nasa

WNC students send research balloon 17 miles into sky

While most students across the country have been learning online this fall because of the coronavirus, a group of students at Western Nevada College (WNC) took advantage of an exciting hands-on scientific learning opportunity earlier this month.

Students and science professors gathered at Jack C. Davis Observatory’s parking lot early in the morning and sent a helium-filled balloon nearly 17 miles into the stratosphere to record high-altitude data, then retrieved the balloon’s payload, which included instruments and sensors, in a cow pasture a few towns away in Minden.

Laser measurement of Sierra snowpack from the air being considered in Sacramento

At a price tag of $150 million, the California legislature is considering a bill that, if approved, would change the way the Sierra snowpack is measured each year.

For 90 years the snowpack has been measured at several locations including Phillips, just west of Lake Tahoe. Normally performed in front of media, staff from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) snowshoe into a spot where they stick a pole into the snow to measure the depth and water content of the snow.

Space Talk: 50th Anniversary of the Landing on the Moon @ SLT Library

Event Date: 
July 24, 2019 - 6:00pm

Dr. Cathy Cox will discuss the history leading up to the Apollo 11 flight, and she will share information about the astronauts who first walked on the moon, along with the spacecraft and logistics of this historic flight. In addition, she'll discuss where NASA and other space agencies have gone since. This is sure to be an out-of-this world presentation. Free and open to all.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA
United States

Full speaker lineup at TEDx SouthLakeTahoe 2018

“Building Bridges” is the theme for the 3rd annual TEDx SouthLakeTahoe on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at MontBleu Resort and the speaker lineup is a robust one, including a South Tahoe High student.

Organizers aim to bring unity and positivity during a time that division is too strong a motivation. While each topic discussed will be different, they will intertwine with the theme in the presentations.

Speakers for the evening are:

Mars to shine brighter than it has in more than a decade; Viewing party Saturday

Event Date: 
July 28, 2018 - 8:00pm

If you've looked at the night sky lately you've probably noticed what looks like a very bright (and red) star. It's not a star though, it's Mars, and it's shining brighter than it has in more than a decade.

From July 27 until July 30, it will be Mars Opposition, the time when Mars and the sun are on directly opposite sides of Earth. It will appear Mars is rising in the east just as the sun sets in the west.

Mars will be closer to the Earth than normal during this time.

Those two things are making the Red Planet appear brighter than usual.

Perseid Meteor Shower to peak nights of August 11 and 12

According to NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke, the Perseids are perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year; and this year, they'll be the best shower of the year. This year during peak people should see about 60-70 meteors per hour, but in outburst years (such as in 2016) the rate can be between 150-200 meteors an hour. The meteor shower's peak will be visible both the nights of Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 12-13, Cooke said, but he's inclined this year to lean toward the night of Aug. 12-13 for the better show. (Both, however, should be spectacular.)

Three Latinas and a Navé Cinco de Mayo comedy show on South Shore

Event Date: 
May 5, 2018 - 8:00pm

Howie Nave has spread his comedic wings and has now produced a comedy show, Three Latinas and a Navé (accent on the 'e' that night), which will be unveiled May 5 at Hard Rock Lake Tahoe's Vinyl, starting at 8:00 p.m.

It's a Cinco de Mayo evening of comedy presented by Nave's Bear Tracks Promotions and KRLT 93-9 The Lake with Latina comedians Shayla Rivera, Monique Marvez, Jade Esteban Estrada. Nave will be hosting the show, something fans of comedy will know from his years in a South Lake Tahoe comedy club.

Global warming continues: 2017 second warmest year on record

Earth’s global surface temperatures in 2017 ranked as the second warmest since 1880, according to an analysis released Thursday by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Earth's long term warming trend continued, with the average temperature last year was 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 1951 to 1980 mean. Second only to the prior year, 2016, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

Report: Lake Tahoe is getting warmer, trees are dying and algae is increasing

Climate change has brought major changes to Lake Tahoe including warmer water, an increase in dying trees and a reducing summertime lake clarity.

These and other findings were released today in the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report for 2016. The year was marked by the hottest temperatures on record followed by a winter of unprecedented levels of rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada.

TERC Director Geoffrey Schladow presented the report at a free public talk July 27 in Incline Village.

Robin Mattingly Smith ~ August 14, 1943 - May 7, 2017

Our mother Robin lived her life true to her convictions. She was a strong and resilient woman, who was known for her many stories of Nevada's legends and history. Robin had extensive knowledge of Tahoe gaming and history.

Robin Mattingly made Tahoe her home in the early 1960's, she met and married John Cristando (married from 71/79). Robin started as a cocktail server, then Black Jack dealer. Our mother often recalled meeting many entertainers and stars, including Elvis and NASA astronaut Walter Schirra.

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy talk at SLT Library

Event Date: 
June 3, 2017 - 10:00am

Join the Friends of the Library for an out-of-this-world presentation by Dan Ruby, Director of the Fleischmann Planetarium as he explains the Science Behind SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). This powerpoint presentation will focus on infrared astronomy with some safe sun viewing activities and giveaways too.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. South Lake Tahoe
United States
38° 56' 43.5228" N, 119° 58' 22.2276" W

Perseid meteor shower to put on show in Lake Tahoe/Reno area

Clear skies in western Nevada and the Lake Tahoe basin will provide for some great viewing of the Perseid metero shower this week.

NASA says if you see one meteor shower this year, make it the Perseid meteor shower.

According to the National Weather Service in Reno, the weather forecast during the peak of the shower calls for mostly clear and cool conditions Thursday night into early Friday morning. Low temperatures in the Sierra will be in the mid 30’s to mid 40’s with lows in the 50 to 60 range for the western Nevada.

Letter to the Editor: Why vote for Bernie Sanders

In a representative democracy, the system the United States supposedly has, the policy making is controlled by the representatives elected by the people. The idea behind representative democracy is that people will elect representatives that will serve their best interest. However, in the United States the funding for election campaigns is provided by large corporations, banks, and a handful of wealthy individuals that results in the election of representatives who serve the best interests of the large corporations, banks, and wealthy individuals.

Find out if Curiosity found life on Mars during next TERC talk

Event Date: 
January 28, 2016 - 5:30pm

Is there life on Mars? The Curiosity rover is currently exploring the Gale Crater on Mars and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory team has discovered lake and river deposits that show that ancient Mars was habitable by Earth-like life.

Dr. Dawn Sumner, from UC Davis and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory team, will be speaking in Incline Village at the next UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) talk held on Thursday, January 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Storm from the Pacific to bring snow and rain to Lake Tahoe

A pattern change begins today as the Pacific storm track continues to slip southward. Areas north of the Sacramento region should see some light precipitation Thursday with increasing rain and mountain snow on Friday. By Friday night and Saturday, all of northern California will be shifting into a wetter pattern with rain or mountain snow expected during parts of every day through at least Christmas day next Friday.

In the graphic in this story, South Tahoe Now created a comparison of the last four years on December 16 from NASA images of the snowpack.

Report: Groundwater pumping in California has land sinking

Vast areas of California's Central Valley are sinking faster than in the past as massive amounts of groundwater are pumped during the historic drought, state officials said Wednesday, citing new research by NASA scientists.

The data shows the ground is sinking nearly two inches each month in some places, putting roads, bridges and vital canals that deliver water throughout the state at growing risk of damage.

"Godzilla" El Nino may be on it's way

Experts warn of a Godzilla El Niño this fall.

So, what exactly is a "Godzilla" El Niño?

Actually, it’s just a clever joke by a NASA climatologist: "This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla El Niño," Bill Patzert of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, California, said Thursday.

What's It Look Like?

"Godzilla" El Niño is not a technical or scientific term, but it's a good way to describe the upcoming El Niño event, because it could likely be one of the strongest since record-keeping began in 1950.

2015 State of the Lake report released: A bluer lake is from reduced algae

Scientists have determined that Lake Tahoe’s iconic blueness is most strongly related to algae, not clarity. In a report released today from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, researchers found the lower the algal concentration, the bluer the lake.

In the “Tahoe: State of the Lake Report 2015” report, research shows clarity is controlled by sediment. Blueness is controlled by algal concentration, which in turn is driven by the level of nutrients available to the algae.

Freaky Friday: Solar eclipse, Supermoon, Spring Equinox

First the aurora borealis and now a solar eclipse — what a week for skywatchers! Plus it occurs Friday (the first day of spring) and the same day as a Supermoon. Some people will have the chance to experience a solar eclipse, supermoon and spring equinox all in one day!

Community invited to South Lake Tahoe conference on climate change

Event Date: 
January 8, 2015 - 7:45am

Television meteorologists will gather on the south shore once again during Operation Sierra Storm.

Dr. James Hansen, former Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, will be the keynote speaker at a January 8 session that is open to the public.

NASA Scientist uses Lake Tahoe as a measurement of the earth's temperature

Event Date: 
November 13, 2014 - 5:30pm

Dr. Simon Hook from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be in Lake Tahoe on November 13 to discuss his work at the lake and around the Earth using satellite measurements of the surface temperature.

Kids Looking for Things to do This Summer? How About STAR Camp?

The City of South Lake Tahoe Community Services department started their STAR (South Tahoe Adventure Recreation) camps this week. Youth and teens ages 6 to 16 can use this summer to explore Lake Tahoe by enjoying field trips, swimming, going to the beach and many other activities, all in a safe and fun environment.

Star Tour USA 2014: Promoting Scientific Literacy from Coast to Coast, SLT Library

Event Date: 
May 6, 2014 - 6:00pm

The Friends of the SLT Library present "Astronomy for Everyone: Size & Scale of the Universe", an exciting family program for all ages about the universe, from the very small to the very large. This program will be help on May 6 at 6 pm at the SLT Library on Rufus Allen Blvd.

With an out of this world slide presentation followed by a question and answer sessions for inquiring minds.

Location

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA
United States

Meteorite that exploded over Sierra triggers international scientific Gold Rush

A meteorite that exploded as a fireball over California’s Sierra Nevada foothills April 22 and heard throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin was among the fastest, rarest meteorites known to have hit the Earth, and it traveled a highly eccentric orbital route to get here.

An international team of scientists presents these and other findings in a study published Friday, Dec. 21, in the journal Science. The 70-member team included nine researchers from UC Davis, along with scientists from the SETI Institute, NASA and other institutions.

NASA aims to send another rover to Mars in 2020

LOS ANGELES - NASA is headed to Mars - again.The space agency said Tuesday it plans to launch another mega-rover to Mars in 2020 that will be modeled after the wildly popular Curiosity. To keep cos...

UC Davis professor to speak about meteorite that broke over the Sierra in April

Event Date: 
November 1, 2012 - 6:00pm

The minivan-sized meteorite that broke up over the Sierra on Sunday, April 22, 2012 was not just any old space rock.

STHS grad receives honor from NASA

Touchdown: NASA rover Curiosity lands on Mars

PASADENA, Calif. - The robotic explorer Curiosity's daring plunge through the pink skies of Mars was more than perfect. It landed with spectacular style, said a NASA scientist, describing the fi...

Sally Ride, First American Woman In Space, Dies of Pancreatic Cancer

In a space agency filled with trailblazers, Sally K. Ride was a pioneer of a different sort. The soft-spoken California physicist broke the gender barrier 29 years ago when she rode to orbit aboard space shuttle Challenger to become America’s first woman in space.

Ride, 61, died in La Jolla, Calif. after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, NASA reports on Monday.

Possible Northern Lights Early Saturday Morning for Northern California

Thursday's X-Class solar flare could bring Northern Lights to Northern California, according to the National Weather Service in Eureka.
All eyes are on the solar wind data to note the expected passage on Saturday of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from Thursday's solar event. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) expects G1 (minor) with the chance of attaining G2 (moderate) Geomagnetic Storm activity after 6 a.m. California time on Saturday, July 14.

Check this Out: Multiple Venus Transit dimensions presented by NASA

On June 5 2012, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, also known as SDO, collected images of the rarest predictable solar event — the transit of Venus across the face of the sun. This event happens in pairs eight years apart that are separated from each other by 105 or 121 years. The last transit was in 2004 and the next will not happen until 2117.

Latest from NASA as Venus continues transit

On Tuesday Venus will pass across the face of the sun, producing a silhouette that no one alive today will likely see again. See the latest Youtube clip from NASA's SOHO spacecraft below.

Transits of Venus are very rare, coming in pairs separated by more than a hundred years. This June's transit, the bookend of a 2004-2012 pair, won't be repeated until the year 2117. Fortunately, the event is widely visible. Observers on seven continents, even a sliver of Antarctica, will be in position to see it.

Lake Tahoe provides ideal place for Sunday solar eclipse

A solar eclipse will occur over the western United States today during the late afternoon and early evening with Lake Tahoe being a good location for careful viewing. This event will begin as a partial eclipse around 5:15 p.m., then peak as an annular eclipse around 6:30 p.m. for less than five minutes in all gray shaded areas on the map, and finally return to a partial eclipse which will end around 7:30 p.m.

NASA scientists looking for meteor remnants in El Dorado County

Rapid Sierra Nevada uplift tracked by UNR scientists

From the highest peak in the continental United States, Mt. Whitney at 14,000 feet in elevation, to the 10,000-foot-peaks near Lake Tahoe, scientific evidence from the University of Nevada, Reno shows the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range is rising at the relatively fast rate of 1 to 2 millimeters every year.

Fireball Over California/Nevada: How Big Was It?

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology weighs in on Sunday's loud boom heard and fireball seen from California's Central Valley to Lake Tahoe to Las Vegas:

UNR technology used for NASA quake monitoring test

GPS technology developed and implemented at the University of Nevada, Reno will be the centerpiece of a major test this year by NASA to pinpoint the location and magnitude of strong earthquakes along the West Coast of the United States. The project was announced by NASA today.

2011 Lake in The Sky Air Show

The 22nd annual Lake in the Sky Air Show, considered the biggest and best air show in the high Sierra is on Saturday, Aug. 27 beginning at 8 a.m. and runs throughout the day.
You won’t want to miss the spectacular opening ceremonies Warbird ‘fly bys!’ And then get up close to several vintage Warbirds and military static display aircraft, including the Air Forces C-17 Globemaster, and the #1 rated fighter plane of WWII - the legendary P-51 Mustang. Plus many more Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corp aircraft on display.

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