Neil Armstrong flew78 combat missions off the decks of aircraft carriers as a young Navy pilot during the Korean War. Following his wishes, his remains will be buried at sea.
That will give Armstrong another tie to Christopher Columbus. The exact final resting place of Columbus is unclear; more than one spot claims that distinction. Now, there will be no grave for Armstrong, either.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
An Ocean Inside Triton?
Researchers are looking at the possibility that a water ocean may exist under the ice shell of Neptune's largest moon, Triton.
They theorize Triton is a Kuiper Belt object that was captured by Neptune's gravity. They think that because Triton orbits Neptune in the opposite direction from other moons in the Solar System. If captured, the original orbit likely would've been highly elliptical, but the current orbit is almost perfectly round. The energy involved in slowly reshaping that orbit, along with other possible energy-producing processes, could have produced enough heat to keep a water ocean-- especially one liberally laced with ammonia-- liquid under the shell.
Of course, an energy source plus liquid water opens the possibility of life.
They theorize Triton is a Kuiper Belt object that was captured by Neptune's gravity. They think that because Triton orbits Neptune in the opposite direction from other moons in the Solar System. If captured, the original orbit likely would've been highly elliptical, but the current orbit is almost perfectly round. The energy involved in slowly reshaping that orbit, along with other possible energy-producing processes, could have produced enough heat to keep a water ocean-- especially one liberally laced with ammonia-- liquid under the shell.
Of course, an energy source plus liquid water opens the possibility of life.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Odd Star
Globular clusters are huge groups of stars held together in a spherical formation by their mutual gravitational attraction. Because such clusters are physical associations, all the stars in a given cluster are about the same age.
Messier 4 is a well-known globular cluster among astronomers, amateur and professional. Recently, however, professiomal astronomers have found an odd star in M4. While the cluster is made up of older stars, one star seems much younger. Astronomers tell the age of stars by their chemical composition. The star in question still has a component of lithium, an element that is usually used up early in a star's life. So, either this star is very young, or its lithium is somehow replenished. Either way, it's interesting.
Messier 4 is a well-known globular cluster among astronomers, amateur and professional. Recently, however, professiomal astronomers have found an odd star in M4. While the cluster is made up of older stars, one star seems much younger. Astronomers tell the age of stars by their chemical composition. The star in question still has a component of lithium, an element that is usually used up early in a star's life. So, either this star is very young, or its lithium is somehow replenished. Either way, it's interesting.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Kepler 47
NASA recently announced the discovery of a binary star system, dubbed Kepler 47 after the spacecraft that found it, that is 5,000 light years away. Kepler 47 is particularly interesting because it has at least two planets, one of which orbits solidly within the system's habitable zone.
That planet is a gas giant, so it's unlikely to support life. A large moon, however, might, as could a rocky planet nearby. The discovery is important because it suggests life could arise on a planet in a binary system. Since most stars are in multiple-star systems, if life could exist in those systems, the number of possible abodes of life would be greatly expanded.
That planet is a gas giant, so it's unlikely to support life. A large moon, however, might, as could a rocky planet nearby. The discovery is important because it suggests life could arise on a planet in a binary system. Since most stars are in multiple-star systems, if life could exist in those systems, the number of possible abodes of life would be greatly expanded.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Uwingu To Fund SETI
Uwingu, a new firm set up to aid the funding of science projects in these days of government debt and deficits which result in reduced government spending for science, technology, engineering, and math, has announced it will help fund the SETI Institute's Allen Telescope Array.
The ATA, the largest radio telescope installation in the world devoted primarily to the search for signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, was shut down a good part of last year because of funding shortfalls.
The ATA, the largest radio telescope installation in the world devoted primarily to the search for signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, was shut down a good part of last year because of funding shortfalls.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Prepping For An Asteroid Mission
NASA recently conducted a 10-day simulated manned exploration of an asteroid in preparation for meeting President Obama's goal of a manned mission to an asteroid by 2025. The agency is confident it will have the technology required to do the job.
At the moment, the biggest problem is that NASA has yet to find an asteroid that fits its criteria. NASA wants to fly about a 90-day mission, so it wants to find an asteroid that comes relatively close to Earth, and one that orbits in the same plane as Earth does. That would require less fuel to be brought along as less maneuvering would be needed to reach the asteroid.
At the moment, the biggest problem is that NASA has yet to find an asteroid that fits its criteria. NASA wants to fly about a 90-day mission, so it wants to find an asteroid that comes relatively close to Earth, and one that orbits in the same plane as Earth does. That would require less fuel to be brought along as less maneuvering would be needed to reach the asteroid.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Mars One Getting Funding
Mars One, a private Dutch effort to begin the colonization of Mars in 2023, has begun getting funding from five European firms that have signed on as sponsors.
Mars One thinks $6 billion will be needed to start colonization, and believes it can raise most of that through the vehicle of a reality style television show that will follow the project as it develops. The show is scheduled to begin next year, documenting the selection of a 40-person astronaut corrps.
Mars One thinks $6 billion will be needed to start colonization, and believes it can raise most of that through the vehicle of a reality style television show that will follow the project as it develops. The show is scheduled to begin next year, documenting the selection of a 40-person astronaut corrps.
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