Friday, August 10, 2012
The Perseids are a meteor shower visible when the Earth passes through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet.
With only partly cloudy skies forecast over Centreville, locals should be able to get a good view of the Perseids meteor shower, which is set to peak this weekend. The forecast for Saturday and Sunday nights is for partly cloudy skies with overnight low temperatures around 70 degrees. Late Saturday night will likely be a peak time to watch, with more shooting stars visible after midnight, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. The Perseids are a meteor shower visible when the Earth passes through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet. The meteor shower has been visible for about 2,000 years. The Swift-Tuttle comet orbits once every 133 years, according to NASA. One of the best places to see the Perseids meteor shower in the…
Friday, April 27, 2012
The space shuttle that formerly made its home at the Smithsonian Air & Space's Udvar-Hazy Center left for New York today, a few days later than planned.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, April 27, 2012
Enterprise Makes Its Final Flight by Stevens Miller The glide-test shuttle Enterprise left Loudoun County from Dulles Interational Airport at 9:30 this morning for its new home on the deck of the USS Intrepid in New York. Enterprise was visible as it departed to the north from eastern Loudoun, with much less fanfare than surrounded the arrival of its cousin, Discovery, a few days ago. Discovery will replace Enterprise (originally named Constitution, but renamed to Enterprise by President Gerald Ford after fans of the original TV series Star Trek mounted a letter-writing campaign) on permanent display in the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum. Unlike Discovery, Enterprise never flew in space. Instead, it was used in the 1970s for unpowered …
Friday, April 20, 2012
Patch's full coverage of the arrival of space shuttle Discovery in Chantilly.
"We must count ourselves among the most fortunate people of all times," famed astronaut tells thousands who came to see the space shuttle.
Astronaut John Glenn addressed thousands of people at a ceremony to welcome the space shuttle Discovery to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly on Thursday. In his speech, Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and who at age 77 was the oldest person ever to go up into space, said that Discovery's retirement was premature. Yet Glenn, who was also the third American to travel to space, believes there's still a hopeful future for NASA's last shuttle. "Today, Discovery takes on a new vision. Less dynamic, perhaps, but nonetheless important. It will be on display not only as a testament to the events of our time, but also as an inspiration to future generations," Glenn said. "It will be a symbol for our nation of space flight …
Space shuttle Discovery arrived at the Air and Space Museum's Chantilly site Thursday.
The space shuttle Discovery rolled up nose-to-nose next to the shuttle Enterprise Thursday at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. Enterprise will head to New York City next week, while Discovery has found a permanent home in Chantilly. Former Discovery crew members were on hand to share in the day's festivities, in addition to several prominent speakers. The speakers included NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough, National Air and Space Museum Director Gen. J.R. "Jack" Dailey, former senator and astronaut John Glenn and Chair of Smithsonian Board of Regents France Córdova. Related coverage: Welcome Discovery Festival Events Crowds Greet Discovery With Excitement, …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Thousands were present to witness Discovery's final landing on the back of a Boeing 747.
After decades of missions, almost a year in space and soaring nearly 149 million miles through the heavens, Discovery—NASA's last space shuttle—made its final voyage on the back of a Boeing 747 to Dulles International Airport on Tuesday. Hundreds of people on the roof of a parking garage at Dulles greeted Discovery with cheers of excitement and awe as it soared past an American flag on its first flyover of the metropolitan area. Several small children jumped up and down, waving their arms. A retired Air Force pilot eagerly scanned the horizon with a pair of binoculars, as his daughter perched on a small concrete column to get a better view. Many were well aware that the flight marked the end of an era, such as sixth-grader Lindsay Yentz, …
Please add your photos of the space shuttle's flyover and landing.
Welcome Discovery Festival Event Schedule
Monday, April 16, 2012
The space shuttle Discovery will be flying into Dulles Airport on Tuesday, followed by events welcoming the shuttle to the Udvar-Hazy Center on Thursday, Friday and through the weekend.
TUESDAY - DISCOVERY LANDS • 8 a.m. – The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly will open its parking lot (and the McDonald’s) at 8 a.m. for those who want to watch the shuttle come into Dulles Airport from that location. The Smithsonian Institute says the parking lot will be the best location for watching. Bring a lawn chair and your breakfast. Parking is $15, the museum is free. • 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. – The building will be open for regular hours, until 5:30 p.m. The Engen Observation Tower will be closed to the public. • 10 a.m. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747, will bring Discovery to Dulles International Airport between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The airplane will fly over the Washington D.C. area before landing. The …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the space shuttle fly on a Boeing 747 before it finds a home at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
NASA's famous space shuttle from the 1980s, Discovery, will fly over the metro area on the back of a Boeing 747 on Tuesday, April 17. Local residents can catch a glimpse of the space shuttle orbiter as it travels from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Washington Dulles International Airport. Discovery will fly over the National Mall, Reagan National Airport, National Harbor, and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. DC-area flyovers will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. It will eventually find a permanent home at the Udvar-Hazy Center. In Virginia, a number will be available that passes along reports of the shuttle's whereabouts, 703-572-4100. In Maryland and Washington, D.C. the…
Adam R.
7:14 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
I wouldn't think Cub Run is beyond the light pollution of Centreville/Chantilly. I was planning to take my kids to Catharpin Park along Rt. 234 (off 29S) to see if we could witness a few meteors. Last night was quite overcast, so we bailed, but we might try tonight if the sky is clear. more ›