04 July 2008
WeekEnd SkyWatcher's Forecast: July 4 - 6, 2008
Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! If you're enjoying a holiday weekend where you live, then start the fireworks off as we begin by remembering Deep Impact and journey towards a nearby star approaching the supernova phase. As things heat up towards one of the most spectacular conjunctions of the year, we'll also take a look at [...]
04 July 2008
Giant Jupiter Shines Bright
Three planets are now putting on a show as prominent evening luminaries.
03 July 2008
Natural Hazards: Activity on Mount Etna
Mount Etna released plumes of ash and steam in late June and early July 2008.
03 July 2008
Theory of Relativity Passes Another Test
Einstein's theory of General Relativity has been around for 93 years, and it just keeps hanging in there. With advances in technology has come the ability to put the theory under some scrutiny. Recently, taking advantage of a unique cosmic coincidence, as well as a pretty darn good telescope, astronomers looked at [...]
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03 July 2008
MESSENGER Provides New Insights on Mercury
Data from the MESSENGER spacecraft's first flyby of Mercury in January of 2008 are now turning into science results. Several scientists discussed their findings at a press conference today highlighting the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging mission, the first spacecraft to visit Mercury since NASA's Mariner 10 made three flyby passes [...]
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03 July 2008
International Group Studies Mars Sample Return Mission
Until humans can actually set foot on the Red Planet, the next best thing would be a sample return mission, to bring Martian soil samples back to Earth. A sample return would exponentially increase our knowledge and understanding Mars and its environment. And in order to pull off a mission of this magnitude, [...]
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03 July 2008
Explosive Spacewalk?
Explosive bolts that help detach the Russian Soyuz capsule from the International Space Station may be the source of the problems the spacecraft has encountered during the last two landings. Investigative space journalist and Jim Oberg at MSNBC, who is one of the best experts on the inner workings of the Russian space [...]
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03 July 2008
Volcanoes on Mercury Solve 30-year Mystery
First MESSENGER flyby confirms volcanism, gives data on Mercury's magnetic field.
03 July 2008
Mars Lander's Next Bake Test Could Be Its Last
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander's next whiff of Martian dirt could be its last.
03 July 2008
Adopt a Scientist
A new regular feature highlights research undertaken by SETI scientists.
03 July 2008
Strange Asteroid Shapes Explained
A vast database that shows asteroids are shaped by small impacts over time.
02 July 2008
Next TEGA "Bake" Could Be Last for Phoenix
The "vibrating" done to get the first Mars arctic soil sample into Phoenix's TEGA (Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer) oven may have caused a short circuit that could happen again the next time the oven is used, perhaps with fatal results. A team of engineers and scientists assembled to assess TEGA after a short circuit [...]
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02 July 2008
Where In The Universe Challenge #10
I've been enjoying a few lazy days of summer relaxing by a lake. The weather has been perfect, the lake is clear and warm, the food and drinks plentiful; a perfect vacation. But I finally realized (late in the day) today is Wednesday, and its time for another "Where In The Universe" challenge. [...]
02 July 2008
GLAST Powers Up
The GLAST (Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope) spacecraft blasted off on June 11, 2008, and after acclimating to the cold reaches of space, the instruments on board are now powering up and have sent back signals to Earth indicating that all systems are operational. Meanwhile back on Earth, several bases of operations for [...]
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02 July 2008
Natural Hazards: Fires in Central Canada
Thick smoke poured from fires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in late June 2008.
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