New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

Palomar · 2003-08-09 06:38:40

--Cindy

Josh Cryer · 2003-08-09 09:11:30

Wow, that picture was taken with a 14"!?! I should seriously take my small scope out, I should be able to make out the caps.

I hope that this doesn't affect the rover missions. They won't be landing for awhile now, though, so I don't think this particular storm will. I can't recall any storms lasting more than a month or two.

Palomar · 2003-08-11 09:55:33

This is a "wedding"?

*To each their own, but to not even be standing side-by-side, much less cutting the cake together and no wedding night together (in the same bed)? No thanks.

Didn't know where else to put this.

--Cindy

Josh Cryer · 2003-08-11 11:30:51

Yeah, I saw that too and wanted to post it here. It's certainly cute. I think that vitrual stuff will be more pronounced as distances become greater and greater. I can see people on Luna conversing with family (even perhaps building relationships) on Earth. So yeah, even though it's somewhat weird, I think it's the beginning of this sort of thing.

Also, last night I had a look at Mars.

First time I can remember ever actually seeing the caps (the detail was astounding given the low power on my scope). Just thought I'd share.

I need someone with a bigger scope.

Palomar · 2003-08-11 16:34:51

Also, last night I had a look at Mars.
First time I can remember ever actually seeing the caps (the detail was astounding given the low power on my scope). Just thought I'd share.
I need someone with a bigger scope.

*Cool.

I've been having a dickens of a time getting to see Mars. The weather in my region is usually cloud-free anyway, but this summer has had an unusual predominance of clouds (although, ironically, we're in drought conditions) and most mornings have high hazy clouds. I've only been able to see Mars 2 or 3 times. I meant to take my telescope out this morning, but I overslept.

Ho well.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-08-12 07:15:24

"Even Asteroids Have Moons (!!)"

*Last week I got the 30th anniversary issue of "Astronomy" magazine (I used to prefer "Sky & Telescope" to it, but that's changing...). A special section entitled "30 Great Astronomical Images" showed a photo of something I'm rather certain I hadn't seen before...an asteroid with its own orbiting satellite. Geesh, what WILL Mother Nature think of next??

Ida and Dactyl are shown together in the 4th photograph in the link I provided; it's the same photo as in the magazine.

The photo was taken in 1993, so I guess I'm 10 years late on this one.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-08-13 05:50:11

Mars' Moons 2003

*The first line of this article asks: "Have you ever seen Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, in your telescope?"

Oh ha ha. I'd be happy just to get another gander at Mars itself in my telescope before the 27th! I got up early this a.m. to do just that: Clouds. When it's usually clear as a bell here. Murphy's Law, dang it...and just my luck (all last month, too).

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-08-13 06:19:34

*Well glory be! The clouds in the west peeled back enough for me to hurry out with my 'scope and get a good look at Mars. There was already quite a bit of dawnlight and I was hurrying against the impending sunlight [I thought this must be what it's like for a vampire, ha ha] to get my 'scope out, set, and find my highest-magnification eyepiece.

Well...it's a very small orange disc and I cannot make out ice caps. However, I was able to see a smudge of darker orange-brown on the left side of Mars' face.

And miracle of all miracles...my husband wanted to look too! I'd awakened him upon retrieving another eyepiece from the closet; I told him to come look at Mars...he said he'd be out there "soon"...I said you'd better hurry, the sun's coming up. I asked him if he also saw the darker orange-brown smudge I'd seen (just to be sure it wasn't wishful thinking on my part); he said yes.

Well.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-08-14 12:59:36

An exotic kind of explosive that releases a devastating blast of gamma rays is being developed by the US Department of Defence. But such weapons would blur the distinction between nuclear and conventional weapons. Some even fear a new arms race. One gram of the explosive could store more energy than 50 kg of TNT, while the rays emitted would kill every living thing in the vicinity .
Gamma-ray weapons could trigger next arms race
Wicked fools !!!

*Oh wonderful.

Any guess -- anyone -- as to the seeming Death Wish which seems prevalent in our species?

"All we are saying is give peace a chance!" I think the official song of Mars should be "Imagine" by John Lennon!

--Cindy

Josh Cryer · 2003-08-14 13:15:20

I'm glad you had a chance to look at Mars, Cindy.

Your posts makes me question whether or not I actually saw the caps, though. They were really visible here, and there's lots of light polution! I might've imagined it, or it could've been a mirror thing (my optics are really old).

Palomar · 2003-08-15 05:35:12

Schiparelli Basin on Mars

*Look at the SIZE of this thing!

--Cindy

Josh Cryer · 2003-08-15 10:22:24

Reminds me of one of my favorite songs...

Further By VNV Nation:

At the end of days, at the end of time.
When the Sun burns out will any of this matter?
Who will be there to remember who we were?
Who will be there to know that any of this had
meaning for us?

And in retrospect I'll say we've done no wrong.
Who are we to judge what's right and what has
purpose for us?
With designs upon ourselves to do no wrong,
running wild unaware of what might come of us.

Palomar · 2003-08-16 08:20:42

"Deciding Hubble's Future"

*In a different thread the question came up as to what will become of Hubble. I think it was the "What's the best telescope" thread by dickbill.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-08-16 10:39:42

Canadian Space Telescope in Orbit

*My goodness...our neighbors to the north sure are a quiet bunch! If Robert Dyck or dicktice posted about this previously, I apparently missed it. The 'scope was launched from Russia.

The more, the merrier!

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2003-08-17 02:55:28

Hi Cindy!
Your Schiaparelli Basin on Mars looks a bit like Saturn to me!

Josh Cryer · 2003-08-19 04:29:52

Well, I guess this thread is being stable. As soon as it veers off into oblivion (ie, Adrian feels it's too unstable to mess with and locks it), though, let's resume in the New Discoveries *2* thread.

Anyway, caught slashdot today, and it seems the Russians are yet again blowing smoke.

http://science.slashdot.org/science....tid=160

I'm skeptical because of a posters comment regarding the Russian translation of it. Apparently it's all theoretical and they wouldn't know how to get the reactor there in the first place.

If only Russians had for all this time been working on auxon-type technology, we might have achieved something useful.

Palomar · 2003-08-19 05:44:04

"Mars Through a Small Telescope"

*Nice.

--Cindy

P.S.: Hopefully this thread will remain stable a while longer...I agree with you, Josh. I was able to access Shaun's most recent post with no trouble, but later that same day I couldn't access the thread again. Hmmmmmm. BTW, Shaun, how does the photo of the Schiaparelli Basin put you in mind of Saturn? To me, it looks like an immense wannabe swimming pool.

It also reminds me of a sunny-side-up egg right now, but that could be because it's 5:47 a.m. and I'm ready for breakfast! :laugh:

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2003-08-19 05:57:24

Oh boy!!
The other day, when I clicked on the link in Cindy's 'Schiaparelli Basin' post, I got a nice picture of Saturn ... twice!
Now when I click on it, I get 'Mars Through a Small Telescope' !!

I'm now going to try clicking on 'Mars Through a Small Telescope'. I wonder if I'll get Schiaparelli Basin on Mars??!!!

Shaun Barrett · 2003-08-19 06:09:07

Nope!
This time I actually got what I ordered ... 'Mars Through a Small Telescope'.

P.S. What's "5:47 a.m." ?
And what's it got to do with breakfast?

Wait, wait!! I just looked it up. Apparently the term "5:47 a.m." relates to something called "Early in the Morning".
Funny .. I always thought morning started at about something called "Seven O'Clock". (Or preferably some time after that!! )

Palomar · 2003-08-19 07:44:14

Oh boy!!
The other day, when I clicked on the link in Cindy's 'Schiaparelli Basin' post, I got a nice picture of Saturn ... twice!
Now when I click on it, I get 'Mars Through a Small Telescope' !!

I'm now going to try clicking on 'Mars Through a Small Telescope'. I wonder if I'll get Schiaparelli Basin on Mars??!!!

*::slaps self on forehead:: Good grief! Well, the links all work okay for me.

Hmmmm. Let me know what other unrelated photos you're getting via the links...though I'd have no explanation for it of course.

Maybe our computers are ingesting hallucinogens while we sleep.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-08-19 10:52:48

Nope!
This time I actually got what I ordered ... 'Mars Through a Small Telescope'.

P.S. What's "5:47 a.m." ?
And what's it got to do with breakfast?
Wait, wait!! I just looked it up. Apparently the term "5:47 a.m." relates to something called "Early in the Morning".
Funny .. I always thought morning started at about something called "Seven O'Clock". (Or preferably some time after that!! )

Plans for Extending Hubble's Life

*Excellent article...I hope they do!

"Hubble was originally projected to have a 15-year lifespan, but NASA now estimates it could last until 2010 with one shuttle servicing mission. That mission is tentative pending NASA's return to shuttle flight, which is unlikely before next April."

I definitely think that 1 servicing mission is worth it, to extend Hubble's life another 6-1/2 years.

Shaun, I nearly missed your post. We must have crossed somewhere in cyberspace. My morning starts at 4:30 a.m...but not by choice. You gave me a giggle, though.

(...vacationing on the Gold Coast while I sit here 10 hours a day busting my fingers, slaving over a keyboard!!...mumble, mumble, mutter...) :;):

--Cindy

Free Spirit · 2003-08-19 18:14:15

If the government no longer wants to foot the tab for keeping Hubble alive they should look into donating the thing to another country or institution that would be willing to take over operations until the thing dies.

Palomar · 2003-08-19 18:55:51

If the government no longer wants to foot the tab for keeping Hubble alive they should look into donating the thing to another country or institution that would be willing to take over operations until the thing dies.

*That's an excellent idea, FreeSpirit!

---

My community is getting revved up for August 27; there used to be a person posting here who lives in El Paso...might be some message board lurkers from "around these here parts" reading here as well, so what the heck:

"The Astronomical Society of Las Cruces will be holding a Special Program on Mars on both August 27th and 30th starting at 8:00 PM with a talk on Mars by Planetary Scientist Dr Jim Murphy, who specializes in the study of Mars. After the talk there will be several telescopes available for first hand viewing of our neighbor the Red Planet Mars. This program will take place at the Tombaugh Observatory on the NMSU Campus behind the Tennis Center on Williams Ave."

If you're wondering if I'm going, the answer is NO. This city is crazy; most people here stampede like mad to the opening of a frickin' envelope. Crowds, congestion, heat...who needs it? Not even for this event.

--Cindy

TJohn · 2003-08-19 19:51:24

You guys are lucky. I currently live in Nebraska near Omaha and the planetarium here is closed for good!!!! Although, in Lincoln, their putting a lot of effort into Aug. 27th. I know of no one around here who is even remotely interested in astronomy. I have some binoculars but I really can't see anything of interest with them. Man, I really wanted to actually see Mars through a scope.

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#376 2003-08-09 06:38:40

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#377 2003-08-09 09:11:30

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#378 2003-08-11 09:55:33

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#379 2003-08-11 11:30:51

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#380 2003-08-11 16:34:51

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#381 2003-08-12 07:15:24

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#382 2003-08-13 05:50:11

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#383 2003-08-13 06:19:34

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#384 2003-08-14 12:59:36

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#385 2003-08-14 13:15:20

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#386 2003-08-15 05:35:12

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#387 2003-08-15 10:22:24

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#388 2003-08-16 08:20:42

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#389 2003-08-16 10:39:42

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#390 2003-08-17 02:55:28

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#391 2003-08-19 04:29:52

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#392 2003-08-19 05:44:04

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#393 2003-08-19 05:57:24

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#394 2003-08-19 06:09:07

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#395 2003-08-19 07:44:14

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#396 2003-08-19 10:52:48

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#397 2003-08-19 18:14:15

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#398 2003-08-19 18:55:51

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

#399 2003-08-19 19:51:24

Re: New Discoveries - Extraplanetary, deep space, etc.

Board footer