From Science Daily

• Habitable Zone Planet Finder enables discovery of planets around cool stars
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 09:50:54 EST)
  
  A new astronomical spectrograph provides the highest precision measurements to date of infrared signals from nearby stars, allowing astronomers to detect planets capable of having liquid water on their surfaces that orbit cool stars outside our solar system.
  
  
• Ingredients for water could be made on surface of moon, a chemical factory
  (Wed, 20 Feb 2019 12:19:32 EST)
  
  When a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind careens onto the moon's surface at 450 kilometers per second (or nearly 1 million miles per hour), they enrich the moon's surface in ingredients that could make water, scientists have found.
  
  
• Solar tadpole-like jets seen with NASA'S IRIS add new clue to age-old mystery
  (Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:52:04 EST)
  
  Scientists have discovered tadpole-shaped jets coming out of the Sun that may help explain why the corona (the wispy upper atmosphere of our star) is so inexplicably hot.
  
  
• LOFAR radio telescope reveals secrets of solar storms
  (Tue, 19 Feb 2019 13:29:05 EST)
  
  The team of scientist showed that solar storms can accelerate particles simultaneously in several locations by combining data from the Low Frequency Array, LOFAR, with images from NASA, NOAA and ESA spacecraft.
  
  
• 'Astrocomb' opens new horizons for planet-hunting telescope
  (Tue, 19 Feb 2019 13:27:38 EST)
  
  The hunt for Earth-like planets, and perhaps extraterrestrial life, just got more precise, thanks to record-setting starlight measurements made possible by the 'astrocomb.'
  
  
• Citizen scientist finds ancient white dwarf star encircled by puzzling rings
  (Tue, 19 Feb 2019 13:27:36 EST)
  
  The oldest and coldest known white dwarf -- an Earth-sized remnant of a sun-like star that has died -- could be the first known white dwarf with multiple dust rings. The discovery forces researchers to reconsider models of planetary systems.
  
  
• Weak spots for Mission to Mars revealed
  (Sun, 17 Feb 2019 11:58:54 EST)
  
  Researchers are developing a predictive model to help NASA anticipate conflicts and communication breakdowns among crew members and head off problems that could make or break the Mission to Mars.
  
  
• Tidal tails: The beginning of the end of an open star cluster
  (Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:03:00 EST)
  
  In the course of their life, open star clusters continuously lose stars to their surroundings. The resulting swath of tidal tails provides a glimpse into the evolution and dissolution of a star cluster. Thus far only tidal tails of massive globular clusters and dwarf galaxies have been discovered in the Milky Way system. In open clusters, this phenomenon existed only in theory. Researchers have now finally verified the existence of such a tidal tail in the star cluster closest to the Sun, the Hyades. An analysis of measurements from the Gaia satellite led to the discovery.
  
  
• A nearby river of stars
  (Fri, 15 Feb 2019 09:29:08 EST)
  
  Astronomers have found a river of stars, a stellar stream in astronomical parlance, covering most of the southern sky. The stream is relatively nearby and contains at least 4000 stars that have been moving together in space since they formed, about 1 billion years ago.
  
  
• Carbonaceous chondrites provide clues about the delivery of water to Earth
  (Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:56:16 EST)
  
  Researchers have discovered that carbonaceous chondrites, a class of meteorites, incorporated hydrated minerals along with organic material from the protoplanetary disk before the formation of planets.
  
  
• Philosophy: What exactly is a black hole?
  (Thu, 14 Feb 2019 11:55:46 EST)
  
  What is a black hole? A philosopher shows that physicists use different definitions of the concept, depending on their own particular fields of interest.
  
  
• Spacecraft measurements reveal mechanism of solar wind heating
  (Thu, 14 Feb 2019 08:46:58 EST)
  
  A new study describes the first direct measurement of how energy is transferred from the chaotic electromagnetic fields in space to the particles that make up the solar wind, leading to the heating of interplanetary space.
  
  

From Sky & Telescope

• Meet Hippocamp, Neptune’s Smallest Moon
  (Wed, 20 Feb 2019 18:05:05 +0000)
  
  Although first recorded by Hubble in 2004, subsequent imagery shows that this tiny, innermost moon of Neptune likely had had a violent history. The post Meet Hippocamp, Neptune’s Smallest Moon appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• NASA to Explore Early Universe, Origins of Life with SPHEREX
  (Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:33:06 +0000)
  
  The SPHEREX mission will create multiple surveys of the near-infrared sky that will reveal the origins of life and perhaps the universe itself. The post NASA to Explore Early Universe, Origins of Life with SPHEREX appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• Dwarf Galaxy or Giant Globular Cluster?
  (Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:00:40 +0000)
  
  AAS Nova brings us the story of a newly discovered cluster of stars. But the jury's out as to whether this group is a typical ancient stellar cluster or something more. The post Dwarf Galaxy or Giant Globular Cluster? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• Listen Up: Get Gravitational-wave Alerts
  (Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:58:32 +0000)
  
  The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) will soon begin a new round of observations. Now you can find out about the discoveries as they happen. The post Listen Up: Get Gravitational-wave Alerts appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• Opportunity Reaches the End of Its Long Road
  (Wed, 13 Feb 2019 20:16:31 +0000)
  
  Despite months of listening, NASA has failed to pick up any signals from the stalwart Opportunity rover. The post Opportunity Reaches the End of Its Long Road appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• Will Sirius Disappear on February 18th?
  (Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:45:42 +0000)
  
  On Monday night, February 18th, observers in the western U.S. and Mexico may see the occultation of a lifetime when a tiny asteroid momentarily blots out the night sky's brightest star. The post Will Sirius Disappear on February 18th? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• New Study Pushes Back Milky Way’s Dust-up with Andromeda
  (Tue, 12 Feb 2019 21:15:36 +0000)
  
  By tracing stars in other galaxies, the Gaia satellite has helped astronomers understand the relative motions of the Milky Way's galactic siblings. The post New Study Pushes Back Milky Way’s Dust-up with Andromeda appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• New Astro Camera Spots Thousands of Celestial Flare-ups
  (Sat, 09 Feb 2019 01:26:57 +0000)
  
  A vision from 70 years ago, the Zwicky Transient Facility has produced a wave of discoveries — but it’s only a hint of what’s to come. The post New Astro Camera Spots Thousands of Celestial Flare-ups appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• Hubble Sets Its Sights on the Ice Giants
  (Fri, 08 Feb 2019 02:34:13 +0000)
  
  New Hubble Space Telescope images reveal an expanded polar cap on Uranus and another mysterious dark vortex on Neptune. The post Hubble Sets Its Sights on the Ice Giants appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  
• Comet Iwamoto Ascends and Brightens
  (Wed, 06 Feb 2019 18:27:02 +0000)
  
  Comet Iwamoto is visible as a binocular target from a dark sky. Follow it this week as it passes from Virgo into Leo. The post Comet Iwamoto Ascends and Brightens appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  
  

GDACS - Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

• Green earthquake alert (Magnitude 5.5M, Depth:41.2km) in Japan 21/02/2019 12:22 UTC, 3410000 people within 100km.
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:22:41 GMT)
  
  On 2/21/2019 12:22:41 PM, an earthquake occurred in Japan potentially affecting 3410000 people within 100km. The earthquake had Magnitude 5.5M, Depth:41.2km.
  
  
• Green earthquake alert (Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:616.55km) in Fiji 21/02/2019 06:34 UTC, About 900 people within 100km.
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 06:34:39 GMT)
  
  On 2/21/2019 6:34:39 AM, an earthquake occurred in Fiji potentially affecting About 900 people within 100km. The earthquake had Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:616.55km.
  
  
• Green earthquake alert (Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:36.43km) in Indonesia 20/02/2019 00:10 UTC, No people within 100km.
  (Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:10:39 GMT)
  
  On 2/20/2019 12:10:39 AM, an earthquake occurred in Indonesia potentially affecting No people within 100km. The earthquake had Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:36.43km.
  
  
• Green alert for tropical cyclone WUTIP-19. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0.
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:00:00 GMT)
  
  From 19/02/2019 to 21/02/2019, a Hurricane/Typhoon > 74 mph (maximum wind speed of 194 km/h) WUTIP-19 was active in NWPacific. The cyclone affects these countries: Guam (vulnerability Medium). Estimated population affected by category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0.
  
  
• Green earthquake alert (Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:21.6km) in Indonesia 18/02/2019 19:30 UTC, No people within 100km.
  (Mon, 18 Feb 2019 19:30:22 GMT)
  
  On 2/18/2019 7:30:22 PM, an earthquake occurred in Indonesia potentially affecting No people within 100km. The earthquake had Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:21.6km.
  
  
• Green earthquake alert (Magnitude 6.4M, Depth:367.93km) in Papua New Guinea 17/02/2019 14:35 UTC, 120000 people within 100km.
  (Sun, 17 Feb 2019 14:35:56 GMT)
  
  On 2/17/2019 2:35:56 PM, an earthquake occurred in Papua New Guinea potentially affecting 120000 people within 100km. The earthquake had Magnitude 6.4M, Depth:367.93km.
  
  
• Green alert for tropical cyclone OMA-19. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0.
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:00:00 GMT)
  
  From 12/02/2019 to 21/02/2019, a Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 139 km/h) OMA-19 was active in SWPacific. The cyclone affects these countries: New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands (vulnerability High). Estimated population affected by category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0.
  
  
• Green flood alert in Peru
  (Fri, 22 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT)
  
  On 07/02/2019, a flood started in Peru, lasting until 22/02/2019 (last update). The flood caused 10 killed and 0 displaced .
  
  
• Drought is on going in Colombia, Venezuela
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:57:00 GMT)
  
  The Drought alert level is Green.
  
  
• Drought is on going in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:57:00 GMT)
  
  The Drought alert level is Green.
  
  
• Drought is on going in Australia
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:57:00 GMT)
  
  The Drought alert level is Orange.
  
  
• Drought is on going in Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela
  (Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:57:00 GMT)
  
  The Drought alert level is Green.