Sunday, May 31, 2009

Axions

I heard this story, Axions, on NPR during a StarDate program.
I am reading these articles, Axions and More Axions, on StarDate's website.
According to these articles, dark matter may consist of subatomic particles with almost zero mass called axions.
A great amount of dark matter, in the form of axions, was created a bit after the Big Bang.
And that axions may be created from X-rays, inside of stars.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Hubble Service Mission

Glad to see the Hubble service mission was a success and that the crew of Atlantis got home safely.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

First Landing Opportunity Waved Off

I am reading this article, First Landing Opportunity Waved Off, on NASA's website.
Space Shuttle Atlantis may be able to land today if the weather is good.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Monthly Meeting, etc.

Sunday we have our regular monthly meeting at Books-A-Million in Colonial Heights around 2:00 PM. We're planning to see the movie Angels and Demons after the meeting -- there are important sci-fi elements in this movie.

Al, Nik, Boo, and I went to see the new Star Trek movie in Hopewell Saturday -- the second time for Al, Nik, and I.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Why I’m watching the Hubble repairs so intently

I am reading this article, Why I'm watching the Hubble repairs so intently, on Discover Magazine's website
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/

Phil Platt has some interesting things to say about the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph.

BA Review: Star Trek

I am reading the Bad Astronomy Review of the latest Star Trek movie.
Very interesting interview.
I saw the movie twice.

STS-125: Final Shuttle Mission to Hubble Space Telescope

I am reading this article, STS-125: Final Shuttle Mission to Hubble Space Telescope, on NASA's website.
According to this article, Astronaut Scott D. Altman is commanding this shuttle mission and Gregory C. Johnson is the pilot.
The mission specialists are: Michael J. Massimino, Michael T. Good, K. Megan McArthur, John M. Grunsfeld(an astronomer) and Andrew J. Feustel.

Preparations for Fourth Spacewalk Under Way

I am reading this article, Preparations for Fourth Spacewalk Under Way, on NASA's website.
According to this article, Mike Good and Mike Massimino were scheduled to begin the forth spacewalk at 0916 EDT.
 
Most of the repair work involves the HST's  Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph according to this article, STS-125 Crew to Conduct Forth Spacewalk, on NASA's website.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Atlantis Captures Hubble Space Telescope

I am reading this article, Atlantis Captures Hubble Space Telescope, on NASA's website.
According to this article, the Space Shuttle Atlantis has the Hubble Space Telescope in its robotic arm.  The HST will be lowered into the shuttle payload bay and attached to a special cradle.  It will be repaired while attached to a lazy Susan-like device.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Star Trek IMAX

Al, Nik, and I saw the new Star Trek movie in IMAX Saturday. We all enjoyed it. Leonard Nimoy was particularly moving in reprising his Spock role.

STS-125 Astronauts are Boarding Atlantis

I am reading this article, STS-125 Astronauts are Boarding Atlantis, on NASA's website.
According to this article, the launch is scheduled for 1401 EDT today.
The mission is to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Quasars

I heard this story, Quasars, of StarDate's radio program that airs NPR.
I went to StarDateOnline to read this story and the second part, Building Galaxies.
What do black holes have to do with the formation of galaxies?
I find it interesting that astronomers find black holes at the center of most if not all galaxies, according to this story. 

NASA Budget Being Drafted Without a Top-Level Advocate

I am reading this article, NASA Budget Being Drafted Without a Top-Level Advocate By Frank Morring, Jr., on  Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine's website.
What is to become of NASA as the space shuttle program ends?