Archives for June 2009
CoS 108
Published on 26 Jun 2009 at 11:20 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under blogging.
I’ve been busy with summer school and other faculty duties, so I’ve gotten behind in blogging. I am doing a star party tomorrow ( June 27) at Dinosaur Valley State Park. It’s going to be a hot one (temperature wise, with highs over 100 predicted). If you want to read blog entries, though, for the […]
KAGUYA’s last images
Published on 20 Jun 2009 at 3:36 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under moon, space exploration.
Japan’s KAGUYA (formerly SELENE) probe crashed into the surface of the Moon as planned this past week. Like many space probes to the Moon, the last action commanded from Earth was to crash into the Moon. This is in part a safety move to make sure that the dead spacecraft does not pose a hazard […]
CoS 107
Published on 14 Jun 2009 at 1:53 pm.
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Filed under blogging.
The 107th edition of the Carnival of Space is now live over at Innumerarble Worlds blog. Go over there and check out the collected entries from the space blogosphere. My very busy academic year continues with heavy summer teaching load.
-Astroprof
KAGUYA plunges into the Moon
Published on 10 Jun 2009 at 10:05 am.
No Comments.
Filed under moon, space exploration.
The KAGUYA (formerly SELENE) spacecraft is at the end of its mission. As with several other recent missions to the Moon, KAGUYA’s final action will be a deliberate plunge into the lunar surface. The orbit has already been altered, and at this late time, there is not much that could stop it from slamming into […]
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June and July Star Parties
Published on 9 Jun 2009 at 8:28 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under observing.
For many people, summer is a time to get out and do things. Many amateur astronomers like to observe in the winter because the skies are often clearer, darker, and the nights are longer (permitting more observing and observing starting earlier). Serious amateur astronomers know how to dress for cold weather. However, for most other […]
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CoS 106
Published on 7 Jun 2009 at 11:26 am.
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Filed under blogging.
The 106th edition of the Carnival of Space is now up at the Next Big Future blog. This week’s carnival has 28 blog entries gathered from the spacey bloggers around the blogosphere. So, go check out the links. The topics include astrophotography, meteors, new moon maps, and interstellar spacecraft engines.
-Astroprof
The Moon and Antares
Published on 6 Jun 2009 at 1:41 pm.
2 Comments.
Filed under observing, skywatching.
As the Moon goes around the Earth, it naturally passes in front of various stars now and then. The heavens are full of stars, so this is a pretty normal occurrence. When my students are doing their moon observations through the telescope, I often look to see if a star is near the limb (the […]
