NASA and Human Spaceflight

Here is an interesting, yet old, Op-Ed in the NY Times on how NASA can improve its human spaceflight plans. Assuming they continue (more later on that...). Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Rashid Sunyaev is truly this awesome

I strongly encourage you to read this article about maybe the best living Astronomer you never (but should have) heard of, Rashid Sunyaev. In addition to being REALLY smart, he is also REALLY friendly. Okay, I know this is a little fanboy-ish of me, but it is true.

Colliding aurorae

That's right. Colliding aurorae. As in, stream of charged particles trapped in the Earth's atmosphere colliding together. And people caught it on video. Watch here! I personally think that is really awesome.

Yet another Hubble discovery

This time of the smallest yet known object in the Kuiper Belt, the area full of comet-like objects just beyond Neptune's orbit. Go here for more details.

First image release from Herschel

Herschel, ESA's new mid-infrared mission (similar wavelengths as Spitzer but more sensitive) has made its first images. Go here to check out its view of the famous Eagle Nebula. Enjoy!

Want more school work?

Check out this NASA website. Seriously, that is how they are pitching it. Enjoy!

Follow the progress of JWST

NASA is currently working on the James Webb Space Telescope, the "successor" to the Hubble Space Telescope (I use the quotes because JWST will NOT be able to reproduce everything that Hubble can do now). To follow their progress, go here. Enjoy!

Deeper, Faster, Better!

Go here to read a recent NY Times on what incredible science Hubble can now do thanks to its recent instrument upgrades. Enjoy, and yay Hubble!

Poor Spirit

Abandoned on Mars by its cruel NASA creators... (courtesy of xkcd):

Belated Happy Birthday to the Hugyen's Probe

Just over 5 years ago, the Cassini spacecraft
deposited the Huygens probe in the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, which transmitted precious data as it fell through Titan's atmosphere and landed on the surface. Go here to read more about what astronomers are learning from this data more than 5 years after it was recorded. Enjoy!