Sky Wise

Planet or Not, Here We Come!

Credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute (JHUAPL/SwRI)

Today, the New Horizons robotic probe received a gravitational assist from the planet Jupiter.  This slingshot maneuver added considerable speed to the probe which is headed for a rendezvous with Pluto in the year 2015.   

Now traveling at over 23 kilometres per second, New Horizons is the fastest thing we've ever made.  At this rate of speed, my one hour commute to work could be done in about 3 seconds!

While at Pluto, New Horizons will determine the composition of our mysterious former 9th Planet along with its partner Charon and moons P1 and P2.  Other science possibilities in the Kuiper Belt region of our solar system may present themselves later. 

The engineers and scientists on this project should be congratulated on their wonderful achievements so far.  Imagine what it must be like for them to wait and wait to 2015 to see how it all turns out.  Talk about a long deadline!

Image Credit:  NASA

The Chicken Little Effect

ASTEROID IDA

IMAGE CREDIT:  NASA

Today, an asteroid named "Apophis" is back in the news.  First discovered in 2004, this flying piece of real estate has been played up in the media a few times now, usually with the scary heading "killer asteroid" or similar dreadful label.  The idea is that we may have a nasty accident with this beastie in April of 2036.

At a recent conference in San Fransisco, a group of space scientists and engineers discussed the possibility of a killer asteroid and ways to deal with it.  Of course, Apophis is the perfect poster child.  It has a 1 in 45,000 chance of hitting the Earth, causing devastation on a regional level.  It could wipe out a city quite easily and everything for miles and miles around...that is if it hits.  That's a BIG if.  What hasn't been emphasized in the media is that this chunk of rock has a much more likely chance of missing than it does of hitting.  That being said, people win lotteries on longer odds. 

What is the real story here?  Scientists are calling for a political mechanism to put into play so that if and when something awful comes our way from the nether reaches of space, there is a method and a system to deal with it.  Really, it's a prudent measure.  Apophis is unlikely to cause us harm but it will be a near miss at best.  This wake-up call serves to remind us that sometimes bad things happen and if we're smart we'll plan a way to mitigate the risk.  The time to ante up is before it's too late.  That's what the real story is.  So go ahead and plan your retirement.

February Skies

I use STARRY NIGHT PRO software copyright IMAGINOVA to produce this guided tour. 

A Rose for the Ladies

Image:  Spitzer Space Telescope-Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

This beautiful Cosmic Rose is a stellar nursery of about 130 young stars.  Located about 3,300 light years away, this beautiful object reminds all of us guys to get off our duffs and go do something nice for the ladies we love.

That's a hint...