[meteorite-list] tucson 2009
Let's get this show on the road.Literally!See ya'all there! Steve R.Arnold,Chicago! a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://chicagometeorites.net/;http://chicagometeorites.net//a __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] meteorite not seen before guess what is it ??
hello listoid, i get this fantastic meteorite 90 gr before i cut it ,i was thinking because of the carrote striation that it is may be paired to nwa 1460/480. after cut it's something else , it has depression and thumberprint and its orionted has crust, after cut it look like it has very few point of iron to be sur it is a meteorite for sur, well what this meteorite could be, planetary , ungrouped what??? i would love to hear your guess what do you think it is, for sur its something new and not seen before, http://www.flickr.com/photos/azizhabibi/ all the best aziz IMCA 6220 habibi aziz box 70 erfoud 52200 morroco phone. 21235576145 fax.21235576170 __ Ne pleurez pas si votre Webmail ferme ! Récupérez votre historique sur Yahoo! Mail ! http://fr.docs.yahoo.com/mail/transfert_mails.html __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Reason to go to Tucson pt2
Great Photos Keith. Keem em coming. Don Rawlings --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Arizona Keith arizonake...@cox.net wrote: From: Arizona Keith arizonake...@cox.net Subject: [meteorite-list] Reason to go to Tucson pt2 To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 2:21 AM Hello List Weather, Friends, Meteorites and cool stuff. http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a660.jpg Before the show started http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a128.jpg During http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a662.jpg Setting up Han's 1430# Campo http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a180.jpg Unpacking Han's 2 ton Campo http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c800.jpg Crushed 2 pallets http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a797.jpg Luc and Alain http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c739.jpg Alain Carion Old Collection L'Aigle http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c743.jpg Luc Labenne and His Collection http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c765.jpg Luc's interesting new meteorite http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c763.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c758.jpg Pani http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c290.jpg Pani's Unique Howardite http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c286.jpg Bruno and Carine http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c850.jpg Bruno's Chassignite http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c275.jpg Bruno's Cat Skull http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009w1d2cb265.jpg Misc. for around the show http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c674.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c695.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a872.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009w1d291.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009w1d281.jpg Hope you all enjoy. Keith Chandler AZ __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Reason to go to Tucson pt2
Wonderful photos Keith. The show has been a lot of fun so far, really ramping up today. Those of us stuck in selling rooms have little time to see the sights. Keep it up, we all enjoy the hard work you do for us and the photos you share with us Keith. Michael Farmer --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Arizona Keith arizonake...@cox.net wrote: From: Arizona Keith arizonake...@cox.net Subject: [meteorite-list] Reason to go to Tucson pt2 To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 12:21 AM Hello List Weather, Friends, Meteorites and cool stuff. http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a660.jpg Before the show started http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a128.jpg During http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a662.jpg Setting up Han's 1430# Campo http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a180.jpg Unpacking Han's 2 ton Campo http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c800.jpg Crushed 2 pallets http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a797.jpg Luc and Alain http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c739.jpg Alain Carion Old Collection L'Aigle http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c743.jpg Luc Labenne and His Collection http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c765.jpg Luc's interesting new meteorite http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c763.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c758.jpg Pani http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c290.jpg Pani's Unique Howardite http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c286.jpg Bruno and Carine http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c850.jpg Bruno's Chassignite http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c275.jpg Bruno's Cat Skull http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009w1d2cb265.jpg Misc. for around the show http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c674.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009c695.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009a872.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009w1d291.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/Tucson2009w1d281.jpg Hope you all enjoy. Keith Chandler AZ __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] more Tucson Gem Show Photos
Fun pics, Leigh Anne. Great stuff. Paul Swartz __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Back to Tucson! Maybe... AD?
Hi all, Please forgive all my emails this week, we are really trying hard to get back out to Tucson tomorrow and we're very close! In a last ditch attempt and very transparent way I am throwing caution to the wind and offering up my baby. My very first meteorite website, MeteoriteWatch.com This is more of an announcement and not a meteorites for sale ad. Please read the post here: http://www.meteoritewatch.com/viewtopic.php?f=2t=287 I don't want to shut this site down and would much rather hand over the reigns to someone who will give it the care it deserves. I simply don't have time to run 3 meteorite related websites and will be concentrating all my efforts on MeteoritesUSA.com and another meteorite venture I've been working on for the last year... (hopefully you guys will enjoy it) I'm accepting serious offers on the Meteoritewatch.com domain. It's only up for sale for the next 24 hours, just enough time to get back out to the Tucson show for the Birthday Bash. We went last weekend and had an awesome time, met some really great people and enjoyed ourselves and the show immensely. We're hoping to get back out there this coming weekend (tomorrow) and meet everyone at the big party tomorrow night. Help us do this and we will be eternally grateful... As a side note and I know this might be pushing it just a little bit, I do have a big chondrite sale ( http://www.meteoritesusa.com/nwa/ ) going on with loads of great stuff I picked up at the show last week. Purchases will help us get back out to Tucson and allow us to get even more meteorites for you guys who can't make it to the show. I will shop around the show for you as well and be your on-site buyer if you like as well. I've had a couple people ask me to do this for them already and it gave me this idea. We're really looking forward to meeting everyone and attending the Michael Blood auction if possible. If we can't do it I'll see you there next year! Thanks in advance for you guys' patience with my emails this week while the show is in town. I promise I won't email this much again, at least until next year! ;) Regards, Eric Wichman Meteorites USA www.meteoritesusa.com 904-236-5394 __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD - Auctions ending on ebay new meteorites on meteoriteshow web site
Dear All, This saturday we have 8 auctions ending on saturday that you can find at: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmeteoriteshow I also have some new beautiful H4 chondrites for sale on my website that can be seen at http://meteoriteshow.free.fr/meteoriteshow%20fra/pages%20navigation/pieces_en_vente_FB-55-08.htm#H4 (classification pending with Bertrand Devouard - UBP Clermont-Ferrand) I was assigned three provisonal NWA numbers by the Meteoritical Society: - NWA 5618: for my howardite that has been for sale on my website at: http://meteoriteshow.free.fr/meteoriteshow%20fra/pages%20navigation/pieces_en_vente_NWA-XXX-HOWARDITE-fra.htm The classification should be provided very soon by Jean-Alix Barrat. - NWA 5611: for a new Eurcrite (TKW: 355g) that will be soon proposed on my website, cut in slices (may be paired to NWA 2126 according to Jean-Alix Barrat who is working on its classification). - NWA 5612: for a new Howardite (TKW: 63.8g) that will be soon proposed on my website only as a MAIN MASS weighing 53.1g after having cut the type specimen (may be paired to NWA 1664 according to Jean-Alix Barrat who is working on its classification). DETAILS OF THIS SATURDAY EBAY AUCTIONS: 1- EL AROUSS L-IMB (unclas.) - 10.8g partslice: still at $1.00 starting price http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-EL-AROUSS-L-IMB-unclas-10-8g-partslice_W0QQitemZ330304643712QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304643712_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 2- Gao-Guenie - H5 - 8.3g ORIENTED individual: still at $1.00 starting price, NO BID YET!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-Gao-Guenie-H5-8-3g-ORIENTED-individual_W0QQitemZ330304645129QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304645129_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 3- HaH244 L5-6 - 20.4g partslice: Great partslice and there is not much of this meteorite left for sale... http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-HaH244-L5-6-20-4g-partslice_W0QQitemZ330304646463QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304646463_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 4- HaH250 H5 - 50.0g endpiece: Still at a low price, good deal... http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-HaH250-H5-50-0g-endpiece_W0QQitemZ330304647985QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304647985_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318 5- SAH 02500 L3 - 406.8g fragment: with remnant fusion crust http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-SAH-02500-L3-406-8g-fragment_W0QQitemZ330304650965QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304650965_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318 6- Sikhote-Alin IRON IIAB - 17.0g oriented ind.: A beauty, few bids and low price so far http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-Sikhote-Alin-IRON-IIAB-17-0g-oriented-ind_W0QQitemZ330304652516QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304652516_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 7- SAH 02500 L3 - 88.3g endpiece: Also a very good deal, very attractive endcut displaying the nice structure of SAH 02500 on a wide surface http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-SAH-02500-L3-88-3g-endpiece_W0QQitemZ330304653832QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304653832_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 8- ORIENTED FUSION CRUSTED OC #02010 - 1972g: SIMPLY A BEAUTY. JUST WATCH IT... BID!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/METEORITE-ORIENTED-FUSION-CRUSTED-OC-02010-1972g_W0QQitemZ330304649444QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330304649444_trksid=p3911.c0.m14_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 Thanks for watching and good luck to all of you! Kind regards Frederic Beroud http://www.meteoriteshow.com IMCA #2491 __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD: Dhofar 910 Lunar - Cash Discount
Good Afternoon Everyone, To those not enjoying sunny Tucson, I just wanted to take a moment to point out that I still have a very nice thin slice of Dhofar 910 available (ultra fresh lunar, bubble/vesicle rich, 142g tkw). As we all know, now is the time to purchase Lunar and Planetary material, especially those from the Dhofar region, due to the exportation regulations that were recently put into affect in Oman. Anyhow, I will take $480 shipped if you are paying by check or money order... otherwise, $500 shipped through Paypal. I am not making much at all on this one, it's just that I have made a few too many purchases over the last few months and I need to sell any duplicates that I have stashed away. Please email for larger photos, ect. Dhofar 910 - 0.74g thin slice, dimensions of 23 X 9 X 2mm http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569165160RMTnOx Kind Regards, Ryan __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Dhofar 910 Lunar - Cash Discount
Good Afternoon Everyone, To those not enjoying sunny Tucson, I just wanted to take a moment to point out that I still have a very nice thin slice of Dhofar 910 available (ultra fresh lunar, bubble/vesicle rich, 142g tkw). As we all know, now is the time to purchase Lunar and Planetary material, especially those from the Dhofar region, due to the exportation regulations that were recently put into affect in Oman. Anyhow, I will take $480 shipped if you are paying by check or money order... otherwise, $500 shipped through Paypal. I am not making much at all on this one, it's just that I have made a few too many purchases over the last few months and I need to sell off any duplicates that I have stashed away. Please email for larger photos. Dhofar 910 - 0.74g thin slice, dimensions of 23 X 9 X 2mm http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569165160RMTnOx Kind Regards, Ryan Pawelski __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD - Some fresh unclassified NWA individuals
Hi List, Not everybody is in Tucson, so I'm offering on my new website next to LDG some very nice unclassified NWA individuals. Pls take a look. 10 % discount until February 14, 2009 on all items. NWA xxx, individuals: http://www.sahara-gems.com/id49.html Cut and polished slices of Libyan Desert Glass (very unique)! http://www.sahara-gems.com/id26.html Meteorite scale cubes (2 left) http://www.sahara-gems.com/id40.html Enjoy and contact me off-list for any comments, feedback or orders. Thank you and have a nice day. Thomas __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Hayabusa Heads Back to Earth
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0902/05hayabusa/ Asteroid sampler spacecraft heads back to planet Earth BY STEPHEN CLARK SPACEFLIGHT NOW February 5, 2009 Japan's Hayabusa probe, potentially loaded with the first rock samples from an asteroid, fired up one of its ion engines Wednesday to begin the second phase of the explorer's return voyage to Earth. Hayabusa ignited a single ion engine at 0235 GMT Wednesday to begin pulsing for up to 8,000 hours to finish guiding the spacecraft toward Earth, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. The spacecraft's ion propulsion system has already completed than 31,000 hours of operations since its launch in 2003. The probe carries four ion engines, but engineers believe some of the devices are not capable of long-duration firings. Officials designed a taxing return trajectory using a single engine to reduce the odds of a major failure. Despite the hard work of several dozen engineers, Hayabusa still faces more hurdles before making its scheduled parachuted landing in Australia in June 2010. We are not so optimistic, but not so pessimistic, said Makoto Yoshikawa, Hayabusa project scientist. Officials said the ion engine must accelerate Hayabusa by nearly 900 mph by March 2010, when engineers will turn off the machine to begin the probe's final approach to Earth. If the current status of Hayabusa (remains) until the final stage, we are sure that it will come back to the Earth, Yoshikawa said. The spacecraft still has enough xenon gas to power the ion engine and control its orientation in space, according to JAXA. We are continuing to pay careful attention to our onboard equipment and are doing our utmost to operate the Hayabusa with the greatest care, officials said in a statement. The craft's ion engines use microwave discharge to ionize xenon gas and accelerate the plasma to high speeds. The highly-efficient engines produce little thrust, but the devices can operate for months to propel the spacecraft across the solar system using small amounts of fuel. Hayabusa completed the first round of return trip ion engine operations in October 2007 after a burn lasting about four months. The mission's ground team refined operations plans since 2007 to increase the odds of Hayabusa's successful return, according to Yoshikawa. Scientists also devised methods to find Hayabusa's entry capsule after landing and created plans to transport the sample canister from Australia to a specially-outfitted science lab in Japan, Yoshikawa said. The science team is currently testing the mission's curation facility and discussing how to analyze asteroid samples returned by Hayabusa. But officials still are not sure if the 950-pound probe is actually carrying the priceless samples. Hayabusa spent three months near asteroid Itokawa in late 2005, studying the space rock and attempting a series of close approaches to collect bits of rock and dirt. A pellet was supposed to be fired into the surface of Itokawa to force the rocks through a funnel to guide the precious samples into a container for the voyage back to Earth. Those plans did not materialize in November 2005 and Hayabusa spent up to 30 minutes on the asteroid's surface during a failed retrieval attempt. Officials later reviewed telemetry data from a subsequent attempt and determined the pellet likely did not fire because the system was disarmed. Scientists hope some particles were funneled into the collection chamber, even if the pellet did not fire as planned. Engineers were forced to postpone the start of Hayabusa's return trip by a year after the mission was struck by a fuel leak and communications problems. Controllers labored to overcome the issues, which were compounded by the loss of two orientation-controlling reaction wheels and power cells in an electrical battery. __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] AD - NWA 5584- New Rumuruti for sale
Hello Carsten, Is the 1.0 gram slice still available, I would like it if available. I will not answer until tomorrow as I'm out of town(in Tucson). Best Wishes, Jim Baxter Dear List, we have a new beautiful R-Chondrite for sale, the provisional number for this rare Rumuruti is NWA 5584. Unlike other Rumuruti's this one is full off nice Chondrules! You will find some slices for sale here: http://www.gi-po.de/meteorit_verkauf_5584%20special.html Many thanks for viewing! Best greetings, Carsten __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Episode 11 of Astrocast.tv
Hi All, Please tune in to Episode 11 of http://astrocast.tv/ All the best, Greg Greg Redfern NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/index.html WHAT'S UP?: THE SPACE PLACE http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=600113nid=421 ASTROCAST http://astrocast.tv/ __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] MRO HiRISE Images - February 4, 2009
MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER HIRISE IMAGES February 4, 2009 o Bolide Breakup and Impact http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_011618_1885 o Terrain in Eberswalde Crater http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_011331_1560 o Layering at Ganges Chasma http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_011292_1720 All of the HiRISE images are archived here: http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ Information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is online at http://www.nasa.gov/mro. The mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, of Denver, is the prime contractor and built the spacecraft. HiRISE is operated by the University of Arizona. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., of Boulder, Colo., built the HiRISE instrument. __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] NASA and Caltech Test Steep-Terrain Rover
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-016 NASA and Caltech Test Steep-Terrain Rover Jet Propulsion Laboratory February 04, 2009 PASADENA, Calif. -- Engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and students at the California Institute of Technology have designed and tested a versatile, low-mass robot that can rappel off cliffs, travel nimbly over steep and rocky terrain, and explore deep craters. This prototype rover, called Axel, might help future robotic spacecraft better explore and investigate foreign worlds such as Mars. On Earth, Axel might assist in search-and-rescue operations. A Web video showing an Axel test-run at the JPL Mars yard is online at: www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=806 . Axel extends our ability to explore terrains that we haven't been able to explore in the past, such as deep craters with vertically-sloped promontories, said Axel's principal investigator, Issa A.D. Nesnas, of JPL's robotics and mobility section. Also, because Axel is relatively low-mass, a mission may carry a number of Axel rovers. That would give us the opportunity to be more aggressive with the terrain we would explore, while keeping the overall risk manageable. The simple and elegant design of Axel, which can operate both upside down and right side up, uses only three motors: one to control each of its two wheels and a third to control a lever. The lever contains a scoop to gather lunar or planetary material for scientists to study, and it also adjusts the robot's two stereo cameras, which can tilt 360 degrees. Axel's cylindrical body has computing and wireless communications capabilities and an inertial sensor to operate autonomously. It also sports a tether that Axel can unreel to descend from a larger lander, rover or anchor point. The rover can use different wheel types, from large foldable wheels to inflatable ones, which help the rover tolerate a hard landing and handle rocky terrain. Nesnas co-leads the project with Joel Burdick, a mechanical and bioengineering professor at Caltech, who supervises a handful of Caltech graduate and undergraduate students working on the rover system. Last fall, the JPL-Caltech team demonstrated Axel at the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, which showcased NASA for the agency's 50th anniversary. Collaboration with Caltech has been key to the success of this project, Nesnas said. The students contributed significantly to the design of the tethered Axel. Their creative work enabled us to analyze, design and build new wheels, sampling tools and software. The students also played a key role in field-testing this robot. Without them, we would not have been able to accomplish such goals, given our limited resources. JPL began developing Axel in 1999, in partnership with Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Ark. The Axel project was funded through NASA's Exploration System Mission Directorate. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. More information on Axel is at: http://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/systems/system.cfm?System=16 and at http://robotics.caltech.edu/~pablo/axel/home.html . Note to Editors: B-roll of the Axel test-run at JPL's Mars Yard and sound bites with Axel team leaders and students will be available on NASA TV. The NASA TV schedule is online at www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/schedule.html . The NASA TV Media Channel is available on MPEG-2 digital C-band signal accessed via satellite AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. For digital downlink information for NASA TV's Media Channel and access to NASA TV's Public Channel on the Web, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ntv . Rhea Borja 818-354-0850 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. rhea.r.bo...@jpl.nasa.gov 2009-016 __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Green Comet Approaches Earth - Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm Green Comet Approaches Earth NASA Science news 02.04.2009 February 4, 2009: In 1996, a 7-year-old boy in China bent over the eyepiece of a small telescope and saw something that would change his life--a comet of flamboyant beauty, bright and puffy with an active tail. At first he thought he himself had discovered it, but no, he learned, two men named Hale and Bopp had beat him to it. Mastering his disappointment, young Quanzhi Ye resolved to find his own comet one day. And one day, he did. Fast forward to a summer afternoon in July 2007. Ye, now 19 years old and a student of meteorology at China's Sun Yat-sen University, bent over his desk to stare at a black-and-white star field. The photo was taken nights before by Taiwanese astronomer Chi Sheng Lin on sky patrol at the Lulin Observatory. Ye's finger moved from point to point--and stopped. One of the stars was not a star, it was a comet, and this time Ye saw it first. Comet Lulin, named after the observatory in Taiwan where the discovery-photo was taken, is now approaching Earth. It is a green beauty that could become visible to the naked eye any day now, says Ye. Amateur astronomer Jack Newton sends this photo from his backyard observatory in Arizona: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/images/greencomet/Jack-Newton1.jpg My retired eyes still cannot see the brightening comet, says Newton, but my 14-inch telescope picked it up quite nicely on Feb. 1st. The comet makes its closest approach to Earth (0.41 AU) on Feb. 24, 2009. Current estimates peg the maximum brightness at 4th or 5th magnitude, which means dark country skies would be required to see it. No one can say for sure, however, because this appears to be Lulin's first visit to the inner solar system and its first exposure to intense sunlight. Surprises are possible. Lulin's green color comes from the gases that make up its Jupiter-sized atmosphere. Jets spewing from the comet's nucleus contain cyanogen (CN: a poisonous gas found in many comets) and diatomic carbon (C2). Both substances glow green when illuminated by sunlight in the near-vacuum of space. In 1910, many people panicked when astronomers revealed Earth would pass through the cyanogen-rich tail of Comet Halley. False alarm: The wispy tail of the comet couldn't penetrate Earth's dense atmosphere; even it if had penetrated, there wasn't enough cyanogen to cause real trouble. Comet Lulin will cause even less trouble than Halley did. At closest approach in late February, Lulin will stop 38 million miles short of Earth, utterly harmless. To see Comet Lulin with your own eyes, set your alarm for 3 am. The comet rises a few hours before the sun and may be found about 1/3rd of the way up the southern sky before dawn. Here are some dates when it is especially easy to find: sky map images/greencomet/skymap_north_lulin_06feb09.gifFeb. 6th: Comet Lulin glides by Zubenelgenubi, a double star at the fulcrum of Libra's scales. Zubenelgenubi is not only fun to say (zuBEN-el-JA-newbee), but also a handy guide. You can see Zubenelgenubi with your unaided eye (it is about as bright as stars in the Big Dipper); binoculars pointed at the binary star reveal Comet Lulin in beautiful proximity. [sky map images/greencomet/skymap_north_lulin_06feb09.gif] Feb. 16th: Comet Lulin passes Spica in the constellation Virgo. Spica is a star of first magnitude and a guidepost even city astronomers cannot miss. A finderscope pointed at Spica will capture Comet Lulin in the field of view, centering the optics within a nudge of both objects. [sky map images/greencomet/skymap_north_lulin_16feb09.gif] Feb. 24th: Closest approach! On this special morning, Lulin will lie just a few degrees from Saturn in the constellation Leo. Saturn is obvious to the unaided eye, and Lulin could be as well. If this doesn't draw you out of bed, nothing will. [sky map images/greencomet/skymap_north_lulin_24feb09.gif] Ye notes that Comet Lulin is remarkable not only for its rare beauty, but also for its rare manner of discovery. This is a 'comet of collaboration' between Taiwanese and Chinese astronomers, he says. The discovery could not have been made without a contribution from both sides of the Strait that separates our countries. Chi Sheng Lin and other members of the Lulin Observatory staff enabled me to get the images I wanted, while I analyzed the data and found the comet. Somewhere this month, Ye imagines, another youngster will bend over an eyepiece, see Comet Lulin, and feel the same thrill he did gazing at Comet Hale-Bopp in 1996. And who knows where that might lead...? I hope that my experience might inspire other young people to pursue the same starry dreams as myself, says Ye. __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) Loses Part Of Its Tail
Space Weather News for Feb. 5, 2009 http://spaceweather.com COMET TAIL: Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) is approaching Earth and putting on a good show for amateur astronomers. Yesterday, Feb. 4th, observers witnessed a disconnection event. A gust of solar wind tore off part of the comet's tail in plain view of backyard telescopes. Photos of the event are featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com. Activity in the comet's tail and atmosphere will become even easier to see in the weeks ahead as Lulin nears closest approach on Feb. 24th. At that time the comet will lie only 38 million miles from Earth and it should be visible to the naked eye. In the meantime, please note that Feb. 5th-7th, is an especially good time to find Comet Lulin in the pre-dawn sky. The comet is gliding beautifully close to the naked-eye double star Zubenelgenubi. Just point your binoculars at the double star and the comet will materialize right beside it. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos, sky maps and more information. __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Hayabusa Heads Back to Earth
because the system was disarmed. WHAT! The system was disarmed? You mean someone actually forgot to arm the system before firing the pellet! Am I reading this correctly? Wouldn't it be funny if after the probe is recovered and any samples are analyzed it is determined that they exactly match the soil from the Australian outback (picture the thing firing on impact). Sort of like one of the early US unmanned probes (can't remember if it was one of the Pioneer or Explorer series, or maybe Vanguard) that failed to launch. It rose a few inches then settled back down onto the launch pad (one part of a two part plug was shorter then the other) but the automatic sequencer dutifully ejected the probe from the top of the rocket and it flew through the air and went rolling into the bushes near the launch pad. It was a little humorous until someone realized that a fully fueled rocket was sitting on the launch pad with a parachute hanging from the top, billowing in the wind. Duh. -Walter Branch - - Original Message - From: Ron Baalke baa...@zagami.jpl.nasa.gov To: Meteorite Mailing List meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 3:59 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Hayabusa Heads Back to Earth http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0902/05hayabusa/ Asteroid sampler spacecraft heads back to planet Earth BY STEPHEN CLARK SPACEFLIGHT NOW February 5, 2009 Japan's Hayabusa probe, potentially loaded with the first rock samples from an asteroid, fired up one of its ion engines Wednesday to begin the second phase of the explorer's return voyage to Earth. Hayabusa ignited a single ion engine at 0235 GMT Wednesday to begin pulsing for up to 8,000 hours to finish guiding the spacecraft toward Earth, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. The spacecraft's ion propulsion system has already completed than 31,000 hours of operations since its launch in 2003. The probe carries four ion engines, but engineers believe some of the devices are not capable of long-duration firings. Officials designed a taxing return trajectory using a single engine to reduce the odds of a major failure. Despite the hard work of several dozen engineers, Hayabusa still faces more hurdles before making its scheduled parachuted landing in Australia in June 2010. We are not so optimistic, but not so pessimistic, said Makoto Yoshikawa, Hayabusa project scientist. Officials said the ion engine must accelerate Hayabusa by nearly 900 mph by March 2010, when engineers will turn off the machine to begin the probe's final approach to Earth. If the current status of Hayabusa (remains) until the final stage, we are sure that it will come back to the Earth, Yoshikawa said. The spacecraft still has enough xenon gas to power the ion engine and control its orientation in space, according to JAXA. We are continuing to pay careful attention to our onboard equipment and are doing our utmost to operate the Hayabusa with the greatest care, officials said in a statement. The craft's ion engines use microwave discharge to ionize xenon gas and accelerate the plasma to high speeds. The highly-efficient engines produce little thrust, but the devices can operate for months to propel the spacecraft across the solar system using small amounts of fuel. Hayabusa completed the first round of return trip ion engine operations in October 2007 after a burn lasting about four months. The mission's ground team refined operations plans since 2007 to increase the odds of Hayabusa's successful return, according to Yoshikawa. Scientists also devised methods to find Hayabusa's entry capsule after landing and created plans to transport the sample canister from Australia to a specially-outfitted science lab in Japan, Yoshikawa said. The science team is currently testing the mission's curation facility and discussing how to analyze asteroid samples returned by Hayabusa. But officials still are not sure if the 950-pound probe is actually carrying the priceless samples. Hayabusa spent three months near asteroid Itokawa in late 2005, studying the space rock and attempting a series of close approaches to collect bits of rock and dirt. A pellet was supposed to be fired into the surface of Itokawa to force the rocks through a funnel to guide the precious samples into a container for the voyage back to Earth. Those plans did not materialize in November 2005 and Hayabusa spent up to 30 minutes on the asteroid's surface during a failed retrieval attempt. Officials later reviewed telemetry data from a subsequent attempt and determined the pellet likely did not fire because the system was disarmed. Scientists hope some particles were funneled into the collection chamber, even if the pellet did not fire as planned. Engineers were forced to postpone the start of Hayabusa's return trip by a year after the mission was struck by a fuel leak and communications
[meteorite-list] Attn : Tucson Attendees! Share your observations!
Hi listees and lucky Tucson attendees! :) (*** WARNING - THIS IS LONG AND LOADED WITH QUESTIONS! ***) As I sit stuck in swampy Louisiana, pining for the Fjords, I find myself wondering about the current state of the market in Tucson. UNWA : What do the UNWA offerings look like this year? Are the wholesale prices going up? Are the prettier stones decreasing in quantity in comparison to the hordes of weathered-up stuff? Will it be impossible to get dark-crusted or nice dark wind-polished stones for under .30 cents a gram? I see retail prices of pretty OC's creeping closer and closer to .50 cents a gram for average stuff, and $1 a gram for whole stones, stones with orientation features, or any stone whose aesthetics make it stand out. Is there any hope that UNWA prices might recede, like gasoline prices did? ... IRONS : Are Argentine secret agents combing hotel rooms and convention floors? Has anyone been hauled out in chains for selling baby Campos? What is the latest gossip concerning this issue? Does it look like Campos might start drying up once the existing dealer stockpiles are depleted? Are there any more specimens or news coming out regarding Las Palmas? What is the going average rate in Tucson for a kilogram of small-medium Canyon Diablos of good quality? (maybe 20-100 grams each) ... STONY-IRONS : Is there anywhere in Tucson to get a showy small slice of Imilac or Esquel without paying $100 a gram (or more)? How much are cutting scraps of common pallasites like Brenham coming for? If I wanted to buy a kilo of small part-slices of Brenham (maybe 5-10 grams each), how much would I expect to pay? ... NEW/RECENT FALLS AND FORBIDDEN FALLS : Any Cali at the show? If so, how much per gram? Any large pieces of Tamdaught (sp?) available for inspection? Any opinions of it in person? Any Berduc being offered? If so, how much? Any outlaw Buzzard Coulee being offered under tables? Anything close to a complete individual of Carancas present? Even if it's only a gram? Or is everything in irregularly-shaped fragments and tiny part slices? If so, how much was it going for? ... SUPPLIES and EQUIPMENT : Was there a good selection of used lapidary saws available? What is a good price on a used 8 rock saw and a used 6 trim saw? Any bargain prices on good-quality new saws? Did anyone see any of those hard-to-find TINY Riker boxes that are smaller than the common 3x4 size? Were they being sold in quantity? If so, who has them? Is there a repeat vendor who is good for metal detectors? (used and new), if so, who is it? (web address?) What's the current best deal on a good used detector? Is there anyone who is a one-stop shop for met hunting gear? GPS, magnets and canes, field microscopes, detectors, topo maps, etc? ... RV FACILITIES : How good are the RV facilities within a short drive of the show? Do any of the local truckstops or hotels have water or shore power hookups, free or fee? Any good BLM boondocking areas within a short drive of the action? Do locals frown on dry campers? ... TRADING ETIQUETTE : Is dickering common? If prices are marked, are they considered firm? Will speaking in Esperanto get me a discount? When you walk into a seller's room and you don't know anyone yet, how do you tell who the seller is amongst the people standing around? Do people wear name-tags? Is it bad etiquette to bring a briefcase full of trading specimens and offer some to the seller? Are there any sellers who smoke cigars? If so, is a Cohiba a sufficient bribe to open trading negotiations? Are there sellers who are more cutthroat than others?what I mean is, will a seller steer you to the best deal, even if it's a specimen for sale by another dealer in another room? Or will they always steer you towards something in their own inventory? With one Hupe not present this year, was there a noticeable disturbance in the force? ... If you have made it this far into this email, then I congratulate and thank you for withstanding my withering fusillade of inane inquiries. I ask all of these questions because I am dying to get a sneak-preview of the future market conditions after Tucson and I want to be a well-prepared show virgin when I attend for the first time next year. :) Best regards, good luck and happy hunting! MikeG . Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA) Member of the Meteoritical Society. Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network. Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and http://www.glassthrower.com .. __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] tucson day 1
hello and good evening list.I just came back from tucson out here in oro valley.It was really great to see everyone.Hans Koser,Ann Black,Geoff Notkin,The Reed boys,The Jensen boys,etc.Contrary to what I heard there is alot of items to buy.Today I got 4 new meteorites.I got a 61 gram slice of DONG UJIMQIN QI meso,a 685 gram very sculpted canton diablo,and a 8.9 gram slice of NEW CONCORD,OHIO,and my 65 gram slice of CALDWELL,KANSAS.The weather was 85 degree's and some what humid.I had a nice flight and it was just great to come to tucson.Tomorrow it's onto erich haiderers room,the eislers room,and edurado's room.Got to complete the circuit.I got some great pics today with more tomorrow.Well got alot of walking in and there is alot of great stuff still to see tomorrow.Well thats all till tomorrow.Have a nice night. Steve R.Arnold,Chicago! a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://chicagometeorites.net/;http://chicagometeorites.net//a __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] IMCA Tucson Dinner Photo's
Hello List Just got back from The IMCA dinner at La Fuente Restaurant. We all had a great time, here are a few the photo's http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009001a.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009c052.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009a056.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009a064.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009a083.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009a106.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009a110.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009c116.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009a119.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009c127.jpg http://www.geocities.com/arizonaviking2000/TucsonIMCA2009c131.jpg Hope you all enjoyed. Keith Chandler AZ __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
