Scientists interested in gamma-ray bursts are meeting this week in Huntsville, Alabama to discuss what they know – and don't know – about these strange phenomena. These bursts of gamma radiation were first discovered in the 1960s and our paranoid predecessors immediately thought the evil Russkies were causing it. Then they couldn’t figure out if they were coming from within the solar system and then from within the galaxy and now they’re still not sure, but all know they is they come and come damn frequently.
More about gamma-ray bursts and the symposium can be read HERE.
Hot Times on the Sun Tonight
NASA’s neat little Stereo spacecrafts are picking up some interesting sunspots along the upper latitudes of the Sun which could mean the start of the new solar cycle, something scientists say is kinda overdue. High sunspot activity can cause problems here on Earth, including degradation of our satellite systems as well as our communications. And there’re a lot of hypothesis about what it does to our weather, including those wonderful things that like to pay me and mine a visit…hurricanes.
The Magic of Venus
A photographer who sat down to enjoy the nighttime show of Mauna Loa captured this image of the planet Venus. Look for her along with the crescent moon on Halloween…it should be quite a show.
Happenin’s in the Hood
We’ve had a half dozen NEOs visit us for the month of October so far. The closest was 2008 TZ on October 10 which came to 5.3 LD of us. Let’s all wave and say “Hi! Nice to see ya! Don’t come any closer, thank you.”
Oct. 2008 Earth-asteroid encounters:
| Asteroid | Date(UT) | Miss Distance | Mag. | Size |
| 2008 QS11 | Oct. 2 | 11 LD | 14 | 470 m |
| 2008 SH148 | Oct. 4 | 5.8 LD | 19 | 26 m |
| 2005 GN59 | Oct. 6 | 20 LD | 15 | 1.4 km |
| 2008 TC3 | Oct. 7 | IMPACT | -13 | 3 m |
| 2008 TZ | Oct. 10 | 5.3 LD | 18 | 37 m |
| 1999 VP11 | Oct. 16 | 72 LD | 17 | 860 m |
| 2001 UY4 | Oct. 18 | 74 LD | 17 | 1.1 km |
| Comet Barnard-Boattini | Oct. 22 | 75 LD | 16 | unknown |
| 2008 TT26 | Oct. 23 | 3.6 LD | 15 | 70 m |
| 2000 EX106 | Oct. 23 | 69 LD | 18 | 1.1 km |
| 2005 VN | Oct. 29 | 4.1 LD | 15 | 116 m |
| 4179 Toutatis | Nov. 9 | 20 LD | 14 | 3.8 km |
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That's all!
--->Susan
1 comment:
This is great, Susan! Keep up the great work.
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