I happened across this video on YouTube and thought I'd post it here. It's a nice short description of Orion and M42.
Check out the Hila site for more information.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Curious Asteroid Flyby
Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 25, 2009: http://spaceweather.com
CURIOUS ASTEROID FLYBY: Newly-discovered asteroid 2009 BD is slowly passing by Earth today only 400,000 miles away. The approximately 10 meter-wide space rock poses no significant threat, but it merits attention anyway: The orbit of 2009 BD appears to be almost identical to the orbit of Earth. 2009 BD may be a rare "co-orbital asteroid," circling the sun in near-tandem with our planet. If current measurements of the asteroid's orbit are correct, 2009 BD will remain in Earth's neighborhood for many months and possibly years to come. Visit http://spaceweather.com to view the asteroid's curious orbit.
SOLAR ECLIPSE WEBCASTS: At the time this email is being sent, an annular solar eclipse is just hours away. In support of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, astronomers in the eclipse-zone have set up a network of cameras stretching from South Africa to Indonesia. Live webcasts will begin around 0600 UT on Monday, Jan. 26th. Follow the links at http://spaceweather.com.
CURIOUS ASTEROID FLYBY: Newly-discovered asteroid 2009 BD is slowly passing by Earth today only 400,000 miles away. The approximately 10 meter-wide space rock poses no significant threat, but it merits attention anyway: The orbit of 2009 BD appears to be almost identical to the orbit of Earth. 2009 BD may be a rare "co-orbital asteroid," circling the sun in near-tandem with our planet. If current measurements of the asteroid's orbit are correct, 2009 BD will remain in Earth's neighborhood for many months and possibly years to come. Visit http://spaceweather.com to view the asteroid's curious orbit.
SOLAR ECLIPSE WEBCASTS: At the time this email is being sent, an annular solar eclipse is just hours away. In support of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, astronomers in the eclipse-zone have set up a network of cameras stretching from South Africa to Indonesia. Live webcasts will begin around 0600 UT on Monday, Jan. 26th. Follow the links at http://spaceweather.com.
Are We Alone for 01/26/09 - Carbon Your Enthusiasm
Are We Alone - "Carbon Your Enthusiasm"
Bond it to oxygen and it’s the scourge of climate change. But earthly life wouldn’t be possible without carbon, and maybe that’s true for alien life, too.
And carbon has other exciting forms: tiny diamonds may be evidence of a catastrophic comet impact 13,000 years ago. And, chalky carbonates may point to a once-habitable Mars.
So get cozy with carbon. Find out if you could swap it for silicon in DNA. Plus, the conundrum of calculating a carbon footprint.
Guests:
- Allen West - Retired Geophysicist
- Bethany Ehlmann - Geologist, Brown Unviversity
- Michael Mumma - Planetary scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- John Murlis - Chief Scientific Advisor to the Carbon Neutral Company in the U.K.
- Steven Benner - Molecular Biologist, Founder of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution
Friday, January 23, 2009
Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse
Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 23, 2009: http://spaceweather.com
SOLAR ECLIPSE: On Monday, Jan. 26th, the Moon will pass in front of the sun producing an annular "ring of fire" eclipse. This is not a total eclipse; the Moon will cover only 93% of the sun's surface. Nevertheless, the Moon's dead-center transit across the solar disk will produce a sight of rare beauty for observers along the "path of annularity." Best views are to be had from islands in Indonesia where the ring of fire will appear to sink into the ocean at sunset. Meanwhile, in Australia, southeast Asia, southern parts of India and South Africa, observers will experience an off-center partial eclipse. Crescent-shaped sunbeams will dapple the ground while high overhead the Moon takes a curved bite out of the sun.
Please visit http://spaceweather.com for eclipse maps, timetables and photos.
BLUE-SKY FIREBALL: Last week a meteoroid of unknown size hit Earth's atmosphere over Denmark and exploded with a flash so bright it turned the nighttime sky daytime blue. A video of the remarkable fireball and eye-witness reports may be found at Spaceweather's fireball sighting page: http://spaceweather.com/glossary/fireballreports_17jan09.htm
SOLAR ECLIPSE: On Monday, Jan. 26th, the Moon will pass in front of the sun producing an annular "ring of fire" eclipse. This is not a total eclipse; the Moon will cover only 93% of the sun's surface. Nevertheless, the Moon's dead-center transit across the solar disk will produce a sight of rare beauty for observers along the "path of annularity." Best views are to be had from islands in Indonesia where the ring of fire will appear to sink into the ocean at sunset. Meanwhile, in Australia, southeast Asia, southern parts of India and South Africa, observers will experience an off-center partial eclipse. Crescent-shaped sunbeams will dapple the ground while high overhead the Moon takes a curved bite out of the sun.
Please visit http://spaceweather.com for eclipse maps, timetables and photos.
BLUE-SKY FIREBALL: Last week a meteoroid of unknown size hit Earth's atmosphere over Denmark and exploded with a flash so bright it turned the nighttime sky daytime blue. A video of the remarkable fireball and eye-witness reports may be found at Spaceweather's fireball sighting page: http://spaceweather.com/
NASA Sees the Dark Side of the Sun
Source - NASA Science News for January 23, 2009
NASA's twin STEREO spacecraft are giving astronomers an over-the-horizon look at the 'dark side' of the Sun. This new perspective could lead to important advances in space weather forecasting and solar physics research.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/
Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Severe Space Weather--Social and Economic Impacts
Source - NASA Science News for January 21, 2009
A new NASA-funded study details what might happen to our modern, high-tech society in the event of a 'super solar flare' followed by an extreme geomagnetic storm. Some of the conclusions might surprise you.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/
Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Are We Alone for 01/19/09 - You Animal!
Are We Alone - Encore Presentation "You Animal!"
Maybe Dr. Doolittle was on to something; animals are smarter than we think. Birds, apes, and dolphins are all clever problem solvers with a rich vocabularly and - in some cases - self-awareness. Find out what you can learn from our furry, finned and feathered friends. Also, why you are so much an animal yourself, all the way down to the bare bones.
Plus, enter the locked vaults that hold extinct and newly-discovered animal species. And why B-movie critters steal the show.
(A new species? This is a grey-faced sengi. Click here for another photo.)Guests:
- Neil Shubin - Anatomist and Associate Dean at the University of Chicago, and author of Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
- Galen Rathbun - Biologist, California Academy of Sciences
- Jack Dumbacher - Curator, Birds and Mammals, California Academy of Sciences
- Virginia Morell - Science writer. Her cover story Inside Animal Minds is in the March, 2008 issue of National Geographic
- Alex Kacelnik - Behavioral Ecologist at Oxford University
- Lori Marino - Behavioral Biologist at Emory University
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Just doing a little house cleaning.
You may or may not have noticed the changes to the blog feeds on the left hand side, but I decided to consolidate all of the blog feeds into a single reader application that will help clean up the sidebar just a bit.
An now that there is more room, even more blog feeds can be added, so if you have some suggestions just drop me a line, or leave a comment.
I also hope to add more links and possibly move some of the content off to the Cloudymidnights' site, but that's down the road a bit.
If you have any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or the like, please feel free to contact me.
Cheers! ~ Jim Cox
An now that there is more room, even more blog feeds can be added, so if you have some suggestions just drop me a line, or leave a comment.
I also hope to add more links and possibly move some of the content off to the Cloudymidnights' site, but that's down the road a bit.
If you have any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or the like, please feel free to contact me.
Cheers! ~ Jim Cox
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Discovery Reveals Mars Is Not a Dead Planet
Source - NASA Science News for January 15, 2009
A team of NASA and university scientists has discovered 'substantial plumes' of methane floating through the atmosphere of Mars. The discovery indicates Mars is either biologically or geologically active.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/
Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.
Winter Wonder Rocket Movie
Source - NASA Science News for January 15, 2009
The last place you'd expect to find icicles is around the rim of a scalding hot and thundering rocket engine. Yet an engine being used by NASA to develop technologies for next-generation lunar landers has been caught producing icicles of unlikely beauty. Watch the process in action in today's story from Science@NASA.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/
Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Fantastic Ice Halos Observed in Finland
Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 14, 2009: http://spaceweather.com
FANTASTIC ICE HALOS: Researchers in Finland have discovered a new way to create luminous ice halos in the night sky. Their tools are as simple as a bright lamp and icy, blowing air. Some of the arcs they routinely photograph were previously seen only in remote parts of Antarctica. Sample photos and must-see movies are featured in today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.
HOURS OF VENUS: Today and for the rest of the week, Venus is at maximum elongation (greatest apparent distance) from the sun. This means the silvery planet is "up" for more than three hours after sunset. Go outside after dark, face south, and take a long look. Venus is so bright it outshines city lights and even pierces thin clouds. The view through a backyard telescope may surprise you. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and more information.
FANTASTIC ICE HALOS: Researchers in Finland have discovered a new way to create luminous ice halos in the night sky. Their tools are as simple as a bright lamp and icy, blowing air. Some of the arcs they routinely photograph were previously seen only in remote parts of Antarctica. Sample photos and must-see movies are featured in today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.
HOURS OF VENUS: Today and for the rest of the week, Venus is at maximum elongation (greatest apparent distance) from the sun. This means the silvery planet is "up" for more than three hours after sunset. Go outside after dark, face south, and take a long look. Venus is so bright it outshines city lights and even pierces thin clouds. The view through a backyard telescope may surprise you. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and more information.
Giant Rockets Could Revolutionize Astronomy
Source - NASA Science News for January 14, 2009
NASA's next great Moon rocket promises to do more than land astronauts on the Moon. In its spare time, it could revolutionize the science of astronomy.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/
Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Are We Alone for 01/12/09 - Scoping Out Astronomy
Are We Alone - "Scoping Out Astronomy"
A loud radio hiss is coming from the cosmos. Is it the swan song of the first giant stars of the universe?
Find out from stargazers attending the American Astronomical Society meeting in California... the brightest flash in the universe illuminates how a galaxy grows up... a planet hunter closes in on Earth-size prey. Also, find out how to spy on the universe from the comfort of your living room. Plus, the four-century-old history of the telescope... and Galileo didn't invent it!
It's the kick off to the International Year of Astronomy - so scope it out!
Guests:
- David Charbonneau - Astronomer, Harvard University
- Alan Kogut - Astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
- Xavier Prochaska - Astronomer, University of California at Santa Cruz
- Simon Steel - Astronomer, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
- Kris Koenig - Producer, Interstellar Studios, Chico, California
- Mark Slater - Film composer
Friday, January 09, 2009
A Comet Approaches
Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 9, 2009: http://spaceweather.com
APPROACHING COMET: Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3), discovered in 2007 by a collaborative team of Taiwanese and Chinese astronomers, is swinging around the sun and approaching Earth. The photogenic comet has a bright tail and an "anti-tail" visible in mid-sized backyard telescopes. At closest approach in February, Comet Lulin is expected to brighten to naked-eye visibility. Visit http://Spaceweather.com for sky maps, pictures and more information.
NEW SUNSPOTS: For the second time this week, a sunspot is coalescing on the surface of the sun. The spot's high latitude and magnetic polarity identify it as a member of new Solar Cycle 24; its appearance continues a recent trend of gradually intensifying new-cycle solar activity. The spot is growing rapidly and may soon provide a nice target for backyard solar telescopes.
FULL MOON ALERT! This weekend's full Moon is the biggest and brightest of 2009. It's a "perigee Moon" as much as 50,000 km closer to Earth than other full Moons we'll see later this year. Perigee moonlight shining through icy winter air can produce beautiful halos, coronas, moondogs and other atmospheric optics phenomena. Sample photos are featured on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.
APPROACHING COMET: Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3), discovered in 2007 by a collaborative team of Taiwanese and Chinese astronomers, is swinging around the sun and approaching Earth. The photogenic comet has a bright tail and an "anti-tail" visible in mid-sized backyard telescopes. At closest approach in February, Comet Lulin is expected to brighten to naked-eye visibility. Visit http://Spaceweather.com for sky maps, pictures and more information.
NEW SUNSPOTS: For the second time this week, a sunspot is coalescing on the surface of the sun. The spot's high latitude and magnetic polarity identify it as a member of new Solar Cycle 24; its appearance continues a recent trend of gradually intensifying new-cycle solar activity. The spot is growing rapidly and may soon provide a nice target for backyard solar telescopes.
FULL MOON ALERT! This weekend's full Moon is the biggest and brightest of 2009. It's a "perigee Moon" as much as 50,000 km closer to Earth than other full Moons we'll see later this year. Perigee moonlight shining through icy winter air can produce beautiful halos, coronas, moondogs and other atmospheric optics phenomena. Sample photos are featured on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Sixteen Tons of Moondust
Source - NASA Science News for January 7, 2009
Sledgehammer-toting scientists are "bustin' rocks" to make the finest possible simulated lunar regolith (a.k.a. fake moondust) in support of NASA's return to the Moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm
The Biggest Full Moon of the Year: Take 2
Source - NASA Science News for January 8, 2009
The biggest full Moon of 2009 is coming this weekend. It's a 'perigee Moon' as much as 30% brighter than lesser Moons we'll see in the months ahead. Get ready for moonlight!
FULL STORY at: http://science.nasa.gov/
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Are We Alone for 01/05/09 - Sex: From Beginning to End
Are We Alone - Encore Presentation "Sex: From Beginning to End"
We all know how sex begins: a dimly-lit room, a come-hither smile, and a surfeit of parasol-shaded cocktails. But long before all that, the gentle currents of the ancient sea floor set the mood. It was there, 570 million years ago, that two ropy sea creatures found each other and changed the course of evolution.
Hear how sex began and where it's headed: if you think your love life is mechanical now, just wait until you're cozying up to titanium skin and the latest emotion software.
Plus, everything you always wanted to know about modern sex research, but were afraid to ask.
Guests:
- Mary Roach - Author of Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
- David Levy - Artificial intelligence researcher and the author of Love and Sex with Robots
- Mary Droser - Professor of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside
Thursday, January 01, 2009
First Meteor Shower of 2009
Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 2, 2009: http://spaceweather.com
FIRST METEORS OF 2009: The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Jan. 3rd when Earth enters a stream of debris from shattered comet 2003 EH1. The timing of the encounter favors observers in western North America and across the Pacific Ocean who could see dozens to hundreds of meteors during the dark hours before sunrise this Saturday morning. Visit http://spaceweather.com for a sky map and more information.
SOMETHING NEW: For the new year, Spaceweather.com is pleased to announce a new service: Space Weather Radio, broadcasting live "sounds from space" around the clock. Today you can listen to the Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas. When a meteor passes over the facility--ping!--there is an audible echo. (Activity should be high during the Quadrantid meteor shower this weekend.) In the near future we'll be adding broadcasts of solar radio bursts and VLF signals from the ionosphere. The streams are punctuated by Daily Space Weather Updates from Dr. Tony Phillips. Click here to begin listening: http://SpaceweatherRadio.com
FIRST METEORS OF 2009: The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Jan. 3rd when Earth enters a stream of debris from shattered comet 2003 EH1. The timing of the encounter favors observers in western North America and across the Pacific Ocean who could see dozens to hundreds of meteors during the dark hours before sunrise this Saturday morning. Visit http://spaceweather.com for a sky map and more information.
SOMETHING NEW: For the new year, Spaceweather.com is pleased to announce a new service: Space Weather Radio, broadcasting live "sounds from space" around the clock. Today you can listen to the Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas. When a meteor passes over the facility--ping!--there is an audible echo. (Activity should be high during the Quadrantid meteor shower this weekend.) In the near future we'll be adding broadcasts of solar radio bursts and VLF signals from the ionosphere. The streams are punctuated by Daily Space Weather Updates from Dr. Tony Phillips. Click here to begin listening: http://SpaceweatherRadio.com
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