How Microbes Could Help Colonize Mars

Cyanobacteria fossil about 850 million years old from Bitter
Springs in Central Australia. Credit: J. William Schopf

by Jeremy Hsu
for Astrobiology Magazine

Moffett Field CA (SPX) Sep 10, 2010

Tiny rock-eating microbes could mine precious extraterrestrial resources from Mars
and pave the way for the first human colonists. Just don't expect them to transform
the red planet's surface into a new Earth on a short deadline, researchers say.

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Space station cargo vessel blasts off

A robotic Russian resupply ship to service the International Space Station successfully launched atop a Soyuz rocket rocket today at 6:22 a.m. EDT (1022 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The freighter is carrying two-and-a-half tons of cargo, food and water for the high-flying laboratory.

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Photo credit: Energia

Two Asteroids To Pass By Earth Wednesday (Today)

Two small asteroids in unrelated orbits will pass
within the moon's distance of Earth on Wed.
Both should be observable with moderate-sized
amateur telescopes.

by Staff WritersPasadena CA (JPL) Sep 08, 2010
Two asteroids, several meters in diameter and in unrelated orbits, will pass within the moon's distance of Earth on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
Both asteroids should be observable near closest approach to Earth with moderate-sized amateur telescopes

. Neither of these objects has a chance of hitting Earth.

Read more... 

Source: SpaceDaily

11 September 2010 - Occultation of Venus by the moon on your doorstep

Re Post with extra information

Maak `n knoop in jou selfoon om hierdie okkultasie van Venus deur die maan nie mis te loop nie. Dit is in die dag en sal maklik met `n verkyker waargeneem kan word. Selfs met die blote oog. Venus verdwyn Saterdag 11 September om 14:29 agter die maan en verskyn dan weer om 15:47.  Die sekelmaantjie gaan hoog in die hemel sit en daardie klein ligpuntjie naby hom is Venus. Sien onder vir meer spesifieke tye.

Times for the Free State
Bethlehem 2:36 pm 3:48 pm
Bloemfontein 2:29 pm 3:47 pm
Harrismith 2:38 pm 3:50 pm
Kroonstad 2:33 pm 3:45 pm
Parys 2:34 pm 3:43 pm
Smithfield 2:30 pm 3:50 pm

Northern Cape
Calvinia 2:14 pm 3:40 pm
De Aar 2:24 pm 3:46 pm
Hotazel 2:19 pm 3:37 pm
Kimberley 2:25 pm 3:44 pm
Springbok 2:08 pm 3:34 pm
Sutherland 2:18 pm 3:44 pm
Upington 2:15 pm 3:37 pm

• Besoek die Johannesburg Planetarium vir meer spesifieke tye in Suid Afrika
  
• So het dit in 2007 gelyk: Astronomy Picture of the Day
  
• Next good Venus-Moon occultation for us is March 2023. 

Hier is meer inligting: 

11 Sep - Occultation of Venus for E Brazil & S Africa (daytime)

Local Circumstances (Boyden Observatory - Bloemfontein)

Longitude =  26° 14' 31" E
                             Latitude =  29° 01' 18" S
                            Elevation = 1114m.

                 Greatest Occultation = 2010-Sep-11 13:08:05.6 UT
                             Altitude =  76.4°
                              Azimuth = 338.3°

            Calendar Date and Time          Planet           Sun     Limb
                Universal Time         Azi    Alt    PA      Alt      PA
 

Universal Time 

Ingress    2010-Sep-11 12:29:18.8 d   18.6°  76.6°   88.0°   43.0°  295.3°
Egress     2010-Sep-11 13:47:08.7 b  309.3°  71.2°  328.4°   28.5°  295.2°
  Duration    77m 49.9s

Graphic of disappearance and reappearance points as seen from Boyden Observatory

Graphic Source: TheSky6

 Click on images for a bigger view

• Venus has phases like the moon
  - Wiki information
  - The Phases of Mercury and Venus
  -The Phases of Venus

NASA Satellites and Spacecraft Look Into the Eye of Hurricane Earl

Click image to enlarge

Hurricane Earl on Sept. 2, 2010 as seen by NASA's Terra Satellite. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team

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ASSA Comet, Asteroid and Meteor Section

 CAMnote s2010 No.2

1)Review of 2010 year to date

2)Comet prospects for the coming months

3)Asteroids in need of observation

4) Meteor showers for October-December 2010

• Download the Newsletter

Wish John Dobson a happy 95 - One for all the dobi users!

John Dobson

John Dobson is arguably one the most influential personalities in amateur astronomy in the last couple of decades. He has almost single-handedly revolutionized backyard astronomy by bringing it out to the street, making it possible for everyone to enjoy the beauty of the Universe!

On September 14 2010, John is turning 95 and here's your chance to send birthday wishes to him!

• Go to this page and send him the best of wishes.  

• Facebook
• Web 
• John L Dobson - Official Page

Dark adaption 3

The perfect astrotorch puts out a pure red beam that is dim enough not to harm dark adaptation.

A too-bright red light can be nearly as harmful to night vision as a white light.

Get one with a strap, a dimmer control, and a sturdy housing

Source: Getting the Most from Your Schmidt Cassegrain or Any Catadioptric Telescope - Rod Mollise

How to become a backyard Astronomer in 10 Easy steps

Backyard Observing

1. DON’T BUY A TELESCOPE — YET Cost: $0 2. BEFRIEND A BOOK - Cost: $0 to $40

3. BEFRIEND THE SKY - Cost: Your timev

4. TRY SOME SOFTWARE - Cost: $0 to $75

5. BUY BINOCULARS - Cost: $150 to $200

6. FIND FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS - Cost: Your time

7. CRASH A PARTY - Cost: Gas money

8. LEARN THE JARGON - Cost: Time and patience

9. OK, NOW BUY A TELESCOPE - Cost: $300 to $600

10. AVOID ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY! - Cost: Nothing—you save hundreds of dollars and hours!

Read thge complete article here!

Source: SkyNews.ca

How the 'LHC in space' lost its British 'engine'

The mythical beast has been sighted. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) has finally arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin final checks before being launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in February.

The AMSThe AMS has variously been described as the "LHC in space" and the "world's most expensive space experiment", besides a few other derogatory labels that have played on its $1.5bn price tag. 

Visit the source BBC News for more information.