Thursday, 9 February, 2012

What was learned on Columbia’s last, tragic mission?

Chandra, the X-ray astronomy telescope, is three years old. We ogle some of its greatest hits. Caution: These bangs are BIG!

Scientists have found ice on Mars. The frozen water, whose quantity may equal Lake Michigan, is within a meter of the surface.

Hubble Space Telescope is fixed, will add to history of discovery. Get a gander of galaxies, quasars, gamma ray sources, and other greatest hits of the greatest spyglass.

Moon was formed by impact of Theia with Earth. How do we know this, and why might we care?

What are the medical and psychological costs of long-term space travel? Radiation, isolation, osteoporosis: Sounds like a real picnic to us! Intrigued? You could always overwinter in the Antarctic…

New techniques give a better view of the sun, help predict flares, aurora and destruction from the sun. Like staying warm? Like radio? Love our sun!

Stray light interferes with the work of astronomers — and it’s a waste of energy. How to stop light pollution.

How bad is the asteroid threat to Earth, and what are they doing to find any killer asteroids out there? Read the delightful debate between the no-problem and the killer-asteroid schools of thought.

Uses of infrared radiation in cars, astronomy and meteorology.