Rumours are popping up around comet C/2012 S1 faster than astrophysicists can squash them. No, there are no alien aircraft accompanying the comet known to the public as ISON; no, electric discharges didn’t link it and Mars when it flew by the red planet in October (the cameras of Rovers Opportunity and Curiosity didn’t even spot it); and no, sadly it will not be as bright as the moon. In fact, here in Colombo we are unlikely to be able to see it with the naked eye before perihelion on November 28 when ISON will risk utter destruction in its closest brush with the Sun, says astrophysicist Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga, who worked with NASA’s Hubble space telescope for many years.
This will be ISON’s first and perhaps only chance to bask in the relative warmth of the Solar System. An acronym for the International Scientific Optical Network, it is named for the array of telescopes two amateur Russian astronomers used to locate it. Our ‘sun-grazing’ visitor is believed to hail from Oort Cloud, a field of trillions of comet nuclei lying about 50,000 AU from the Sun. Consider that 1 AU =150 million km, and you’ll see ISON is the hardiest of travellers. Scientists are excited not just about what the comet can tell us about conditions in that unimaginably dark and distant zone at the edges of the Sun’s influence but what we can learn about Earth’s history.
“Basically all the water we find in the ocean came from bombardment of earth by comets.
This is the primeval soup which is now preserved in comets,” says Dr. Ratnatunga, adding that scientists will be studying the comet’s composition for clues. While this is the comet’s first tour of our solar system, there is the possibility that it might become one of the 200 odd comets trapped into orbits that bring them back…but this can only happen if it survives November.
Comet ISON is speeding up as it gets nearer the Sun, it is expected to close the distance until it is a mere (in astronomical terms) 1.2 million km from the incandescent surface. Blazing through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the comet’s surface temperature may exceed that of molten iron (1538 °C). ISON’s nucleus, like that of other comets, is dirty snowball made of rock and ice. The heat of the sun is bringing its frigid surface to life, warming the nucleus and melting the surface. These vaporized particles and gases form the large but thin halo called the coma around the comet’s nucleus. As it draws closer to the sun it will also develop ever longer tails of gas and dust, which are blown away from the Sun by the solar wind. (In June NASA’s Spitzer satellite pegged ISON’s tail at over 186,000 miles — a light second — long.) Now, there’s a real chance it may fall apart (and no, we won’t see any bits fall burning through our atmosphere).
If, and it’s a big if, the comet survives this close encounter, it is likely to be something you can spot in the early morning in early December, says Dr. Ratnatunga. Come January it will be pulling away and out of sight. Balancing out the hype in the media, NASA’s Comet ISON Observation Campaign (CIOC) challenged the idea of ISON being the brightest comet we’ll see in this century.
‘More likely, ISON will be one of the brightest comets in the past several years and, thanks to the global astronomy community, we hope one of the most broadly observed comets in history!’ researchers wrote in an update.
Those hoping to see it from Sri Lanka must have two elements in place — dark skies and no clouds, says Dr. Ratnatunga, explaining that haze from city lights or rainy weather would make the comet impossible to spot. He has been in touch with the Arthur C. Clarke Centre in Sri Lanka, who at the time of writing had not yet observed the comet from Colombo, though amateur astronomers in Polonnaruwa have claimed to have seen it. “Whether it’s going to be something spectacular to see with the naked eye is really unknown,” says Dr. Ratnatunga, explaining that while this is currently the brightest, comets are visible every day of the year, even if they are very dim.
Whether the comet flares into brilliance or not, it’s worth remembering that this is one of nature’s most extraordinary introductions — an ancient traveller lured away from the cold expanse of the outer Solar System to leave its solitary trail across our night skies in an all too brief yet quite literally, enlightening visit.
Published in the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka on 24 November, 2013. Words by Smriti Daniel.


Superbly detailed fabric filled with astrological symbolism, celestial suns, and star maps. This color version combines dark blues and greys with silver metallic accents. Order the 6′ x 8″ bag alone, or choose to combine it with a 20″ x 20″ laycloth.
Bag and laycloth are 100% cotton. Hand wash gently in cold water. Lay flat to dry. (All cottons will shrink if exposed to the heat of the dryer)


In a media release by Alexia Lopez, a PhD student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), there has been a new observation in deep space, on staggering magnitudes of distance, that have the potential to shake the current theories of cosmology and our understanding of the universe as we know it.
The recent observation — nay, discovery — in question is a humungous, nearly symmetrical “arc” of galaxies, found in a portion of the sky within the constellation Boötes. That would make this structure a Gemini Sun, which totally makes sense, seeing that disrupting a cosmological paradigm is a very Gemini thing to do. The aptly named Giant Arc spans a whopping 3.3 billion light years, and is located about 9.2 billion light years from Earth. To put this into perspective, given that the observable universe has a radius of about 46 billion light years, the width of this megastructure is a good 7% of the longest distance we can currently fathom. This figure dwarfs the diameter of our own galaxy (the Milky Way), which comes in at a paltry 0.0000011%. I will leave it to the Americans to express that in football fields. Moreover, the light from the galaxies in the Giant Arc has taken 9.2 billion years to reach us, and hence we are actually observing their embarrassing tubby time snapshots — seeing them as they were 9.2 billion years ago, when the universe was roughly half the size that it is now.
According to the article, Lopez and her adviser Roger Clowes, from the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute at UCLan, together with collaborator Gerard Williger (University of Louisville, USA), made the discovery using singly-ionised magnesium (Mg II) absorption systems towards quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
Simply put, the team was able to draw their findings by detecting the emission of electromagnetic waves from the above mentioned quasars. Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources, or Quasars for short, are relatively young galaxies that appear to be stars at first glance. This is due to an extremely active, and hence insanely bright, supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. Matter near the black hole is pulled into the accretion disk surrounding it, and superheated to millions of degrees (Kelvin) due to friction between the particles, gas and dust. This heat is what makes the quasar an epicenter of emission for electromagnetic waves.
Mg II absorption systems were used due to their propensity to exist in gas around galaxies and in galaxy groups. They were also used because they have a very distinct absorption spectrum. What this means, is that Mg II ions (charged particles) would absorb certain discrete wavelengths of the radiated electromagnetic waves. This absorption can be detected by analyzing the overall spectrum of light from these quasars that hit our measuring devices on Earth; thin gaps in this light spectrum would represent the wavelengths absorbed by the Mg II ions.
As seen in the image above, is the mechanism to determine the absorption spectrum of a certain element or ion. In the case of the Giant Arc, the Hydrogen Sample would be replaced with the abundant Mg II ions in the quasars, and this would also involve non-visible light spanning the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum — For example, X-rays, gamma rays and ultraviolet rays. The Mg II ions have a signature ‘doublet’ feature, which is a prominent pair of lines on their absorption spectrum that come as quite the convenience to your professional spectral analyst.
Now, one could hold a stance that abuses the anthropic principle and just say that this has happened, simply because it, much like anything else, can. And of course, it’s easy to dismiss it as a chance event and wash our hands clean of the whole problem. The thing is, the likelihood of all these Mg-II absorption systems aligning to form this large of a structure is less than 0.0003% — Certainly a small enough chance to raise a few eyebrows.
And indeed, many eyebrows are cocked; high enough to hide the average Physicist’s receding hairline. But why?
Remember at the top when I said this discovery had the potential to start an upheaval against current cosmological theories? Truly, our current theory of the universe’s formation is not able to plausibly predict or even allow the existence of this large a structure.
The Cosmological Principle, the “central dogma” of cosmology as it were, describes our universe’s inception, growth and distribution of matter. As it is widely agreed upon that the universe expanded from a singularity (a single point in space that, oddly enough, encapsulated all of space at the point of the Big Bang), it follows that the cosmos must be isotropic and homogeneous. Ergo, the large-scale structure and distribution of matter in the universe more or less looks the same when the observer looks in any direction, from any given point (albeit allowing a tiny level of fluctuation, which are inflated from the tiny quantum fluctuations in the very early universe; these fluctuations are what makes the existence of galaxies possible).
So, it is obvious that this Giant Arc would cause a huge stir. Due to its staggering size, it appears to disrupt the homogeneity and isotropic nature of the universe. Now, it is up to the greatest minds of our generation to ponder whether there is something more to this stick in the mud, or if this is merely all a coincidence.
Lopez explains, “When viewed on such a large scale, we expect to see a statistically smooth distribution of matter across the Universe based on the Cosmological Principle introduced by Einstein (to make the maths easier) that the Universe is isotropic and homogeneous. It means that the night sky, when viewed on a sufficiently large scale, should look the same, regardless of the observers’ locations or the directions in which they are looking. The key question is: what is ‘sufficiently large’?”
It is rather troublesome to know that we are now faced with a question that manages to sound so simple, and yet be so laced with elaborate consequences. Sure, we know our observable universe is impressively large, and that it is constantly expanding (at an accelerating rate, no less!), but…
… That has no bearing on the real size of the “rest” of the universe. In short, the universe could be much larger than what we can see, and the Giant Arc could be just a slightly less dainty, yet completely probable fluctuation in the overall distribution of matter.
On the other hand, however, there is a unique semblance of symmetry in this structure that is still being looked into. The fact that it formed as a nearly smooth curved “line” of galaxies rather than a spheroid group is also an anomaly worth showering with academic affection.
This is a fairly new development, having only been presented by Lopez at the 238th virtual meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which was held from 7–9 June this year. The Physics community will have a field day if it is found that this lump in space has a legitimate reason behind it. That being said, it would be equally — if not more — exciting to find out that it’s really just the severed trunk of the fabled Space Mammoth. That’d be way cooler, anyway.


Preparation for the Landing
Ruth Norman and Charles Spaegel
An interstellar starship carrying 1,000 space scientists from the planet Myton, in the starcluster of the Pleiades, will arrive on Earth and land on the raised portion of Atlantis in the Caribbean Sea! The arrival of extraterrestrials will signal the real beginning of the Age of Logic and Reason and the Renaissance of Spirit on planet Earth. Famine, disease, war, and crime as holdovers from man's past, are evidence of extensive psychic amnesia, which will be removed with the knowledge of man's prehistory, not only on Earth, but also in space travel!
Man's next step will be in the recognition of extraterrestrial life on other planets in the Milky Way Galaxy and of Homo sapiens functioning as a part of an Interplanetary Confederation within a Grand Design of Life.
Exploring the Universe With Starship Voyager
Ruth Norman & Charles Spaegel
In this exciting and incredibly detailed narrative,mentally communicated from the planet Vixall, the reader is given a tour of distant planets in the constellation of the Milky Way. Starship Voyager reveals how man has evolved under various planetary conditions.
The purpose and objective of the Space Brothers is to investigate nearby planets, to help mankind caught in the trap of regressive materialism! Such planetary civilizations have and are mirroring the present problems seen in the educational, political and scientific conditions on Earth. Exploring the Universe with Starship Voyager reveals mankind's next giant step, the landing of Spacecraft on Earth by the Interplanetary Confederation of Planets!
Countdown to the Spacefleet Landing - Tesla Speaks, Vol. 7
Ruth Norman and Charles Spaegel.
George Adamski, the pioneer of spacecraft writings, speaks from the planet Venus. This book is a "must" for any space enthusiast. He, along with Albert Einstein and others, relate how spacecraft, so-called UFOs, operate and travel. They tell of their plan to land on Earth in the near future; and when these craft do land on Earth, all that has been written about Unarius will be vindicated. Then the earth man will begin to move forward from out of the morass of his past and into a bright future.
Preview for the Spacefleet Landing
Seven important and inspired writings from the Space Brothers, channeled during the past several years, give basic information about the preparation for the spacefleet landing on Earth.
Communications From Outer Space
This book is a direct contact with an advanced technological and spiritual civilization known as Vixall. Join Alta and the crew of an interstellar spacecraft for a look at our solar system from an "infinite perspective"--then travel beyond our sun to reach the planet Vixall, 2,500 light-years away.
The Voice of Venus
Ernest L. Norman
The Planet Venus is the sixth center of the seven teaching centers in the higher frequency planes. It serves in this relationship as a healing center for the planets of our solar system. A master teacher from Venus explains the basic principles of the Unarius Science of Life. You will discover many answers to the enigmas of life and will witness the radiant energies of the healing centers where the mysteries of life and death are explained.
The Arrival - The dawning of a new age began once before on planet Earth when a contact was made by eleven Master Scientists from planet Lemuria. This is a true story of the first landing of extraterrestrials on Earth on the continent of Lemuria, 156,000 years ago!
The UFO Experience - Winner of the E.B.E. Award. This is a video you cannot afford to miss! Through the personal experiences of seven individuals, The UFO Experience explains why extraterrestrial civilizations of Space Brothers are now contacting planet Earth. Learn about Earth's constructive future, planned for over a million years!
Preparation for the Landing -- Extraterrestrial spacecraft will be landing on Earth in the near future, helping mankind prepare to become the 33rd member of the Interplanetary Confederation. Uriel describes the transformation now taking place in science, education, politics, and religion in preparing for the coming Renaissance of Spirit on Earth.
The Extraterrestrials - Man's next great step will be the recognition of extraterrestrial life on other planets in our Milky Way Galaxy and of mankind as a functioning part in an Interplanetary Confederation. This program explains the reality behind past and present UFO phenomena.
UFO Expo West - A lecture given at the first UFO Expo West in Los Angeles in May, 1991 provides a clear statement of the reality of an Interplanetary Confederation of 33 planetary
* * *


RHYTHM SANGWAN (CLASS XII)
Gold Medalist at The Junior World Championship held at Lima, Peru
The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) September 27 to october 10, 2021 gold medals in
The star studded canvas of Delhi Public School, Faridabad shines brighter with yet another brilliant achievement by Anilesh Bansal. After Rhythm Sangwan, the shooting star, the Nation celebrates the glorious victory of this Astronomy and Astrophysics enthusiast.
Anilesh Bansal of Delhi Public School, Faridabad has done the Nation proud with his exceptional performance at the 14th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics ( IOAA) 2021, hosted by Columbia.
Admission Class XI Open 2022-2023
DPS, Faridabad is recognized as the Best school in Faridabad & among the top schools in Delhi/NCR
A Celebration of DPS, FARIDABAD Spirit!
Explore notable student, Teachers and alumni stories from across the world!


Depending on how you are affected you may find yourself really searching within. A late fee or higher minimum payment this month might throw you for a loop! Fire Zodiac Signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius The coming year is perfect for the fire zodiac signs, which will have enough time for their hobbies. In case you are like me and slept through science class in fifth grade: A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth lines up precisely between the sun and the moon, creating a shadow on the moon, according to. Image Source: Internet Total Lunar Eclipse Date And Timings in India: A total lunar eclipse Chandra Grahan will take place between 27th July, 2018 and 28th July, 2018 on the full moon night Purnima in the month of Ashadh, Samvat 2074. Nobody likes to think about student loans, bills, or taxes, but these things are thematic of your eclipse story. The Asuras snatched away the Amrit from the Devtas. The full annular eclipse will start at 10:34 p.
The instinct is the base of any success in 2019 for the Water signs. It softens the cold Saturn influence and make it easier to connect through empathy. Who do you want to become? This eclipse is shifting your focus completely towards your professional life, reputation, and public image. The total lunar eclipse starts once the moon is completely inside the umbra. If any person has Sun or Moon posited along with either Rahu or Ketu in their 12th house of Lagna, Grahan Dosha arises.
First Grahan will be observed on January 21 and next will be seen on 16-17 July 2018. Therefore, when Solar or Lunar Eclipse occur, it is astrologically Rahu and Ketu swallowing them to punish or curse them. Solar eclipses in particular signify fresh opportunities and newness entering your life. It will strengthen the feminist attack on the patriarchal authority. How will the solar eclipse affect me? The Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces natives are willing to work, they are serious and they have a very developed practical sense, which will help them tremendously financially, all throughout the year. You may enjoy your work, as per Astrology. Effects of Lunar Eclipse on Pregnant Women In Hindu religion, pregnant ladies are advised to take special precautions during Grahan.
The conflicts will considerably diminish and harmony will get settled in their home if they put a bit of effort into it. This eclipse helps you find closure and your sign is lucky enough to get a truly fresh start to the year as a result! Alternatively, Mohini gave Nectar to the Gods, and fake Amrit to Asuras. The stars also show scandal through intrigue and the resulting public disgrace and destruction of reputations. The sun will be covered up for two to two-and-a-half minutes as seen from locations along the path of totality, which cuts across South America from La Serena, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In order to stop Asuras Demons from consuming the Nectar of Life, Lord Vishnu took the form of a beautiful woman named Mohini. It is to be kept in mind that the time mentioned in the above table is in accordance with the Indian Standard Time.
Cancer: The next several eclipses happen in your sign and your sister sign, Capricorn, so the events and affairs leading up to 2020 are major for you! Winter eclipses always bring with them the risk of poor viewing conditions. The refund will be done upon receipt of the returned package, contents intact and undamaged. Read the horoscopes below to find out! Your intuition may be correct but could obscure your rational thought processes and conscious judgement skills. There are many superstitions and beliefs surrounding Eclipses, and most of them seem to stem from the fact that the dark night and shadow on the Moon brings an ominous feeling. But this phase is not good for matters related to your vehicle. For more detail about how it affects your natal chart see.
Erring on the side of caution, it is important to be careful during the time of eclipse. This should prevent over-interpretation of the eclipse path accuracy. The elder child of married couples may face problems. Recognising and Honouring our shared loss. Because 2019 is a year of preparation it is going to be quite intense but not in the ways that you might assume. Your bank-related matters will get resolved.
Although we have Lunar Eclipses every year, their energies affect all of us in different ways, depending on where we are at in our lives and where we are heading. A religious and auspicious event will be organised at your home. And if its disk passes just outside the umbra, it still encounters the weak penumbral shadow cast by Earth. In ancient Greece, Aristotle noted that the shadows on the Moon during lunar eclipses were round, regardless of where an observer saw them. You can also move the map center around to reposition it by holding down the left mouse button and dragging.
Below the lower left corner of the map are three readouts. It will occur during Uttarashada Nakshatra in or. With Ganesha's Grace, Prakash Pandya The Team To Get Your Personalised Solutions! However, solar eclipses more tightly restrict where you can see them because the Moon casts a smaller shadow than Earth does. You get an email, text message, or overhear a piece of information that changes everything. Taking on our ancient inauspicium created by centuries of misdeeds through accepting the pain, the sense or reality of homelessness, abasement, effacement and every kind of false imprisonment consequent upon these global ancient abuses of power. This phase will be very auspicious for the natives of Taurus. It appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages.


India witnesses annual solar eclipse
New Delhi: India on Sunday witnessed annual solar eclipse or ‘surya grahan’ 2020, the third eclipse even for this year after first two lunar eclipses took place in January and June and the last annual solar eclipse of this decade.
The solar eclipse started from around 9 a.m. across the Indian map as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth came in a straight line, and the country witnessed the ‘deepest’ annular solar eclipse in over a century.
Astrologers said it a fourth super rare hybrid eclipse which is a mix between an annular and total solar eclipse.
Areas like Hyderabad, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, Patna, Shillong and more witnessed a partial phase of the annular solar eclipse from 9 a.m.
In the eclipse, the distance of the Moon and Earth will be larger than usual which means the moon will not be able to cover up the sun fully and will leave out the borders of the sun – giving an appearance of a “Ring of Fire”.
Press Information Bureau in a tweet informed that it is the last annular solar eclipse in India of this decade.
People can catch glimpse of the partially covered sun between 10 a.m. and 2.28 p.m. as per the time differing as locations in India. The eclipse will continue for over three hours covering 84 per cent Sun.
There are three types of solar eclipses – total, partial, and annular.


Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The article “Space hotel says it’s on schedule to open in 2012” by Stuart McDill matters because it is revolutionary to technology and the human race. This article is about how a company called BARCELONA plans to build a hotel in space. 43 people have already booked a trip which includes a 8 weeks of training on a tropical island and three days in the Galactic suite space resort, but costs $4.4 million per person. This matters to me because by the time I’m 60 space travel might become a regular thing. This relates to what we’re doing in class and “Do You Know” because if we build this space hotel we will become more dependent on technology. This matter to the world because people from around the world have booked to go to this space hotel.


It is surprising that both in Ancient China and in the Roman Empire great importance was given to Jupiter, when at that time most of its physical characteristics were completely unknown, it was just one of many points of light moving across the sky, but nevertheless in chinese astrology was used as the star of the year, which indicated the yearly predominant influences; as for the Romans, it represented the most powerful god of their pantheon.
The truth is that its physical characteristics are impressive compared to other planets in the Solar System:
- Júpiter is the most massive planet, 318 times more than the Earth.
- Its diamater is 11 times bigger than that of Earth, which implies that its volume is 1310 times that of Earth.
- So its density is pretty low, just 1.33 times that of the water.
- Its light is even able to generate dim shadows over the Earth (in ideal conditions).
- It's made of the same materials of the Sun: Hidrogenum and Helium.
- It takes almost 12 years (11.86) to comlete a full orbit around the Sun.
And the most important is that it has a huge and powerful magnetic field:
Obviously it is invisible to the human eye, but if we could see it in the sky it would have a comparable size to the moon or the sun.
Then, in relation with chinese astrology, the point is that due to the physical characteristics of Jupiter, it makes sense that its influence over the Earth is greater than that of the other planets, if only by its gravitational force and magnetic field, much intense than other planets like Mars.
That together with the fact that it takes 12 years to travel around the Sun, and that each year is associated with one of the 12 chinese signs leads to the theory that it is the position of Jupiter in the sky which defines the annual astrological influences of the 12 chinese zodiac signs on Earth.


Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium
Weekend Public Tours
INDIANA'S PREMIERE SITE FOR ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR OVER 65 YRS
Please note that we are closed through Spring and Summer 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We will post re-opening dates and times in the coming months as soon as they are available. Thank you for your understanding in advance. We look forward to your visit in the future.
Our programing includes an immersive the fulldome feature film followed by a star/constellation show highlighting our current evening sky and where to find the planets in the sky. Following the planetarium portion of the evening visitors will then have the opportunity to view the ORION NEBULA, the MOON (if at the proper phase) and other assorted celestial hor d'oeuvres through Indiana's largest telescope, weather permitting. Viewing through the telescope is always free and weather permitting (click on ClearSky Clock below for likely weather conditions).*
- Tickets can be purchased in the lobby after the doors open at 7 PM.
- Admission for the planetarium show is $5 for children and students under 18, and $7 for adults. We accept cash or credit.
- Due to the length of the weekend planetarium shows, they are recommended for ages 5 and up. For younger children we highly recommend our more age appropriate weekend matinees which we periodically advertise.
- We have limited seating capacity so if the 1st planetarium show fills up we run a 2nd and perhaps 3rd planetarium show that night. If you are in the 2nd planetarium show, then we reverse the order of the evening and get you started on telescope viewing immediately. This should result in very little delay in your visit.
- No food or drinks are allowed in the planetarium.
If a weekend tour doesn't fit your schedule, consider scheduling a group tour for your group at another time.
From 2018 to early 2019 the planetarium underwent a $250,000 renovation. It had its old Spitz AP3 star projector replaced with a fulldome Digitarium Kappa projector that projects more that 4 million pixels onto the dome of the planetarium which gives visitors a fully immersive 3D experience in addition to nicely rendering the night sky. Beside the new projector, new comfortable theater seating, a 5.1 surround sound system, new carpet, and cove lighting were added to enhance your experience with the help of our corporate partner Indianapolis-based Bowen Technovation. In addition to the planetarium from 2013 to 2015 our large telescope underwent a $425,000 refurbishment by Astronomical Consultants and Equipment with a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation via Frank Levinson, PhD.
*Note that we have limited seating capacity so if the 1st planetarium show fills up we run a second and perhaps a third planetarium show that night. If you are in the second (or third) show, then we reverse the order of the evening and get you started on telescope observations of the cosmos immediately. This should result in very little delay in your visit.
**Though you will always see the telescope, its movement, and how it functions, telescope observations are weather dependent.


- n. blasphemer, desecrater of the holy, defiler of the sacred
English contemporary dictionary. 2014.
Look at other dictionaries:
Boötes — This article is about the Northern constellation. For the astronomical observatory, see BOOTES. Boötes Constellation List of stars in Boötes Abbreviation Boo … Wikipedia
Armand Călinescu — Infobox Prime Minister name =Armand Călinescu nationality =Romanian small caption = order =Prime Minister of Romania term start =March 7, 1939 term end =September 21, 1939 vicepresident = deputy = predecessor =Miron Cristea successor =Gheorghe… … Wikipedia
Despair (novel) — Despair … Wikipedia


“The President has always said that he wants NASA to engage with the world’s best scientists and engineers as we work together to push the boundaries of exploration. Meeting that mandate requires NASA to partner with countries around the world like Russia and Japan, as well as collaboration with Israel and with many Muslim-majority countries. The space race began as a global competition, but, today, it is a global collaboration.”
ICYMI: Jeffrey Ostler, The Lakotas and the Black Hills - At Amazon, Jeffrey Ostler, *The Lakotas and the Black Hills: The Struggle for Sacred Ground*.
59 minutes ago


CHARLESTON — A contrail of bright white smoke seen streaking southwestward over the eastern skies earlier this month before fragmenting in a flash of bright light, followed by shockwaves and the rumble of an explosion, is believed to have been the result of a meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Observers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia reported glimpsing the object or hearing it explode as they drove, flew airplanes, cut grass or paddled kayaks shortly before 10:25 a.m. Sept. 17. Twenty-five observers, from Hurricane, West Virginia, in the south to Altoona, Pennsylvania, in the north, filed fireball-sighting reports for the event with the American Meteor Society.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES 16 geostationary lightning-mapper satellite detected “a strong, fireball-like signature” at the time the explosion was seen and heard, according to NASA Meteor Watch’s Facebook page.
Energy released by the suspected meteor’s disintegration as it entered the atmosphere triggered a lightning-strike report for Hampshire and Hardy counties on the mostly clear, storm-free day.
GOES 16 has detected meteor strikes on several prior occasions, allowing data from those incidents, compared with information from Sept. 17’s, to enable scientists to estimate the most recent meteor’s speed and size at the time of fragmentation.
It was believed to have had a mass of about 50 pounds, and was traveling at about 45,000 mph before entering the atmosphere, triggering an explosion equivalent to the detonation of one to two tons of TNT, according to NASA Meteor Watch.
Scores of Hardy County residents reported hearing an explosion, sometimes followed by a brief, brisk wind and a whistling sound, on the date of the incident, according to Hardy County 911’s Facebook page.
Based on information provided by resident observers, the meteor’s trajectory followed a path that stretched southwestward from Capon Springs in the north to the Lost River area.
Among those reporting sightings to the American Meteor Society was an airline pilot who had been flying at 36,000 feet along the Virginia-West Virginia border. He and his co-pilot spotted an object producing “a long white smoke trail that bulged, thinned and bulged again before stopping.”
By comparing how fast his aircraft was “passing the ground below and the smoke trail above, it appeared the meteor made it fairly far down into the atmosphere — say well under 100,000 feet,” the pilot reported. “A few minutes later, we felt a thump and some turbulence, but have no way of knowing if this was from the shockwave of the meteor.”
A group of utility linemen near Front Royal, Virginia, reported seeing a “blue streak” passing overhead and moving southward, while a man paddling on the Tygart River saw the contrail moving past for an estimated 3.5 seconds, but heard no explosion. The observer reporting from Hurricane said he had been driving east on Interstate 64 when he saw “almost like an explosion of fire” in the sky.
“It is possible that this event produced meteorites somewhere in the northern Virginia/eastern West Virginia area,” according to NASA Meteor Watch.


stronauts report that our Blue Planet is the most beautiful sight from Space. Earth's wispy atmosphere silhouetted by blue oceans and continental plains are a welcome contrast against the frigid blackness of Space.
Among Earth's most unique qualities are its moderate temperature range, oceans of liquid water and atmosphere.
The nearest solar system, Proxima Centauri, is but a scant 4.2 light years away (25 trillion miles).
Of our eight planetary neighbors in the solar system, none of them is even remotely hospitable to life:
- Mars' thin atmosphere lowers the boiling point of water so much that liquid water cannot exist on its surface. At night, temperatures plunge to 190 degrees below zero, even at its equator.
- Venus, nearest in size to our own planet contains no oceans to dissolve its excess carbon dioxide. Its runaway greenhouse effect produces horrific 215 mph winds (3 times greater than hurricane force) and a blistering surface temperature of over 800 degrees.
- Pluto, furthest away of all the planets is so cold that its atmosphere lies frozen on its surface.
- Neptune and Uranus, twin worlds in eternal night and perpetual cold are each surrounded by an unbreathable atmosphere of methane gas and ammonia vapor.
- Saturn, an intriguing planet with its many moons and rings of cosmic particles has a temperature close to 270 degrees below zero. Ice lies 15,000 miles deep below its surface.
- Giant Jupiter has gigantic cliffs of lava and ice with hydrogen flaming at the tops. The atmospheric pressure is unimaginable; thousands of pounds to the square inch. Nothing could survive there.
- Nor could anyone live on Mercury, nearest planet to the sun. It has no air and the temperature at its equator is that of molten lead.
- Even our Moon, almost the same distance as the Earth from the Sun, soars to 270 degrees by day and plummets to 240 degrees below zero by night.
The sheer volume and interconnectedness of life sustaining improbabilities on Earth is awe-inspiring.
Of all the planetary bodies in all the trillions of miles in our corner of the Milky Way Galaxy to choose from, Earth is the only planet that any living thing could call home.
- Possible Clues
Based upon these facts, what can be inferred about the cause or Causer of life on Planet Earth? Let's review the evidence:
- CLUE #5. EARTH HABITAT - IDEAL
- Ideal orbit (more)
- Ideal surface recycling (more)
- Ideal atmosphere (more)
- Ideal planetary physics (mass, rotational velocity) (more)
- Ideal climate regulator (Moon) (more)
- Ideal weather
- Ideal energy source (more)
- Ideal meteorite deflector (Jupiter) (more)
- Ideal liquid water
- Ideal Greenhouse Effect (more)
- Ideal magnetosphere
- CLUE #6: LIFE
- Living things - human, flora and fauna
- The Super-genius of DNA
- Ideal protein molecule
- Ideal carbon molecule
- CLUE #7: OTHER GOOD THINGS
- Abundance and variety of foods
- Abundance of materials for shelter
- Abundance of materials for clothing
- Abundance of natural recreation
- The beauty and wonder of Nature satisfying to all the senses
- Tame species of animals (as pets)
- The study of the cosmos, Earth and the life on Earth comprises the sum total of our scientific knowledge. The characteristics and qualities that scientists typically attribute to Nature and its laws are: methodical, logical, rational, structured and orderly.
It is unlikely that random or chance forces could organize the complex, systematic interoperation of meticulously regulated processes as within a single cell, the human body, the Earth or the cosmos. Nor has it been proven how life could have spontaneously created itself.
It is also unlikely that random forces could generate life forms capable of intelligence, order and purpose —attributes which chance forces do not themselves possess.
Implication: Deliberate Premeditation
Reason: Whoever or whatever caused creation is All-Purposeful
The evidence in nature reveals a cause or Causer who creates with power, intelligence and purpose.
But what further details can be deduced about our specific origin and purpose? Do our limitations as mortal beings amplify our need for the cause or Causer to reveal His purposes —to us?
|Is it reasonable to expect that a wise Creator would communicate His purpose to His creation?
- ...And If So...How?


Mount Aurora Skiland has been rated as one of the World's premier aurora viewing areas and I had decided that this was going to be the place for me. The sky looked dark from my hotel room, huge clouds hovered overhead. The weather was cool, crisp and awesome!
From information available on the internet, I gathered that the best time to reach the Skiland would be by around 3 pm. This would give me enough time to look around, take photos as well as get lost in the enchanting aurora.
The journey to the Skiland was beautiful in itself, lush evergreen trees and plants lined the way. Well-laid roads stretch all the way up the mount. It is a long and sinuous path, from where one can view distant signs of civilization. Sparkling white slopes lay all around. Communion with nature is something that invariably uplifts my mind. I find that it is mentally and spiritually uplifting. So much so, that the drive to the hill became a rejuvenating exercise in itself. I wasn’t about to complain, if this Alaskan getaway was going to pamper me silly.
Ski land takes an entrance ticket fee of 34 dollars and by the time you are done looking at the aurora borealis you will feel that it was 34 dollars that was well spent. ☺
The top was completely covered in snow and being from India, (where it snows in a select few areas of the country) the idea of skiing really fascinated me. I was not interested in trying it although there were many skiing equipment rental stores around. Quite affordable ones too.
As the sun went down, the lodge filled up with visitors waiting for the Northern Lights to emerge. All of us couldn’t wait to photograph this awesome sight. Finally I saw it and its beauty was simply baffling. The sky had lit up into a beautiful pattern. The aurora borealis had appeared on the dark, clear sky and it was as close to magic as I was going to get.


November Meteors: Seasons Greetings
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Each year in November, remnants of the Temple-Tuttle Comet streak through our atmosphere in bursts of fantastical light resulting in the Leonids meteor shower, one of the most spectacular shows of the year. This holiday greeting card features an artists's rendering of this famed event. Seasons Greetings. Blank inside. 4.5" x 6" folded. 100% Recycled card. Case Pack of 6. 100% Recycled envelope.


New Short Story Evolving - Red Planet
Updated: Apr 1, 2020
I'm writing a short story called Red Planet. Hoping to have it ready soon to offer folks a free story in these times of quarantine. I'm considering launching it on Wattpad. I think having a short story in hand to use for writing contests as well will be beneficial. Thanks to the alert reader who pointed out the image I used was not a picture of Mars, but the Moon in red lighting, possibly during an eclipse! The image has been updated with an official shot from Nasa.


Professor Stephen Hawking is a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. His key scientific works to date have included providing, with Roger Penrose, theorems regarding gravitational singularities in the framework of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes should emit radiation, which is today known as Hawking radiation (or sometimes as Bekenstein–Hawking radiation).
He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and in 2009 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
He is the former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and author of A Brief History of Time which was an international bestseller. Now Director of Research at the Institute for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge, his other books for the general reader include A Briefer History of Time, the essay collection Black Holes and Baby Universe and The Universe in a Nutshell.
In 1963, Stephen contracted motor neurone disease and was given two years to live. Yet he went on to Cambridge to become a brilliant researcher and Professorial Fellow at Gonville and Caius College. Since 1979 he has held the post of Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, the chair held by Isaac Newton in 1663. He has over a dozen honorary degrees and was awarded the CBE in 1982. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Science. Stephen is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein.


Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System, a world which could have water running on its surface. In January 2004, President Bush identified the search for Earth-like planets as a goal in his vision for space exploration. In response, NASA has identified "Earth-like Planets and Life" as one of four key research areas in its Vision for Space Exploration.
Check out Nasa's 3-D Terrestrial Planet Finder and Alien Earth's beta site. The interactive Looking For Life activity in "Are We Alone?" is especially cool! If you are a fascinated with all this "space stuff" check out the SkyWatch podcast, Nasa BrainBites or Ask An Astronomer podcast.


Directions(1-5): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blanks out of
the given alternatives.
My photo captures the majesty of a rocket – the Starlink Falcon9 – launching from Cape Canaveral, shown in a long-exposure against the backdrop of the Milky Way. It was
______(1) in the early hours of March 14, 2021 from Titusville, Florida and the Mosquito Lagoon. Note that it is a composite of a Milky Way frame captured from the same
position and camera angle just before the _____(2) exposure for the rocket. The launch was just before astronomical twilight; a few minutes later and the rising Sun (frame
left) would have made this shot impossible. Everything just worked for this shot.
I’m extremely fortunate _____(3) near enough to dark skies. The sense of wonder and perspective I get from simply looking up is sometimes indescribable. It’s all a fleeting
vacation from our real terrestrial concerns. This sighting _______(4) me a moment of pause, as I know that astronomers are feeling a lot of concern over the increasing
numbers of satellites in orbit. My hope is that reasonable regulations are implemented for mega-constellations, and that the ________(5) around this can proceed based on
on livinglivedto liveto be livedto campOption C
So many stray animals (have had) no access to clean drinking water and food.will havinghave hashavehad hadNo correction requiredOption E
- Will those chapters (has not taught) to us by him by the next week?
have not beenhave beennot has beennot have beenNo correction requiredOption D
- A ‘Super Moon’ occurs when the Moon is at or near its (closer point to Earth) at the same time it is full.
close point to Earthclosest point to Earthmost closest point to Earthmore closer point to EarthNo correction requiredOption B
Super moon is a celestial event that happens when the moon is very close to Earth.
To show this much nearness we use the word close with its superlative degree.
The superlative degree is used to show the ultimate or highest condition of the adjective.
Closest is the superlative degree of the word close.
- It is (I who is to) blame for this unprecedented mess.
me who is tome who am toI who am toI whom is toNo correction requiredOption C
‘I who am to’ will replace ‘I who is to’.
When the subject of a verb is a Relative pronoun (in this case, who), the verb (in this case, is) agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the relative
pronoun (in this case, I)
- I am (richer now) than I was fifteen years back.
rich nowrichermore richer nowmore rich nowNo correction requiredOption D
‘more rich now’ will replace ‘richer now’
When the same person is compared at two different places or two different points of time, use more + positive degree instead of comparative degree.
For example: I am more happy now than I was in USA. (different place)
I am more strong now than I was two years back. (different time)
Directions(6-10): Which of the phrases given below the sentence should replace the word/phrase given below in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark ‘no correction required’ as the answer.


Hi everyone! How are you all? I felt like writing this because sometimes we need to be reminded that we are here for a reason. When I’m not feeling myself and I think I’m never going to achieve my goals or dreams, I have a good long sleep 😂 (Because it’s usually the end of […]
“Those who see the cosmic perspective as a depressing outlook, they really need to reassess how they think about the world. Because when I look up in the universe, I know I’m small but I’m also big. I’m big because I’m connected to the universe, and the universe is connected to me.” – Neil deGrasse […]
Cricket fans, more so Indian fans, rejoiced after it was confirmed that Team India would, indeed, take part in the Champions Trophy 2017 and announced their squad for the mega event, to be held in England from 1st to 18th June, 2017. So here’s what The Cricket Freak had to say about the squad!
The science behind the spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis a.k.a Northern Lights. This mystical display of colours may be better left to childhood imagination but in the name of science we shall explain its true origin.
Extreme space weather has a global footprint and the potential to damage critical infrastructure on the ground and in space. A new report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) calls for bridging knowledge gaps and for better coordination at EU level to reduce the potential impact of space weather events. The sun shapes […]
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*** Read the Spoiler-free Review here: Bahubali 2 Movie Review: Spoiler Free The fans have spoken. The entire country has spoken. Shows are getting booked days in advance with the fans unabated by the hefty prices being charged especially for this movie. Multiplexes in Chandigarh and Delhi are screening close to 20 shows in […]
What keeps the DIHEDRAL crew coming back for more.


172 Hours on the Moon
A Novel by Johan Harstad
Translated from the Norwegian by Tara F. Chace
(2008) 2012 / 360 Pages
The Setup: Everyone said sending teenagers into space would be their opportunity of a lifetime…
It’s been decades since anyone last set foot on the moon. But three ordinary teens are about to change that–and their lives–forever. Mia knows this will be her punk band’s ticket to fame and fortune. Midori believes it’s her way out of her restrictive lifestyle in Japan. And Antoine just wants to get as far away from his ex-girlfriend as possible. But little do they know that something sinister is waiting for them on the dark side of the moon. And in the black vastness of space, no one is coming to save them… Strap yourself in for this chilling adventure from a young Norwegian author on the rise. You’ll want to keep your lights on long after you’ve read the last page. (From the hardcover edition)
Johan Harstad’s Norwegian Brage Award winning young adult novel 172 Hours on the Moon (originally titled DARLAH in its native language) is a science fiction / horror story that takes place in 2019, the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the original moon landing. To celebrate this historic landmark NASA has decided that they want to schedule a return trip to the Earth’s lone satellite, but of course when they finally do, things don’t go quite as planned. This basic premise does make one stop and wonder about which of Harstad’s ideas is more unlikely: that NASA will ever go back to the moon for some reason, or that they’ll even still exist as an organization in 2019.
The quality of the physical novel is amazing as is the marketing campaign behind it (more on that particular piece by the way of video links can be found below.) This isn’t an aspect of a book that I generally spend a lot of time on as I’m usually quite focused on opening, reading, reviewing and then moving on to the next title, but here it’s worth taking a moment or two to talk about. The font used is crisp and clear, the dividers between each section are beautifully laid out in black and white with a sparse space-type feel to them, and meaningful black and white pictures along with basic geeky diagrams of space stations are interspersed through the text to great effect.
All and all you really couldn’t ask for better packaging, but how does the book read?
Fans of Harstad’s wonderful novel Buzz Aldrin, What Happened to you in all the Confusion? which arrived in English translation last year from Seven Stories Press will no doubt end up a bit disappointed. While that novel spent an extremely delicious amount of time on building detailed, realistic characters that the reader couldn’t help but fall in love with, 172 Hours on the Moon instead opts for a different tactic, pushing the tension and action ever forward, while never really stopping to investigate what motivates each of its protagonists. To be far, it is a novel that is aimed at the young adult market, and keeping that squarely in mind while reading it, judging the story and it’s execution for what it aims to be rather than what one would like it to be based on past exposure to its author, 172 Hours on the Moon ends up being a surprisingly good, quick page turner.
NASA’s bright idea for drumming up public interest for their new lunar mission is to hold a worldwide contest to pick three random teenagers to send into space along with a group of highly trained astronauts. Here things seem a bit far-fetched. Would NASA send teens from other countries into space using the United States proprietary technology? Would other countries actually allow their teenagers to participate? Yes to both questions says Harstard and thus a Japanese girl named Midori, a Norweigian girl named Mia and a French boy named Antoine are randomly chosen to take part in what should prove to be the experience of a lifetime.
NASA isn’t exactly being truthful about exactly why they’ve decided to go back to the moon however, a fact that becomes readily apparent almost immediately after the teens and their astronaut guardians touch down on the surface of the lunar satellite and make their way to a top secret installation that the US government is only now willing to admit that they built in the 1970s.
It’s at this station named DARLAH 2 that things go horribly wrong, and the entire group is forced to race against time in an effort to save themselves from a strange, unknown force. This piece of the story is actually one of the most intriguing as it’s based partly on an actual signal that was received from space by the Big Ear Radio Observatory in Ohio in 1977.
172 Hours on the Moon is a great thrill ride. It won’t necessarily keep you guessing or have you deeply invested in the welfare of its characters, but it will keep you turning the pages, in a desperate attempt to keep up with action and to see how the story that has unfolded ultimately gets resolved.


*GNSS SATELLITE ORBIT MODELLING*.
In the frame of the project funding for a
*PhD CANDIDATE* and a *RESEARCH ASSISTANT*
is available. The project is intended to improve the understanding of orbit modelling for all Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in the frame of the multi-GNSS experiment (MGEX) of the International GNSS Service (IGS). Based on the MGEX solution from CODE (Center for Orbit Determination in Europe, hosted at AIUB) new strategies for attitude modelling and orbit parameterizations, e.g. for solar radiation pressure modelling, shall be implemented and tested. The orbits for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS shall be investigated, modelled, and parameterized in a fully consistent way.
The project shall help to understand how potential deficiencies in the orbit modelling map into GNSS-derived parameters relevant for geodesy and geodynamics.
The complete position description is available at http://www.bernese.unibe.ch/Stellen/Stellenausschreibung_20140528.pdf
Editor: Natalia Garrido


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613 articles from NASA
- WEDNESDAY 22. OCTOBER, 2008
22:30 The Case of the Missing Gamma-ray BurstsGamma-ray bursts are by far the brightest and most powerful explosions in the Universe, second only to the Big Bang itself. So it might seem a bit surprising that a group of them has gone missing.
- TUESDAY 21. OCTOBER, 2008
22:50 The Oddball Hosts of Gamma-ray BurstsCosmic explosions known as gamma-ray bursts are curiously picky about where they explode. Shunning spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, gamma-ray bursts prefer to 'go off' in oddball star systems that astronomers are just beginning to understand.
- MONDAY 20. OCTOBER, 2008
18:46 Brief Mystery: What are Short Gamma-ray Bursts?A curiously short-lived type of gamma-ray burst has astronomers puzzled. Leading experts discuss the clues at today's Gamma-ray Burst Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama.
- FRIDAY 17. OCTOBER, 2008
23:01 Discovered: A New Kind of PulsarNASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered a new kind of pulsar that hints at a previously unsuspected population of stars waiting to be found in the Milky Way.
- THURSDAY 16. OCTOBER, 2008
22:15 Gamma-ray Bursts: The Mystery ContinuesMore than four decades after they were discovered, gamma-ray bursts continue to mystify astrophysicists. Next week, experts from 25 countries will converge on Huntsville, Alabama, to discuss and debate clues to the biggest explosions since the Big Bang itself.
- FRIDAY 10. OCTOBER, 2008
23:01 The Day the World Didn't EndLast month when scientists switched on the Large Hadron Collider, the world did not come to an end. In today's story, a particle physicist explains why not--and why Earth is safe from black holes when the collider is reactivated in the months ahead.
- THURSDAY 9. OCTOBER, 2008
08:15 Liquid Mirror Telescopes on the MoonA team of internationally renowned astronomers and opticians may have found a way to make 'unbelievably large' telescopes on the Moon.
- WEDNESDAY 8. OCTOBER, 2008
00:55 Mercury as Never Seen BeforeNASA's MESSENGER spacecraft flew past Mercury on Oct. 6th capturing amazing new images of never-before-seen terrain.
- THURSDAY 2. OCTOBER, 2008
22:05 How Round is the Sun?Scientists using NASA's RHESSI spacecraft have measured the roundness of the sun with unprecedented precision, and they find that it is not a perfect sphere. During years of high solar activity the sun develops a thin "cantaloupe skin" that significantly increases its apparent oblateness.
- WEDNESDAY 1. OCTOBER, 2008
22:15 MESSENGER Returns to MercuryNASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is returning to Mercury. On Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, the probe will conduct the second of three planned flybys and photograph most of Mercury's remaining unseen surface.
00:40 Spotless Sun: Blankest Year of the Space AgeAstronomers who count sunspots have announced that 2008 has become the "blankest year" of the Space Age. Sunspot counts are at a 50-year low, signifying a deep minimum in the 11-year cycle of solar activity.
- TUESDAY 23. SEPTEMBER, 2008
22:55 Solar Wind Loses Power, Hits 50-year LowIn a briefing today at NASA headquarters, solar physicists announced that the solar wind is losing power. This development has repercussions across the solar system.
- FRIDAY 19. SEPTEMBER, 2008
08:30 Pollen Alert!NASA is teaming up with public health organizations to create a pollen alert system that could help people with maladies ranging from common hay fever to serious heart and lung diseases.
- WEDNESDAY 17. SEPTEMBER, 2008
22:55 Polar Crown ProminencesJapan's Hinode spacecraft is beaming back must-see movies of a spectacular solar phenomenon known as 'polar crown prominences.'
- FRIDAY 12. SEPTEMBER, 2008
22:25 Spooky Hurricane ScienceTo improve hurricane forecasting, NASA engineers are spending time in a spooky room where 'no one can hear you scream.'
- WEDNESDAY 10. SEPTEMBER, 2008
22:20 Naked-Eye Gamma-ray Burst Aimed Directly at EarthScientists are beginning to unravel the mystery of an extraordinary gamma-ray burst on March 19, 2008, which was visible to the naked eye. It turns out the explosion was aimed directly at Earth.
- FRIDAY 5. SEPTEMBER, 2008
22:00 NASA to Explore a "Secret Layer" of the SunNASA researchers are preparing to launch an experimental telescope that can see a layer of the sun thought to be the "birthplace of space weather."
- WEDNESDAY 3. SEPTEMBER, 2008
00:35 Amateur Astronomers See Perseids Hit the MoonBackyard astronomers watching the Perseid meteor shower last month saw meteoroids hitting not only Earth but also the Moon. They recorded the impacts using backyard telescopes and off-the-shelf cameras, showing that "lunar meteors" are easy targets for amateur observatories and that amateur astronomers can contribute to NASA's lunar research.
- WEDNESDAY 27. AUGUST, 2008
00:35 First Light for the Fermi Space TelescopeToday, NASA revealed first light images and announced a new name for its latest space telescope.
- MONDAY 25. AUGUST, 2008
20:45 Strange Clouds at the Edge of SpaceAstronauts on board the International Space Station have recently photographed strange electric-blue clouds hovering at the edge of space.
- TUESDAY 19. AUGUST, 2008
22:00 Living with a StarWhat if you woke up one morning and found your whole planet had been swallowed by the atmosphere of a star? Don't laugh, it could happen to you, and NASA has a special program to deal with it.
- FRIDAY 15. AUGUST, 2008
20:25 The Realm of Earthworms: NASA Gets Down to the Nitty-GrittyNASA scientists are preparing to launch a "flying tractor" with microwave sensors to explore the nitty-gritty realm beneath your feet.
- MONDAY 11. AUGUST, 2008
20:40 A Flash of Insight: LCROSS Mission UpdateThere are places on the Moon where the sun hasn't shined for millions of years, inky-dark places that may harbor a treasure of great value. NASA's is about to light one of them up.
- THURSDAY 31. JULY, 2008
22:35 A Brief History of Solar SailsHave you ever stared up at the night sky, felt a gentle breeze, and wished you could set sail for the stars? Get in line. Many great thinkers from history have had the same idea. This long-held fancy could soon become reality with one solar sail mission on the drawing board and another already on the launching pad, slated to blast off this summer.
- WEDNESDAY 30. JULY, 2008
00:15 Partial Eclipse, Total FunThis Friday, August 1st, millions of people in China will witness a well-publicized total eclipse of the sun. Less widely reported is the partial eclipse, which *billions* of people across a quarter of the globe can observe and enjoy.


ESA, the European Space Agency, is Europe's gateway into space. Its objective is to develop, coordinate and promote European space travel. 19 member states currently belong to the ESA. By pooling the finances and expertise of the individual countries it is able to implement projects which none of the member states could afford individually.
Projects include researching the earth and its immediate environs, researching the solar system and the universe, developing technologies and services and promoting various European high-tech industries. The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt is responsible for ensuring that the necessary satellites find and remain in their correct orbits, and that everything runs smoothly.
And for monitoring and continuous documentation, ESOC employees use a FileMaker Go database with iPads.


SAFE was picked by the Royal Horticultural Society and NASA to receive seeds from on board the Internation Space Station in order to carry out a vital investigation about the affects of reduced gravity on seeds.
The seeds, which boarded the International Space Station for six months, have made their way back down to Earth with Commander Scott Kelly and have now arrived in the UK for distribution to hundreds of schools and educational provisions nationwide (the seeds have also been circulated to schools all over the world). SAFE will be planting the seeds under strict conditions and monitoring their growth to see if there is any diffrence between 'space' seeds and regular ones.
It is an understatement to say that students and staff at SAFE are excited about the prospect of being involved in such a huge and important experiment, and to demostrate our enthusiasm, we have created our own blog for all to follow. We would greatly appreciate friends and families' comments throughout the duration of the investigation so please follow the link below and tell us what you think (hypothesises are welcomed!).
For more information about the investigation visit http://spaceseeds.safeschoolbexley.co.uk/


Remote research stations in inhospitable climates, such as the AmundsenScott South Pole Station 85 or Devon Island Mars Arctic Research Station, can also provide some practice for off-world outpost construction and operation. Sociology and Space Development.J. Favorite this post Nov 12 Superintendent in Environmental Work Needed! Retrieved 10 September 2018. Many NEOs contain substantial amounts of metals. I actully really like the idea and I think Asgardia could use similar approach in energy support com work at home jobs for retirees trade, that would fuel our economy. Transmitting solar energy wirelessly from the Earth to the Moon and back is also an idea proposed for the benefit of space colonization and energy resources. "Astronomical Waste: The Opportunity Cost of Delayed Technological Development". Troutman (nasa Langley Research Center)., Revolutionary Concepts for Human Outer Planet Exploration (hope), accessed May 10, 2006 (.doc format) Robert Zubrin, Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization, section: Titan,.
New Constitution for, asgardia.0 Part I Arion's Home
Underneath a drier outer crust (much like oil shale some other NEOs are inactive comets which include billions of tons of water ice and kerogen hydrocarbons, as well as some nitrogen compounds. Convincing the public to fund such programs would require additional self-interest arguments: If the objective of space colonization is to provide a "backup" in case everyone on Earth is killed, then why should someone on Earth pay for. Intergalactic travel edit Main article: Intergalactic travel Looking beyond the Milky Way, there are at least 2 trillion other galaxies in the observable universe. "nasa - Behavioral Issues Associated with isolation and Confinement: Review and Analysis of Astronaut Journals". Last Updated: February 02, 2012 "SpaceX Capabilities and Services". "Elon Musk on SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Plans". The colonists would have a strong interest in assuring their asteroid did not hit Earth or any other body of significant mass, but would have extreme difficulty in moving an asteroid citation needed of any size. Space Settlement Basics by Al Globus, nasa Ames Research Center. The distances between galaxies are on the order of a million times farther than those between the stars. Kline, (1960) "Cyborgs and Space Astronautics, September,. . Also see 4 Seedhouse, Erik (2009). "NSS Space Settlement Library".
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Once in space the solar sails would deploy. This could greatly improve the chances for the survival of intelligent life over cosmic timescales, given the many natural and human-related hazards that have been widely noted. 120 Future space agencies can also ensure that every colonizer would have a mandatory amount of daily exercise to prevent degradation of muscle. Further reading edit Papers Books Harrison, Albert. 57 Nuclear power is sometimes proposed for colonies located on the Moon or on Mars, as the supply of solar energy is too discontinuous in these locations; the Moon has nights of two Earth weeks in duration. Most types of online jobs need you to be patience, including the most simple tasks such as data entry.
"The Space Settlement Summit". 123 124 Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (seds) is a student organization founded in 1980 at MIT and Princeton. The British Interplanetary Society. Archived from the original on Retrieved elf-published source Conceptual Study of A Solar Power Satellite, SPS 2000 By Makoto Nagatomo, Susumu Sasaki and Yoshihiro Naruo Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Yokohama, japan, May 1994,. . By developing alternative locations off Earth, the planet's species, including humans, could live on in the event of natural or man-made disasters on our own planet. Although they would generally also take a few days to reach with current technology, many of these points would have near-continuous solar power because their distance from Earth would result in only brief and infrequent eclipses of light from the Sun.
68 69 Since using physical money in space will be a costly process, experts have explored the usage of Blockchains to exchange value among inhabitants in a space colony. Major governments and well-funded corporations have announced plans for new categories of activities: space tourism and hotels, prototype space-based solar-power satellites, heavy-lift boosters and asteroid mining that create needs and capabilities for humans to be present in space. "E-mental health tool may be key for astronauts to cope with anxiety, depression in space". However, the fact that the EarthMoon Lagrange points L4 and L5 tend to collect dust and debris, whereas L1 - L3 require active station-keeping measures to maintain a stable position, make them somewhat less suitable places for habitation than was originally believed. An alternative solution is to bring hydrogen from near-Earth asteroids and combine it with oxygen extracted from lunar rock. Bios-3 is another closed ecosystem, completed in 1972 in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. Dyson wrote Home on the Moon; Living on a Space Frontier in 2003; 94 Peter Eckart wrote Lunar Base Handbook cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol in 2006 95 and then Harrison Schmitt's Return to the Moon written in 2007.
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117 Solutions to health risks edit Although there are many physical, mental, and emotional health risks for future colonizers and pioneers, solutions have been proposed to correct these problems. "No, We Haven't Solved The Drake Equation, The Fermi Paradox, Or Whether Humans Are Alone". 105 Colonizing space would require massive amounts of financial, physical, and human capital devoted to research, development, production, and deployment. Keeping contact with family members, celebrating holidays, and maintaining cultural identities all had an impact on minimizing the deterioration of mental health. The above concepts all appear limited to high, but still sub-relativistic speeds, due to fundamental energy and reaction mass considerations, and all would entail trip times which might be enabled by space colonization technology, permitting self-contained habitats with lifetimes of decades to centuries. "Robotic Exploration of the Solar System". Also, please let me know if any of these companies actually do charge some sort of fee and I will look into it and get it removed. Gale Document Number: galea13330278 (can request a copy directly from the authors) "The Meaning of Space Settlement". These are one of the few methods of superluminal travel which may be possible under current physics. Retrieved SP-413 Space Settlements: A Design Study. How to works dollars trading forex, Boston homes for sale by owner, Accounting part time work from home jobs, Customer service jobs work from home usa. Nasa performed a study called hope (Revolutionary Concepts for H uman O uter P lanet E xploration) regarding the future exploration of the Solar System. The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (cseo) promotes space exploration and colonization, and fosters collaboration in space.
Many arguments have been made for and against space colonization. "A Survival Imperative for Space Colonization". 33 The mining and extraction of metals from a small asteroid the size of 3554 Amun or (6178) 1986 DA, both small near-Earth asteroids, would be 30 times as much metal as humans have mined throughout history. Psychological adjustment edit The monotony and loneliness that comes from a prolonged space mission can leave astronauts susceptible to cabin fever or having a psychotic break. Three of the Galilean moons (Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) have an abundance of volatiles that may support colonization efforts. Astronauts at Work: The Social Relations of Space Travel, Monthly Review a b Britt, Robert Roy. Energy edit Solar energy in orbit is abundant, reliable, and is commonly used to power satellites today. Cox Islands in Space. Freeman Dyson has suggested that within a few centuries human civilization will have relocated cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol to the Kuiper belt.
Space colonization - Wikipedia
Favorite this post Nov 14 Home Daily Local Work - CDrivers Needed! Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Space '96. "Devon Island is as close to Mars as you may get". Nasa learned that without gravity bones lose minerals, causing osteoporosis. Retrieved 5 September 2014. Lynn Margulis and Ricardo Guerrero, "Life as a planetary phenomenon: the colonization of Mars Microbiologa 11 (1995 17384. "TIL Cryptocurrency Might be our First Extra-Terrestrial Form of Money". Citation needed Space colonization technology could in principle allow human expansion at high, but sub-relativistic speeds, substantially less than the speed of light,. . "Costing and financing a commercial asteroid mining venture". Password, show Hide, cancel, create cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol an Account with CareerBuilder to save jobs unlock these great features. 112 Bone density may decrease by 1 per month, 113 which may lead to a greater risk of osteoporosis-related fractures later in life. 90 Others have also written about space colonies as Lasswitz in 1897 and Bernal, Oberth, Von Pirquet and Noordung in the 1920s.
"Binary asteroid in Jupiter's orbit may be icy comet from solar system's infancy". For locations on Earth, this method of getting power is extremely benign, with zero emissions and far less ground area required per watt than for conventional solar panels. The lcross impacter was targeted at the Cabeus crater which was chosen as having a high concentration of water for the Moon. Harnessing these resources can lead to much economic development. This requires fairly large radiator areas. In the long run a single-planet species will not survive. The main impediments to commercial exploitation of these resources are the very high cost of initial investment, 38 the very long period required for the expected return on those investments ( The Eros Project plans cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol a 50-year development. Nasa believes by using propellant derived from asteroids for exploration to the moon, Mars, and beyond will save 100 billion. "A Novel Application of the sawd-Sabatier-SPE Integrated System for CO2 Removal and O2 Regeneration in Submarine Cabins during Prolonged Voyages". Outside the Solar System edit Looking beyond the Solar System, there are up to several hundred billion potential stars with possible colonization targets.
The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth. Favorite this post Nov 7 Earn Over 800/day! Bitcoin is it sustainable? Lee; National Geographic News, February 22, 2013 Lee, Ricky. The asteroid belt has significant overall material available, the largest object being Ceres, although it is thinly distributed as it covers a vast region of space. 25 26 Nick Bostrom has argued that from a utilitarian perspective, space colonization should be a chief goal as it would enable a very large population to live for a very long period of time (possibly billions of years. A drawback of the Moon is its low cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol abundance of volatiles necessary for life such as hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon. 20 Expansion with fewer negative consequences edit Further information: Holocene extinction Expansion of humans and technological progress has usually resulted in some form of environmental devastation, and destruction of ecosystems and their accompanying wildlife. However, he expressed a hope to be proven wrong, because "colonizing other worlds is our best chance to hedge our bets and improve the survival prospects of our species". However, the value of SPS power delivered wirelessly to other locations in space will typically be far higher than to Earth.
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"Falcon Heavy, The World's Most Powerful Rocket". The fundamental problem of public things, needed for survival, such as space programs, is the free rider problem. A Journey to Inspire, Innovate, and Discover - Report of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, June 2004 "The World's Largest Earth Science Experiment: Biosphere 2". Now, today the technology is such that this is barely conceivable. As is true of other frontier-opening endeavors, the capital investment necessary for space colonization would probably come from governments, 43 an argument made by John Hickman 44 and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Traditional Energy in Homes". Page needed Mining the Sky Beaming solar energy from the Moon could solve Earth's energy crisis ; March 29, 2017; wired 'Trash Can' Nuclear Reactors Could Power Human Outpost On Moon Or Mars ; October 4, 2009; ScienceDaily Huang, Zhi. Many scientific papers have been published about interstellar travel. The Solar System alone has, according to different estimates, enough material and energy to support anywhere from several thousand to over a billion times that of the current Earth-based human population. A b Kirsten Weir.
Another concern is the potential to cause interplanetary contamination on planets that may harbor hypothetical extraterrestrial life. 102 Human explorers would also be vulnerable to back contamination to Earth if they become carriers of microorganisms. We may have people living on the moons of Jupiter and other planets. Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible. The other three EarthSun points would require months to reach. "Scientists Design New Space Currency". Building colonies in space would require access to water, food, space, people, construction materials, energy, transportation, communications, life support, simulated gravity, radiation protection and capital investment. 114 nasa found that isolation in closed environments aboard cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol the International Space Station led to depression, sleep disorders, and diminished personal interactions, likely due to confined spaces and the monotony and boredom of long space flight. We face threats that include global warming. "Extra-Terrestrial Applications of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies".
"Planetary Protection Knowledge Gaps for Human Extraterrestrial Missions: Goals and Scope." (2015) Safe on Mars page 37 "Martian biological contamination may occur if astronauts breathe contaminated dust or if they contact material that is introduced into their habitat. 61 This can be leftover material (slag) from processing lunar soil and asteroids into oxygen, metals, and other useful materials. Amazon new jobs work from home. Retrieved 30 December 2018. There is no night in free space, and no clouds or atmosphere to block sunlight. "Journal of cryptocurrency trade name registration asgardia sol the British Interplanetary Society". Queens University Belfast scientist helps nasa Mars project "No-one has yet proved that there is deep groundwater on Mars, but it is plausible as there is certainly surface ice and atmospheric water vapour, so we wouldn't want. Binary trade center review, Robin hood forex trade room, Micro day trading cryptocurrency for beginners. 5 Their answers were: Although some items of the infrastructure requirements above can already be easily produced on Earth and would therefore not be very valuable as trade items (oxygen, water, base metal ores, silicates, etc. 12 The physicist Paul Davies also supports the view that if a planetary catastrophe threatens the survival of the human species on Earth, a self-sufficient colony could "reverse-colonize" Earth and restore human civilization. Video External links edit. Thus, considerable efforts in colonizing places outside Earth would appear as a hazardous waste of the Earth's limited resources for an aim without a clear end.


A star is born
Austrian Academy of Sciences - School lecture and visit of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roland Wester
On Jan 27th ISK students of all classes had the pleasure to meet university professor Dr. Roland Wester. He is an internationally acclaimed scientist who has already engaged in teaching and research at the universities of Heidelberg, Freiburg as well as Berkeley, California. Since 2010 he is situated at the university of Innsbruck where he does highly interesting research in the department of Ion and Applied Physics.
At ISK, Dr. Wester gave a one-hour lecture with the title “A star is born” – focusing on the transition of dense molecular clouds into stars. Afterwards, our students had the opportunity to ask question about the science, and about life and work as a scientist. It was a pleasure to see how many of our students engaged in the discussion and asked relevant questions.
Klaus Reitberger - teacher of Physics, Theatre - Drama in Education and Theory of Knowledge


Radioisotope dating problems
Because of the fairly fast decay rate of carbon-14, it can only be used on material up to about 60,000 years old.
These use radioactive minerals in rocks as geological clocks.
His result was in close agreement with his estimate of the age of the earth.
The solar estimate was based on the idea that the energy supply for the solar radioactive flux is gravitational contraction.
Others measure the subatomic particles that are emitted as an isotope decays.
Some measure the decay of isotopes more indirectly.


Gabrielle began by explaining that his role at NASA includes taking care of the area’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, tunnel, structures, etc.), and making sure that everything on the ground runs smoothly. He then proceeded to teach the children about various aspects of the Kennedy Center’s Space Program. Gabrielle invited students to visit NASA.gov in order to track when the International Space Station will be flying above their home. He explained that they “needed to look up to the sky for a bright, yellow, moving light.”
At the end of the presentation, Gabrielle challenged the students to write down their dreams and make them their goals. He reminded the children to always “do your best, enjoy everything you do, and believe in yourself.” He also explained to students that “you not only go to school to learn, but to learn how to learn.” Very positive messages indeed!
This opportunity was organized by Dr. Barbara Mundy, Program Administrator for Federal Programs, and funded by the Migrant Education Program. For more information about the Kennedy Space Center (KSP), visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com. NASA’s website, www.nasa.gov, also contains further information about our Nation’s space program.


Con questo esperimento ci si propone di osservare le variazioni di pressione allinterno di una siringa quando il pistone viene tirato fuori rapidamente e studiare le proprietā dellimpulso sonoro cosė ottenuto.
||Christian Johann Doppler (1803
- 1863) was a Austrian physicist and mathematician who is most
often remembered for his discovery of the Doppler effect,
which is central to modern conceptions of sound and light. His
earliest work concerned mathematics, but in 1842 Doppler
completed and published the paper On the Colored Light of
Double Stars and Certain Other Stars of the Heavens. Within
the work, he proposed that observed frequency of light and
sound waves is dependent upon how fast the source and observer
are moving relative to each other, a phenomenon commonly
referred to as the Doppler effect. He also correctly predicted
that his theory would some day be utilized by astronomers to
more accurately measure the movements and distances of stars.
Most notably, the motions of stars detected through this
manner led to the development of the big bang theory of the


A member14 in official Page on facebook has asked this question. Answer needed as early.
Why Islamic calendar based on lunar system?
Publicly posted. Hence privacy disclosed. https://www.facebook.com/SHAFI.CPWD
The question has been closed for the following reason "The question is answered, right answer was accepted" by Irfan Alam Apr 06 at 06:20
[6:96] At the crack of dawn, He causes the morning to emerge. He made the night still, and He rendered the sun and the moon to serve as calculation devices. Such is the design of the Almighty, the Omniscient.
Specifically, the phases of the moon are cited as a timing device for the people in Quran 2:189 and 10:5.
[2:189] They ask you about the phases of the moon! Say, "They provide a timing device for the people, and determine the time of Hajj. ...
[10:5] He is the One who rendered the sun radiant, and the moon a light, and He designed its phases that you may learn to count the years and to calculate. GOD did not create all this, except for a specific purpose. He explains the revelations for people who know.
God makes it very clear in the Quran that there are twelve months. We are also told that four of these months are sacred (months 12, 1, 2, 3). While some muslims alternate the sacred and regular months, God condemns this in Quran 9:37. Thus we know that all the four sacred months are sequential (i.e. one after the other).
God's System: Twelve Months Per Year [9:36] The count of months, as far as GOD is concerned, is twelve. This has been GOD's law, since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred. This is the perfect religion; you shall not wrong your souls (by fighting) during the Sacred Months.
This should be proof enough that it was Allah that legislated it. It cannot be confused with the liner calendar. If more proof is needed than your welcome to ask.
Bismillah. The reason is that in surah al-Baqarah Allah says "They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage". So it is just fitting to use the lunar system. Oh yeah by the the way the source is 2:189. Hope I answered your question. Salam.


You might have just realized that the sun will be completely blocked by the moon for a period of time on Monday, Aug. 21, in parts of the United States. Don’t worry, we won’t tell! 😁
In just one week, America will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1979. In our part of the country, we will be able to see a partial eclipse as roughly 65 percent to 70 percent of the sun will be masked by the moon. The total solar eclipse will cross 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina.
Tens of millions of people are expected to travel into the path, in what will probably resemble the chaos of a zombie apocalypse. Businesses, cell phone networks and roads will be overwhelmed, as human beings scramble to catch the best view, pictures and videos. Those living and visiting within the path of totality are encouraged to fill up their tanks ahead of time and to arm themselves with extra batteries, water bottles and groceries.
For those of us staying right here in Austin, Texas, the partial eclipse is still worth observing. However, make sure to get safe “eclipse” solar glasses for viewing. Staring directly at the sun can do permanent damage to your eyes (as your mom warned!) 😉 Some local libraries are giving away these glasses this week.
Although experts recommend that inexperienced photographers should try and enjoy the moment rather than fiddle with their cameras, many are going to want to try and catch the moment on film or in a photo anyway. (I'm sure we will see an abundance of such posts shared via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, regardless of how amateur they are!) Take care when trying to photograph the sun on phones or tablets as sunlight can damage the camera or screen on these devices. Escape that risk by covering the camera with one half of a pair of solar viewing glasses. (Remember not to stare at the sun with your naked eye while you are trying to take a picture!) 🙏
To capture a better image, remove the phone or tablet out of its case before taping the filter over it to improve the image’s clarity. (Learn how to make your own solar filter here.) Stabilize your camera with a tripod because the slightest vibrations of your hand will make the image blurry.
What time is it? - The eclipse will start at 11:41 a.m. and will end at 2:39 p.m. The peak of the eclipse will take place at 1:10 p.m. Your best opportunity for attempting a photo is between 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Where should I watch it? Right here at Concordia! Our own eclipse viewing event, co-sponsored by the Office of Environmental Stewardship, the Environmental Science and Conservation Program and the CTX Library, will be fun for everyone! The library has purchased solar viewing lenses for your protection! Come enjoy free cookies, water and this amazing miracle. We will join on the upper deck between Building B and Building C.


Before humanity managed to send man-made objects into space seventy-five years ago, the field of orbital mechanics didn’t really exist. Only the movements of other celestial bodies mattered. Things have really changed since then.
The Nazis in World War II were the first to successfully launch a V2 rocket into what is technically outer space.
The Cold War caused a race between Russia and the US to put people in space first, which resulted in the Russians managing to send satellite Sputnik 1 into orbit in 1957. From there the Russians turned to dogs (Laika, the first animal in space), and then people (Yuri Gagarin). The US like to emphasize their follow-up of sending the first person to the moon.
Nowadays, we have an international space station, and roughly 3600 satellites in orbit around our planet. So how does all of that work?
In the twelve tasks of Asterix, Obelix throws a Javelin so far it circles the globe and returns to its starting point. Although this is a cartoon/comic, the principle is actually valid.
To achieve a stable orbit, an object must travel so fast around the Earth that the centripetal force of gravity is exactly so strong as to keep the object moving in a circle around the globe. Basically, the object falls around the Earth.
A stable orbit depends on the distance from the Earth and the speed of the object. The further the distance from Earth (higher orbits), the slower the speed to make an orbit stable.
Mass has little to do with it, unless the object has significant enough mass relative to Earth – like the moon, for example.
Orbits are always elliptical. If you look at the planets orbiting the sun, they all have an elliptical orbit. Below is a diagram of Earth’s orbit.
As you can see, the distance from the Earth to the sun varies over the course of a year. A perfectly circular orbit is that special case of the elliptical orbit where the distance to the orbited object is always equal.
Note that the speed of an object in an elliptical orbit is not constant. It will go slower at its apoapsis and faster at its periapsis (see diagram).
Back to satellites in orbit around Earth. Remember how the speed of an object decreases, the higher its orbit is? At a specific distance from Earth, the speed of an object will be exactly equal to the rotational speed of the Earth (1670 kilometers per hour at the equator). If you put a satellite in orbit at the right speed, going the right way, it will stay above the exact same place on Earth. We call this a geostationary orbit.
We mostly use orbital mechanics to put satellites in orbit around earth. As stated above, there are 3600 satellites in orbit. They perform all kinds of functions like monitoring weather, providing GPS, and showing us satellite overlays on Google Maps.
A GPS receiver works by finding a set of GPS satellites in the sky above. The GPS satellites send out a signal containing the precise time. The receiver uses the known position of the satellites and the time signal to determine the exact direction and distance of the GPS satellite relative to the receiver. With this information from several satellites, the position of the receiver on Earth can be determined. Contrary to popular belief (and mine, actually), GPS does not require geostationary orbits.
Geostationary orbits are useful for weather and communication satellites. There’s actually a list of them on Wikipedia. They are easier to receive signals from on Earth, because you can point your antenna at them directly, and don’t have to keep the antenna moving to match satellite movement.
Since we started putting things in space, orbital mechanics have become increasingly important. If you read or write science fiction, or are interested in science, it’s good to know some of the basics.