Nasa probe arrives in moon orbit for lunar ‘mapping’ mission
News from Telegraph.co.uk:
Over the next two months, the probes’ orbits will be tweaked until they are flying in formation low over the lunar poles. As the spacecraft fly over denser regions of the moon, they will speed up slightly in response to the extra gravitational tugs.
By constantly measuring changes in the distance between the two craft, scientists can create a gravity map of the moon. The changes in speed will be as subtle as a fraction of a micron per second. A micron is about the width of a red blood cell.
The data will be used to model the moon’s interior, a key piece of information still missing despite more than 100 previous missions to the moon, including six human expeditions during Nasa’s 1969-1972 Apollo program.
Scientists believe the moon formed when an object about the size of Mars smashed into Earth shortly after the formation of the solar system about 4.5 billion years ago. But questions about how the moon evolved remain.
One longstanding question is why the far side of the moon is so different from the side that permanently faces Earth. The near side is filled with large, dark plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, while the far side is virtually all highlands.
The mission is scheduled to last 82 days, but if the solar-powered probes, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, survive beyond the next lunar eclipse in June, the $ 496 million mission could be extended for a more detailed mapping survey.
……………. continues on Telegraph.co.uk
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The Art and Science of 'Carbitrage'
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Short but sweet meteor shower arrives Jan. 4
News from Summit County Citizens Voice:
The Quatdrantids will appear low in the early morning northern sky. MAP COURTESY ASTRONOMY.COM.
Pieces of celestial debris from a comet will put a fiery show after the moon sets
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Sky watchers are in for their first treat of 2012, as the short but intense Quadrantid meteor shower will light up the northern sky in the early morning of Jan. 4. The best time to see the shooting stars will be between about 3 a.m. and dawn.
In Frisco, the moon sets at 3:17 a.m., leaving a couple of hours of darkness for optimal viewing. For the best viewing, find a spot with an unobstructed view to the northern sky. Many of the meteors will appear to emanate from low on the horizon, so an open view of the lower part of the sky could be critical.
According to a NASA web page on the Quadrantids, there could be as many as 200 meteors per hou……………. continues on Summit County Citizens Voice
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CK-12 Earth Science Honors For Middle SchoolCK-12 Earth Science covers the study of Earth – its minerals and energy resources, processes inside and on its surface, its past, …