Astrosphere for February 19, 2008
It might not look like it, but this photograph is mind-bendingly cool. The bright streak is the path of the International Space Station, and the dimmer one is the US military satellite that’s going to crash back to Earth – both seen passing through the heart of Orion. Good job Autoclub!
Centauri Dreams talks about using the Sun’s gravity as a natural telescope lens. Problem is, you have to get out to 550 AU to make it work.
The Space Review has a great article about people preparing for space tourism. So far, 93% have passed the physical tests.
In the future, solar power will rule!
APOD has a great picture of a recent spacewalk outside Columbus.
NY Times is reporting that NASA thinks it can fix a serious flaw in its Ares rocket design.
Astropixie wants to be Stephen Colbert’s astrophysicist.
And finally, one of the best posts of read in a long time. Phil perfectly explains why science isn’t faith.
Recent Posts
Astronomers Find a 3 Million Year Old Planet
Astronomers have just found one of the youngest planets ever. At only 3 million years…
There was Hot Water on Mars 4.45 Billion Years Ago
Mars formed 4.5 billion years ago, roughly the same time as the Earth. We know…
Axion Dark Matter May Make Spacetime Ring
Dark matter made out of axions may have the power to make space-time ring like…
Earth’s Old Trees Keep A Record of Powerful Solar Storms
Most of the time the Sun is pretty well-mannered, but occasionally it's downright unruly. It…
New Supercomputer Simulation Explains How Mars Got Its Moons
One mystery in planetary science is a satisfying origin story for Mars's moons, Phobos and…
The Early Universe May Have Had Giant Batteries of Dust
The largest magnetic fields in the universe may have found themselves charged up when the…