Rocket Launch May be Visible From Ellicott City Wednesday (Update)

The flight from a launchpad on the Virginia coast is a test run for a system that could eventually resupply the International Space Station.

Update 5:15 p.m. The launch was "scrubbed" at T minus 12 seconds according to Orbital Science's Twitter feed. "The umbilical on the second stage was the issues that caused the #Antares launch delay. More info as soon as we can evaluate available data," Orbital Science tweeted at about 5 p.m. Original article: The test run of a space capsule system that will ultimately resupply the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled to launch from the Virginia coastline on Wednesday. If weather conditions are favorable, the craft may be visible from Ellicott City as it ascends into orbit. The Antares rocket, developed by Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation, is expected to launch at 5:00 p.m., though the launch window extends until 8:00 p…

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NASA Finds Holiday Ornament Nebula

Planetary nebula called NGC 5189 that looks a lot like a glass-blown holiday ornament.

Do they celebrate the holidays in space? Looks like they might. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a nearby planetary nebula called NGC 5189 that looks a lot like a glass-blown holiday ornament with a glowing ribbon entwined.  

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Perseid Meteor Shower 2012 to Light Up the Sky

This weekend's biggest show is in the sky.

Earlier this week, the big news was on Mars as the world watched the Curiosity Mars rover speed through that planet’s thin atmosphere at 13,000 mph, before being lowered down to Red Planet's surface. This weekend, the show is in our very own sky. The Perseid Meteor Shower 2012 hits its stride this weekend, late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. And what stride it will be: according to NASA, expect up to 100 meteors per hour. As an extra bonus, a waning crescent moon means that moonlight won’t completely overwhelm the meteors as they shoot across the sky. Where do you plan to go to watch the Perseids? Let us know in the comments. Like all meteor showers, the Perseid shower is named after the constellation that the meteors appear to …

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Whiz Kid

Whiz Kid: Eleni Paraskevopoulos

Eleni is taking a giant leap into the world of science.

Name: Eleni Paraskevopoulos School/Grade: St. Louis School/Sixth grade Key to Awesomeness: This is really awesome. Eleni has been accepted into NASA -- the NASA SISTER program. SISTER stands for Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research), and the program is a way to introduce middle school girls to learn about careers in science engineering and math.  Eleni's smarts won her the opportunity to meet research scientists and engineers and pick their brains about their jobs this summer. Congratulations to Eleni from Patch and her classmates and teachers at St. Louis School!

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Going Green

Observations From Space: NASA Climate Change Forum Focuses on Education

NASA scientists will lead community and student forums at Howard Community College.

Most of us are interested in climate change to some extent – whether we are affected by weird weather or politics. At the same time, a lot of us don’t know much about the concepts of climate change, and the real science that explains it. Almost all data on climate change comes from NASA satellites, which is one reasons that retired NASA scientist Ernest Hilsenrath and his colleagues at Climate Change Initiative of Howard County (CCIHC) have teamed with Howard Community College (HCC) to offer a two part forum titled “Observations from Space … Earth & Climate Change.”  The event will focus on looking at and explaining the science behind global warming and climate change, and aims to be an educational event, rather than a political one. NASA …

Grab and Go Learn About Ellicott City's History

Looking for something to do with the kiddos this weekend? Here are some suggestions from in and around Ellicott City.

HOWARD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM TOURS Where/When: Historical Society Museum at 8328 Court Ave. in Ellicott City on Saturday, May 14, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Why Go: This tour is held every week on Tuesdays and Saturdays and is a great way to spend some time educating your children about their community's history. Pricing: Donations welcome SCHOOL'S OUT PROGRAM Where/When: Columbia Art Center on Friday, May 13, at 7:30 a.m. (The program begins at 9 a.m., and drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.) Why Go: It's a day off for Howard County Public School students, so if your kids are looking for something fun to do, look no further than the art center. They can enjoy a day full of art and a yummy afternoon snack. Pricing: Full day (7:30 a.m. to 5:…