On this day in 2016, sister Voyager 1 turned off her Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS), saving 2.5 W.

The UVS determined the scattering properties of lower planetary atmospheres, the distribution of constituents w height (including the hydrogen corona), observed airglow & auroras, and to looked at rings in the UV.

The UVS was one of the few differences between V1 & V2: the gratings used to scatter light were slightly different between the two spacecraft. The V1 grating covered 53.5 to 170.2 nm, while V2's grating covered 51.3 to 168.0 nm.

Two very different modes were used for this instrument: one while looking directly at an object (emission lines), and an occultation mode while the Sun was passing through/behind the object (absorption lines). The occultation mode allowed data collection through increasing depths of the occulting body's atmosphere. To avoid having all the instruments on the arm pointed at the Sun, an offset mirror was used for the UVS in this mode.

The Long Wispy Tail of Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)
Image Credit & Copyright: Haythem Hamdi

Explanation: Why does Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) have a wispy tail? The newest bright member of the inner Solar System, Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is already extending an impressive stream of glowing gas. This tail starts from an unseen central nucleus of dirty ice that is likely a few kilometers across. The nucleus is warmed by the Sun and emits a cloud of neutral gas into a coma that glows light green. Nuclear gas ionized by energetic sunlight is pushed away from the Sun by the solar wind into an ion tail that glows light blue. The wispy nature of the ion tail is caused by the constantly changing structure of the solar wind. Pictured from Rhode Island, USA two days ago, Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) shows off a many-degree ion tail. Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) is best seen before dawn from northern skies for another 10 days, after which it will be best visible from southern skies.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260414.html #apod

Yes, we should all celebrate Orban leaving office. It is a victory in the fight against autocrats - where Orban was a weird ally of the US AND Russia AND China.

But: This has come at a huge cost for any progressive movements in Hungary. Parliament is now run EXCLUSIVELY by right-wing, anti-migration parties. Leftists voted for Magyar to get rid of Orban.

Magyar will be an easier partner for EU institutions (also increasingly anti-migration). He is no ally for the left.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9vg782kx7o