Sunday, January 31, 2010

Colas For The Cosmos giveaway recipients for 2009.

I started the Colas For The Cosmos project with the goal of helping others pursue their interest in astronomy. Over the last 12 months, and with a lot of help from friends and strangers alike I have been able to continue to pursue that goal, and give away six pair of Celestron UpClose 10x50 binoculars. Below is the list of recipients of the binoculars:
For 2010 Coke Rewards is offering a Celestron 4-in-1 Digital Binocular Camera (sorry I don't have a URL for the item), and even though it will require more points for each pair I am hoping to gave away 8 to 10 pair in 2010.

Hopefully I can meet this goal, and continue to help others get involved in astronomy. If you interesting in helping and have any Coke Rewards points you would like to donate just drop me a line.

Many thanks to those who helped me, and wishes of clear skies to those who received the binoculars.

Cheers ~ Jim Cox

Are We Alone for 02/01/10 - It's the Science, Cupid!

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Are We Alone - It's the Science, Cupid!

Love makes us feel warm and mushy, but the sweet sting of Cupid’s arrow makes a compelling chemistry lesson, too. Research into animal mating and human courtship provides clues to an eternal mystery: what’s the purpose of love?

Learn lessons from the family values of field mice, and affectionate same-sex penguin pairs. Plus: Darwin’s take on speed dating, and the science of smooching.

Guests
  • Helen Fisher – Anthropologist, Rutgers University
  • Sarah Woodley – Biologist, Duquesne University
  • Skyler Place – Doctoral Student, Indiana University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
  • Larry Young – Neurobiologist, Emory University
  • Marlene Zuk – Biologist, University of California, Riverside

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Firefly Mission to Study Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes

Source - NASA Science News for January 29, 2010

There's a mystery in the skies of Earth: Something is producing bright flashes of gamma radiation in the upper atmosphere of our own planet. A spacecraft called 'Firefly' is going to investigate.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/29jan_firefly.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Biggest Full Moon of the Year

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 28, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

FULL MOON AND MARS: Friday night's full Moon is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year. It's a "perigee Moon," as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than other full Moons you'll see later in 2010. But that's not all. Mars is having a close encounter with Earth, and on Friday night, Jan. 29th, it will join the Moon for an all-night-long conjunction. Don't miss it! Sky maps and images may be found at http://spaceweather.com.

FLYBY ALERT: NASA is preparing to launch space shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 7th. It's the last night launch of the shuttle program and it kicks off a 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). You can follow the ISS and Endeavour as they streak across the night sky using our new Satellite Flybys app for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Details at http://simpleflybys.com.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Mars Rover Spirit is Now a Stationary Research Platform

Source - NASA Science News for January 26, 2010

NASA announced today that Spirit cannot be freed from its Martian sandtrap. Now the rover will begin a second career as a stationary science platform.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/26jan_spirit.htm?list894285

For more information about space and space exploration, visit our Home page: http://science.nasa.gov

Close Encounter with Mars

Source - NASA Science News for January 26, 2010

This week Earth and Mars are having a close encounter. On Jan. 27th, the Red Planet will be only 99 million kilometers away and look bigger through a telescope than at any time between 2008 and 2014.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/26jan_mars.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Monday, January 25, 2010

Are We Alone for 01/25/10 - Who's on First?

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Are We Alone - Who's on First?

Being first counts in science. Land that coveted spot and you’ll make history, whether it’s with the first steam engine or the discovery of our earliest human ancestor.

But what does “first” mean when technological invention so heavily builds on what’s come before… and evolution represents continuous change?

Find out how “publish or perish” made Darwin famous… why we’ll never find the first human fossil… and how powerful new telescopes are allowing us to see the earliest galaxies.

Plus, the chicken and egg battle it out in line.

Guests:
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Bright Sungrazing Comet

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 21, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

SUNGRAZING COMET: NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft has discovered another bright sungrazing comet. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has a good view of the comet's death plunge, which is happening today. Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates.

NORTHERN LIGHTS: A solar wind stream hit Earth on Jan. 20th sparking the first geomagnetic storm of the year and an intense display of polar auroras. Images from around the Arctic Circle may be found here: http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01jan10_page3.htm

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: For less than the cost of a night at the movies, you can turn your cell phone into a space weather alert system. Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) to receive instant notices of geomagnetic storms, CME impacts, and strong solar flares.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Solar Activity in the Offing

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 19, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

FARSIDE SOLAR ACTIVITY: Over the past two days, NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft has detected two eruptions from an active region just behind the sun's eastern limb. The source of the blasts appears to be old sunspot 1039. The sun's rotation will begin turning the spot toward Earth this week, so there could be some Earth-directed solar activity in the offing. Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates.

ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE: On Jan. 15th, the Moon passed directly in front of the sun, producing a "ring of fire" solar eclipse over the Indian Ocean and surrounding lands. The eclipse gallery contains many must-see images. Start browsing here: http://spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_15jan10_page4.htm

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Are We Alone for 01/18/10 - Skeptic Check: Swimming in Denial

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Are We Alone - Skeptic Check: Swimming in Denial

Public distrust of science is higher than at any time since the Enlightenment. New Yorker writer Michael Specter argues how our anti-science bias and our irrationalism about everything from genetically modified foods to climate change to childhood vaccines endangers our future.

And remember when… a look back at scientists who at first pooh-poohed plate tectonics… meteorites, and quantum physics. How the evidence turned them around.

It’s Skeptic Check… but don’t take our word for it.

Guests:
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Giant Ribbon at the Edge of the Solar System: Mystery Solved?

Source - NASA Science News for January 15, 2010

Last year, when NASA's IBEX (Interstellar Boundary Explorer) spacecraft discovered a giant ribbon at the edge of the solar system, researchers were mystified. They called it a "shocking result" and puzzled over its origin. Now the mystery may have been solved.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/15jan_ibex2.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Alien Planet Safari

Source - NASA Science News for January 14, 2010

NASA's next great observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, is designed to study stars and galaxies. Astronomers are beginning to realize, however, that Webb will make a great planet hunter too.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/14jan_planetsafari.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Annular Solar Eclipse

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 14, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE: The Moon is about to pass directly in front of the sun, producing an annular solar eclipse on Jan. 15th between 0500 and 0900 GMT. The zone of visibility stretches from Africa across the Indian Ocean to eastern Asia. Onlookers in those places should be alert for crescent-shaped shadows on the ground and "ring of fire" suns in the sky. Visit http://spaceweather.com today for an animated preview and again tomorrow for photos and movies of the actual event.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Curious Asteroid Flyby

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 12, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

CURIOUS ASTEROID FLYBY: A curious object is about to fly past Earth only one-third the distance to the Moon. Catalogued as a 10m-class asteroid, 2010 AL30 has an orbital period of almost exactly 1 year. This raises the possibility that it might not be a natural object, but rather a piece of some spacecraft from our own planet. At closest approach on Jan. 13th, 2010 AL30 will streak through Orion, Taurus, and Pisces glowing like a 14th magnitude star. Experienced amateur astronomers are encouraged to monitor the flyby. Orbital elements, images, and more information are available on http://spaceweather.com .

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Are We Alone for 01/11/10 - Eureka!

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Are We Alone - Eureka!

From the double-helix to the expansion of the universe, great scientific discoveries reshape our understanding of who we are and how things work. But great discoveries require more than just a great mind. We tour brainy breakthroughs from Archimedes to Darwin, and find out what made their revolutionary insights possible.

Also, why you need more than a stratospheric I.Q. to be a super-achiever. And how the invention of reading re-directed the course of civilization and re-wired our brains in the process.

Guests:
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Friday, January 08, 2010

Flying Telescope Passes Key Test

Source - NASA Science News for January 8, 2010

Most astronomers wouldn't dream of opening their observatory's doors in 100 mph winds. Yet NASA's new SOFIA telescope recently flew in an airplane at 250 mph with doors wide open. The successful test is an important step forward for infrared astronomy.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/08jan_flyingtelescope.htm?list894285

For more information about space and space exploration, visit our Home page: http://science.nasa.gov

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Why Won't the Supernova Explode?

Source - NASA Science News for January 7, 2010

NASA is building a new space telescope named "NuSTAR" to answer a question that has been vexing astrophysicists for decades: Why won't the supernova explode?

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/07jan_nustar.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Monday, January 04, 2010

Kepler Discovers Five Exoplanets

Source - NASA Science News for January 4, 2010

NASA's Kepler space telescope, designed to find Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of sun-like stars, has discovered its first five new exoplanets.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/04jan_fiveplanets.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Are We Alone for 01/03/10 - Time's Mysteries Part II: Warping Time

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Are We Alone - Time's Mysteries Part II: Warping Time

ENCORE: Ever since Einstein, we’ve known that time doesn’t barrel willy-nilly into the future. Moving clocks tick at a different rates, and by riding a fast rocket, we can slow time to a crawl. Such tricks may give you a way to see the distant future, but can you go back in time?

Discover one man’s quest to build a time machine. Also learn how to put the brakes on aging by getting near a black hole.

Plus, does your entire life really pass before your eyes if you jump off the Brooklyn Bridge? Our perception of time.

Guests: You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Sungrazing Comet Approaches Sun

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 2, 2009: http://spaceweather.com

SUNGRAZING COMET: Today, a bright comet is approaching the sun for a perilous close encounter, and it probably will not survive. The comet was discovered by an amateur astronomer monitoring images from NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has a good view of the comet's approach and images are being posted on http://spaceweather.com.

FLYBY ALERT: The International Space Station is about to begin a series of bright flybys over North America. Your iPhone or iPod Touch can help you see the behemoth spacecraft when it passes overhead in the night sky. Visit http://simpleflybys.com for information about our newest app.

FIRST METEORS OF 2010: The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Jan. 3rd around 1900 UT (2 p.m. EST) when Earth passes through a stream of debris from shattered comet 2003 EH1. The timing of this northern shower favors observers in eastern Europe and Asia. Bright moonlight will interfere with the display, which can reach 100+ meteors per hour under ideal conditions.