Icy Pluto's Fall From the Planetary Ranks: A Conversation
If you can access the NYT Web page itself, there is a very amusing photo of a guy who opposes Tyson's views on Pluto attempting to strangle him. Trust me, it is funnier than it sounds. I mean, Tyson is smiling. Icy Pluto's Fall From the Planetary Ranks: A Conversation February 13, 2001 By THE NEW YORK TIMES News that astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History do not consider Pluto a planet spurred more than 100 e-mail messages, some critical, some supportive, to Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson, director of the museum's Hayden Planetarium. The museum is now considering changing its exhibits slightly to explain its views to confused visitors. One e-mail correspondent was Dr. Mark Sykes, chairman of the Division of Planetary Sciences at the American Astronomical Society and an astronomer at the Steward Observatory in Arizona. The division's executive committee was considering drafting a statement criticizing the museum's exhibits. Dr. Tyson told Dr. Sykes to be "wary" of drawing conclusions based on what he had heard in the news. Two weeks ago, Dr. Sykes visited the museum to view the exhibits. Following are excerpts from a conversation between Dr. Sykes and Dr. Tyson afterward: DR. NEIL de GRASSE TYSON People are wondering, what do astronomers call planets, and of course, as we know, the definition of planets has changed over time. The Sun and Moon used to be planets. We're trying to teach the public about our subject, so we said, What's the best way to convey the most amount of information? What we decided was rather than count planets, which we don't do out there, rather than saying who is a planet and who isn't, we say that the solar system has families of objects, and when we organize the information, organize the members of the solar system, in families. Then the very mention of a family conveys information. So we have the terrestrial planets, and any time we talk about Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, we mention the grouping. And then we talk about the asteroid belt, and then the Jovian planets and then the Kuiper Belt of comets, including Pluto that's orbiting out there. DR. MARK SYKES The consensus exists. Unanimity may not, but I think consensus does, and the consensus is that people feel Pluto should not it's fine to call it a Kuiper Belt object but we should not remove its designation as a planet. People are thinking not families, not groups, not cousins. They're thinking planets. When you make visual representations of planets that exclude Pluto, you are being incomplete. When people come in, they are expecting to see what astronomers think. What you've got up here is not what astronomers think. DR. TYSON It's what some astronomers think. DR. SYKES Some astronomers that I can think of, that I can put on one hand. DR. TYSON The point is, if we say, this is a planet, there's no information in it. There's no educational information. DR. SYKES Yes, there is educational information. DR. TYSON What does it say? If I say, it's a planet, what does that tell you? DR. SYKES It says it's got properties that make it distinct from other objects. DR. TYSON And so does Ganymede and so does Io. Europa. [Ganymede, Io and Europa are three large moons of Jupiter.] You can't get more distinct than that. DR. SYKES You're an educator. What do you tell about Pluto here? All you say in your entire exhibit is that it's an icy world. This is just like all these other guys so we shouldn't distinguish it and hints there is a justification for what you're doing, but you arrive at that by not saying things about what we know about the object which make it distinct from all the other guys. I would say were Pluto discovered today and known to have a moon and an atmosphere, I think that it would be designated a planet and not just given a minor planet designation. DR. TYSON Aren't there your contemporaries who would say that differently? DR. SYKES Well, yes. DR. TYSON Not a few, but many. Because there's some legacy thing going, because of course we've lived with it for 60 years, and there's a dog named after it. It's in our culture. It's there. DR. SYKES There are noncultural things as I've listed its properties. It's got nitrogen ice caps. It's got seasons. It's got a moon. It's got an atmosphere. It's got a whole suite of properties which distinguishes it from what we know about any other Kuiper Belt object, and just to blithely say, Well, we're just not going to tell you about this and we're just going to lump it in with these other guys, is, from an educational standpoint, irresponsible. DR. TYSON I would submit to you that, regardless of what the I.A.U. [International Astronomical Union] says about how the word "planet" is applied, the word "planet" does not convey enough information for it to teach people about the stuff in the solar system. . . . DR. SYKES If Pluto were 10 times its size, how would you treat it? DR. TYSON I think if it were still ice, we'd still
The Future of SETI in April, 2001 Sky Telescope
Coming in the April 2001 Issue: The Future of SETI Searches for extraterrestrial intelligence are about to expand into new realms, thanks to recent advances in technology -- and new thinking. http://www.skypub.com/skytel/next.html == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
I hope no one has bought Europa (yet)!
WASHINGTON -- The soft-landing by NEAR Shoemaker on asteroid 433 Eros has caught the attention of a group claiming they own the giant space rock. Orbital Development of San Diego, California said they welcome NASAs NEAR spacecraft to Eros, but also want to inform NASA that the group has owned the property since March 3 of last year. "Its the wild frontier up there," says Gregory Nemitz, founder of Orbital Development. "Since there are no laws governing private property claims in outer space, the first claimant gets ownership of it," he said in a statement. http://space.com/missionlaunches/missions/near_claim_010214.html == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
The Real Story Behind Mysterious Space Photos
The Real Story Behind Mysterious Space Photos We humans love to remake space to fit our imaginations, our hopes, our fears. Scatter some stars, and we'll organize them into gods, animals, heroes and what have you. Give us a telescope, and we'll spot irrigation ditches on Mars. Show us a mountain, we'll call it a face. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/strange_images_010213.html?Enews=y == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
More details on the NEAR Eros surface mission plans
From: SpaceRef Mailer [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 18:58:27 "GMT" Subject: SpaceRef Newsletter - NEAR Mission on Eros Extended for 10 Days At a press conference held at 1:00 PM EST today at Johns Hopkins University, NEAR mission managers announced that they would be extending NEAR's mission on the surface of Eros for at least 10 days. The spacecraft is sitting on the surface of Eros in a more or less optimal orientation for communication with Earth using the spacecraft's forward low gain antenna which provides a 10 bit per second data rate (which limits what can be accomplished). The imager has been activated and, although it is not currently taking images, the system is operational. Over the coming days the spacecraft's gamma ray spectrometer will be used to do an ultra-precise analysis of the surface composition of the minerals that comprise Eros. Researchers may be able to determine whether the dust that covers Eros is similar to - or different from what lies underneath. The magnetometer will not be activated. One additional option being considered is re-launching NEAR from the surface of Eros and then obtaining additional ultra-close images as the spacecraft moves across the face of the asteroid. ___ SpaceRef is a privately held company based out of Reston, Virginia, U.S.A. Copyright SpaceRef Interactive Inc., 2001 (u are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
Re: I hope no one has bought Europa (yet)!
In the meantime, I'm thankful we can still look at the moon through telecopes without seeing the golden arches of mcdonalds engraved somewhere on its surface. :) Was it Pepsi or Coke or somebody who caught flack a few years back for studying the feasability of beaming a laser logo onto the surface of the moon to be visible from Earth? Someone did. And someday someone will go through with it for the stunt value alone. Yuck. Jayme Lynn Blaschke ___ "The Dust" coming April 2001 in THE ANT-MEN OF TIBET, AND OTHER STORIES from Big Engine http://www.bigengine.co.uk/index.htm Blaschke Home Realm http://www.vvm.com/~caius (u are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
Re: I hope no one has bought Europa (yet)!
At 01:35 PM 2/14/01 -0600, you wrote: In the meantime, I'm thankful we can still look at the moon through telecopes without seeing the golden arches of mcdonalds engraved somewhere on its surface. :) Better look now, as the moon's surface will probably be turned over within a 1,000 years as we extract every gram of Helium 3 we can. == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
Re: I hope no one has bought Europa (yet)!
Okay, kids, here's how it works, from what I can determine: 1) Orbital Development has no valid claim. I don't know of any agency with sufficient authority to give them such a claim. The only one on Earth capable of doing so would be something like a UN Space Development Authority, operating under the auspices of an international treaty ratified by at least 75% of the nations on Earth. 2) There is no such Space Treaty. The closest thing we have is something similar to the Law of the Sea Treaty and Antarctic Treaty, which says lots of well-meaning platitudes about common ownership of man. 3) Even assuming OD did have a claim, enforcing it would be another matter. For instance, how would they force NASA to pay them for trespass? How would they determine the harm? How much is the asteroid worth? Etc, etc. 4) It seems to me that space claims will be settled in much the same way that Indian Ocean claims were settled by the European powers of 400 years ago... first to land there gets it, and then it must be backed up with power, and only at the end, with 'legal authority'. So... send a probe. Land. THEN stake your claim with an international body. Under these terms, NASA would have claim... but their charter specifically forbids it. So, Eros is still free game. Star Trek, anyone? -- JHB == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
NASA To Host 32nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference At Johnson Space Center
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 09:42:23 -0800 (PST) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: NASA To Host 32nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference At Johnson Space Center Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: undisclosed-recipients:; February 13, 2001 Catherine E. Watson Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX (Phone: 281/483-5111) Release: J01-14 NASA TO HOST 32nd LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER Ancient life on Mars, oceans on Europa, a rendezvous with an asteroid - these are just a few of the many fascinating topics that will be covered at the 32nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 12-16, 2001, at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. More than 450 scientists will present their research at JSC's Gilruth Center beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 12. Oral presentations will continue through Friday morning, March 16. Some scientists will also present their results on posters from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, in the Bayou Building at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. The media are invited to attend both the oral and poster sessions. One session on Monday morning will be devoted to the Tagish Lake meteorite, which fell to Earth in northern British Columbia on Jan. 18, 2000. Early analyses suggest that the Tagish Lake meteorite may contain the most primitive solar system materials yet found. Researchers have also determined that the meteroid weighed 200,000 kilograms (441,000 lbs) before it entered the atmosphere, and was four to six meters (approximately 13 to 20 feet) in diameter. Several hundred meteorite samples have been recovered from the site, which is strewn along an area 16 kilometers (10 miles) long and five kilometers (three miles) wide. The analyses of these unique samples will be discussed in detail at the conference. The conference, which is chaired by Carl B. Agee of JSC and David C. Black of the Lunar and Planetary Institute, will also include presentations on water, glaciers and volcanoes on Mars; earthquakes on Venus; and the effects of past asteroid impacts on the Earth. News media can register for the conference, at no charge, via the Web at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/htbin/meetings/lpsc2001.elec.regfrm.pl Under "registration status" select "Working Press $0.00". News media with additional questions, or those who wish to schedule interviews with participants, should contact Pam Thompson at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. Thompson can be reached by phone at 281/486-2175 or by e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Additional information about conference events, including the texts of abstracts, can be found at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2001/ -END- == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
The NEAR asteroid mission is not over yet!
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 14:54:48 -0600 Subject: The NEAR asteroid mission is not over yet! To: "NASA Science News" [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: NASA Science News [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: "NASA Science News" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] NASA Science News for February 14, 2001 Following one of the softest planetary landings in history --the touchdown of NASA's NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft on asteroid Eros-- ground controllers have decided to extend NEAR's mission a little longer. Scientists hope to gather unique data transmitted from the very surface of the asteroid itself. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast14feb_1.htm?list86654 --- This is a free service. Habla espaol? If you do, check out our new Spanish-language web site at http://ciencia.msfc.nasa.gov. If you need to get in touch with us directly, please go to http://science.nasa.gov/comments Home page: http://science.nasa.gov (u are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
NASA scientists claim possible discovery of negative mass
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "Robert J. Bradbury" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mailing-List: list [EMAIL PROTECTED]; contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] List-Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 15:21:26 -0800 (PST) Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Htech] NASA scientists claim possible discovery of negative mass According to CNN reports, NASA scientists have yet another 1st for the NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft. They claim: "We have no fuel on board, plus or minus 8 kilograms," said one NEAR scientist. By my arithmetic, if its -8 kg, then this is the first known discovery of negative mass in the Universe. If I recall correctly, negative mass allows faster than light travel. If that is accurate, we ought to be able to be able to bring NEAR back to Earth a lot faster than it took to get to the asteroid. Also, of note: "Some suggest unknown forces breaking up boulders, moving debris into flat crater pools and creating unidentifiable depressions the size of hand and footprints." Is Eros haunted? Robert From: http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/02/14/near.landing.03/index.html -BEGIN TRANSHUMANTECH SIGNATURE- Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List home:http://www.egroups.com/community/transhumantech/ Alt archive: http://www.planetx.com/majordomo/transhumantech/ Old archive: http://www.planetx.com/transhumantech/threads.html -END TRANSHUMANTECH SIGNATURE- == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
Re: I hope no one has bought Europa (yet)!
-Original Message- From: James McEnanly [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 3:38 PM Subject: Re: I hope no one has bought Europa (yet)! I think you're thinking of a series stories by Arthur C. Clarke, in which a multinational Expedition (British. American and Soviet) land on the Moon. In one of them, a sodium flare is secretly fitted with a stencil that forms the name of a popular soft drink in the 1950's. Clarke never mentions it by name, but the commander of the British ship, used to drink a beverage, in a wasp-waisted bottle, until after the incident. --- Jayme Blaschke [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In the meantime, I'm thankful we can still look at the moon through telecopes without seeing the golden arches of mcdonalds engraved somewhere on its surface. :) Was it Pepsi or Coke or somebody who caught flack a few years back for studying the feasability of beaming a laser logo onto the surface of the moon to be visible from Earth? Someone did. And someday someone will go through with it for the stunt value alone. Yuck. Yep -- the 1958 story was called "Watch This Space", and the sodium jet was ostensibly to produce a giant artificial aurora to study the Moon's atmosphere. As things turned out, "the L and As were a little distorted, but the Cs and Os were perfect." Just a matter of time, folks. Bruce Moomaw == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
