Space news topic and space related news

[Irtaviš Ačankif]

They seem to make a big deal about little changes in the size of astronomical bodies.

A few years ago, when Mars was at closest approach for thousands of years, they made a big deal about it (and it did look impressive in the sky and in a 'scope). Now, there is a persistent story that comes out every summer, that states that 'Mars will be as big as the moon', that us astronomers have to debunk. This was the result of one spectacularly badly worded NASA press release.

hrh yeah that seems to be persistent. It seems like people believe that all astronomical phenomena are annually periodic

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

They seem to make a big deal about little changes in the size of astronomical bodies.

A few years ago, when Mars was at closest approach for thousands of years, they made a big deal about it (and it did look impressive in the sky and in a 'scope). Now, there is a persistent story that comes out every summer, that states that 'Mars will be as big as the moon', that us astronomers have to debunk. This was the result of one spectacularly badly worded NASA press release.

hrh yeah that seems to be persistent. It seems like people believe that all astronomical phenomena are annually periodic

Naw, it is more placating the idiot masses. If it is on TV it MUST be true, right?

[Alyara Arati]

Super Moon is returning back, on May 5 the Moon coming close as 221,802 miles(356,955 km)

http://www.space.com/15474-supermoon-full-moon-2012.html

Hope I can see it this year, I saw it last year

This year is it later, last year it was in march

I agree with you ma tsmukan.  Maybe it is "no big deal", but I still think it's very cool.  Plus, oooh, pretty!

[Irtaviš Ačankif]

I actually pointed my little manually pointed telescope on the balcony through extremely polluted and lit-up Beijing air to look at the moon. It was bigger relative to the scope (around 10 percent) and it made the craters etc a bit easier to see. The 'scope isn't compatible with cameras though...

Despite the immense pollution, I managed to zoom in on Mars enough to glimpse Deimos and Phobos as tiny specks of light. I thought they were from diffaction, but they persisted when I changed the zooming and I confirmed with Stellarium that they were at the positions I observed. It was so cool!

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

I tried to use our backyard telescope years ago. Could not figure out how to do the lenses. Pity. I'd love to see our moon in a different light (other than on pages in a book or on TV) and would also love to see Mars at any level. Phobos and Deimos, I hope do not fall prey to the asteroid mining/farming that some companies hope to try in our future.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

folkz in the North-East Asia and the U.S

Don't forget the solar eclipse on May 20

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Geez. It centers virtually over ME on the waning in Oregon. Nice! Typically when we have stellar events like that, or a meteor shower we are getting showers of a wetter fashion as well... In other words, Oregon likes to be in bad weather during these things

Sure hope not. I like seeing stuff happen from space.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

Geez. It centers virtually over ME on the waning in Oregon. Nice! Typically when we have stellar events like that, or a meteor shower we are getting showers of a wetter fashion as well... In other words, Oregon likes to be in bad weather during these things

Sure hope not. I like seeing stuff happen from space.

It will be an anullar eclipse, so watch your eyes, use the solar eclipse glasses


Partial begin: 20:56:07 UTC
Total begin: 22:06:17 UTC
Greatest eclipse: 23:53:54 UTC
Total end: 1:39:11 UTC
Partial end: 2:49:21 UTC

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Geez. It centers virtually over ME on the waning in Oregon. Nice! Typically when we have stellar events like that, or a meteor shower we are getting showers of a wetter fashion as well... In other words, Oregon likes to be in bad weather during these things

Sure hope not. I like seeing stuff happen from space.

It will be an anullar eclipse, so watch your eyes, use the solar eclipse glasses


Partial begin: 20:56:07 UTC
Total begin: 22:06:17 UTC
Greatest eclipse: 23:53:54 UTC
Total end: 1:39:11 UTC
Partial end: 2:49:21 UTC

Oh I know not to look at em. Thanks for the reminder though for our other aysmuk.

[Nì'awtua Eyktan]

Phobos and Deimos, I hope do not fall prey to the asteroid mining/farming that some companies hope to try in our future.

From Wikipedia.

Spoiler

Because Phobos's orbital period is shorter than a Martian day, tidal deceleration is decreasing its orbital radius at the rate of about 20 metres (66 ft) per century. In an estimated 11 million years it will either impact the surface of Mars or, more probably, break up into a planetary ring. Given Phobos' irregular shape and assuming that it is a pile of rubble (specifically a Mohr–Coulomb body), it has been calculated that Phobos is currently stable with respect to tidal forces. But it is estimated that Phobos will pass the Roche limit for a rubble pile when its orbital radius drops by a little over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) to about 7,100 kilometers (4,400 mi). Newer calculations suggests this will happen in about 7.6 million years from now. At this distance, Phobos will probably begin to break up and form a ring system which will continue to spiral slowly into Mars.

So lets mine the #¤%$ out of it before it crashes.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

Phobos and Deimos, I hope do not fall prey to the asteroid mining/farming that some companies hope to try in our future.

From Wikipedia.

Spoiler

Because Phobos's orbital period is shorter than a Martian day, tidal deceleration is decreasing its orbital radius at the rate of about 20 metres (66 ft) per century. In an estimated 11 million years it will either impact the surface of Mars or, more probably, break up into a planetary ring. Given Phobos' irregular shape and assuming that it is a pile of rubble (specifically a Mohr–Coulomb body), it has been calculated that Phobos is currently stable with respect to tidal forces. But it is estimated that Phobos will pass the Roche limit for a rubble pile when its orbital radius drops by a little over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) to about 7,100 kilometers (4,400 mi). Newer calculations suggests this will happen in about 7.6 million years from now. At this distance, Phobos will probably begin to break up and form a ring system which will continue to spiral slowly into Mars.

So lets mine the #¤%$ out of it before it crashes.

We have plenty of time to mine it
We're not in a hurry

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Why not find a way to force it into the Martian surface? Could boost our ability to start a terraforming project on that planet.

[Niri Te]

Phobos and Deimos, I hope do not fall prey to the asteroid mining/farming that some companies hope to try in our future.

From Wikipedia.

Spoiler

Because Phobos's orbital period is shorter than a Martian day, tidal deceleration is decreasing its orbital radius at the rate of about 20 metres (66 ft) per century. In an estimated 11 million years it will either impact the surface of Mars or, more probably, break up into a planetary ring. Given Phobos' irregular shape and assuming that it is a pile of rubble (specifically a Mohr–Coulomb body), it has been calculated that Phobos is currently stable with respect to tidal forces. But it is estimated that Phobos will pass the Roche limit for a rubble pile when its orbital radius drops by a little over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) to about 7,100 kilometers (4,400 mi). Newer calculations suggests this will happen in about 7.6 million years from now. At this distance, Phobos will probably begin to break up and form a ring system which will continue to spiral slowly into Mars.

So lets mine the #¤%$ out of it before it crashes.

We have plenty of time to mine it
We're not in a hurry

That assumes that we don't manage, as a species, to either strip the planet bare, totally destroy it's atmosphere by the population bomb, or either render it totally lifeless by nuclear war, or unleash some new, incurable designer, killer virus on it in a biological war.
Niri Te

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

Why not find a way to force it into the Martian surface? Could boost our ability to start a terraforming project on that planet.

Yes, it could increase temperature, but then is it the gravity and the atmosphere. The atmosphere is very thin, and it's much more UV radiation than it is here on Earth. the satellites who orbits Earth, there is it 2.4 times more UV radiation than it is on International Space Station

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

I completely agree with Niri. I am strongly of the opinion that humanity should remain on the planet that they kill. The Earth.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

I completely agree with Niri. I am strongly of the opinion that humanity should remain on the planet that they kill. The Earth.

So we are gonna destroy ourselves, we're gonna extinct this civilization?

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

I completely agree with Niri. I am strongly of the opinion that humanity should remain on the planet that they kill. The Earth.

So we are gonna destroy ourselves, we're gonna extinct this civilization?

I absolutely think so. We'll end up taking most of this planets life with us. But the Earth has survived extinctions before and life has taken it back several times in the past. This is no different aside from the fact that it is not a natural extinction this time, but one created by a single, destructive, virus of a species.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

I completely agree with Niri. I am strongly of the opinion that humanity should remain on the planet that they kill. The Earth.

So we are gonna destroy ourselves, we're gonna extinct this civilization?

I absolutely think so. We'll end up taking most of this planets life with us. But the Earth has survived extinctions before and life has taken it back several times in the past. This is no different aside from the fact that it is not a natural extinction this time, but one created by a single, destructive, virus of a species.

I see that many are preparing for a World War III, many countries is preparing

Iran, North-Korea,
Pakistan(http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/editorial/2012/04/26/3830.html)


http://www.ukprogressive.co.uk/review-of-towards-a-world-war-iii-scenario-the-dangers-of-nuclear-war/article18459.html


I'm pretty sure the next world war will come in the next 10 years

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

Seeing Demios and Phobos would be quite a feat, and hats off to you, ma Uniltìrantokx te Skxawng if you did observe them. I have never sen them in 7 years of active observing. Nevertheless, Mars is cool right now, and right near the lion star Regulus   I will make a concerted effort to see them next time I have the 'scope out.

The solar eclipse on May 20th is very visible here in Reno, Nevada. If you can be in the area, join us for a group solar eclipse viewing at the University of Nevada MaClean Observatory. It should be a lot of fun! (I am the president of the local astronomy club here in Reno, the Astronomical Society of Nevada.)

Venus is excellent right now, as a small crescent. It is amazingly bright, considering how little of it is actually illuminated. Venus will rapidly 'fall out of the sky' this month is it moves in position to transit the sun on June 5th. This will be a more exceptional event than even the aforementioned eclipse, as it won't happen again for 114 years. This transit will be visible across much of the US, and I think, in the far east.

Saturn, while not at its best, is also a good object to view right now. It is near the star Spica right now.

[Meuiama Tsamsiyu (Toruk Makto)]

Seeing Demios and Phobos would be quite a feat, and hats off to you, ma Uniltìrantokx te Skxawng if you did observe them. I have never sen them in 7 years of active observing. Nevertheless, Mars is cool right now, and right near the lion star Regulus   I will make a concerted effort to see them next time I have the 'scope out.

The solar eclipse on May 20th is very visible here in Reno, Nevada. If you can be in the area, join us for a group solar eclipse viewing at the University of Nevada MaClean Observatory. It should be a lot of fun! (I am the president of the local astronomy club here in Reno, the Astronomical Society of Nevada.)

Venus is excellent right now, as a small crescent. It is amazingly bright, considering how little of it is actually illuminated. Venus will rapidly 'fall out of the sky' this month is it moves in position to transit the sun on June 5th. This will be a more exceptional event than even the aforementioned eclipse, as it won't happen again for 114 years. This transit will be visible across much of the US, and I think, in the far east.

Saturn, while not at its best, is also a good object to view right now. It is near the star Spica right now.

I think Mars is a fascinating . Wonder if there are still active geologics like earthquakes on it. I understand that the vulcanism has ceased.

Do we know what time on the 20th the eclipse is? I wish to observe it too. I know as it wanes over the edge of the planet Earth over the states it takes a path right over Oregon/Nevada.

I have seen Venus late at night. Very bright. For such a bright, peaceful looking planet at this distance. It is a death ball of acidic gases. Too hot to form rain. Pity. Our sister world would have been a likely candidate for the next planet visited.