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News of Astronomy, Space, Science, & Technology

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Astronomy Picture of the Day

An Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse

An Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse

Astronomy Picture of the Day May 4 2008

The Sun, the Moon, Antarctica, and two photographers all lined up in 2003 Antarctica during an unusual total eclipse of the Sun.

Even given the extreme location, a group of enthusiastic eclipse chasers ventured near the bottom of the world to experience the surreal momentary disappearance of the Sun behind the Moon. One of the treasures collected was the above picture -- a composite of four separate images digitally combined to realistically simulate how the adaptive human eye saw the eclipse.

As the image was taken, both the Moon and the Sun peaked together over an Antarctic ridge. In the sudden darkness, the magnificent corona of the Sun became visible around the Moon. Quite by accident, another photographer was caught in one of the images checking his video camera.

Visible to his left are an equipment bag and a collapsible chair.

See Astronomy Picture of the Day for links to further info.

The Space Shuttle

Nasa's space shuttle site - For the latest information see NASA human spaceflight page

For info on the Columbia investigation see the STS-107 Investigation Reference page.

The space shuttle in the Wikipedia

The latest news of STS-123 on Space.Com

Discovery Reaches the Launch Pad

Space Shuttle Discovery Moves to Launch Pad

SPACE.com Download time: May 4 2008 7:44 AM ET

The space shuttle Discovery rolled out to its Florida launch pad early Saturday as NASA prepares to launch a massive Japanese laboratory later this month.

Commanded by veteran astronaut Mark Kelly, Discovery's seven-astronaut crew is set to launch May 31 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Cape Canaveral, Fla., to deliver Japan's Kibo module, the largest laboratory planned for the International Space Station (ISS).

"We're really excited to be within 30 days [of liftoff]," Kelly told reporters this week. "We're looking forward to the next three weeks of training and then the launch."…

See SPACE.com for links to further info.

Shuttle on pad for May 31 blastoff

floridatoday.com - Space Download time: May 4 2008 7:46 AM ET

After a predawn rollout Saturday, Discovery sits on launch pad 39A, awaiting its 35th mission -- the most of any shuttle

But the venerable spacecraft was refurbished before its return to flight in 2005, and Discovery, like all shuttles, is carefully inspected before each mission to repair wear and tear.

"We have inspections we go through on a regular basis to keep an eye on that type thing," NASA Flow Director Stephanie Stilson said.…

Space Shuttle Discovery Arrives at Launch Pad, Countdown Test Set

SpaceRef ISS Top Stories Download time: May 4 2008 7:45 AM ET

After safely reaching its launch pad Discovery now awaits its next major milestone for the upcoming STS-124 mission. A launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown demonstration test, is scheduled to take place at Kennedy from May 6 to 9.

Space Weather

Solar activity, auroras & magnetic storms, and the solar wind

A space weather FAQ

The Wikipedia article on space weather

Mercury at Sunset

MERCURY RISING

SpaceWeather.com May 4 2008

Lately, have you noticed a bright star hanging in the western sky at sunset? That's no star--it's Mercury. The innermost planet is emerging from the glare of the sun and putting on its best show of 2008. Here is the view on May 2nd from Tijeras, New Mexico: [left].…

Mercury will be visible every night for the next two weeks, but there is one night better than the others: May 6th when the crescent Moon glides by Mercury forming a beautiful and eye-catching duo. Mark your calendar and take a look: sky map.

See SpaceWeather.com for links to further info.

The Global Environment

Global climate change, the ozone layer, and other world environmental issues

Global warming in the Wikipedia

A NASA reference article on global warming

Global Warming FAQs:

US National Climate Data Center
Natural Resources Defense Council
Union of Concerned Scientists
Skepticism About Global Warming from Brian Carnell's Skepticism.net
See Wikipedia for both sides of the debate

Information on abrupt climate change (Could something like the "Day After Tomorrow" scenario happen?)

Science @ NASA
The Weather Underground
Abrupt Climate Change FAQ from the Union of Concerned Scientists
The Wikipedia on abrupt climate change
Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises — free online book from the National Academies Press

Ozone Layer FAQs:

Ozone Hole FAQ from The Weather Underground
Ozone Depletion FAQs from faqs.org

Record Summer Arctic Sea Ice Loss Predicted

Record Arctic Sea Ice Melt Predicted for Summer

Wired Top Stories Download time: May 4 2008 7:46 AM ET

he Arctic will remain on thinning ice, and climate warming is expected to begin affecting the Antarctic also, scientists said Friday.

"The long-term prognosis is not very optimistic," atmospheric scientist Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University said at a briefing.

Last summer sea ice in the North shrank to a record low, a change many attribute to global warming.…

Mars

Mars and Its Moons

Background information about Mars

NASA's Mars Rover site at JPL

A gallery of Spirit's images and slideshow

A gallery of Opportunity's images and slideshow

Google Mars

Mars Global Surveyor

Mars Odyssey

Mars Express orbiter

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)

Mars Phoenix Lander

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Mapping Mars' Water History

Mapping Mars from Wet to Dry

Astrobiology Magazine May 4 2008

A new online map lets visitors explore Mars' past through a collection of high-resolution observations from one of the most powerful spectrometers ever sent to the Red Planet. Evidence of ancient bodies of water, flowing rivers and groundwater peeks out from beneath layers of hardened magma and dust—testaments to Mars' progression through wet, volcanic and dry eras. Understanding the history of water on Mars will help scientists determine whether or not the planet could have supported life in its past.

The data come from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), on board NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. CRISM's primary mission is to search for signs that liquid water once existed on Mars by identifying minerals that form only in the presence of water. Molecules of water trapped in these minerals leave particular patterns in the sunlight that reflects off of them and into CRISM, which senses up to 544 "colors," or wavelengths, of light.…

See Astrobiology Magazine for links to further info.

Astrotech

All forms of astronomical technology

Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Soon to Launch

Searching The Heavens For Pulsars And Supermassive Black Holes

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News Download time: May 4 2008 7:46 AM ET

A new space mission, due to launch this month, is going to shed light on some of the most extreme astrophysical processes in nature - including pulsars, remnants of supernovae, and supermassive black holes. It could even help us comprehend the origin and distribution of dark matter, write three scientists currently preparing for the GLAST mission from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, in Physics World.The Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), to be launched on 16 May 2008, is a four-tonne observatory packed with state-of-the-art particle detectors that will study the gamma-ray sky in unprecedented detail.…