the UNIVERSE TODAY Space Exploration News From Around the Internet Updated Every Weekday.
http://www.universetoday.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] An HTML version including pictures is available at: http://www.universetoday.com A complete archive of every issue of Universe Today is available here: http://www.universetoday.com/html/archive/ For information on unsubscribing or changing your email address, check the bottom of this newsletter. ************************************** ASTEROID THREAT RULED OUT Dec 29, 2004 - Astronomers have now ruled out the possibility that Asteroid 2004 MN4 will strike the Earth in April 2029. Scientists from the Spacewatch Observatory near Tuscon, Arizona searched back through older observations to find some images of 2004 MN4 that were captured in March, 2004. This gave them enough data to recalculate the asteroid's path, and see that it doesn't pose a threat to the planet. http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/asteroid_threat_ruled_out.html <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/asteroid_threat_ruled_out.html";>AOL Link</a> OPPORTUNITY FINDS ITS HEAT SHIELD Dec 29, 2004 - NASA's Opportunity Rover has reunited itself with the heat shield that protected its entry into the Martian atmosphere almost a year ago, when it first arrived at Mars. After it was ejected, the shield crashed to the surface nearly 2 km away from Opportunity's landing spot. The rover will study both the heat shield, and its impact mark - now the freshest crater on Mars. Engineers will have an opportunity to understand how the heat shield performed during atmospheric entry, and scientists will get a chance to see what's beneath the surface of Mars. http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/opportunity_heat_shield.html <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/opportunity_heat_shield.html";>AOL Link</a> WHAT'S UP THIS WEEK - DEC 27 - JAN 2, 2005 Dec 27, 2004 - Happy Holidays, Skywatchers! This week we continue our celestial journey beginning before dawn with a close pairing of Venus and Mercury. As we wait for the later and later rise of the Moon each evening, we will visit in Aries with a fine double - Mesarthim. Returning again to the north, it's time to locate the M34 in Perseus and begin studying the open clusters of Auriga with the M36 and M38. For those in the north, discovery awaits you with the "Little Dumbbell", M76, while the south enjoys the incredible Eta Carinae. Celebrate the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one by journeying across time and space. Take the time to enjoy the singular beauty of "Hind's Crimson Star" and return again to the "Magnificent Machholz" as it climbs even higher and gets even brighter! So grab your binoculars, get out your telescopes, and hope for clear skies... Because here's what's up! http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/whats_up_dec27_2004.html <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/whats_up_dec27_2004.html";>AOL Link</a> CREW BEGINS UNLOADING PROGRESS Dec 27, 2004 - An unmanned Progress cargo ship reached the International Space Station on Sunday, and the two-man crew got right to work unloading its cargo. Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov and NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao had both cut their food consumption by 10% to stretch out supplies, and had each lost a few kg during the last month. The Progress ship is carrying 2.5 tonnes of supplies, including a 15kg (33 pound) gift package for each man. http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/crew_unloading_progress.html <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/crew_unloading_progress.html";>AOL Link</a> HUYGENS IS ON ITS WAY Dec 27, 2004 - The European Space Agency's Huygens probe successfully detached from Cassini on December 25, and began its brief journey to Titan. The probe is currently dormant, though, and will remain this way for most of its 20-day journey to Saturn's largest moon. Four days before arrival, a triply-redundant alarm clock will wake the probe up, and it will prepare for arrival. On January 14, 2005, the probe will enter Titan's atmosphere, descending to the surface in about 2 hours. http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/huygens_away.html <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/huygens_away.html";>AOL Link</a> Additional headlines from Universe Today http://www.universetoday.com/am/exec/search.cgi?start=5&perpage=8&template=index/default.html <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/exec/search.cgi?start=4&perpage=8&template=index/default.html";>AOL Link</a> All contents copyright (c) 2004 Universe Today ----------------------------------------------------- -- To unsubscribe from: Universe Today - Daily Edition (Text), just follow this link: http://www.universetoday.com/mojo/mojo.cgi?f=u&l=ut%2dtext&[EMAIL PROTECTED]&p=4996766 Click this link, or copy and paste the address into your browser. For AOL users, <a href = "http://www.universetoday.com/mojo/mojo.cgi?f=u&l=ut%2dtext&[EMAIL PROTECTED]&p=4996766">Click here</a>. To switch between the text and HTML editions of the newsletter, click here: http://www.universetoday.com/mojo/mojo.cgi
