STS-133 Launch Day Gallery

Discovery just moments after her final liftoff. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

Here’s a collection of images from the historic final launch of space shuttle Discovery on February 24, 2011.
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Post tags: Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-133

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Full story at http://www.universetoday.com/83534/sts-133-launch-day-gallery/

New Record: Telescope Finds 19 Near-Earth Asteroids in One Night

Richard Wainscoat (left) and Marco Micheli study one of the near-Earth asteroids found on January 29. The asteroid is the roundish dot near Wainscoat?s finger. Photo by Karen Teramura

From a University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy press release:

The Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope on Haleakala, Maui, discovered 19 near-Earth asteroids on the night of January 29, the most asteroids discovered by one telescope on a single night.

?This record number of discoveries shows that PS1 is the world?s most powerful telescope for this kind of study,? said Nick Kaiser, head of the Pan-STARRS project. ?NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory?s support of this project illustrates how seriously they are taking the threat from near-Earth asteroids.?
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Read the rest of New Record: Telescope Finds 19 Near-Earth Asteroids in One Night (320 words)

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© nancy for Universe Today, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Asteroids, Observatories, Pan-STARRS

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Full story at http://www.universetoday.com/83562/new-record-telescope-discovers-19-near-earth-asteroids-in-one-night/

Delta Leonid Meteors May Show On February 26

If you like keeping track of somewhat obscure meteor showers, tonight will be one of your best opportunities to spot the Delta Leonids. What’s the history of these meteors and when and where do you look? Let’s go outside and find out… (...)
Read the rest of Delta Leonid Meteors May Show On February 26 (317 words)

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© tammy for Universe Today, 2011. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Full story at http://www.universetoday.com/83574/delta-leonid-meteors-may-show-on-february-26/

Astronomy Without A Telescope ? Knots In Space

A rare double Einstein ring (SDSSJ0946+1006). Either two distant galaxies are lined up directly behind a closer massive galactic cluster (which is gravitationally-lensing their light into a double ring) - or of course it could be a donut-shaped portal to an alternate universe. You decide. Credit: NASA/ESA HST.

So finally you possess that most valuable of commodities, a traversable wormhole – and somehow or other you grab one end of it and accelerate it to a very rapid velocity. (...)
Read the rest of Astronomy Without A Telescope – Knots In Space (699 words)

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© Steve Nerlich for Universe Today, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: wormholes

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Full story at http://www.universetoday.com/83425/astronomy-without-a-telescope-knots-in-space/

Discovery Docks at Space Station on Historic Final Voyage with First Human-Robot Crew

Space Shuttle Discovery linked up to the International Space Station (ISS) today, Feb. 26,
for her 13th and final time on her historic last mission to the High Frontier. Discovery lofted the first joint Human-Robot crew to space. See photos below. Credit: NASA

Space Shuttle Discovery linked up to the International Space Station (ISS) today, Feb. 26, on her historic final voyage and still charting new frontiers by carrying the first ever joint space crew of humans and robots.

The all veteran human crew is comprised of five men and one women including Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. For the first time in the history of manned spaceflight, the humans are joined by a robotic companion named R2 or Robonaut 2. R2 is the first humanoid robot in space and will become an official member of the ISS crew.(...)
Read the rest of Discovery Docks at Space Station on Historic Final Voyage with First Human-Robot Crew (687 words)

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© Ken Kremer for Universe Today, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ISS, leonardo, NASA, PMM, Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-133

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Full story at http://www.universetoday.com/83572/discovery-docks-at-space-station-on-historic-final-voyage-with-first-human-robot-crew/

Psi Aquilae

Psi Aquilae(? Aquilae) este o stea in constelatia Aquila.

Phi Aquilae este o stea alb-albastruie de tip B giganta cu o magnitudine aparenta de +6.25.

Se afla la aproximativ 810 ani-lumina de Pamant.

Full story at http://www.astronomy.info.com.ro/2011/02/psi-aquilae/

Omega� Aquilae

Omega� Aquilae(?� Aquilae) este o stea alb-galbuie de tip F subgiganta in constelatia Aquila. Are o magnitudine aparenta vizuala de aproximativ 5.300 si se afla la aproximativ 420 ani-lumina de Pamant.

Full story at http://www.astronomy.info.com.ro/2011/02/omega%c2%b9-aquilae/

Omega� Aquilae

Omega� Aquilae(?� Aquilae) este o stea de alba de tip A de secventa principala in constelatia Aquila. Are o magnitudine aparenta vizuala de 6.023� si se afla la aproximativ 280 ani-lumina de Pamant.

Full story at http://www.astronomy.info.com.ro/2011/02/omega%c2%b2-aquilae/

firefox 4 for android is absolutely killing it!

GigaOM:

Mozilla released the fifth iteration of Firefox for mobile devices this week, and not only is it a solid app; it?s speedy too. Indeed, my benchmark tests showed a 218 percent increase in JavaScript performance, making for a fast mobile web experience on my Samsung Galaxy Tab. Even the dual-core Xoom tablet gained speed with Firefox?s browser, which tested faster than the native Honeycomb browser.

Android Community:

"Firefox 4 Beta for Android ?really? is that much faster" So just how fast is the latest beta 5. FAST!

Android Central:

One of the chief complaints about Firefox for Android has been its speed and size. But with every new release, it's gotten faster. And with every new release, it's gotten smaller.

Full story at http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/asa/archives/2011/02/firefox_4_for_androi.html

Watch Geminid Meteor Shower On 13th and 14th December

If you are a sky gazer then you won't like to miss a chance to watch the beautiful Geminid meteor shower coming this week and if astronomers are to be believed its going to the "best meteor shower of the year".

The name Geminids comes from the name "Gemini" constellation.On 13th December and 14th December you can expect these showers late night if you are willing to brave the chill of December.



Observers can see more than 100 meteors per hour.The meteor shower will be more visible as the sky will be dark and moonless on December 14.

One more event astronomical event for this year will be the only Total lunar eclipse on December 20th which will be witnessed North America, Central America, a bit of South America, Greenland and Iceland.

Do let us know if you caught a glimpse of spectacular Geminid meteor shower!

Full story at http://astronomyforeveryone.blogspot.com/2010/12/watch-geminid-meteor-shower-on-13th-and.html