Hubble has captured a visible-spectrum image of a planet revolving around Fomalhaut. Previously planets had only been observed indirectly, such as when the planet passes between Earth and the star. Fomalhaut is close enough that Hubble was able to catch a glimpse of the highly reflective giant planet, which is about three times the size [...]
Posts Tagged ‘nasa’
Fomalhaut B
Posted: 13 November 2008 in UncategorizedTags: extra-solar planets, fomalhaut, hubble, nasa, planets, space
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Mars Phoenix gets a lame-ass epitaph
Posted: 5 November 2008 in UncategorizedTags: epitaphs, mars, nasa, phoenix, space, space exploration, twitter, wired
Well the Wired contest to come up with an epitaph for the Mars Phoenix lander has ended and the final choice blows, in my opinion. Veni, vidi, fodi. (I came, I saw, I dug) The number three choice wasn’t so bad: It is enough for me. But for you, I plead: go farther, still. My choice, [...]
He’s dead, Jim
Posted: 24 October 2008 in UncategorizedTags: deforest kelley, enterprise, nasa, real sci-fi, shuttles, sociolinguistics, space travel, spaceships, spelling, star trek
Something about this photo speaks to me: Now, I wonder if DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy) is really that interested in talking to the NASA engineer-looking dude on the left. It just brings to mind hundreds of conversations between scientists and laymen where the laymen appears interested and the scientist rambles on about stuff way too [...]
Venutian Rover Bomb
Posted: 12 November 2007 in UncategorizedTags: nasa, physics, planetology, refrigeration, rovers, stirling cooler, venus
There is a cool article today in New Scientist that describes an old cooling method with a bleeding edge application: a rover to Venus. Venus is a picture of the greenhouse effect gone wild. Average temperatures are about +260 degrees Celsius (500 degrees Fahrenheit). This is hot enough to melt lead and destroys most modern [...]
Mars, Phobos, or Deimos?
Posted: 8 November 2007 in UncategorizedTags: asteroids, deimos, mars, moons, nasa, phobos, space, spaceflight
Which will be the newest extraterrestrial body humans will set foot on? (Aside from the moon, of course.) According to Pascal Lee of the Mars Institute, “[Phobos and Deimos] are the most accessible planetary bodies in our solar system.” New Scientist has a report on the conference at Ames Research Center on Wednesday where ideas [...]
Discovery and ISS Viewing
Posted: 5 November 2007 in UncategorizedTags: discovery, international space station, iss, nasa, satellite tracking, space, spaceflight
There is a somewhat rare opportunity for people in the US and southern Canada over the next two days. The space shuttle Discovery just undocked from the International Space Station and is currently drifting just in front of it. It will be passing nearly overhead just before dawn, the best time for viewing. As the [...]
Cassini Contest for Kids
Posted: 23 October 2007 in UncategorizedTags: astronomy, cassini, contest, kids, nasa, nobel prize, nobel turds, saturn, science education, space, spacecraft, spaceflight
I caught Randy Pausch on Oprah yesterday (and yes, a dying CMU professor IS the one of the few things that will make me endure watching Oprah). His last lecture focused on the importance of childhood dreams and he mentioned the landing of men on the moon as a pretty fundamental motivator. Heck, it inspires [...]
Discovery and Harmony
Posted: 21 October 2007 in UncategorizedTags: discovery, harmony, international space station, iss, nasa, shuttle, spaceflight
The shuttle Discovery is set to launch Tuesday to bring the Harmony module to the International Space Station (ISS). The Harmony module, named by US school kids, is a connector that will bring together the various international components of the space station. Specifically, it will connect the US Destiny Lab, the ESA’s (European Space Agency) [...]
Giant hurt ball
Posted: 13 October 2007 in UncategorizedTags: astronomy, cassini probe, craters, death star, greek mythology, imagination, nasa, parody, planetology, space, star wars
If you were going to build a death star, then hide it, what would it look like? SciAm Observations today has an array of desktop backgrounds of the moon Iapetus, which orbits Saturn. Iapetus is an especially fascinating moon for many reasons. For starters, it has a giant impact crater. Also there is an equatorial [...]
