If you’ve been following Golden Spike Company, you know that the company is planning to launch commercial Lunar exploration missions by 2020.
Last month, Golden Spike announced their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to help generate public interest in their mission. So far people from around the world have contributed to the Golden Spike Indiegogo campaign.
Today, Golden Spike has announced a video submission contest for their supporters. Keep reading to learn how you can participate!
To enter, simply submit your video on why you believe Lunar exploration is important. Golden Spike will accept entries for the first round of the competition until Friday, March 15. All appropriate videos will be uploaded to the Golden Spike Youtube Channel where the public can vote for their favorite via the comments section. The prize for the first round of videos is a lunar rover model (at left).
Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS photographed with a 200mm telephoto lens over Bridgetown, Western Australia on March 10.
Credit: Jim Gifford
Have you ever been out on a beautiful, starry night and wondered what it was you were seeing? Maybe you are walking your date home on an amazing, clear night and want to impress the heck out of her by comparing her eyes to the stars in Orion’s Belt; or her movements are as graceful as the swans in Cygnus. The Distant Suns app will help you locate these features in the night sky to back your romantic gestures with pure science.
The people at Distant Suns have been working hard to improve the features in this already cool app. The latest and greatest addition is the ability to track Comet PANSTARRS more easily. One of my favorite features of this app is the overlaying of the local landscape with the current features in the night sky. This really allows you to have a reference point for your stargazing in the future should you find yourself without your cell phone.
For the rest of this week until Sunday only, the Distant Suns App is available for half price. If that is still too rich for your blood, try to win one of 6 free copies that Universe Today and Distant Suns is offering to give away this week. With the days getting longer and the nights getting warmer, this is a really cool way to learn about the features of the night sky without the benefit of a telescope.
This Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your interest!
In order to be entered into the giveaway drawing, just put your email address into the box at the bottom of this post (where it says “Enter the Giveaway”) before Monday, March 11, 2013. We’ll send you a confirmation email, so you’ll need to click that to be entered into the drawing.
About Distant Suns Astronomy App Features include:
Augmented Reality Viewing overlays the sky with the local landscape (iOS only)
What’s Up? Offers an overview of the evening’s sky
GPS and Compass aware
News ticker of up-to-date space and astronomy news
NASA’s Night Sky Network of local astronomical events
Over 300,000 planets, stars, galaxies, nebula and star clusters
Longtime readers of Universe Today will remember the series “Astronomy Without a Telescope” written by the witty Steve Nerlich, who also mans the Cheap Astronomy podcast. We were thrilled when Steve started writing for us and his weekly AWAT series (or is that Eh? What?) has now been compiled into an e-book, an anthology of the best of these thoughtful discussions of modern astronomy and cosmology.
For the e-book, Steve has organized selections into categories ranging from speculations about alien biology to the ultimate fate of the Universe to the “Out in Left Field” section where many crazy theories about the cosmos are thoroughly discussed and debunked. The book is packed with spectacular images and hyperlinks to in-depth background articles that will satisfy both novice and expert. And as Steve says, this book is proof “that one can readily grasp much of humanity’s current understanding of the Universe without going anywhere near a telescope.”
This giveaway is now closed.
With clever titles such as “Is an Anomalous Anomaly a Normality?” and “Can a Really Fast Spacecraft Turn into a Black Hole?” Steve provides readers with an amusing but intelligent look at the Universe.
The book is available in several formats at a very reasonable price, but Steve has also graciously given Universe Today some editions to give away. In order to be entered into the giveaway drawing, just put your email address into the box at the bottom of this post before Monday, February 11, 2013. We’ll send you a confirmation email, so you’ll need to click the link in the email to be entered into the drawing.
If you don’t win a copy, you can get e-versions of the book for $3.99 USD at Amazon for Kindle , or at Lulu, or Kobo.
FYI on providing your email for the giveaway: We’re only going to use these email addresses for Universe Today giveaways/contests and announcements. We won’t be using them for any other purpose, and we definitely won’t be selling the addresses to anyone else. Once you’re on the giveaway notification list, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time you like.
Astronaut Jerry Ross has written a new book about his experiences with NASA, “Spacewalker: My Journey in Space and Faith as NASA’s Record-Setting Frequent Flyer.” The book is written in a very personal style, giving the reader the impression that despite all his off-world experiences, Ross is an extremely down-to Earth person. “That was my goal,” Ross told Universe Today in an interview. “I wanted to share my experiences of what it was like to suit up to go out on a spacewalk – what that was like — and also help people understand what it is like to be an astronaut, that we do more regular work most of the time and only get to fly in space once in a while.”
“Spacewalker” provides inside account of the U.S. space shuttle program, from before its launch through the final landing, and the building of the International Space Station. Ross gives a firsthand account of life in space from the first human to fly seven missions, and he also discusses his feelings about the future of NASA and space exploration.
The book was published by Ross’ alma mater, Purdue University Press, and thanks to them Universe Today has ten copies of this new book to give away!
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for participating!
In order to be entered into the giveaway drawing, just put your email address into the box at the bottom of this post before Wednesday, February 6, 2013. We’ll send you a confirmation email, so you’ll need to click that to be entered into the drawing.
Find out more information about this new book in the video below (note that digital versions of the book come with additional features such as personal video shot by Ross). Also, check out Purdue University Press and Amazon, and Jerry Ross’ website.
We’re only going to use these email addresses for Universe Today giveaways/contests and announcements. We won’t be using them for any other purpose, and we definitely won’t be selling the addresses to anyone else. Once you’re on the giveaway notification list, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time you like.
A couple of years ago Universe Today writer John Williams created a card game called Hubble Star Cards, and the game won a Hubble Gold Star award in 2010 from NASA and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies for its inspiring use of the amazing imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope. As the description says, “the vivid, stunning images motivate and engage children of all ages to learn about objects in space. Now, thanks to John, Universe Today is giving away two decks of these beautiful cards!
In order to be entered into the drawing, just put your email address into the box below before Tuesday, December 25nd, 2012. We’ll send you a confirmation email, so you’ll need to click that to be successfully entered.
Hubble Star Cards are a high-quality, stunningly beautiful printed card set that are just a bit larger than a normal card deck, at 3 inches by 5×5 inches, so the beautiful Hubble images are bigger and better.
“Hubble has a unique ability to draw the public into exploring space,” says John. “Through beautiful images of planets, star clusters, pillars of dust, and galaxies, Hubble provides a crucial stepping stone in the process of scientific inquiry. Hubble Star Cards create a hand-held experience that opens the door to new questions and answers. You can actually hold the Universe, all of creation, in the palm of your hand and have fun learning about it at the same time.”
The game includes 60 cards categorized by planets, planetary nebulae, supernovae remnants, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. The cards include an image, a basic description, a key to the type of object, location in the sky, constellation, and distance from Earth. Possible games include War, Go Fish, Sorting, Distances and Matching. Although targeted for students 8 and older, preschoolers have played many of the games just by using the amazing imagery as a guide.
If you are not a winner, these cards sell for $24.95, but Universe Today readers can get 15% off using UNIVERSE as a coupon code. Check them out at the Hubblestarcards.com website.
We’re only going to use these email addresses for Universe Today giveaways/contests and announcements. We won’t be using them for any other purpose, and we definitely won’t be selling the addresses to anyone else. Once you’re on the giveaway notification list, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time you like.
Thanks to Steve Cariddi from “The Year in Space,” we have more copies of the wonderful Year in Space Wall Calendar! And the new edition for 2013 is HUGE, and is filled with amazing pictures, cool history and handy space facts for the upcoming year. They make great gifts, too! In fact, Wall Calendar was recently named “Science Geek Gift of the Year” over at Alan Boyle’s Cosmic Log.
There are more than 100 gorgeous photos of space, Moon phases for every day, daily space facts and historical references. And the calendar is ginormous, much larger than a traditional wall calendar.
Every month you’ll see:
– An in-depth exploration of human space flight, planetary exploration, or deep sky wonders
– Multiple images and detailed captions
– A mini-biography of famous astronomer, scientist, or astronaut related to the topic
– Background info and fun facts
– A sky summary of where to find naked-eye planets
– Space history dates
– Major holidays (U.S. and Canada)
– Daily Moon phases graphically displayed
And thanks to Steve, we’ve got 5 MORE copies of The Year in Space: 2013 Calendar to give away to Universe Today readers – a $12.95 value.
In order to be entered into the drawing, just put your email address into the box below before Friday, December 21nd, 2012. We’ll send you a confirmation email, so you’ll need to click that to be successfully entered.
We’re only going to use these email addresses for Universe Today giveaways/contests and announcements. We won’t be using them for any other purpose, and we definitely won’t be selling the addresses to anyone else. Once you’re on the giveaway notification list, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time you like.
A beautiful new book, “Hubble’s Universe: Greatest Discoveries and Latest Images” provides the history of the iconic Hubble Space Telescope, explaining some of the greatest discoveries in astronomy. But it’s also a stunning picture book, including some stunning, previously unpublished images from HST. You can see a gallery of some of those images here, and read our full review of the book here.
Thanks to Firefly Books, Universe Today has a copy of this book to giveaway!
In order to be entered into the giveaway drawing, just put your email address into the box below before Monday, December 10, 2012. We’ll send you a confirmation email, so you’ll need to click that to be entered into the draw.
This giveaway is now closed.
We’re only going to use these email addresses for Universe Today giveaways/contests and announcements. We won’t be using them for any other purpose, and we definitely won’t be selling the addresses to anyone else. Once you’re on the giveaway notification list, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time you like.
Simply put, this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever had the chance to page through. And you will want to take the time to study each and every page of the newly revised and updated version of DK and Smithsonian’s “UNIVERSE: The Definitive Visual Guide.” UNIVERSE takes you on an incredible guided journey through the cosmos, providing thousands of stunning images (eye candy alert!), fact-filled infographics, and features like a 4-page timeline of the Universe. Not only does it cover astronomy and physics, but there is also information about matter, gravity, time, distance, radiation and relativity. The book is edited by noted British astronomer and cosmologist Martin Rees, and is the ultimate reference guide to everything in the Universe –from quasars to comets, supernovae to string theory. It also includes a comprehensive star atlas that covers all the constellations, with planetary charts showing their positions through 2019.
And Universe Today has 2 copies of this book — each a $50 value — to give away!
Starting with this book, Universe Today is trying out a new system to do giveaways/contests, so bear with us, in case we run into any problems!
All you need to do is enter your email address into the box below.
You’ll get a confirmation email, where you’ll have to click a link to register for the giveaway.
In addition, you’ll also be notified by email when we have new giveaways in the future – and we hope to have many more if this works out as well as we think! All you’ll need to do is to click and confirm the links in subsequent emails for the giveaways. Don’t want to participate in a certain giveaway? Don’t click on the link.
We’re only going to use these email addresses for Universe Today giveaways/contests and announcements. We won’t be using them for any other purpose, and we definitely won’t be selling the addresses to anyone else. Once you’re on the giveaway notification list, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time you like.
This contest ends on Friday, November 23, 2012. We’ll select two winners from the confirmed entrants and notify them by email.
“Stars above Innsbruck” by Norbert Span, Austria. Winning photo from the 2012 Earth & Sky contest.
Enjoy this delightful video put together by Babak Tafreshi from The World At Night showing the winners of the third International Earth and Sky Photo Contest. With the theme of ‘Dark Skies Importance,’ these are lovely landscape astrophotos, “ in appreciation of the night sky beauty as an essential element of our nature, importance of preserving dark skies, and public awareness on the growing threat of light pollution,” Tafreshi said.
The organizers of the contest were the TWAN group along with the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, emphasizing Global Astronomy Month (April) and the contest was part of the Dark Skies Awareness project. The 2012 contest submission period was during the month of April, and submissions were to be in the “TWAN style” of landscape astrophotography — combining elements of the night sky set in the backdrop of the Earth horizon with a notable location or landmark.
Here’s the winning photograph by Norbert Span from Austria, “Stars Above Innsbruck:”
'Blazing Bristlecone' by Tom Lowe of the USA, winner of the 2010 years Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.
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Attention all astrophotographers (as well as those of us who just enjoy looking at great astronomy images!): The Royal Observatory Greenwich is launching its annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, and is searching for the most beautiful, dramatic and spectacular images of the cosmos. Anyone from around the world can enter and the winning images will be showcased at the Royal Observatory.
This is the 4th year of this competition, which began as part of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009.
“Astronomy is becoming increasingly popular with the public which is reflected in the big rise in entries we saw in 2011,” said Dr. Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer at the ROG. “Every year the competition has brought new surprises, I love the fact that we receive entries from people all around the world and from complete beginners as well as seasoned experts. All the judges are excited about what we’re going to see this time around.”
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2012 has four main categories:
Earth and Space – Photographs that include landscape, people and other earth-related things alongside an astronomical subject ranging from the stars, the Moon or near-Earth phenomena such as the aurora.
People and Space recognizes the best photo featuring people in the shot;
Best Newcomer is awarded to the best photo by an amateur astrophotographer who has taken up the hobby in the last year and who has not entered an image into the competition before;
Robotic Scope, which was a new prize introduced in 2011, is awarded for the best photo taken using one of the increasing number of computer-controlled telescopes at prime observing sites around the world which can be accessed over the internet by members of the public.
Entries to the competition must be submitted by midday on June 29, 2012, with the winners announced on September 20, 2012. The winning photos will be displayed at the ROG from September 21, 2012 to February 2013.
The overall winner will receive £1,500. Category winners will receive £500. There are also prizes for runners-up (£250) and highly commended (£125) entries. The Special Prize winners will receive £350, with an £125 prize for the People and Space Special Prize runner-up. All of the winning entries will receive a one year subscription to Sky at Night Magazine, which is also a sponsor of the competition.
The competition is powered by the photo-sharing website Flickr. To view the entries online please visit www.flickr.com/groups/astrophoto
Photographers can enter online by visiting www.rmg.co.uk/astrophoto and each entrant may submit up to five images to the competition.
Good luck, and we hope to be posting YOUR winning image here on Universe Today!!
