Posts Made By: Maurice Clark

Hi all,

Just released: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=1372

A huge annular feature with an outer diameter of approximately 440 kilometers (273 miles) appears in this image taken with Cassini's Titan radar mapper. It resembles a large crater or part of a ringed basin, either of which could be formed when a comet or asteroid tens of kilometers in size slammed into Titan. This is the first impact feature identified in radar images of Titan.

Fantastic image!!!

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi all,

Cassini has started to return images from last night's flyby of Enceladus. From the look of them, they will have scientists arguing for quite some time!!

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/raw/raw-images-list.cfm?browseLatest=0&cacheQ=0&storedQ=0

Cheers,

Maurice

See this link!

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ecard/sendName_ecard_content.html

I am number 450 and THE BOSS is number 451

First Mars, then a comet, then Saturn, and now Pluto. Hey its fun touring the solar system!! 8)

Cheers,

Maurice

Check out this tennis match!!!! 8O 8O 8O

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/photo_galleries/4289977.stm

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi all,

This could be interesting!

Cheers,

Maurice

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMTBYEM4E_index_0.html

ESA's comet chaser to fly by Earth
European Space Agency
23 February 2005

ESA's comet-chaser Rosetta will make a fly-by of planet Earth on 4 March 2005, and sky watchers should be able to see it with telescopes or binoculars if the sky is clear! Read on for details of ESA's 'Rosetta Up Close' photo contest.

Rosetta is approaching Earth from an area in the sky between the constellations Leo and Sextans, and should first become visible to large amateur telescopes around 26 February 2005.

The spacecraft will make its closest approach to Earth at about 23:10 CET and come within 1900 kilometres, at which time it will be over Mexico, having already passed over Europe.

Watchers in Europe may have best evening view

On the evening of the closest approach, sky watchers in Europe will be favourably placed to follow this event using smaller telescopes or binoculars. Unfortunately, Rosetta is not expected to become visible to the naked eye from Europe as it will still be about 10 000 kilometres away until it disappears below the horizon.

However, amateur astronomers using video or photo-imaging in conjunction with a telescope should have a great viewing opportunity - weather permitting. They may even be able to see Rosetta's solar panels, which extend over 32 metres; the high-gain antenna may also be distinguishable.

After sunset on 4 March, it will appear to travel from south east to south west, moving from the constellation Sextans towards the setting Sun, crossing the complete sky. It will move faster as it heads west, disappearing below the horizon around 23:00 CET. As seen from Europe it will only reach a 'magnitude' of about +8 or +9 on the brightness scale used by astronomers. This is dimmer than a typical faint star and not readily apparent to the eye.

Hi all,

Western Australia is known as "The Wildflower State" because it has more native flowering plants fould only in that region, than anywhere else in the world. The native ecology is dependent on flowers and their nectar, so there is never a time in the year when there is not something in the bush putting on a display. Some of them look very unusual, compared to European or North American flora. Here are a couple.

First up, Melaleuca lateritica. A shrub up to 3m high with a similar spread. Grows naturally in the drier regions of the south west, bordering on the interior deserts. Flowers mostly deep red but sometimes orange. In fill bloom, the flowers completely cover the plant.

Hi all,

This has got to be one of the most iodiotic decisions coming from NASA in recent times. Shutting down a project to save just $4m! Other space missions are at risk as well. 8O > >

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/voyager1-05a.html

What is the USA coming to for space exploration?

Regards,

Maurice

Hi all,

More worrying news for the USA economy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4340217.stm

The inflow of about $2bn a day, estimated by some economists to be about 80% of the world's excess savings, also keeps the dollar from sliding further and faster.

So around 80% of the world's savings is required to stop the slide in the US$! That cannot be sustainable. As stated in the article, several countries are already starting to diversify their currency holdings. If oil ever starts being sold in anything other than US$, look out USA!

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi all,

I see the new administrator for NASA has been named. Michael D. Griffin, the head of Johns Hopkins University's space department, was nominated to be the administrator of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, the White House announced today.

Surprise surprise! This guy is actually a SCIENTIST, not a bean counter!!!!!!!!!!!!! Works at the APL in Maryland. Hopefully this is a good sign for the future of NASA.

Appears to have said some interesting things about the future of the ISS also.

But the more important question is whether the return to be obtained from the use of ISS to support exploration objectives is worth the money yet to be invested in its completion. The nation, through the NASA budget, plans to allocate $32 B to ISS (including ISS transport) through 2016, and another $28 B to shuttle operations through 2011. This total of $60 B is significantly higher than NASA's current allocation for human lunar return. It is beyond reason to believe that ISS can help to fulfill any objective, or set of objectives, for space exploration that would be worth the $60 B remaining to be invested in the program.

(Too bad for Hoaxland though!!! WARNING!!: Eye protection is advised!!!! http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page764.html?theme=light)

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi all,

Just saw this at another BB.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/spirit_dust_050312.html

Apparently a dust devil passed over the rover and gave it a cleaning. The power output from the solar panels shot up from 40% below normal to only 7%!

A picture of one of the dust devils is below.

Now why does that never happen to my car!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Maurice