Blog

Curiosity Spends One Year on Mars

Wednesday, June 25th 2014 05:48 AM

NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover completes a martian year — 687 Earth days — today, having accomplished the mission’s main goal of determining whether Mars once offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.One of Curiosity’s first major findings after landing on the Red Planet in August 2012 was an ancient riverbed at its landing site. Nearby, at an area known as Yellowknife Bay, the mission met its main goal of determining whether Gale Crater ever was habitable for simple life-forms. The answer, a historic “yes,” came from two mudstone slabs that the rover sampled with its drill. Analysis of these samples revealed that the site was once a lakebed with mild water, the essential elemental ingredients for life, and a type of chemical energy source used by some microbes on Earth. If Mars had living organisms, this would have been a good home for them.Other important findings during the first martian year include:— Assessing nat...

Read More

History of Astronomy: Cosmic Radiation

Wednesday, June 25th 2014 01:35 AM

The term "Cosmic Rays" refers to elementary particles, nuclei, and electro-magnetic radiation of extra-terrestrial origin. These may include exotic, short-lived particles such as muons, pi-mesons or lambda baryons.  In the energy range of 1012-1015 eV (electron-volts*), cosmic rays arriving at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere have been measured to consist of approximately:  50% protons 25% alpha particles 13% C/N/O nuclei <1% electrons < 0.1% gammas    1912 In a balloon at an altitude of 5000 meters, Victor Hess, the father of cosmic-ray research, discovered “penetrating radiation” coming from space. His was the first of many adventurous journeys made by physicists to study cosmic rays.  1927 Using a cloud chamber, Dimitry Skobelzyn photographed the first ghostly tracks left by cosmic rays.  1932 While watching the tracks of cosmic-ray particles passing through his cloud chamber, Carl...

Read More

Binary Stars are more Common than Thought

Thursday, June 19th 2014 03:58 AM

  High-mass stars are rarely solitary. This is what Bochum's astronomers found out at the Ruhr-Universität's (RUB's) observatory in Chile. For several years, they observed 800 celestial objects that are up to one hundred times heavier than our sun. More than 90 per cent have turned out to be multiple systems. These data support the theory that heavy stars are already formed as twins. The Atacama Desert in Chile - there is no place in the world better suited for conducting astronomical observations than this one. Here, the RUB's astronomical observatory is located, and here, the team headed by Prof Dr Rolf Chini has made some truly amazing discoveries. The RUB observatory is situated a mere 20 kilometres from the largest European observatory, the "Very Large Telescope," on Cerro Paranal. "This does pose the question what it is that we 'amateurs' will be able to accomplish there with our small instruments," says the Head of the Institute of Astronomy. The answer is: ac...

Read More

Astronomy Picture of the Day: Bryce Canyon

Monday, June 16th 2014 03:19 AM

Meteors, Planes, and a Galaxy over Bryce Canyon Image Credit & Copyright: Dave Lane

Read More

The Infinite Journey of Voyager

Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 03:10 AM

The 12 Largest Land & Space Telescopes

Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 01:49 AM

Astronomy is all about telescopes. The bigger, the better and there are some very large telescopes currently in use or under construction all around the world. The construction of these monolithic telescopes is all about science and discovery. Many different countries have come together to build some of the biggest, most expensive telescopes ever and everyone benefits. Large telescopes are not restricted to land based locations alone. Some of the most valuable scientific data comes from medium sized orbiting telescopes, well outside the earths atmosphere and therefore not subject to atmospheric blurring. These telescopes give us some of the most detailed and comprehensive image ever seen of the universe and the Milky Way. Due to the enormous cost of launching equipment into orbit and the limited space aboard the transportation rocket, there are many limitations when developing a telescope for the space environment. Orbiting observatories must cope with radiation, the cold of spac...

Read More

Want To Be In The New 'Star Wars' Movie?

Monday, June 2nd 2014 06:46 AM

Filming is now underway in Abu Dhabi on the seventh installment in the vaunted "Star Wars" movie series, and director J.J. Abrams took time away from filming to film a short YouTube video announcing a new charity initiative for a chance to win a walk-on role in the film. But that's not all he gave fans, as he also showed off the first look at a new "Star Wars" creature destined to be in the film, as well as numerous background characters walking in the background. Star Wars: Force for Change is a brand new initiative Disney and Abrams' production company Bad Robot is doing in partnership with UNICEF and their program, UNICEF Inonvation Labs and Programs. People who donate $10 or more to this new initiative will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a role in "Star Wars: Episode VII." The winner will be flown to London's Pinewood Studios where the majority of the film will be shot, and be guaranteed inclusion in a scene of the new film. Source: space.com

Read More

SpaceX Dragon brings home 3,500-lb. cargo from ISS

Thursday, May 22nd 2014 03:04 AM

Many scientists running experiments related to space and space travel have been anxiously awaiting the return of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from the International Space Station. However, the wait is over since the spacecraft has successfully splashed down in the Pacific bringing with it over 3,500 pounds of valuable scientific cargo.  This May 18, the Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean in a location around 300 miles west of Baja, Calif. The spacecraft hit water at approximately 3:05 p.m. EDT in the afternoon. The Dragon brought back a treasure trove of scientific cargo running the gamut of scientific research. From biological samples to experimental physics results, the Dragon's cargo is expected to keep scientists busy for a while.  "The space station is our springboard to deep space and the science samples returned to Earth are critical to improving our knowledge of how space affects humans who live and work there for long durations," said&nb...

Read More

Nasa Reveal Plans for the Biggest Rocket Ever Made

Thursday, May 22nd 2014 02:26 AM

It is set to become the largest rocket ever built, dwarfing the rockets that took man to the moon and paving the way for manned missions to Mars. Nasa today reveal stunning new pictures of its SLS (Space Launch System), which will eventually be capable of lifting 130 tonnes into orbit.  The rocket will be used to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, and to help us explore the outer reaches of the solar system. It is even hoped the craft could play a role in manned missions to Mars, being able to launch 'stepping stone' bases into orbit. 'The potential use of SLS for science will further enhance the synergy between scientific exploration and human exploration,' said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 'SLS has the promise of enabling transformational science in our exploration of the solar system and cosmos.'  Currently under construction, NASA’s Space Launch System will be the...

Read More

May 24th 2014 Camelopardalids Meteor Shower (Meteor Storm?)

Wednesday, May 21st 2014 07:12 AM

Most skygazers are familiar with the usual "biggies" among meteor showers like the Perseids and Geminids. But if the calculations of celestial dynamicists are correct, we're about to experience a terrific meteor shower that virtually no one's ever heard of: the Camelopardalids.  Several predictions suggest you might see anywhere from 100 to 400 meteors per hour from a dark location free of light pollution. That means you could perhaps see a few meteors per minute. Some (but not all) dynamicists think there's even an outside chance that the celestial spectacle could briefly become a meteor "storm," with more than 1,000 arriving per hour! The meteors will appear all over the sky (so you'll want to look in whatever direction gives you the darkest view.) But follow their bright paths backward, and they'll lead you to a location in the dim constellation of Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, about 12° from Polaris. The high declination of this shower's radiant, well above the northe...

Read More