Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Huygens probe course 'looks good'
The Huygens probe appears to be on the right course after being unleashed on its journey to Saturn's largest moon Titan, says the US space agency (Nasa).
The Cassini orbiter snapped images of the 2.7m-wide robotic lab as it moved away from its mothership.
Information from the images is helping engineers understand its trajectory, and so far, say Nasa officials, it appears to be right on the mark.
The countdown is on for January 14th when Huygens will be descending onto Titan. So far, it looks like the probe is on target for the landing on the 14th.
From BBC Online.
The Cassini orbiter snapped images of the 2.7m-wide robotic lab as it moved away from its mothership.
Information from the images is helping engineers understand its trajectory, and so far, say Nasa officials, it appears to be right on the mark.
The countdown is on for January 14th when Huygens will be descending onto Titan. So far, it looks like the probe is on target for the landing on the 14th.
From BBC Online.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Spirit claims Mars water prize
Robot Mars rover Spirit has so far been eclipsed in its mission by its "twin" Opportunity, which found rich evidence of a wet history at its landing site.
But now Spirit has found compelling evidence that liquid water also flowed at Gusev Crater, the rocky basin it is exploring on the Red Planet.
Spirit has discovered a mineral called goethite in the bedrock at Gusev which forms only in the presence of water.
So, the rovers are now 2 for 2 in discovering that water was once on Mars. Also in the article you can see frost on Opportunity's controls.
From BBC Online.
But now Spirit has found compelling evidence that liquid water also flowed at Gusev Crater, the rocky basin it is exploring on the Red Planet.
Spirit has discovered a mineral called goethite in the bedrock at Gusev which forms only in the presence of water.
So, the rovers are now 2 for 2 in discovering that water was once on Mars. Also in the article you can see frost on Opportunity's controls.
From BBC Online.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Hubble Robotic Repair Mission Too Costly
An exhaustive study of NASA's options for repairing the Hubble Space Telescope suggests the currently planned robotic mission may cost too much money and might not be ready to fly before the vaunted observatory breaks down.
The Aerospace Corp., commissioned to study all the possibilities for NASA, has told the National Academy of Sciences that the most sure-fire way to conduct the next Hubble servicing mission is the method successful four times before -- a shuttle carrying an astronaut repair crew.
Also, the summary of the report says, it might make more financial sense to fly a "de-orbit" module to drive Hubble into the ocean and install the upgraded instruments on a new telescope.
After all of the discoveries that the Hubble has given us, it is sad to think that it will not be repaired.
From Space.com.
The Aerospace Corp., commissioned to study all the possibilities for NASA, has told the National Academy of Sciences that the most sure-fire way to conduct the next Hubble servicing mission is the method successful four times before -- a shuttle carrying an astronaut repair crew.
Also, the summary of the report says, it might make more financial sense to fly a "de-orbit" module to drive Hubble into the ocean and install the upgraded instruments on a new telescope.
After all of the discoveries that the Hubble has given us, it is sad to think that it will not be repaired.
From Space.com.
New Comet Now Visible to Naked Eye
A comet discovered earlier this year has now moved close enough to be visible without binoculars or telescopes by experienced observers under dark skies. It is expected to put on a modest show this month and into January.
Comet Machholz will be at its closest to Earth Jan. 5-6, 2005, when it will be 32 million miles (51 million kilometers) away.
People with dark rural skies and a good map should be able to find it on Moon-free nights now into January.
I have the perfect place to go and view this comet, and I hope everyone else does also.
From Space.com.
Comet Machholz will be at its closest to Earth Jan. 5-6, 2005, when it will be 32 million miles (51 million kilometers) away.
People with dark rural skies and a good map should be able to find it on Moon-free nights now into January.
I have the perfect place to go and view this comet, and I hope everyone else does also.
From Space.com.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
The big gnus I was talking about
I know some people have already heard this, but some have not. So, Katy and I have bought a gnu haus. We don't close on it until May which is perfect as it is after the wedding. And the reason we don't close until then is that it is new construction.
It is fun to go over to the construction site every week to check on the progress. This past week they wired the cable, phone, and electrical so now I need to go in and wire for speaker and ethernet. I think our current biggest concern is how to perfectly position the tv/speakers/components.
This isnt the perfect place that we were dreaming of, but being gnu construction and in a great part of town it was hard to resist. Plus we are thinking of this as more of an investment than as where we are going to live for the next 10+ years. And it seems that our investment is already paying off as the builder has raised the price of other units in the development 2x and has said that he is going to raise it once more before all are sold.
Here is a view of the floorplan of our gnu townhaus.
It is fun to go over to the construction site every week to check on the progress. This past week they wired the cable, phone, and electrical so now I need to go in and wire for speaker and ethernet. I think our current biggest concern is how to perfectly position the tv/speakers/components.
This isnt the perfect place that we were dreaming of, but being gnu construction and in a great part of town it was hard to resist. Plus we are thinking of this as more of an investment than as where we are going to live for the next 10+ years. And it seems that our investment is already paying off as the builder has raised the price of other units in the development 2x and has said that he is going to raise it once more before all are sold.
Here is a view of the floorplan of our gnu townhaus.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
King Tut treasures return
The treasures of King Tut will go on display in this country for the first time in a quarter century in an exhibit featuring the ancient ruler's gold crown, carved dagger and a massive gold and cloisonne necklace.
"Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaoh" will include about 130 of the 5,000 Egyptian artifacts found in King Tut's tomb. The last time a similar exhibit toured the country, in 1976-1979, 55 items were displayed.
Unfortunately I missed the last exhibit 25 years ago, but this time I am definately going to see it. I would encourage everyone else to make the trip to view this exhibit also.
From Saukvalley.com.
"Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaoh" will include about 130 of the 5,000 Egyptian artifacts found in King Tut's tomb. The last time a similar exhibit toured the country, in 1976-1979, 55 items were displayed.
Unfortunately I missed the last exhibit 25 years ago, but this time I am definately going to see it. I would encourage everyone else to make the trip to view this exhibit also.
From Saukvalley.com.
Gallic war treasure discovered in southern France
French archaeologists said this week they had discovered an exceptional Gallic war treasure in the south of the country, including rare war trumpets and ornate helmets.
The some 470 objects, or fragments of objects, were found at the end of September during a dig at Naves, in the department of Correze in southern France, in a ditch hollowed out of a Gallic-Roman temple, they said.
"The exceptional character of this discovery lies mainly in the presence of five almost complete carnyx," Christophe Maniquet, an archeologist at Inrap, France's national institute for Archeological studies, said.
This is an extraordinary discovery considering this is the first time Celtic war instruments have been discovered complete instead of in fragments.
From Yahoo - Science AFP.
The some 470 objects, or fragments of objects, were found at the end of September during a dig at Naves, in the department of Correze in southern France, in a ditch hollowed out of a Gallic-Roman temple, they said.
"The exceptional character of this discovery lies mainly in the presence of five almost complete carnyx," Christophe Maniquet, an archeologist at Inrap, France's national institute for Archeological studies, said.
This is an extraordinary discovery considering this is the first time Celtic war instruments have been discovered complete instead of in fragments.
From Yahoo - Science AFP.
