While the capsule Orion sails through space bound for the Moon, an astronomer from La Plata managed to capture a historical document from our city. It is about Cecilia Scaliaastronomer of the National University of La Plata (UNLP) and Secretary of Extension of the Faculty of Astronomical and Geophysical Sciences, who recorded the passage of the NASA mission from the patio of her house.
A precision record from the backyard
Using your personal telescope and supported by the ephemeris system Horizons from NASA for the exact location, the astronomer managed to spot the ship last April 3 at 02:28 in the morning.
«I was able to capture his journey among the stars»the specialist shared through her dissemination account @AstroChica.lpwhere science usually brings science to the community. The visual record shows the Orion capsule on its way to the natural satellite, a milestone that Scalia describes as a direct connection between the sky of La Plata and the forefront of space exploration.
Artemis II mission details
The mission, which took off on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center, represents the return of a human crew to lunar orbit after more than five decades.
- Current status: The ship has already passed half of the journey to the Moon.
- The goal: Carry out a manned lunar flyby to test the Orion spacecraft’s systems before the next lunar landing.
- Scientific contribution: The four astronauts on board conduct direct observations of the lunar surface to collect critical geological data.
The UNLP at the forefront of space
This personal achievement of Scalia adds to the leading role that the National University of La Plata on the mission. It should be noted that the UNLP has made key contributions in the technological development of components that travel in this program, reaffirming the positioning of the city as a scientific hub of international relevance.
This astronomer’s feat is not only a technical achievement, but a reminder that, with the right knowledge, the great milestones of humanity can be observed from a window in the heart of The Silver.
To closely follow updates on this and other astronomical phenomena from a local perspective, you can visit Cecilia Scalia’s profile @astrochica.lp, reference for university extension in our city.
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