Yea I still think this way

This is exactly what I am talking about. I can hardly see this boulder being called a 'moon'. This 'space debris' is one of Saturn's moons named Helene. 


As I sit here I think I could be on to something of vast importance here; my next letter to NASA:


To whom it may concern, 


In the wake of not only changing the classification of, but also using it as a classification; Pluto now being known as a 'Plutiod. I feel the definition of "a moon" needs reclassified and a new satellite classification is in order. I would like the non-spherical objects now known as moons to be redefined as "space debris". When one talks to me of moons, in my minds eye I see a sphere, glowing in the night sky. 
scientifically speaking, 
                                                                                   Pirate Named Neo


      This does go all the way back to my primary school days when I would open my science text book and see a picture of Phobos and Deimos the moon of Mars. I would think, "how can they have an entire belt of Asteroids, not so far away from Mars, and still you are going to call these 2 chunks of space stuff moons? And then check this my scientific friend, the orbit of Phobos is in a state of decay. Meaning that at some point you will need to change Phobos from a moon to a meteor.

Can you please explain why?

Quite a bit of information on this page. Of all the interesting phoenomina in and about the Solar System Saturn and her rings have to be on the top of the list. I could read for hours on the subject. Learn a little, understand less, and have 3 million questions raised about thier formation, where they come from and how they got there. Much less how they stay and for so long. There are several hypothesized reasons, I will set this in the "unexplained" category.  Some suggest a fragmented moon during the great bombardment. Recently the Cassini space craft brought to light the geysers of Enceladus feeding the F ring. Obviously gravity does play a part. So many questions... why the planets beyond the asteroids have rings, why gas giants? Do the rings dissipate in time? Why Saturn to be the one with the most visible rings?  Then more questions, the physical characteristics, spokes, shadows, shepherd moons and moonlets. I read, learn and am so interested, there never seems to be a loss of new information. Does it take a "brain surgeon" a "rocket scientist" or a "planetary ring scientist" to find the answers? I need to know!

Mutually Speaking

I have posted on this subject before, it is quite an interesting subject to me. As there are several other planets in our Solar System with more than just one moon, I would imagine this would apply to all those planets also.

Universal Right?

Gonna talk about space for bit. I know your telling me to back off the space talk Neo, You are more familiar in the Pirate stuff, buying and trading swords, and daggers and all that stuff. But really I am a one to have taken a real interest in the subject of science, space, space exploration and on that groove. Well...


Was reading a novel, science fiction, was for a class I took in school. The world in this novel, I really don't recall the title or the authors name. So on we go... the world in this novel was large, I mean real big. Jupiter ish in dimensions. This world, had a dramatically rapid rotation, so fast it had stretched the equatorial latitudes. Creating an oval shaped planet. There were 2 Breeds of intelegent life on this planet. The ones to the north and south of the equater  were of centipede physique. A large planet by theory would have a great amount of gravity. I suppose the author of the book was thinking along the lines of "the taller they are etc." So the indigenous life forms would be close to the ground. As you travel toward the equatorial regions of the planet you will start to see a more humanoid population as the planet rotates quickly and makes the gravity compensated with centrifugal force.


The class I was taking at the time was "The science in Science Fiction". We would read a book, and discuss the validity of science.  It was a very interesting class. I think of this class when I do catch a sci fi on the tube or in my reading. For example:
Star Wars- the scene where R2D2 is able to access the ships computer, the enemy vessle, and stop the garbage compactor on C deck or what ever. Now really... What are the chances of R2 having the proper connecting plug to the computer of the brand new, built to specs, super colossal planet destroying ship? Universal? excuse me.... I have a wireless phone that has a charger that won't work with my girlfriends phone; and they are the same company, and the same planet, much less from a different galaxy.

Extension, or More moons than you can count

So even if your not 'into' space, and have little if any interest in NASA and the International effort the Cassini Probe has brought together this should be news worth hearing. The Cassini Mission has been extended another 7 years. Even if we learn nothing more in the next 7, its already there, and the cost of extension is easier to swallow than sending a new mission. Even though the Brits are backing out of the effort, we have a co operative mission here with other space agencies. So much has been learned, I am sure there is still plenty more to be learned. 


Hey Marvin, have you been paying attention to this?


This page is full of dates and explanations. I got this wonderful image there too (thank you)


Arriving at the Saturn System in 2004 this mission has given us some of the best high resolution images of the Planet, the Ring System and the many moons orbiting this gas giant. When August of 2009 came and the probe was still in perfect operating condition, it would seem silly to just scrap the mission with the Equinox coming on. This event occurs just once every 15 Earth years. So dubbed "Cassini- Hugens" this mission is now on part 2 the Cassini Equinox mission and continued to bring facts, figures and information. 
Brief recap of the mission so far:
Hugens, the lander, landed on the large moon Titan, new moons have been discovered, Enceladus found to have giant geysers, leading scientists to think this icey moon may have liquid water beneath the surface, found the moons cast giant shadows on the ring plane (this is surmised to only occur during Equinox); the list goes on and on. 

Well you say what does this actually do for me? Well, not a darn thing, but it does fill the curious mind with more knowledge, facts and possibly a new category in Trivial Pursuit. The way I am seeing this, it keeps a co-op between nations here on Earth, can only mean an advance in technology, and will provide plenty of the "did you know" questions for future generations. Keeps the scientists busy with peaceful studies and well its just real interesting to learn about other worlds.

Questions to be answered:
Why is it the Planets beyond the asteroid belt all have rings? are gas worlds (except for the moons), and what about Pluto: the only terrestrial body to be orbiting the sun beyond the belt of asteroids. 
Might this also bring some attention to the asteroid belt?

And just like a space mission, I have raised way more questions than answers.... you have to like me for that :)

How important are you?

 Just a Globular Cluster, do you feel insignificant now?

More Moons

What a collection of images. Cassini hard at work and taking some wonderful pics, including some moving. In the link provided this image can be seen, there are actually 4 moons shown in the image. Rhea, Mimas, Janas and Pandora.

Save the Shuttle

Now one does have to wonder, "what if?" Seeing this article makes me think. I am a bit puzzled here. The idea is to scrub an entire fleet of operational Space Shuttles to replace them with one operational unit known as Ares. Now mind you the Ares will be returned to Earth with all life depending on an operational parachute. I am quite surprised it never happened on an Apollo mission, fortunate I would say. Parachutes being man made objects, you will have failures from time to time. Novel idea here, launch the space craft and upon return to earth, have a shuttle waiting astronauts board the shuttle and land on earth, leaving the old spacecraft, Ares, to orbit and be used on the next mission already in orbit. Use the shuttle again to have the ship serviced in orbit loaded and off she goes, why doesn't NASA think about these things? Seems it would save money too. 

Ares I-X

Progress:  Ares I-X transport vehicle on the launch pad set for the first test launch on October 27. Much of the new rocket is original, some parts are taken from past rocket blue prints. Read more here 
I was a big sci-fi fan in my youth, I sat awestruck witnessing the Apollo missions, I get excited about the new stuff NASA has for the future of Space Exploration.  

Spirit

Remember the Mars Rovers? A nice little shot of Spirit as it ventures along, gathering information, answering some questions, and creating new ones.

More Rover stuff

Opportunity takes a look at a rock, a meteorite maybe, what ever it is , it is on Mars.

email

Luna

Topography of the south polar area of Luna.
So anyway this is about 75000 square miles, I imaging you would use this sort of information to set a landing area. I do see several areas here that would be good. I see several on the center left of the shot, another great one would be about center of the image. I guess they had to do this sort of mapping with far inferior equipment back in the late 60's for the Apollo Missions.

Speaking of Apollo Missions; July 20 (mark your calendar please) will mark the day Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the surface of Luna, 40 years ago. Was listening to one whacked out conspiracy theorist on the radio saying it was all a hoax. He said take off > orbit > splash down were real but man never actually walked on the Moon. I have seen photos of rocks that don't look like anything you find on Earth, the Earth rising photos, and far to much documented proof of such mission. Second, there are far too many people involved in this program to keep them all quiet; wouldn't have someone in the know have come forward by now? Especially if you think conspiracy means there is potentially allot of money involved. Back in 1969 100k would have seemed like plenty of money to buy someone off, now days 100k is like nothing to a pirate. (conspiracy come from pirate)
Heck I'd take the money and then write a book about the whole deal, plenty of people would read and likely believe it.

2am

well can't sleep again, so I sit up late night blogging. One thought I had a while back, if apples are indigenous to the north American continent, doesn't this make the Genesis story a myth or symbolic.... unless there has been some translation mistake? Forbidden Fruit ie Forbidden Apple? As the Bible was written by men, in the Middle East, was god created by man? Or is god a being? a presence, or "the force"? Maybe George Lucas is on to something here. To say as a Christian that Buddha is not the truth, do I also say Christianity is false also? As was said once, who's right if everybody's wrong? I'm figuring if we are all "star stuff" is the universe god? I really wouldn't be surprised to meet Zeus on my day of dying.

Global Warming, the facts

Report indicates solar cycle has been impacting Earth since the Industrial Revolution

Some researchers believe that the solar cycle influences global climate changes. They attribute recent warming trends to cyclic variation. Skeptics, though, argue that there's little hard evidence of a solar hand in recent climate changes.

Now, a new research report from a surprising source may help to lay this skepticism to rest. A study from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland looking at climate data over the past century has concluded that solar variation has made a significant impact on the Earth's climate. The report concludes that evidence for climate changes based on solar radiation can be traced back as far as the Industrial Revolution.

Finally someone that agrees with me. Al Gore, go away

Titan

another planet

do you know the solar system?

Tethys

Cassini like a tourist takes lots of pictures. This one is Tethys. The giant crater called Odysseus is in the north polar region. Sounds strange to refer to the north and south as polar regions, as this infers cold, the entire moon is ice. For more information on this moon, x

Were no man has been, well almost (Phoenix)

I thought the Spirit Mars Rover was stuck in some soft soil, apparently either they were able to find some solid ground or it doesn't really matter. This is a shot of the mound informally known as 'Von Braun'. The rover is on its way there for the usual investigative work it was sent to Mars for.

Now here's some cheese for thought; How long is a Sol in Earth time? and wouldn't time be different on Mars, as minutes and seconds are based on the size of the Earth, its rotation and speed? On Earth a day is 24.25 hours. A Sol in Earth measures is 24 hours 39 minutes 35.244 seconds. Time itself would be universal, but the units would be different based on the planet you are on. Thinking about that brings to light, how would you measure a Lunar day? And say you were born on Mars; the year is longer since it takes longer to orbit the Sun, so your life expectancy on Mars would be a smaller number but not any shorter than it is on Earth. If interplanetary/galactic exploration is to continue would it be wise to have a "non-Earth based time measure?
I do suggest reading this for more information, but as it is Wikopedia leave room for false information. It is a very interesting read.

who has morals?

If animals don't have souls or morals how do they live in a harmonious group?
My blogger or cyber friend found this and I do think it to be worth a read by all.
One could say it is self-preservation but does that not define "right vs wrong"?