Carnival of Space #226
http://www.dearastronomer.com/
Welcome to this week’s Carnival of Space! This week, we’ve got a slew of fascinating space stories.
Starting off with one of my favorite subjects (aside from astronomy), Ian O’Neill (Discovery News) asks: Has a brewing company finally managed to launch their beverage into space? Well, it depends on your definition of “space” (and how much “space beer” you’ve had to drink) read more at: http://news.discovery.com/space/the-first-real-space-beer-not-so-fast-111130.html
On November 26th NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) into space aboard an Atlas V rocket. learn more at: http://chandra.si.edu/blog/node/327
Looking to buy a new telescope? Before you do, check out this review of the Orion 8″ dobsonian reflector at Universe Today: http://www.universetoday.com/91221/telescope-review-orion-skyquest-xt8-classic-dobsonian-reflector
Dr Paul Spudis discusses the latest destination for human spaceflight (Spoiler: Not Mars). You can the entire article at: http://blogs.airspacemag.com/moon/2011/12/the-latest-destination-for-human-spaceflight/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+airspacemag/TheOnceAndFutureMoon+(The+Once+and+Future+Moon)&utm_content=LocalHost
The “Next Big Future” blog offers a triple-threat of entries this week. First, a discussion of Space based solar power status in Japan and other countries, with startups Solaren, and Orbital power group.Read more at: http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/11/space-based-solar-power-status.html
MSL launches from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011. Image Credit: NASA
Another space-based solar power article from “Next Big Future” is available at: http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/11/major-iaa-space-based-solar-power.html
Lastly, a discussion of Far Future (Kardashev 2 technology) Shkadov thruster and stellar engines for moving stars can be viewed for your reading pleasure at: http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/12/shkadov-thruster-and-stellar-engines.html
Steve Nerlich appears on the ‘Smart Enough to Know Better’ podcast to discuss our 4% (and the rest) universe. Listen at: http://www.cheapastro.com/podcasts/CA132_DazeOfAstronomy1of2.mp3
The Meridiani Journal offers another look at the recent MSL launch carrying “Curiosity” to Mars. Read more at: http://themeridianijournal.com/2011/11/curiosity-is-on-its-way-to-mars
If you habla your space news en espanol, Check out this post explaining the main characteristics of Pallas, the second asteroid discovered [In Spanish] at: http://www.vega00.com/2011/11/el-asteroide-palas.html
Amy Shira Teitel gives us a historical account of what plans NASA had for Apollo-era hadware once the Moon program had completed. One mission idea was a manned mission to Venus. read more about this mission at: http://vintagespace.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/nasas-manned-mission-to-venus/
Nicole Gugliucci at Discovery News writes about how Astronomers can make very precise measurements of a black hole’s mass and size, using an array of techniques that span the electromagnetic spectrum. Learn more at: http://news.discovery.com/space/measuring-a-teeny-tiny-massive-black-hole-111202.html
Space artifacts have been making headlines of late, both for the prices being paid and for NASA’s attempts to retain what it sees as its property. Sharing column space this week are articles about an Apollo 13 flown checklist soaring to six figures at auction and the recovery of a 6-foot RL-10 rocket engine.
Whether a NASA artifact can be sold, or is seized, is not always clear but it often depends on if the seller can clearly establish title.
Read the full article at: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-120111a.html
A map of the sky showing the numbers of stars counted in the Sagittarius streams.
A team of astronomers from the University of Cambridge has discovered new interactions between our Milky Way Galaxy and the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy.
Learn more at: http://www.universetoday.com/91510/sagittarius-dwarf-galaxy-a-beast-with-four-tails/
The Urban Astronomer site provides a great article to combat light pollution: Cities in the UK which have been reducing the number of street lights shining late and night to save energy have been surprised to find crime rates actually dropping! Read the full post at: http://www.urban-astronomer.com/Urban-Astronomer-Updates/darkercitieshavelesscrimeofficial
More coverage of MSL from Universe Today. Nancy Atkinson provides us with an interesting article on a time-lapse video of MSL leaving Earth’s orbit on its way to Mars. Check it out at: http://www.universetoday.com/91332/comet-curiosity-msl-looks-like-a-comet-as-it-heads-toward-mars/
Want to know why will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas was hanging with Bill Nye the Science Guy? Learn more about it, along with an idea of what it’s like to be on a rocket launch at: http://www.ridingwithrobots.org/2011/11/lets-go-to-mars/
Rounding out the posts on the MSL launch is Weird Warp. Check out their post which describes the MSL’s mission – to search for elements that are needed to support life (water and carbon-based materials). The mission should help determine if Mars ever was habitable or could be habitable in its future. Read more at: http://www.weirdwarp.com/2011/11/mission-to-mars-about-to-lift-off-looking-for-life/
That’s it for this week’s Carnival of Space! Stay tuned for the next weekly showcase of articles written on the topic of space. If you have a science/space blog, joining the carnival is a good way to meet members of the space/science blogging community and help your site reach a wider audience.
If you’d like to be a host for the carnival, please send email to [email protected]
Ray Sanders is a Sci-Fi geek, astronomer and blogger. Currently researching variable stars at Arizona State University, he writes for Universe Today, The Planetary Society blog, and his own blog, Dear Astronomer
2012-12-04 08:06:59
Source: http://www.dearastronomer.com/2011/12/05/carnival-of-space-226/
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