The Science of July 4th Fireworks!
July 3, 2009 | Geology.com
The shapes and colors that you see in an aerial fireworks display do not happen by chance. They are deliberately produced by clever people who apply principles of art, chemistry, physics and math.
Related stories.
|
 |
 |
NASA Image
|
Lightning and Dust Storms on Mars
July 3, 2009 | University of Michigan
This article from the University of Michigan discusses the occurrence of lightning, in conjunction with dust storms, on Mars. The lightning has apparently occurred in the absence of rain.
Related stories.
|
|
NASA Image
|
Ocean in Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
July 1, 2009 | University of Leicester
It is thought that there may be an ocean beneath the surface of Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. The salty water is ejected from a geyser near the moon’s south pole.
Related stories.
|
|
Observing the International Space Station
July 1, 2009 | NASA
This weekend Americans will be able to observe the International Space Station as it orbits 220 miles above Earth. Many locations will have unusually long sighting opportunities of as much as five minutes, weather permitting, as the station flies almost directly overhead.
Related stories.
|
|
Video: Saturn Rings and Moons
June 24, 2009 | BBC News
This video from BBC News allows viewers to take a virtual trip to Saturn. Carl Murray discusses the rings and moons of our solar system’s sixth planet.
Related stories.
|
|
|
NASA Image
|
Video: Our View of Mars
June 22, 2009 | Space.com
This is a short video about how our perception of Mars has changed. Recent expeditions have given us a better understanding of what’s happening on the Red Planet.
Related stories.
|
|
A Trip to the Moon
June 18, 2009 | Reuters
Will astronauts travel to the moon in 2020? That’s what a panel is trying to decide. The proposed mission, with two Ares rockets and the Orion capsule, would cost over $100 billion.
Related stories.
|
|
Spacecraft to Simulate Asteroid Impact
June 16, 2009 | National Geographic
The Hayabusa spacecraft is returning from its trip to retrieve samples from the Itokawa asteroid. As it enters Earth’s atmosphere, it will be simulating an asteroid impact itself - although the craft is expected to break apart before it reaches the surface.
Related stories.
|
|
Photos Taken by Astronauts
June 11, 2009 | NASA
Astronauts have been taking photos from space since the 1960s. This website has many of these unique photographs on display. Some of the images are available for use in a variety of formats.
Related stories.
|
|
Space Photos: May 2009
June 10, 2009 | MSNBC
This is a slideshow of images taken of and from space, and released in May 2009. They include the NGC 2841 galaxy, the space shuttle Atlantis, Hubble telescope, nebula Kohoutek 4-55, a Saturn V model rocket, Kilauea Volcano, a red moonrise behind Russia’s Smolny Cathedral, Lake Baikal, craters on Mercury, a “flying carpet” at the ISS, Saturn’s rings, the M33 galaxy, flooding in Australia, the Herschel and Planck spacecraft, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, sand dunes on Mars, and the night sky in Afghanistan.
Related stories.
|
|
Magnetic Tornadoes on Mercury
June 9, 2009 | NASA
“During its second flyby of the planet on October 6, 2008, MESSENGER discovered that Mercury’s magnetic field can be extremely leaky indeed. The spacecraft encountered magnetic “tornadoes” – twisted bundles of magnetic fields connecting the planetary magnetic field to interplanetary space – that were up to 500 miles wide or a third of the radius of the planet.” Quoted from NASA.
Related stories.
|
|
Collecting Meteorites
June 8, 2009 | Geology.com / Aerolite Meteorites
Geoffrey Notkin of Aerolite Meteorites shares some ideas for anyone interested in starting a meteorite collection. Although many people think that collecting meteorites will be an extremely expensive hobby, they are often pleasantly surprised to learn that lots of nice specimens can be purchased for about the same price as a science textbook.
Related stories.
|
|
Studying Extremophiles
June 4, 2009 | NSF Science Nation
Some bacteria have been known to live at locations with very high or low temperatures. This article has an accompanying 5-minute-long video about these “extremophiles”.
Related stories.
|
|
NASA Image
|
Strongest Matter in Existence
June 1, 2009 | National Geographic
What is the strongest matter in existence? Astronomers believe it’s the crust of neutron stars, which may have billions of times the strength of steel.
Related stories.
|
|
Dying White Dwarf Star
May 30, 2009 | University of Delaware
Astronomers have their telescopes aimed intently at a white dwarf star in the Ophiuchus constellation. They hope that the dying star will help them learn more about asteroseismology.
Related stories.
|
|
Image: ESA/Hubble
|
The Future of Science
May 29, 2009 | MSNBC
This is a slideshow featuring some ambitious endeavors in the future of science, such as ocean observatories, a lunar communications system, craft to study space collisions, Mars soil sampling, finding other planets like Earth, atom-smashing machines, and a new space telescope.
Related stories.
|
|
Podcast: Regolith for Moon Missions
May 28, 2009 | USGS
This podcast discusses how the USGS is creating artificial moon regolith, to assist NASA with future moon missions. A transcript is also available for those who would prefer to read the interview.
Related stories.
|
|
Photos: Hubble Servicing Mission
May 25, 2009 | Boston.com
Boston.com has a photo gallery that features scenes of the recent Hubble servicing mission from launch pad to the spacewalks.
Related stories.
|
|
|
Image: ESA/Hubble
|
Hubble Photo Montage
May 22, 2009 | CNN/NASA
CNN has a photo montage with 21 of the Hubble space telescope’s amazing views. For more images, computer wallpaper, news, and information on Hubble, visit NASA’s webpage at hubblesite.org.
Related stories.
|
|
Apollo Celebrates 40 Years
May 22, 2009 | NASA
July 20, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moonwalk. This NASA page links to lots of different features and information on Apollo.
Related stories.
|
|
|
|
