NEO (Near Earth Orbit) and Planetary Defense. I so want to say Deathstar.

http://www.planetarydefense.info/index.html

But this is a serious resource for people working on the detection and possible deflection of objects that might impact Earth.

See also  http://www.nss.org/resources/library/planetarydefense/WhitePaper-2009PlanetaryDefenseConference.pdf

Astronomy Software

A wonderful list of software and apps for or related to Astronomy, including for apps for iPhone and Android. 

A very dense resource of links, strongly suggest spending some time looking through their information.

Here is just one resource from the link about, a 9 page pdf, of just iPhone Apps http://astronomyonline.org/PDFs/iPhoneApps.pdf

Simply Cool, Planets & Stars to scale

http://www.rense.com/general72/size.htm

Neutrinos and Dark Matter

A planned Neutrino Telescope KM3NeT  http://www.km3net.org/home.php looks to add a lot to our knowledge about the universe.  It will also be one of the largest objects ever built.

When it the KM3NeT is finished it will join the IceCube particle detector in the Antarctic http://www.icecube.wisc.edu/index.php in the search into the understanding the cosmos.

NASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid Flyby, inside Moon's orbit

Details at NASA

Here is snippet from NASA:

The trajectory of asteroid 2005 YU55 is well understood. At the point of closest approach, it will be no closer than 201,700 miles (324,600 kilometers) or 0.85 the distance from the moon to Earth.

"Our galaxy's gas" from ars

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/11/somethings-out-between-the-stars-but-we-dont-know-what-it-is.ars

Interesting article about the diffuse gas bands astronomers have found, the most recent one in the galactic center.

Unknown chemistry composition so far, sounds interesting.  Perhaps there is a connection to abiogenesis?

Great place for more learning about Science

The Physics Forum, I discovered this today by accident, just wish I would have found this forum years ago, they have many different sections for students and professionals. 

They cover a lot more than just Physics, there is to much for me to cover in a brief post.  I am overwhelmed with the amount of resources available at the  Physics Forum.  In a few weeks after I have timed to digest some of what they offer I will do an update post.

I will also add their link to right side of my blog for easy clicking.

Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

Aurora Above Churchill, Manitoba

Photograph by Richard Kelly

A beautiful picture.  From Earth Science Picture of the Day [EPOD] a neat & educational Blog.

Information about the Blog.


Photographer Richard Kelly
Richard Kelly's website

Possible Water Flows on Mars

Embedded video from


NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology

August 04, 2011

PASADENA, Calif. -- Observations from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars.

"NASA's Mars Exploration Program keeps bringing us closer to determining whether the Red Planet could harbor life in some form," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, "and it reaffirms Mars as an important future destination for human exploration." ~NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (more)

 For more information from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter [MRO] check  NASA MRO or Mars Program they have lots of high resolution pictures.  In addition to much more information.

Science Pictures

Image Credit: NASA/Swift/Penn State/J. Kennea

Just a bit of inspiration, to keep slogging through calculus so I can see the beauty that lies beneath the surface of images like these.

If you want to learn what these pictures really mean, check Professor Astronomy.

Image Credit: Jon Morse and NASA

NASA Juno space probe

This is the quote that caught my eye:

Attached to the probe are three little Lego figures specially made of space-grade aluminum. They represent the Italian physicist Galileo, who discovered Jupiter's four biggest moons; the Roman god Jupiter; and his wife Juno, for whom the spacecraft is named.

Lego's in space, makes me think of MST3K.

More detailed information from NASA.

Multiverse theory

Maybe we are not alone. Story from BBC, what is really cool about this particular Multiverse idea is that it is testable!

Scientist may actually be able to find evidence of other universes.  Doubtful we will be able to find out more.

Multiverse info from Wikipedia, might not be updated yet with this recent information.


Journal Physical Review D

First observational tests of eternal inflation: Analysis methods and WMAP 7-year results

Stephen M. Feeney, Matthew C. Johnson, Daniel J. Mortlock, and Hiranya V. Peiris

Abstract pdf

Detailed publication pdf

Brief Solar Flare

From the Bad Astronomy Blog