Category: Astrosphere

Welcome back to the astrosphere, here’s what’s happening in space… space… space.

Today’s astrophoto from the Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum is from Dave Mitsky. It’s NGC 7635, aka the Bubble Nebula.

The Daily Galaxy has a look at Gliese 581c’s big brother. Probably not a great place for life.

I covered the double supernova here. Phil Plait from Bad Astronomy has a great description of it was well.

SciGuy has a story about a successful test of a plasma rocket.

Tom’s Astronomy Blog has a nice comparison between Antares and our Sun.

Before we proceed with this week’s astrosphere, I’d like to draw your attention to the Carnival of Space #7, held over at Pamela’s Starstryder blog. Many many great stories, from blogs you should check out.

Today’s astrophoto from the Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum comes from forum member Paul Campbell. Normally he’s shooting from behind a telescope, but this time he captured the Moon, Venus and the Pleiades star cluster, all in one image.

Emily Lakdawalla from the Planetary Society has some cool information on Saturn’s tiny moon Atlas.

Ever wonder how much time you’ve lost or gained from time dilation due to your relativistic movements? Not much, but you can calculate it. Thanks to Stuart for the link.

Do entangled particles communicate through time travel? Maybe, maybe not, but concerned citizens on the Internet raised the cash to continue research on a idea that was considered crazy. I love this kind of thing.

Welcome back to the astrosphere, so glad you could make it.

I’ve been a busy little writer, contributing to Wired Science Blog, and now Earth & Sky‘s blog. I’m about to learn the limits of human writing endurance. But I’m having fun. My latest article for them is about a challenge from astrophotographer Mike Salway. Can you build a better Jupiter?

Today’s astrophoto from the Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum is from member “reckless”. It’s a great photograph of M51, aka, the Whirlpool Galaxy. Nicely done. Follow the link for other images of the galaxy, and technical details.

Ian Musgrave at the Astroblog calls your attention to a surprise comet that smashed into the Sun. Easy come, easy go.

This isn’t space news, but it’s still pretty cool. A Chinese farmer built a solar-powered hot water heater out of beer bottles.

Back out to the astrosphere. Let’s see what’s out there.

Today’s amateur astrophoto is from Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum member clop. It’s a beautiful shot of the globular cluster Omega Centauri. You can see this and a photo of M83 in the forum.

First off, Emily Lakdawalla from the Planetary Society debunks the discovery of puddles on Mars. Apparently, they were on the side of a cliff.

We think we know what life looks like, but would we recognize non-carbon life if we saw it? The Daily Galaxy has an interesting story on this.

It’s time to go to school. First, the Astroprof explains how magnitudes work. And then Dr. Pamela Gay describes what a sidereal day is.

Now this is just crazy. Space entrepreneur Rick Tumlinson is working on a company that will let people skydive from space. Well, from 36,000 metres (120,000 feet). Alan Boyle has the details.

Before we head into the astrosphere, I’ve got a few things to catch you up on. First, another reminder about The Universe on The History Channel. The next episode is called The End of the Earth, and it’s all about the ways the Universe can kill us. My favourite topic.

Next up, I’m going to start highlighting cool photographs from the Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum here, for now. There are so many great photos there, and now that I’ve got a little time on my hands, I’d like to help get the word out. My favourite for today is this cool picture of crescent Mercury, taken by Kyle Edwards.

According to Aviation Week, China has pushed back its lunar mission 5-6 months. Did you even know they had a lunar mission? Thanks to Space Pragmatism for the link.

Bad Astronomy dismantles a trailer for The Invasion. Oh Hollywood, will you ever learn?

Sentient Developments has a great clip from Michio Kaku on the future of civilizations.

Does the Moon make people crazy? No. But UK police are staffing up during full moons. That’s lunacy!

I hate cords. And now, researchers are figuring out how to transfer power without cords. But will it actually, ever be practical? Thanks to Alan Boyle from MSNBC’s Cosmic Log for the writeup.

Welcome back to the astrosphere, where I acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, there are other space blogs that you could be reading.

First, I’d like to mention that I’ve got a doppelganger. Some guy named Fraser Cain is over at Wired Science Blogs reporting on their space news. Okay, it’s me. Where do I find the time? I’ve learned to blog in my sleep.

Okay, now on to the actual space blog sphere.

I’d like to draw your attention to Chris Lintott. Those in the UK will know who he is, but for those of outside of the Isles, he’s a renowned astrophysicist and co-presenter on the BBC’s Sky at Night. He and collaborator Harriet Scott have started up a new podcast called Living Space. It’s good listening, pretty slick stuff.

Pamela Gay is blogging about the second episode of The Universe from The History Channel. This time, she’s talking about The Red Planet.

Centauri Dreams has an interesting look at a precursor mission planned by ESA to deflect an asteroid.

Space Law Probe has discovered that a cool career for the 21st century might be a space law lawyer.

Time to head out into the astrosphere again.

First, I’d like to point your attention towards the very nicely done Carnival of Space #6, hosted by the Music of the Spheres. This themed carnival has a theme of its own, the International Space Development Conference, which recently wrapped up. I really enjoyed this edition, so check it out. (There’s an article from me in there, somewhere).

Space Prizes has some information on a new SEDS Space Art Contest.

The European Southern Observatory has redesigned its website, with a new tagline, “Astronomy Made in Europea”. The Apparent Brightness blog doesn’t think that’s exactly accurate.

Alan Boyle from MSNBC’s Cosmic Log rounds up Hubble’s greatest hits. You might be surprised at what made the list.

Let’s head out into the astrosphere and see what we can see.

Remember how I blogged about NASA Administrator’s startling admission on NPR that he doesn’t think global warming is a problem? Well, he’s made the retraction he should have made earlier.

An enraged Dr. Pamela Gay reacts to the fact that three Republican presidential candidates don’t believe in evolution. Oh, and the Milky Way has tidal tails.

Centauri Dreams thinks that we might we might be consuming our way into silence.

Hobbyspace has some cool pictures and information about a Japanese reusable prototype rocket vehicle.

Wil Wheaton likes the Bad Astronomy blog. The Bad Astronomer loves Wil Wheaton. Awww…

You have no excuse to miss the Shuttle launch. MSNBC’s Alan Boyle lists every single way to see it.

Not much out in the ‘sphere today. Strange, not much science news either. I guess everyone’s recovering from the AAS meeting in Hawaii. You’d think going to Hawaii would be relaxing.

If anyone’s interested, I’m looking for a part time assistant to help me gather together the news that makes up Universe Today. I’ve got a post on the Bad Astronomy/Universe Today Forum explaining the opportunity.

The Daily Galaxy has a story on how a group of physicists think that the Big Bang might be cyclical.

Above the Clouds has a nice story and photograph about M13, the globular cluster in Hercules. It’s one of my favourite skywatching targets.

A husband and wife team are planning their own trip to Mars. You’d say that’s crazy, but they’ve already gone to the top of Everest. Hmm, that’s pretty crazy too. The Space Fellowship has the story.

Before I reveal the new stories I discovered on the astro-blogo-sphere, I wanted to remind you about the “The Universe”, on the The History Channel. The second episode, Mars: The Red Planet airs on Tuesday at 9:00pm. Check your local listings. You can find out more at history.com/universe

Now, let’s see what’s happening out there… way out there.

Vern’s Weblog has some suggestions for what to see in the night sky this week.

Centauri Dreams puts Alpha Centauri in context.

Personal Spaceflight has some information about Armadillo Aerospace’s plans to win the Lunar Lander Challenge.

Becky Ramotowski wants you to mark your calendars, to capture images of the Moon, Venus and Saturn all together.

Now this is hilarious. The Bad Astronomer is reporting that Lisa Nowak (you know… diapers… astronaut) is getting a NASA Spaceflight Medal.

Take a virtual trip to the Moon. Alan Boyle has the story.

Learn about Arcturus, a star totally unlike our Sun. Thanks to the Astroprof.