First ARTEMIS Spacecraft Successfully Enters Lunar Orbit
The first of two ARTEMIS spacecraft has successfully entered lunar orbit.
The first of two ARTEMIS spacecraft has successfully entered lunar orbit.
Tag: science
First ARTEMIS Spacecraft Successfully Enters Lunar Orbit
Dawn’s approach to Vesta continues
Dawn’s approach to Vesta continues.
Starting at the beginning of the approach phase on May 3, Dawn interrupted thrusting once a week to photograph Vesta against the background stars. These images help navigators determine exactly where the probe is relative to its target. This technique does not replace other means of navigation but rather supplements them. One of the principal methods of establishing the spacecraft’s trajectory relies on accurately timing how long it takes radio signals, traveling, as all readers know, at the universal limit of the speed of light, to make the round trip between Earth and Dawn. Another uses the Doppler shift of the radio waves, or the slight change in pitch caused by the craft’s motion. These sensitive measurements remain essential to navigating the faraway ship as it sails the interplanetary seas.
Despite the very slow approach, the distance is small enough now that observing Vesta weekly is no longer sufficient. To achieve the navigational accuracy required to reach the intended orbit in early August, last week the frequency of imaging was increased to twice per week. In each session, half of the pictures are taken with long exposures to ensure many stars are detectable, thus overexposing the much brighter disc of the nearby Vesta. The other half use short exposures to ensure that the rocky world shows up correctly so its precise location can be measured. The visible and infrared mapping spectrometer has been commanded to observe Vesta during three of these sessions, each time providing valuable information that will help scientists select instrument settings for when Dawn is close enough to begin its detailed scientific measurements.
Dawn’s approach to Vesta continues.
Starting at the beginning of the approach phase on May 3, Dawn interrupted thrusting once a week to photograph Vesta against the background stars. These images help navigators determine exactly where the probe is relative to its target. This technique does not replace other means of navigation but rather supplements them. One of the principal methods of establishing the spacecraft’s trajectory relies on accurately timing how long it takes radio signals, traveling, as all readers know, at the universal limit of the speed of light, to make the round trip between Earth and Dawn. Another uses the Doppler shift of the radio waves, or the slight change in pitch caused by the craft’s motion. These sensitive measurements remain essential to navigating the faraway ship as it sails the interplanetary seas.
Despite the very slow approach, the distance is small enough now that observing Vesta weekly is no longer sufficient. To achieve the navigational accuracy required to reach the intended orbit in early August, last week the frequency of imaging was increased to twice per week. In each session, half of the pictures are taken with long exposures to ensure many stars are detectable, thus overexposing the much brighter disc of the nearby Vesta. The other half use short exposures to ensure that the rocky world shows up correctly so its precise location can be measured. The visible and infrared mapping spectrometer has been commanded to observe Vesta during three of these sessions, each time providing valuable information that will help scientists select instrument settings for when Dawn is close enough to begin its detailed scientific measurements.
More delays for the James Webb Space Telescope?
More delays for the James Webb Space Telescope?
More delays for the James Webb Space Telescope?
Everything Bad is Good For You
An independent panel of scientists has found that a $1.4 billion plan put forth by environmentalists to save the salmon of the northwest by destroying four hydroelectric dams and restricting water use was based on junk science.
An independent panel of scientists has found that a $1.4 billion plan put forth by environmentalists to save the salmon of the northwest by destroying four hydroelectric dams and restricting water use was based on junk science.
According to the just-released 350-page assessment, funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service, experts expressed “strong reservations” that the expensive effort could significantly increase the Chinook salmon population in the Klamath River system. . . . The report also states, “There are many pieces of information we do not know about the Klamath system, and none we know with absolute certainty. The process of developing the model, trying to reproduce historical conditions … must be internally consistent.”
An independent panel of scientists has found that a $1.4 billion plan put forth by environmentalists to save the salmon of the northwest by destroying four hydroelectric dams and restricting water use was based on junk science.
According to the just-released 350-page assessment, funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service, experts expressed “strong reservations” that the expensive effort could significantly increase the Chinook salmon population in the Klamath River system. . . . The report also states, “There are many pieces of information we do not know about the Klamath system, and none we know with absolute certainty. The process of developing the model, trying to reproduce historical conditions … must be internally consistent.”
NJ legislature passes ban on fracking, while NY considers lifting its ban
Who wins? NJ legislature has passed a ban on fracking for natural gas, while NY has moved to lift its ban.
Who wins? NJ legislature has passed a ban on fracking for natural gas, while NY has moved to lift its ban.
Breathtaking view of the central peak of Tycho Crater
Another astonishing space photograph, this time from lunar orbit, taken by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on June 11, 2011.
The image looks down at the central peak of Tycho crater, with enough detail to make out individual boulders at the summit. Go the link to see some closeups.
Mysterious Light Burst Captured by Hawaii Telescope
Mysterious bubble of light, caused by military suborbital rocket, captured by Hawaii telescopes.
Mysterious bubble of light, caused by military suborbital rocket, captured by Hawaii telescopes.
‘Dirty hack’ restores Cluster mission from near loss
A “dirty hack” has restored the Cluster solar wind mission from near loss.
A “dirty hack” has restored the Cluster solar wind mission from near loss.
Cassini looks past one Saturn moon to another
The image below was taken on January 11, 2011 by the space probe Cassini, in orbit around Saturn. First we see the southern polar regions of the moon Rhea, 949 miles in diameter. Beyond is the moon Dione, 698 miles across, appearing to sit on the rings of Saturn.
As far as I am concerned, this image, as well as almost every other image from Cassini, proves that any hotel built in orbit around Saturn is unquestionably going to be one of the hottest tourist spots in the solar system.
The Japanese solar sail Ikaros continues to function, more than 100 million miles from Earth
The Japanese solar sail Ikaros continues to function, more than 100 million miles from Earth.
The Japanese solar sail Ikaros continues to function, more than 100 million miles from Earth.
Discovering the original colors of fossils
A new technique gives clues to the original living colors of ancient fossils.
A new technique gives clues to the original living colors of ancient fossils.
A massive Windows botnet “almost indestructible,” say researchers
A massive Windows botnet is “almost indestructible,” say researchers.
A massive Windows botnet is “almost indestructible,” say researchers.
The most distant quasar ever found
Astronomers have found the most distant quasar ever, and are baffled by its existence.
The light from the quasar started its journey toward us when the universe was only 6% of its present age, a mere 770 million years after the Big Bang, at a redshift of about 7.1 [3]. “This gives astronomers a headache,” says lead author Daniel Mortlock, from Imperial College London. “It’s difficult to understand how a black hole a billion times more massive than the Sun can have grown so early in the history of the universe. It’s like rolling a snowball down the hill and suddenly you find that it’s 20 feet across!”
Astronomers have found the most distant quasar ever, and are baffled by its existence.
The light from the quasar started its journey toward us when the universe was only 6% of its present age, a mere 770 million years after the Big Bang, at a redshift of about 7.1 [3]. “This gives astronomers a headache,” says lead author Daniel Mortlock, from Imperial College London. “It’s difficult to understand how a black hole a billion times more massive than the Sun can have grown so early in the history of the universe. It’s like rolling a snowball down the hill and suddenly you find that it’s 20 feet across!”
Obama and Republicans in agreement: Senate should cancel next week’s vacation
Obama and Republicans in agreement: The Senate should cancel next week’s vacation.
Obama and Republicans in agreement: The Senate should cancel next week’s vacation.
Richard Feynman talks about light
Biosphere 2 gets a new owner and a boost in funding
Biosphere 2 gets a new owner and a boost in funding.
Biosphere 2 gets a new owner and a boost in funding.
AAAS campaigns to stop attacks on global warming advocates
The board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has issued a statement demanding that all attacks on global warming advocates cease.
Though they couch their wording as if they oppose all outside interference with the scientific process (a bad idea on its own), they conveniently only complain about the efforts of skeptics to challenge the work of scientists who support human-caused global warming.
Lawmakers and activist groups also have sought detailed disclosure of records from climate researchers. The American Tradition Institute (ATI) has asked the University of Virginia to turn over thousands of e-mails and documents written by Michael E. Mann, a former U-Va. professor and a prominent climate scientist. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a climate change skeptic, demanded many of the same documents last year in an effort to determine if Mann had somehow defrauded taxpayers in obtaining research grants. ATI also has sued NASA to disclose records detailing climate scientist James Hansen’s compliance with federal ethics and disclosure rules.
In other words, don’t question these people, only skeptics are open for attack.
The board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has issued a statement demanding that all attacks on global warming advocates cease.
Though they couch their wording as if they oppose all outside interference with the scientific process (a bad idea on its own), they conveniently only complain about the efforts of skeptics to challenge the work of scientists who support human-caused global warming.
Lawmakers and activist groups also have sought detailed disclosure of records from climate researchers. The American Tradition Institute (ATI) has asked the University of Virginia to turn over thousands of e-mails and documents written by Michael E. Mann, a former U-Va. professor and a prominent climate scientist. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a climate change skeptic, demanded many of the same documents last year in an effort to determine if Mann had somehow defrauded taxpayers in obtaining research grants. ATI also has sued NASA to disclose records detailing climate scientist James Hansen’s compliance with federal ethics and disclosure rules.
In other words, don’t question these people, only skeptics are open for attack.
Tim Pawlenty goes from advocate of global warming to skeptic
Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty switches from global warming advocate to skeptic.
This is just more fallout from Climategate and the unwillingness of scientists to clean house.
Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty switches from global warming advocate to skeptic.
This is just more fallout from Climategate and the unwillingness of scientists to clean house.
Biologist spared jail for grant fraud
A biologist was spared a jail sentence after being found guilty of falsifying data in order to get government research grants.
A biologist was spared a jail sentence after being found guilty of falsifying data in order to get government research grants.
Sunspots and the danger of crying wolf
It’s that time of year again, buckos. Every June, like clockwork, stories and op-eds like these start to flood the media:
- Washington Post: As the sun awakens, the power grid stands vulnerable.
- New York Times: How’s the Weather?
- Space.com: Earth Must Be Ready for Next Big Solar Storm.
- PC Magazine: Massive Solar Flare Misses Earth, but Are We Ready for the Big One?
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer: We could be due for a massive solar storm in 2011.
Not surprisingly, these stories always happen about the same time our federal bureaucracy puts together a one day June propaganda event called the Space Weather Enterprise Forum, designed to sell to journalists the idea that we are all gonna die if we don’t spend gazillions of dollars building satellites for tracking the sun’s behavior. Along with this conference come numerous press releases, written by the conference’s backers. Here for example is a quote from a press release emailed to me and many journalists:
Recent activity on the Sun, captured in stunning imagery from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and the resulting threat of significant radiation storms and radio blackouts here on Earth are vivid reminders of our need to better understand the science, improve our forecasts and warnings, and better prepare ourselves for severe space weather storms as the next solar maximum approaches.
The problem for these fear-mongers, however, is that shortly before their forum the scientists who actually study the sun held another press conference, where they laid out in exquisite detail the sun’s astonishing recent decline in activity, and how the next solar maximum will likely be the weakest in centuries and might very well be the last maximum we will see for decades to come.
In other words, the annual effort by government bureaucrats to drum up funding for more space weather facilities has collided head on with the facts.
That there are science journalists from so many major news organization so easily conned into buying this fear-mongering is pitiful enough. More significant, however, is the fact that this annual effort at crying wolf has not been very successful. For years Congress has not funded any new space weather satellites, and doesn’t appear ready to do so in the future, especially with the present budget crisis.
» Read more
First photos of the asteroid that buzzed the Earth today
First photos of the asteroid that buzzed the Earth today.
First photos of the asteroid that buzzed the Earth today.
Micro-camera takes first images of sealed Mayan tomb
A micro-camera has taken the first images in 1,500 years of a sealed Mayan tomb.
A micro-camera has taken the first images in 1,500 years of a sealed Mayan tomb.
DNA from Madagascar coconuts has revealed two separate waves of settlement, several ancient trade routes, and the source of the coconuts in the New World.
DNA from Madagascar coconuts has revealed two separate waves of settlement, several ancient trade routes, and the source of the coconuts in the New World.
DNA from Madagascar coconuts has revealed two separate waves of settlement, several ancient trade routes, and the source of the coconuts in the New World.
Fermilab confirms Japanese particle physics results that could explain lack of antimatter in the universe
Fermilab has confirmed the Japanese particle physics experiment from two weeks ago suggesting that muon neutrinos can morph into electron neutrinos.
The results of these two experiments could have implications for our understanding of the role that neutrinos may have played in the evolution of the universe. If muon neutrinos transform into electron neutrinos, neutrinos could be the reason that the big bang produced more matter than antimatter, leading to the universe as it exists today
Fermilab has confirmed the Japanese particle physics experiment from two weeks ago suggesting that muon neutrinos can morph into electron neutrinos.
The results of these two experiments could have implications for our understanding of the role that neutrinos may have played in the evolution of the universe. If muon neutrinos transform into electron neutrinos, neutrinos could be the reason that the big bang produced more matter than antimatter, leading to the universe as it exists today
Supreme skeptics
The faces of Vesta
More money troubles in NASA’s climate and astronomy programs
Other science money troubles: NASA’s climate and astronomy programs face delays due to cost overruns and rocket failures.
Other science money troubles: NASA’s climate and astronomy programs face delays due to cost overruns and rocket failures.
Underground Physics Lab to Cost U.S. Energy Department at Least $1.2 Billion
A new report released today says a new underground physics lab will cost the Energy Department from $1.2 to $2.2 billion.
Though I know the science is worthwhile and we should be doing it, I also can’t help ask this question: Where the hell are we going to get the money?
A new report released today says a new underground physics lab will cost the Energy Department from $1.2 to $2.2 billion.
Though I know the science is worthwhile and we should be doing it, I also can’t help ask this question: Where the hell are we going to get the money?
Archaeologists begin unburying ancient Egyptian ritual ship
Archaeologists have begun uncovering an ancient Egyptian ritual ship at Giza, buried with the pharaoh Khufu as a ship to carry him to the afterlife.
Archaeologists have begun uncovering an ancient Egyptian ritual ship at Giza, buried with the pharaoh Khufu as a ship to carry him to the afterlife.