911review/astronomy

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has begun environmental testing in a thermal vacuum that simulates the harsh rigors of space.
NASA
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has begun environmental testing in a thermal vacuum that simulates the harsh rigors of space. Goddard, Greenbelt, Maryland [View Larger Image]
October 23, 2008
The spacecraft, built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, has been lifted into a four-story thermal vacuum chamber for a test that will last approximately 5 weeks. Once sealed in the chamber, the satellite will undergo a series of tests that simulate the space environment it will encounter when it orbits the Moon.

During the tests, NASA engineers will operate the spacecraft to ensure it is performing as planned. The project also will conduct mission simulations to further train and develop the team that will operate the spacecraft.

The November 10 issue of Time featured an article titled, "The 50 best inventions of the year." Among the top 50 are four astronomy-related inventions -- three even made the top 10.

Mars Science LaboratoryAt 18 is the Mars Science Laboratory (pictured at right). Set to launch in the fall of 2009, the robotic explorer will possibly determine if Mars was ever able to support microbial life.

Number nine, the Orbital Internet, is new to me. Scientists are working on a connection that can be maintained in orbit. The connection will have to be able to withstand many delays and disruptions that will be present during launch and orbit.

Number five is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland. Even though there have been some bumps in the road for the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, it is expected to be up and running by next spring. Check out more about the LHC.

Sitting at number three is NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Scheduled to launch in April 2009, LRO will search for water and create topographic maps of the lunar surface. This will be the United States' first spacecraft to travel to the Moon in 11 years.

From the page: "The Pope's chief astronomer says that life on Mars cannot be ruled out.
---
My take: THis should have religious implications. Do they go to heaven ? We already know that there were "people" before us, that were NOT in our line of decedents (Neandertal). Christians will have to deal with this somehow
----
Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

Asked about the Catholic Church's condemnation four centuries ago of the Italian astronomer and physicist, Galileo, Father Funes diplomatically says mistakes were made, but it is time to turn the page and look towards the future."

By examining a cloud of exploded remains, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has "carded" a supernova remnant to reveal its underage status. At a mere 140 years old, G1.9+0.3 is the youngest known supernova remnant in the Milky Way. The materials surrounding it are still expanding at almost 35 million miles per hour, an unprecedented speed for a supernova remnant.

you can use this URL...
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/ [antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/]
to browse photos.
a few pics are lagrge though

great photos
heres one i saved to imageshack



large...
img227.imageshack.us/img227/9122/0besthubblev838025pz.jpg [img227.imageshack.us/img227/9122/0besthubblev838025pz.jpg]