Astronomy thread!

[RICHARD]

Yeah!

Just saw the Shuttle land, always a nailbiter and good to see it went well.

Month old underwear and all that!

[RICHARD]

Lunar Eclipse on Aug, 5 2009
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html

[Cinder & Smoke]

Lunar Eclipse on Aug, 5, 2009
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html

Those pages need a Translator to ride along with you!


Looks like Wednesday's Lunar offering won't be much of a show in the USA.
(IF I read the chart properly.)

[Karen]

Cool, but we only get to see it at moonrise. Thankfully, I scrolled down to the part of the pdf I could understand!

[RICHARD]

I went to 6 sites before I could get something that I may have understood!

4 had to do with how the eclipse affects your astrology forecast!

I tried to do some homework, I need a dog to eat it maybe?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Cool, but we only get to see it at moon rise.

I scrolled down to the part of the .pdf I could understand!

I didn't find ANY part that was "understandable"!

OK, Miz Smartie-Pantz ...
Just tell me WHEN and WHERE to look.

/s/ Dummie

[RICHARD]

I was looking for some info about a missle launch from Vandenberg AFB on the 23 of this month and found this page.

http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbmultimedia.htm


These are some of the pics that us left coasters get to see when they shoot off a rocket from VAFB!

In years past, there was no media coverage for launches-now it's more accessible and if they post the time for launch-and it's a early evening or early morning launch, you get a show!

Growing up in the 70's and 80's if I was out and saw something lighting up the sky, I had to stop and wonder if it was the 'War' starting!

[RICHARD]

Tomorrow, NASA will launch the Discovery after two delays.

One of the highlights of the launch is the crew - For the first time there will be two Hispanics on board as crewdogs.

Jose Hernandez is a California (Stockton) native and his story is a pretty good one.

He came from a family of braceros, migrant farm workers, who chased seasonal crops, and work, from Central CA down to Mexico.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sh...hernandez.html

An especially good story. Where else can you go from picking fruit as a kid to putting together pieces of the International Space Station as an adult?

[RICHARD]

Great launch and good luck and godspeed to them all!


http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...=United+States

There are many sighting opportunities to see the ISS and the Shuttle on this mission!

There are some long passes - 4+ minutes this time out.

13 days - try to catch it at least once, you won't be disappointed!

[RICHARD]

Got to see the short ISS flyby this morning.

WOW, it was really cool. Especially when it catches the sunlight and BOOM it lights up like a light bulb.

Again, If you get a chance check it out. It's fun when you drag someone outdoors and point it out to them!

[RICHARD]

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!

Earlier today the Space Shuttle and ISS undocked and went their separate ways.

They both are on the same track/orbit and chase each other across the sky as the shuttle gets ready to land.

Tonight's pass was almost 5 minutes in length and passed almost directly overhead.

Spectacular.

[RICHARD]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32757086...science-space/

[RICHARD]

DUDE!


CHECK OUT THE CLIP OF THE TEST FIRING OF THE ARIES Rocket booster.
That was freaking awesome....

Fire, noise and smoke!

[RICHARD]

I am a total nerd.



I went out to catch the sonic boom when the shuttle slows down on it's entry into the atmosphere.

I was REALLY loud this time-and it set off a few car alarms up the street.

Welcome home!

[RICHARD]

WOW!

BBC just ran the premiere of James May on the Moon.

I really hate him, He was able to fly on a U2 up to 70,000 feet.

Next week they will air a special on Neil Armstrong!


I am going to have the longest week waiting.