The Last 31 Days in Astronomy

Jan–11–2007 • More on Supernovae • Recent observations of the supernovae remnant from Kepler’s supernova clearly classify that supernova as a Type Ia. The telltale signs are large amounts of iron and not much oxygen. http://skytonight.com/news/5167547.html

Jan–30–2007 • Hubble’s ACS Fails • The Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope has stopped working for the third time in a year and this time it might be gone for good. The ACS was installed on a Hubble servicing mission in 2002 and was only expected to last 5 years - it came up one month short. When the next Hubble servicing mission is performed the ACS will not be replaced but a new wide field camera will be installed that will take over the functions of the ACS. http://skytonight.com/news/wires?id=102669493&c=y

Feb–02–2007 • Moon Impactor Greenlighted • NASA has given approval for the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) which is expected to launch in October of 2008 and impact the moon at its South Pole in January of 2009. NASA Ames in Mountain View is leading the project and a buildup at Ames is expected. http://skytonight.com/news/wires?id=102809335&c=y

Feb–06–2007 Night Clouds on Mars • Night Clouds on Mars have been shown to do something similar that night clouds do on Earth. That is the clouds help trap heat. In other words, cloudy nights on Mars lead to higher temperatures. The difference is not insignificant. Areas that are blanketed by the night clouds are warmer by about 20 degrees Celsius. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070206_st_mars_clouds.html

Feb–07–2007 • MRO Sending Reams of Data • The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has already sent enough data back to earth to fill up 1000 CD–ROMs. The rate of data return will increase as Mars and Earth move closer together. http://jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007–013

Feb–07–2007 • JWST Ready for Polishing • The 18 hexagonal mirrors which be used in the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have been shipped to Richmond, CA where they will be polished. The JWST is scheduled to be launched in 2013. http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/mirror_size.html

Now! New Horizons looking at Jupiter The NASA mission called New Horizons is heading toward a 2015 date with Pluto. But on Feb. 28, 2007 it will pass close to Jupiter in order to get a speed boost. It will also take pictures and measurements while it is in the Jovian neighborhood. The following link will tell you more. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html