Even it it’s not actually watching the spot in the sky where a gamma ray burst goes off, ESA’s Integral observatory can detect it. Engineers have developed a technique that allows the spacecraft see blasts out of the corner of its eye. Integral’s detector can sense radiation that passes through the side of its detector array. Scientists can then analyze this radiation to gather information on the gamma ray burst. The technique was first used to detect solar flares, and then fine tuned to work for gamma ray bursts.
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Dark Matter First, Then a Galaxy
A new study from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope suggests that galaxies form within clumps of dark matter. This mysterious substance emits no light, but it does have mass, so it can pull on matter with its gravity. Astronomers believe there’s 5 times as much dark matter in the Universe as regular matter. This new Spitzer survey found that the amount of dark matter surrounding distant galaxies is surprisingly consistent.
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$250,000 Prize for Semi-Autonomous Robots
As part of its Centennial Challenges, NASA has encouraged inventors from outside the agency to demonstrate out of the box thinking. So far they’ve created challenges to craft better gloves, dig lunar soil, and power climbing robots. The next challenge is called the Telerobotic Construction Challenge, and offers a $250,000 purse to the team that can get their remote-controlled robots to build structures… on Mars. Of course, the robots won’t actually be on Mars, but for the teams involved, it’ll sure feel like they’re a world away.
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Fast Moving New Horizons Tracks an Asteroid
Still a decade away from its final meeting with Pluto, New Horizons tested out its instruments on a relatively nearby asteroid. The spacecraft turned its Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) on asteroid 2002 JF56 at a range of 1.34 to 3.36 million kilometers (about 833,000 to 2.1 million miles). Controllers were happy to see that the camera system was able to track the asteroid while the spacecraft was moving so quickly; it’ll need this capability when it reaches Pluto. Its next stop will be Jupiter, which it’s due to encounter on February 28, 2007.
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Airborne Infrared Telescope Gets Another Chance
During the recently announced NASA science cutbacks, several missions were cut or dramatically scaled back. One mission that was on the chopping block might be getting a second chance. The SOFIA mission is a powerful infrared telescope installed on a 747 airplane. It had recently been put on hold, but NASA officials announced today that they’re continuing its development. Although this gives the mission some hope of return, NASA is still watching its budget carefully, and still hasn’t fully committed to completing the mission.
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Main Engine Tests for New European Rocket
Development of Europe’s new Vega launcher is ready for a series of important tests. This new launcher is designed to launch smaller, lighter payloads than the much larger Ariane fleet of rockets. Engineers are now getting ready to test its first stage, a solid-fuel rocket motor that includes a steerable nozzle. If all goes well, the first launch of the Vega is scheduled for 2007 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
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Three Trojans Found in Neptune’s Orbit
Researchers have discovered three new objects sharing trailing behind Neptune in the same orbit. These asteroid-sized objects are locked into stable positions – called Lagrange points – through their interaction with Neptune’s gravity; Jupiter has over 1800 Trojans of its own. Astronomers had already discovered one Trojan for Neptune, so this raises its total to 4. The discovery was made using the Carnegie 6.5 Magellan Telescopes in Chile and the 8-meter Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
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Sulphur Spring Harbours Extreme Bacteria
A team of scientists has set out to visit an unusual hot spring on Ellesmere Island near the North Pole. This spring spews out sulphur-rich water that has become an ecosystem for bacteria in an otherwise lifeless ice field. The researchers are hoping to understand the underground structure of the spring, and locate the source of the sulphur. An environment like this could help scientists search for signs of life in other hotspots in the Solar System, such as Mars, Europa, or Enceladus.
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Meteoroid Strike on the Moon
NASA researchers fortunate enough to be recording the Moon through a 10″ telescope equipped with a video camera when they saw a meteoroid strike. The spacerock was only 25 cm (10 inches) wide, but it released 17 billion joules of kinetic energy; the same as 4 tons of TNT. The resulting flash was quick, only lasting 4/10ths of a second, but it was powerful enough to carve out a crater 14 metres (46 feet) wide.
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No Images in the Newsletter or RSS
Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that I’m aware that images aren’t showing up in the RSS feed or the email newsletter. I’ve changed my publishing system to a program called WordPress. It’s a huge timesaver, but I’m still working to make it match all the features of the old design. It’s going to be a few more days before I’ve got the images showing up. After I get that working, I’m going to bring my entire archive over, so that will be accessible again.
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