E.T in Twenty

"That's 500 billion planets out there, and bear in mind there are 100 billion other galaxies. To think this [the Earth] is the only place where anything interesting is happening, you have got to be really audacious to take that point of view."

Seth Shostak, SETI senior astronomer

Some astronomers are claiming that within the next two decades or so, mankind will come in contact with some form of intelligent life. They say that with the launch of the Kepler space telescope next year will drastically advance the search for intelligent lifeforms. While I believe that extraterrestrial exists and will eventually be found, given the size of our universe and the countless celestial bodies within, my faith in human advancement within the next twenty years does not extend that far. While it is possible, I don't think that it is probable...then again traveling to the moon in 1969 seemed like a stretch too...

Location, location, location!

As I was perusing the internet this morning I stumbled upon something pretty fantastic that I feel must be shared. IBEX, NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer, has allowed scientists to piece together a comprehensive map of our solar system and where it is located in the Milky Way galaxy. This is the first map of its kind and will enable scientists to study our sun's interaction with the galaxy in ne (and exciting) ways. IBEX set out around this time last year with the objective of learning what sort of interactions exist at the edge of our solar system between solar wind and interstellar medium. IBEX also helps to put observations from other spacecrafts (Voyagers) in context...to expand on what we already know. IBEX has unlocked another bit of the universe to us and as science continues to improve and explore, there seems to be no limit what can be achieved.

To see NASA's handy-dandy animation, check out the sky map. Credit belongs to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Clear(ish) Skies Bring New Hope

Just like the ending of the greatest space opera of all time (except for maybe Spaceballs), the flaky sun gives a mix of New Hope and indigestion. I say hope because the golden rays of that magnificent sun warm and destroy those troublesome clouds like a BlasTech DL-44 pistol. Our rebellious sun refused to give in to the persistent and ruling grayness that characterizes this area and chooses to fight instead. This is almost a futile fight however, (cause for the indigestion). Try as the Sun might, our celestial highway is still often blocked fo our viewing pleasure. Why keep the fight going? Well it is the Sun, an inanimate object, so despite an earlier personification it will continue to behave as the massive gas ball it is. Secondly, fellow rebels, the astronomers (both of a professional and backyard variety) must keep that fight going in order to do what they do best: quench their curiosity for the known and unknown alike.

Spotting the Moon

The Jupiter night labs are winding down because of the atrociously unpredictable maritime weather (which I believe some secretly love) and it is nearly time to turn in our moon assignment... It is slightly sad how excited I become when I spot the moon or a friend of mine who is informed of my task points it out. I jump. I giggle. I take a mental picture and remind myself to record it later on or run back to my room to pull out my now disheveled lab report from the confines of my backpack. Oh joy! I saw the moon! Beautiful as it make be, and while it is so very critical to exist in its current state, I am annoyed. Because out of all of this excitement comes a a sadness when I miss the moon. Not simply because labs are twelve percent of my overall grade. Oh no, that would make sense. No, no, I genuinely miss the moon. I have become clingy to its presence. The moon never calls. The moon never writes. The moon never even bothers to text me. I mean geez I gave it my real number for what reason? Perhaps I will spot it tonight and get a glimpse of its luminous aura. Or not and realize I am still one observation short...