Most Earth-Like Extrasolar Planet Found Right Next Door
Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/super-earth?mbid=wir_newsltr#ixzz0cYCJfZ9Y
Category: Astrophysics
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Earth to Get Close Shave Wednesday From Newly Discovered Asteroid
An asteroid 30 to 50 feet across will pass by the Earth at just more than one-third the distance between the Earth and the moon on Wednesday. That’s the closest near-Earth object approach currently known between now and the flyby in 2024 of a similar-size object known as 2007 XB23.
The new asteroid, called 2010 AL30, was discovered by the NASA-funded Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research program, and announced Monday by the Minor Planet Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
The short amount of time between the spotting of the object and its near intersection with Earth is a good reminder that humans don’t know every object that could come hurtling out of space and collide with our planet.
“Visitors frequently ask me if I worry about the NEOs that I measure,” wrote Dr. P. Clay Sherrod of the Arkansas Sky Observatories, on a forum thread discussing the asteroid. “My response: ‘I don’t worry about those that we keep up with…. I am more concerned about the ones we never see coming.”
To see how close the asteroid will get, check out this animation of the asteroid’s Earth approach (.avi) by Gerhard Dangl, an Austrian astronomer.
It should be noted that an asteroid this small probably would not cause major damage were it to impact Earth’s atmosphere, and would probably burn up before it reached the planet’s surface.
The new object will remain about three times farther away from Earth than Apophis, which has been the subject of much recent discussion, will in 2029.
Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/01/new-asteroid/#ixzz0cWJAEISs
www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/01/new-asteroid/#ixzz0cWJAEISs
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Mysterious Space Object Rocks the Web
Something is hurtling toward the planet. And we say “something” because neither we, nor anybody in the scientific field, seems to know exactly what it is.
The buzz surrounding this mysterious object has inspired a slew of searches and no shortage of articles. A piece from MSNBC notes that, according to scientists, the object will “fly by Earth at a distance of just 80,000 miles.” That’s about a third of the distance to the Moon. In terms of outerspace, that’s not all that far.
Size-wise, the object (formally known as “2010 AL30”) is only about 33-50 feet wide. According to NASA, even if 2010 AL30 did hit Earth, it wouldn’t cause much damage. That’s comforting, but what is it? An asteroid? Man-made space junk? Mork in his eggish space ship?
We have no idea, but folks with telescopes who live out West might be able to catch a glimpse when it roars past Earth at around 7:47 a.m. EST on Wednesday. We’ll be sleeping, but please wave to it for us.
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93309/;_ylt=AtGkF71i7Dyxm224GcU7YzdzfNdF -
Do Eclipses affect Humans?
Scientists/Astronomers tend to dismiss the effects of eclipses on humans.What about the fact that the patients, when operated on New Moon /Full Moon Days, who bleed more than other days?What of mental disorders reaching peaks on these days?No body denies these are natural Phenomena.At the same time we must understand that natural phenomena affect humans as we are all part of the system.Do not brush aside ancient views unless you can disprove it.Science has disproved may of its earlier theories. Scientists have a way of brushing aside facts not convenient to them,for example , the following in italics is tucked away, while declaring in bold letters that eclipses have no effect on humans.
Local animals and birds often prepare for sleep or behave confusedly during a total solar eclipse. Local temperatures often drop 20 degrees or more near totality
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/solar_eclipse_facts.html#3
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