Saturn Moon Ballet

Seasons greetings all!


In celebration, I have provided a link to a new video created by the Cassini Imaging team. This video puts together over 60 images captured by the Cassini spacecraft.  Take into account different sizes, velocities, angles of trajectories, and just how well Tchaikovsky goes with the images. 


Enjoy and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!


Ciao - Martha

Be Dazzled

Take a gander.

Oooooh.  Ahhh.

This image was made by piecing together 800,000 individual photos taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.  It equals a total of 2.5 billion pixels and captures about half of the entire Milky Way galaxy.

Like WHOA.

Ciao - Martha

The Kind of Dust You Want to Keep

This dust is coooooooooooool.  Literally.  Icey cool.


This is neat.


Geologists have been trying to figure out the origins of our planet since forEVA and every tiny step forward is pretty major.  So major, Smithsonian covers it.


This new comet dust is viewed as "starting material for our solar system, the stuff that came together to make everything we see," consisting of very high temperature forming minerals and glycine.  So in a nutshell, this comet sample hints at the building blocks of Earth and Life.   

It's a bit like magic dust.  

First Meeting!

Thanks to everybody who attended the first official UT POSSE meeting!  It was a smashing hit.  We were VERY happy to see so many people interested and hope all and more will attend the next meeting!


We will not be meeting until next semester, and will notify you all as soon as we set the date.


And of course, anyone is welcome to send suggestions of future speakers, food choice, meeting ideas, or just general organization ideas to utposse@gmail.com.

Thanks again guys!  We are looking forward to a STELLAR spring semester!


Cheers - Martha

Mmmmm COOKIE!

Or mmmmmm . . . GALAXY! Though I'm not sure it would taste quite as yummy . . . Probably kinda gassy actually.

Centaurus A is a giant elliptical radio-galaxy with an active nucleus emitting two very strong radio jets. With a very impressive name to match it's appetite. Oh! And it's also a cannibal.

Munch on that for a bit. Then look look.

The researchers think that in the past Centaurus absorbed a spiral galaxy about the size of the MILKY WAY (i.e. US). Much of the interstellar matter of this spiral galaxy did not just fall into the center of Centaurus A, but rather the densest clouds (of hydrogen gas) were expelled a great distance from the galactic center. Then, the radio jets compressed the gas in the shells, which triggered the formation of new stars recently, enriching the region in heavy elements that can be used as tracers of molecular hydrogen.

And that's how cannibalism works, kids! Yay for science.

Cheers - Martha

Straight from a Ray Bradbury Story

USGS must be letting their imaginations run WILD with this.  Martian caves?!?  Just think of the possibilities!  


While there may be nothing extraordinary, we could find some seriously strange things.  Maybe something like the Crystal Caves in Mexico?  Hmmmm?  Or maybe the close to the Malaysian caves.
















Perfect for colonization. . . Mr. Bradbury would be proud.



Ciao!-Martha

Awwww Poor Rover...

Our sturdy Mars correspondent is getting on in years (robot years, that is) and is showing signs of amnesia.Maybe NASA should try breadcrumbs . . .


I wonder what WALL-E would do in this case.


I mean, I guess since the original planned mission was about 5% of the amount of time that the rover has actually been on Mars, it's understandable for it to be getting a little tired.


Still, it's kinda sad. . . Maybe NASA should try laying down some breadcrumbs.


Maybe fresh Martian air will jog the Spirit's memory soon.  We can only hope.


Don't FORGET to read the article! haha...


-Martha

UT P.O.S.S.E is now fo rizzle

After nearly a semester's worth of hard work, UT P.O.S.S.E is now an official department-sponsored organization!

Now we can really hit the ground running.  We have bi-monthly meetings planned, which will include outside speakers, space-themed movie nights, field trips, and most importantly. . . food.  Yummy, yummy food.

Undergrads and grads in any college across the UT community are welcome to join!  We want to harvest intercollegiate interactions and get everyone and anyone interested involved.

Most immediately, we are looking for ideas on a UT P.O.S.S.E logo.  We would love to consider any ideas you guys have, just send them to utposse@gmail.com.  The logo will be used on flyers, posters, and ahem. . . T-shirts.

We will be having our first meeting on Tuesday, November 24, at 5:30.  Place is TBA.  But I'll let you know as soon as possible!

Hope to see you all soon!

-Martha

WHY WHY WHY haven't I heard of this before?!?!

And nothing against the popularity of Illinois, but it's probably right up there with Pluto.  I never thought Illinois was cool . . . actually I never thought that much about Illinois period.  But now I do!  Now that they decided upon THIS EPIC DECISION .

Watch out, because Pluto is coming near you on March 9.

-Martha

“Well, one could even almost say that we have a model for God.”

Yes, well.


Not quite sure what to think or say about this, but here you go. 

There exists a fine line between physics and crazy, which is also reason there have been any advancements in physics at all.


But this?  I am at a loss... As much as I would love to live in a world H.G. Wells created, we are toppling over the crazy side when, what was it?  oh yes, "15 years and $9 billion" have been spent.  Arg.


For now, this should be left to the science fiction writers.


Ciao-Martha

I Don't Mean to Sound like a Hippie but . . .

IF and WHEN Martian exploration happens, can we pretty pretty please NOT screw it up with nuclear energy - like fo realz!?!  C'mon guys, let's try learning a little. . .

Check dis out .

Not to sound like your stereotypical Austin hippie with a dictionary full of flower power, but geeze, there has got to be a more efficient and less invasive way to do this.  Understandably, further Martian development is an extremely looooong way down the road, if even a possibility, but nuclear use should not even cross our minds at this point.  I realize that it is the cheapest and most available resource, but in an era of advancement, we should expect something more.

Am I overreacting?

Just something to think about, should we really be expanding our knowledge of the universe in a way that could potentially be harmful to it?

-Martha

I Wish this would happen to me . . . Just to say that it did.

Mr. Tony Gashinsky is one lucky fellow.



Click here to find out why.


This picture is included for no particular reason.  I just like funny faces.




-Martha

The Big Bubble Theory

The new discovery by the Cassini Mission is too large to wrap my head around.  Larger than the health care budget.  So large in fact, that it includes the entire area our Sun affects, called the heliosphere.  With a few recent images, NASA shot dead the previously believed comet-like motion of the heliosphere.  This new Cassini data has determined that the region the Sun touches motions through the universe with bubble-like characteristics.  

Believe it?  Why not.  Okay, so try to imagine a bubble, within a bubble, within another bubble, all moving through air at a constant speed.  Except there is a very small chance of some random kid coming and bursting your bubble. That is the state of our heliosphere, viewable in this video .


More specific information can be found at this link. 


Ciao - Martha

La Agua Luna

Thirsty, anyone?  
This weekend was really super hot and humid, and I probably drank a few gallons of water. . . . 
Good thing I'm not on the moon! 
haha. . .

Okay, that was lame.  BUT I do have a point.  I'm referring to NASA's  exciting and recent discovery of water molecules on our lunar buddy, of course!

No, not "lakes, oceans or even puddles. Water on the moon means molecules of water and hydroxyl that interact with molecules of rock and dust specifically in the top millimeters of the moon's surface."

So dirty water, basically.  Sorry to disappoint.

Read it hurr! 

-Martha

Mars-tastic

So, here at The University of Texas, we are lucky enough to have an extremely hard-working and dedicated professor by the name of Dr. Jack Holt.  He's awesomely cool, just take my word for it.

You WOULD know how awesome he is IF you went to his Hot Science/Cool Talks presentation a few weeks ago.  IF you went to this, then you would be a more intelligent and cool person.  I went, and I am infinitely cooler because of it.

Just to give you a taste of the coolness he oozes, here is an article about the research that Dr. Holt is conducting on Martian ice glaciers.

Dr. Holt works closely with the SHARAD project (ahem, in Rome!) to produce significant evidence that glaciers exist on Mars, albeit covered in dust.  This radargram makes it possible to produce the image shown above.

Soooo, check out this article , it's made of awesome.

-Martha

2nd UT Planetary Organization of Space Science and Exploration (UT POSSE) Meeting!

All right guys, so yesterday we had our 2nd and all-time best ever meeting of our renamed UT POSSE.  Here are the topics we covered:


Our activities and objectives:

-twice a month seminar and/or meetings with speakers concerning space, focusing on hard bodies

-field trips to space- and planetary- related places

-social-video viewings 

-integration of our organization with planetary-interested members of other colleges at UT

-possible job applications and internship opportunities

-mailing list

-honory doctorates

-discovering more organizations we can collaborate with

We will also be presenting a poster at the UT Planetary Science Symposium (Oct. 2!!), and came up with a basic design.

We specified our Official Purpose: 

UT POSSE exists to promote, facilitate and coordinate space,lunar and planetary science studies throughout The University of Texas community.

“Human fashions don’t apply”

Membership requirements:

Must have planetary, space and lunar interest and have UT affiliation.

Officers:

President - Tim Shin

Vice President - Martha Altobelli

Secretary - Kelly Harris

Thanks everyone for coming to the meeting!  There is no way we would have gotten so much done and so much valuable input if you hadn't been there.

Special thanks to Paige Pharr and Steven Gohlke for conjuring up our SAWEET new name: UT POSSE

We are so excited about getting our organization off the ground, and all the enthusiasm at the meeting really boosted our awesomeness.  So thanks!

-Martha

How many MIT students does it take . . .

This just goes to show you that with a couple of geniuses, a cell phone, and $150, pretty much anything can be done.  The video is kinda bumpy, but still saweet!  I think we should totally try this.

Just don't forget the genius part, otherwise, things could go horribly wrong.


-Martha

New Superearth

-at a planetary science convention-
HARPS team member:  
"Hey guys, I just wanted to thank everybody for reading this.  I would like to announce that we have discovered a new planet of superearth standing!"
-applause-
-Kanye West jumps onto stage-
HARPS team member:
. . . "Uh what . . . I'm sorry, sir, what are you doing?"

Kanye West:
"I'm sorry to interrupt, I'm sure this planet is great and everything, but Earth is still the most superplanet in the whole universe!"
-crickets-


Ahaha that was fun.


I hadn't gotten to make a Kanye joke, yet.


Hopefully we will be hearing more about this ESO article soon.


-Martha

We're Mapping our Junk now?

Good job guys!  We've finally done it !

NASA has calculated that we've produced enough trash to actually cause a distraction in space.  What an accomplishment.  

I mean really, "space is a very big place" (ahem . . . understatement of the year!) and it's quite an achievement.  There's so much now, that we have to map it so we don't run into our own junk! 

I realize that space debris is a necessary thing, but since we don't know the consequences of it yet, I can't be one to support dumping our waste into space.

Space dumping is a little ridiculous when you think about it.  Maybe we should think about turning a planet into a colossal landfill.  Oh wait, we already have . . . 

-Martha

P.S. Sorry about not posting in a while - I've been crazy busy!

Well that was a great talk...But now for Budget Woes!

Sorry We've been off the radar for a little while - busy week.

Dr. Holt's talk last week was interesting and entartaining. Best part of all was the little kids asking the questions afterward. We learned a lot about the polar regions of Mars and how Italian radar has been helping us to understand where water is suspected to be in several ice caps and below the surface of Mars.

Martha got stuck with one of the little ones who just wanted to talk about saving Yoshi in some Super Mario game he had. Needless to say, it was humorous.

-----

Now, Sean has brought to our attention a US News & World Report article on how "Budget Woes Could End NASA's Space Exploration Plans".... One of my favorite lines is "Trying to put a thousand pounds of canaries in a 500-pound box is where we are now."

President Obama has decided to review NASA's budget by use of the Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee to decide whether or not NASA should get as much money as it's asking for to further it's plans for human space exploration. Such things include a replacement vehicle for the space shuttle and future missions to Mars and the Moon. The Augustine report from that committee is soon to be delivered to congress of its findings on the matter later this month. It seems like it will be a balance between cost and benefit of these missions and which are plain unnecessary to the current administration.

One scary line from the article was said byJohn Logsdon, a former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University: "The message is pretty ugly. The whole notion we are going back to the moon, given the current budget is a myth"


Hopefully we can still get the Constellation program that will implement the Ares booster rockets to get to Mars! (They'll be usable for the moon too...)





-Tim


picture of Ares Rocket courtesy of globalsecurity.org/space/systems/images/clv-atk_evolution2.jpg

Click the pic for a NASA video!

Hot Talk! Icy Mysteries of Mars Revealed Friday! 7pm!

I want to re-post a previous entry on Dr. Jack Holt's talk this Friday (Tomorrow). This is going to be really cool and Martha and I are definitely going. I suggest getting there at least a half hour early


What: Icy Mysteries of Mars Revealed
When: 7pm, Friday, September 11, 2009
Where: UT Campus, Welch Hall 2.224
Schedule: 5:45-7 - Pre-lecture Fun,
Lecture - 7-8:15
Click here for More info!

-Tim
----------------------------------------------------------
Nope, I didn't make up that title...it was already that cheesy! Well okay...maybe part of it...

Next Friday, September 11, our very own Dr. Jack Holt will be giving a cool talk on hot science entitled: "Icy Mysteries of Mars Revealed"!

Now, I can tell you I am definitely going to be there - what better way to get your Mars fix AND take care of getting credit for going to see a seminar/lecture (e.g. honors...) than right here at UT-Austin's Welch building?

Here's an excerpt from UT's OnCampus site on ESI's Hot Science/Cool Talks:

"Join us for an evening of Mars exploration as the Environmental Science Institute presents this talk. Dr. Holt and his scientific colleagues have discovered enormous reserves of frozen water on Mars. Could this water mean life on the red planet? What implications does this discovery hold for future voyages to Mars? Make sure to come early to experience interactive exhibits and activities presented by our partners! K-12 teacher workshop begins at 6 p.m. Free refreshments will be provided. "

Definitely arrive early because I went to a similar talk last year by Don Blankenship and it gets PACKED!

What: Icy Mysteries of Mars Revealed
When: Friday, September 11, 2009
Where: UT Campus, Welch Hall 2.224
Schedule: 5:45-7 - Pre-lecture Fun, 7-8:15 - Lecture
Click here for More info!

So come with the UT Planetary Science group, get free refreshments, and get ready to enjoy what should be a thoroughly entertaining talk on one of our faves!



See ya there!

-Tim

My Hubble Bubbles!

NPR has released a story including the new beautiful pictures that are coming forth from the Hubble Space Telescope's new camera/imagers (freshly installed in May 2009). They say that many astronomers consider this "space porn"

These pictures truly are spectacular and you should check out and read the story by NPR here.

If you want more info on The Hubble Telescope and the original scoop from NASA, then go to http://hubblesite.org



-Tim

Big Brother Jupiter

I think The Times got it wrong - Jupiter is definitely a brother-type, not a Father figure.

Read this .

You know big brothers.  They're always taking your stuff, eating your food, and perpetually finding any excuse to pick on you at their disposal.

Enter Jupiter - our big brother.

This giant of a planet has been eating our Snickers bars for the past few billion years, but at the same time, Jupiter's wide girth has prevented some major beat-downs directed toward Earth.

For example, just last week, Jupiter got served a black-eye in comet form - Taking one for the team.

I guess sometimes, brothers do serve a purpose.

P.S. this does not pertain at all to my own brother - who is awesome.

-Martha

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." - Mars

Just in case you haven't heard the news . . . Mars exploration scientists have determined all the properties needed for water, exist on the planet.  This suggests that at some point in its history, Mars was somewhat like Earth in its ability to support life.

Yep, so Mars is something like Earth's great (times a few billion) grandfather (or grandmother).













Time Magazine has showcased some pretty amazing images of Mar's landscape.  They look eerily familiar . . .  Is that a dried-up delta?  Dunes?

If Mars is/was capable of producing these natural water features, then it's not completely insane to suggest the possibility of Marian life, is it?

. . . maybe there's oil . . .

JUST KIDDING!

Anyway, enjoy these beautiful photographs.
-Martha

Hot Science - Cool Talks! Oh Ares, how I love the...

Nope, I didn't make up that title...it was already that cheesy! Well okay...maybe part of it...

Next Friday, September 11, our very own Dr. Jack Holt will be giving a cool talk on hot science entitled: "Icy Mysteries of Mars Revealed"!

Now, I can tell you I am definitely going to be there - what better way to get your Mars fix AND take care of getting credit for going to see a seminar/lecture (e.g. honors...) than right here at UT-Austin's Welch building?

Here's an excerpt from UT's OnCampus site on ESI's Hot Science/Cool Talks:

"Join us for an evening of Mars exploration as the Environmental Science Institute presents this talk. Dr. Holt and his scientific colleagues have discovered enormous reserves of frozen water on Mars. Could this water mean life on the red planet? What implications does this discovery hold for future voyages to Mars? Make sure to come early to experience interactive exhibits and activities presented by our partners! K-12 teacher workshop begins at 6 p.m. Free refreshments will be provided. "

Definitely arrive early because I went to a similar talk last year by Don Blankenship and it gets PACKED!

What: Icy Mysteries of Mars Revealed
When: Friday, September 11, 2009
Where: UT Campus, Welch Hall 2.224
Schedule: 5:45-7 - Pre-lecture Fun, 7-8:15 - Lecture
Click here for More info!

So come with the UT Planetary Science group, get free refreshments, and get ready to enjoy what should be a thoroughly entertaining talk on one of our faves!



See ya there!

-Tim

I'm sorry, I'm going to miss class on Monday. I'll be on Mars.

Get ready for some mind-blowing science.

My wonderful friend Tim (you might know him . . . he's kind of a big deal) has been talking about Dr. Robert Zubrin for quite some time now - and for good reason.  This guy is a genius!

Not only is he VERY enthusiastic (I would say obsessed, but that would be harsh . . . so I won't) about furthering space exploration, but he's also formulated an extremely plausible plan to (get ready for it)
GO TO MARS.

I know - it sounds crazy.  They said we could never do it, and maybe we can't, but if you watch The Mars Underground videos on YouTube you may just be enlightened.

Here they are:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Don't be daunted by how many parts there are.  They're all about 9 minutes long to make up one complete short film.  Besides, we're scientists, we're very thorough people.

Anyway, they're so darn interesting that you're going to want to watch them again, and again, and again, and . . .

Also, click on the main title for a link to The Mars Society, of which Dr. Zubrin is the founder and President.

-Martha

Where my Money at?

NOOOOOOO!


NASA May Have to Revamp Science Plans Without RTGs 
-from Universe Today 



Okay, in all honesty, I had no idea what an RTG was before reading this article.  But now that I know, I'm downright scared.

The LAST thing NASA needs is more obstacles.  And cutting funds?  That's a tough obstacle to overcome.  I don't think anyone will disagree that the main cause for the molasses-like progress in space exploration is owed to monetary conflicts.  It's just depressing to hear that the aspirations of planetary scientists are still at the bottom of the list when it comes to government funds.  BUT that is another reason for our UT society!  To raise awareness and interest!  It's go time.


Where are those Russians when you need them?


-Martha

From Russia, with Love

The Russians have got the right idea.  

Check out this Spectrum article: Russia Reveals Vision for Manned Spaceflight

Firstly, they named their space agency Roskosmos, which is just awesome.  RosKOSMOS, like cosmos?!  That's deep man.

Secondly, they've got the groundbreaking idea to unite international space organizations, like themselves and our very own NASA, in order to make space exploration CHEAPER while still going where no man has gone before?  Like Mars!

Of course, there are some kinks to work out, seeing as though they built their launching spot right on the Chinese border, which I'm pretty sure Hu Jintao isn't too happy about . . . But you never know, if the Russians share their super secrets, it may just help border relations! . . . possibly. 

Anyway, I believe this way of thinking is what WILL finally get us to Mars, to infinity, AND BEYOND!

         First Russian Space Dogs from http://englishrussia.com/ 

UT Planetary Science Symposium

Remember that the UT Planetary Science Symposium is on Friday, October 2, so don't forget to register if you want to attend!


This symposium will mark a major point on our society's beginning and serve as a real "launching off" pad, hah! . . . if you catch my drift . . . We hope to meet and speak with those in Austin and at The University of Texas who are interested in the planetary sciences, and hopefully add more members to our society.  It will provide us with the opportunity to share our scientific interests and hear about research that is being conducted on campus and elsewhere!


The symposium will be going on all day, so drop by Avaya Auditorium in the ACES building when you can.

http://www.as.utexas.edu/utpss/ 

Neil DeGrasse Tyson is my hero

Watch out for Friday!

Well, not this one, and not the next . . . but yep, Friday.  April 13, 2036 to be exact.  It's going to be a doozie.

Check out this YouTube link to see why.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaW4Ol3_M1o

Plutophiles?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/08/24/pluto.dwarf.planet/index.html


Well, I guess that makes sense . . .

Poor Pluto, the demoted planet must be going through quite the identity crisis.  Now the scientific community is thinking about restoring it's "planet" status?  It has only been three years since Pluto was knocked off it's My-Very-Excellent-Mother-Just-Sent-Us-Nine-Pizzas pedestal.  If my calculations are correct, that's something like a blink in Pluto time.  There must be some major planetary whiplash going on there.  

According to CNN , at least we know the plutophiles are showing support for Pluto's right to be a planet.  Because, what else is my very excellent mother going to send us?   I'll take the pizza, please.

First Post!

Hello all,

Welcome to our student created blog for everybody who loves rocks, science, and planets!

Along with the BRAND NEW organization of our University of Texas Planetary Society (or University of Texas Planetary Geology Society, or UT Society for Planetary And Cosmic Education, or . . . well we haven't exactly decided on a name yet, but it's coming . . . promise) we have decided to begin a blog with all sorts of current and relevant information . . . ON SPACE!

The goal is to bring everyone and anyone interested in the planetary sciences exciting news about what we are doing as an organization at The University of Texas, and also really cool videos of current cosmos news.  Maybe even some Star Wars, you never know.  We love this stuff.  

It may take me a while to figure out this whole blogging thing, so bear with me!  BUT let me tell you, this is going to be awesome.  Out of this world awesome.

Cheers!