4-month survey at 12 and 25 microns.
- XMM-Newton - X-ray Multi-Mirror. An x-ray satellite by ESA.
Spacecraft/Satellite info (future missions)
- Andromeda - A satellite designed to look for gamma-ray bursts in the Andromeda galaxy.
- Astro-G - Japanese radio-astronomical satellite.
- ATHENA (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) - To study black holes, map the large scale structure of the Universe and how they are connected.
- BepiColombo - To orbit Mercury, if it gets funded.
- Chandrayaan-2 - A lander/rover mission to the Moon by India.
- Cross-Scale - 7 spacecraft forming 2 nested tetrahedra to quantify plasmas on different scales.
- EarthCARE - Earth clouds, aerosol and radiation explorer.
- JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) - To make detailed observations of Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. Launch date in 2022.
- Euclid - To map the geometry of the dark Universe.
- ExoMars - To further characterize the biological environment of Mars leading the human exploration, eventually.
- GCOM-C - Global change observation mission - Climate satellite.
- HY-2B - A Chinese satellite for marine remote sensing. Follow-on to HY-2A.
- HY-2C - A Chinese satellite for marine remote sensing. Follow-on to HY-2B.
- HY-2D - A Chinese satellite for marine remote sensing. Follow-on to HY-2C.
- ILN - International Lunar Network - A global luner network of ground stations.
- Jason-3 - An oceanography mission to discover the tie between oceans and atmosphere, etc.
- Jason-CS - Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) is to ensure overlap of data from Jason-3.
- JWST - James Webb Space Telecsope - To examine the first light of the Universe - objects which formed shortly after the Big Bang.
- LISA - Laser Interferomer Space Antenna - To search for gravity waves from black holes.
- Marco Polo - To return to Earth an unaltered sample from a near-Earth asteroid.
- MICROSCOPE - To compare the effects of a gravitational acceleration on bodies of different composition.
- MSG (Meteosat Third Generation) - Dedicated to operational metrology to monitor climate and improve weather forecasting.
- Plato - To discover and characterize a large number of close-by exoplanetary systems.
- RadioAstron - An international project to launch a 10 m radio telescope into a high apogee orbit around the Earth.
- SAFIR - Single Aperture Far Infrared Observatory - Will study the earliest phases of galaxy formation.
- Sentinel-3 - Will be devoted to observing the oceanography of the Earth.
- Solar Orbiter - To produce images of the Sun and the closest in situ measurements.
- Solar Probe - To study the Sun's corona by flying through it.
- Space Technology 7 - Will demonstrate trajectory control and formation-flying position control.
- Spectr-R - Also known as RadioAstron. An international project to launch a 10 m radio telescope into a high apogee orbit around the Earth.
- Spectrum-X-Gamma Coordination facility - An international high-energy astrophysics observatory being built.
- SWOT (Surface Water Ocean Topography) - Will provide sea surface heights (SSH) and terrestrial water heights over 90% of the Earth.
- VENμS - Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite.
- WFIRST (Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope) - Designed to settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
Terrestrial events
- Aurora Page, The - Info, links and images of the 'Northern Lights.'
- Comets (by NASA) - Photos, missions, and other resources about comets.
- Comet Finders Page by SOHO LASCO - Comets found by LASCO (onboard SOHO) and other comet info.
- Earth's Magnetosphere - Explore the Earth's magnetosphere.
- Eclipse home page - New and improved web page for solar and lunar eclipses.
- Green Flashes - See pictures and know when to look for Green Flashes.
- Humans in Space - Links to the latest info on the space shuttle and space station.
- Inconstant Moon - An intro to lunar astronomy and an ongoing reference for experienced observers.
- New England Meteoritical - Everything about meteorites.
- Meteor Showers - Contains predictions, past observations, and other good meteor stuff.
- Meteor Showers Online - Gary Kronk's page. Contains predictions, past observations, and other good meteor stuff.
- Space Race Museum - Mostly about the American side of the space race.
- Stars - Info about stars and constellations, including Star of the Week.
- Sunspots - Information about sunspots.
- Terrestrial Impact Craters - A lot of info on impact craters, including earthly ones.
Weather Resources
Curator: Keith Evans evans AT umbc.edu
Responsible NASA Official: Scott Hull scott.m.hull AT nasa.gov
NASA's policy on web pages
Last updated 03-04-2016.