Monthly Archives: December 2005

Has Beagle 2 Been Found?

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Dec 21, 2005 – Scientists think they might have finally found the wreckage of the ill fated Beagle 2 Mars mission. Grainy photographs from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor show what could be the spacecraft and protective airbag system.

Instead of landing flat on the surface of Mars, it looks like it bounced into a crater and rolled around inside. Even though the lander was designed for a rough landing, this was probably more than it could have handled.

Artist’s impression of Beagle 2 lander. Image credit: ESA

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BlackBerry maker`s confidence growing

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WINDSOR, ON, Canada (UPI) — The Canadian maker of the BlackBerry personal communications device struck a defiant tone in its legal fight with a U.S. law firm over patents.

The chief executive of Research in Motion Ltd. said Wednesday that recent rulings by the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office had vindicated his company`s right to use the disputed wireless e-mail technology that drives BlackBerry devices, the Financial Times said Thursday.

Someone just talking non-stop, there may be a reason

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Using the filibuster to delay or block legislative action has a long history. The term filibuster — from a Dutch word meaning “pirate” — became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.

In 1841, when the Democratic minority hoped to block a bank bill promoted by Kentucky Senator Henry Clay, he threatened to change Senate rules to allow the majority to close debate. Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton rebuked Clay for trying to stifle the Senate’s right to unlimited debate. Continue reading →

Mimas and Tiny Helene – The moons of Saturn

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Dec 21, 2005 – Cassini has captured this amazing image of two Saturian moons: Mimas and Helene, hiding behind the planet’s ringplane.

From Universe Today, this site continues to bring some of the most amazing photos I have ever seen of our little peek inside our visible universe.ÂÂ It’s astounding how amazing the solar system can appear when really looked at in wonder and amazement of it’s inner workings.

The large, bright moon is Mimas, illuminated on its right side by the Sun. The tiny dot to its left is the tiny Trojan moon Helene. This moonlet is only 32 kilometers (20 miles) across, and shares the same orbit as Dione. This image was taken on November 2, 2005.

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Mimas and the small Trojan moon Helene. Image credit: NASA/JPL/SSI.

Rhea Hiding Behind the Rings

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Dec 19, 2005 – This beautiful photograph shows Saturn’s moon Rhea, partially obscured by the rings. The material surrounding the ring is probably on the planet’s equatorial plane, extending farther out from the ring’s main core.

This image was taken on Oct. 30, 2005, at a distance of approximately 689,000 kilometers (428,000 miles) from Saturn.

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UniverseToday is the BEST site I have ever found that provides the depth and variety of information that Universetoday.com does. Check them out if you have any interest in our galactic travels or would simply like to awe at the beauty of the stars.

What's Up This Week – December 19 – December 25, 2005

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Dec 19, 2005 – Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers… I hope you have your shopping done, because this is going to be one exciting week! We’ll start off with awesome barred spiral NGC 1300 and move on to study both a white and red dwarf star. We’ll pass through the Delta Arietids meteor stream, reach Winter Solstice and search out new cluster Collinder 62.
The next morning we’ll pass through the stream of comet 8/P Tuttle and hunt down Mercury. But the early morning excitement hasn’t ended as the Moon will occult Beta Virginis and Venus comes to a standstill. Not enough? Then hang on as we explore multiple system Theta Orionis and watch as asteroid Vesta slides by bright star Delta Geminorum. Still up for more? Then enjoy a very special Christmas morning as the Moon occults Spica and the night brings around the one and only “Christmas Tree Cluster!” It’s time to dance among the winter stars, because…

Have the Constants of Physics Remained Unchanged?

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Dec 20, 2005 – The physical constants of the Universe are thought to have remained unchanged since the Big Bang; many predictions made by cosmologists depend on it. An international team of researchers are using the National Science Foundation’s Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to see if things really have gone on unchanged for billions of years.
They’re looking to measure two universal constants: the ratio of mass between protons and electrons, and something called the fine structure constant.
The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope.
Image credit: NRAO

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