Fw: Latest News from the Astrobiology Magazine

[LARRY KLAES]

----- Original Message ----- From: Astrobiology Magazine To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 5:33 AM Subject: Latest News from the Astrobiology Magazine Toutatis: Almost Too Close for Comfort http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1219.html The asteroid Toutatis last flew close by Earth in 1992 and 1996, but it has not come as close to us as it will this year since 1353. On Wednesday morning, scientists and skywatchers alike will be able to witness its passage within only four Earth-moon distances. At three miles in diameter, this massive asteroid is the largest to pass that close in a century. Toutatis will measure about half the size of the asteroid that 65 million years ago caused the last mass extinction--or what is sometimes called 'The Great Dying'. Postcards from the Grander Canyon http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1218.html As the largest feature of its kind in the solar system, the martian canyon, Valles Marineris, stretches an equivalent terrestrial distance from New York to Los Angeles. But getting a robotic explorer down into the canyon floor challenges even the most intrepid of navigators. Galactic Construction Boom http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1217.html Imagine clusters that smash together thousands of galaxies and trillions of stars. Its energy would seem second only to the Big Bang itself. While inconceivable from the comfort of our planet, just such an event was witnessed near the constellation, Hydra, like two heads of that giant monster coming together. Titan on Target http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1216.html At the beginning of next year, the descent probe, Huygens, will try to sample what lies beneath the thick atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Huygens passed its last in-flight checks and scientists are preparing for the perilous, one-way trip towards the surface. Monday, September 27 ------------------------ For more astrobiology news, visit http://www.astrobio.net To unsubscribe, send subject UNSUBSCRIBE to [EMAIL PROTECTED]