Preparing for Mars

Preparing for Phoenix

The space craft Phoenix is gettting ready to land on mars on approx. May 25. The craft still has about 100 million miles (160 million kilometers) still to fly as of late February, but specialists say that everything with the craft seems to be going well. More on this at http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6678.

Mikey Pannier

Moon Crash Landing Details & Debrief Last Friday

As I posted a few days earlier, there is a Moon Crash set to take place in early 2009. This article, discusses the mission a little more in depth and details the briefing that took place on Friday, February 29, concerning the planned mission.

The briefing is part of the LCROSS Astronomer Workshop, which focuses on collaboration among NASA experts and professional astronomers on techniques for observing the debris plume that will be created when LCROSS hits the surface of the moon in early 2009. The objective of the mission is to detect possible water on the moon. Future mission activities will engage the amateur astronomy community, students and the public using ground-based and space-based telescopes.

More Here: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=24831

-Ryan

Is This the real Death Star?

The binary star-system Wolf-Rayet 104, about 8000 light years away from Earth, could someday expose our planet to a burst of gamma-ray radiation during a cataclysmic supernova which marks the death of a star. According to the astronomer who first discovered the system eight ago, the star system's position when viewed from Earth suggests that it's axis is aligned with the position of Earth. “I used to appreciate this spiral just for its beautiful form, but now I can’t help a twinge of feeling that it is uncannily like looking down a rifle barrel.”

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23310103-5001021,00.html?from=public_rss

Little Helper Stars

A new theory has been offered by astrophysicists at the University of California, Berkeley and Princeton University: huge, rare stars inside of interstellar clouds of gas and dust need smaller (well, relatively speaking; they're the size of the Sun) "helper" stars in order to be formed. There are not many of these types of stars but they help to make the bulk of a galaxy's heavy elements when they explode in supernovaes and they are extraordinarily bright, making them like "signposts" of star formation in other galaxies. Check it out:

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6674

The Lagoon

The sky's Lagoon
The Lagoon Nebula (M8) is located in the Milky Way and was likely spotted by stargazers centuries ago. The Lagoon is located to the right of the star Kaus Borealis, at the tip of the famous asterism the Teapot. Pretty sweet picture.

-Mikey Pannier

NASA Space Truck

I was reading this article on NASA's newest concept vehicle which is meant for manned explorations of the moon. Equipped with six wheel drive and a drill for drilling into the surface of the moon. The vehicle provides an idea of what the transportation possibilities may be when astronauts start exploring the moon. The article is quite interesting, check it out.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080227182956.htm

-Dusty

Development Problems May Delay Mars Science Laboratory Mission Until 2011

NASA’s over budget Mars Science Laboratory mission, which was previously scheduled for a 2009 launch, may be delayed due to programs with the atmospheric re-entry shield design. A new shield will cost up to $30 million, adding to the $1.8 billion price tag. This is $165 million more than what was planned. This mission uses innovative technologies, which gives it the ability to travel faster and carry a bigger payload over the Martian terrain. The Mars Science Laboratory will continue to see whether Mars might be able to sustain microbial life, take samples and analyze rocks plus provide us with detailed information about the landscape, atmosphere and whether water exists in large quantities.

Full article: http://www.universetoday.com/2008/02/28/development-problems-may-delay-mars-science-laboratory-mission/