Quadrantids Create Year's First Meteor Shower
A little-known meteor shower named after an extinct constellation, the Quadrantids will present an excellent chance for hardy souls to start the year off with some meteor watching.
Peaking in the wee morning hours of Jan. 3, the Quadrantids have a maximum rate of about 80 per hour, varying between 60-200.
Study Seeks Why Astronauts Grow Taller in Space
Did you ever wish you could be just a teensy bit taller? Well, if you spend a few months in space, you could get your wish -- temporarily. It is a commonly known fact that astronauts living aboard the International Space Station grow up to 3 percent taller while living in microgravity. They return to their normal height when back on Earth. Studying the impact of this change on the spine and advancing medical imaging technologies are the goals of the Spinal Ultrasound investigation.
Space Station Crew Ringing in New Year
The six Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station are seeing out the old year and ringing in the new one as they orbit 260 miles above the Earth.
Because the station travels around the Earth every hour and a half, the station’s crew will have ample opportunity to celebrate the arrival of 2013 all day long.
Video: Crew Sends New Year's GreetingsWhat's Next for NASA: 2013
In 2013, NASA will push ahead with an ambitious exploration program, continuing crew flights and commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station, and advancing the systems needed to send humans deeper into space. We'll be launching a new mission to Mars, learning about our own planet, understanding our place in the universe, and developing technologies that benefit us right here on Earth.
New Rover-Themed Badge on Foursquare
NASA and the mobile application Foursquare have teamed up to help you unlock your scientific curiosity with a new rover-themed Curiosity Explorer badge.
Users of the Foursquare social media platform can earn the badge by liking NASA on Foursquare and checking in at a NASA visitor center or venue categorized as a science museum or planetarium.
