Astronomy News
November 21, 2009
Astronomy is a subject as large as the universe. Astronomy answers many questions about the universe. That’s why so many people follow astronomy news in print magazines and online. Here are some recent, tantalizing tidbits of space information.
A lot of astronomy news can be found in the magazine ”Astronomy”. NASAs IBEX, Interstellar Boundary Explorer, was one exciting story. Just as weathermen examine fronts and the interaction of hot air with cold air and dry air with wet air, IBEX is interested in such fronts and their interaction in outer space. That means the solar winds and how they interact at the edges of the sun’s reach. IBEX will also accurately map the boundaries of the sun’s solar system.
There’s also astronomy news about a new aurora on Saturn, unique compared to other auroras we’ve known. An aurora is formed when charged particles stream along planetary magnetic field. Earth’s auroras result from the solar winds. Jupiter’s auroras are the result of a closed system of charged particles in Jupiter’s own magnetic fields. Saturn’s aurora is unique because it covers a large area. That’s why scientists believe there is a lot to learn.
astronomy news can also be found in the magazine “Universe Today”. On November 13, 2008 it carried the story of contact reestablished with the Mars rover. The rover had lost contact after running through a massive dust storm. But Spirit recovered from this low-power dilemma. With the dust blocking sunlight from its solar panels, the fear was that it would shut down completely and never recover. But it recovered and now it’s back on the job.
Contact with intelligent life may be a matter of less than 15 years thanks to the Allen telescope array, at least that’s what’s in astronomy news. The array is set to grow up from its current 42 antennas to over 350. When it finally includes 350 antennas, by 2025, scientists involved with the project say it will reach far enough into space to finally pull in signals from intelligent extraterrestrials.
If that intelligent life is contacted, that will be some big astronomy news.
