NASA News - NASA Hosts Global Viewing Events for Rare Astronomical Reunion

WASHINGTON -- NASA Television will air a live program starting at 5:30
p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 5, showcasing the celestial phenomenon of the
planet Venus trekking across the face of the sun. The rare event,
known as the Venus Transit, will not occur again until 2117.

The transit occurs when Venus passes directly between Earth and the
sun. Viewers will see Venus as a small dot gliding slowly across our
nearest star. Historically, viewed by luminaries like Galileo
Galilei, Captain James Cook and even Benjamin Franklin, this rare
alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system.

There have been 53 transits since 2000 B.C. The last time the event
occurred was on June 8, 2004, watched by millions worldwide. This
year, observers on seven continents and a small portion of Antarctica
will be in position to see it.

NASA TV coverage will include updates from NASA centers across the
country and locations from some of the 148 countries hosting viewing
activities. Images taken of the transit from the International Space
Station and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Solar Dynamics
Observatory also will be aired with scientists sharing their
perspectives and the historical significance of the event.

NASA EDGE, a behind-the-scenes, informative webcast, will air the
transit live from Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This location offers the best
viewing position of the entire transit.

For more information about the worldwide events, safety precautions
for viewing, educational content and social media activities, visit:

http://venustransit.nasa.gov

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

The public can follow the event on Twitter on #venustransit and
download a free phone App at:

http://venustransit.nasa.gov/2012/multimedia/apps.php

---

"What Is NASA, Alex?" New Trebek Video Promotes NASA In Your Life

WASHINGTON -- The king of quiz shows, Alex Trebek, is helping answer
the question, "How does NASA affect our daily lives?" The host of the
long-running syndicated program "Jeopardy" is featured in a new
public service announcement released Wednesday.

In the video, Trebek points out that much of the technologies we rely
on in our daily lives come from those developed by NASA for space
exploration. The video will air on NASA Television and the agency's website.

The new video was announced by NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck
during a NASA-Cleveland "Adopt a City" manufacturing initiative event
in Cleveland.

"It's an honor to add Alex Trebek to our list of space technology
spinoff supporters. As NASA partners today with small manufacturers
in Ohio to solve tough technical problems with their products,
there's potential for NASA technology to help improve everything from
better household fans to stronger ceramics for dentistry," said Peck.
"NASA technologies work for us here on Earth, solving everyday
problems -- saving lives, creating jobs and making our lives better."

At the event, NASA, the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the
Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) also announced nine
small and medium-sized Ohio manufacturers that will receive NASA
assistance to solve technical problems with new or existing products.

NASA is committed to providing 400 hours of technical assistance from
its science and engineering work force to offer potential solutions
to the selected companies for specific technical challenges they are
facing with a new or existing product. In addition to access to NASA
experts, the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are making
$450,000 in low interest rate loans available to the companies to
help with costs associated with participation in the program.

This initiative is part of the White House's Office of Science and
Technology Policy "Strong Cities, Strong Communities" effort with
this partnership developed as a local "Adopt a City" program.

With the new video, Trebek joins the ranks of celebrities such as
musicians Will.i.am and Norah Jones, and comedian Stephen Colbert who
have recently partnered with the agency to tell audiences how
NASA-related technology, or spinoffs, benefit life today on Earth.

To view the Trebek video and other public service announcements, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/psa

For hundreds of examples of NASA spinoff technologies and innovations
adapted for use in our everyday lives, visit:

http://spinoff.nasa.gov

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source:

---