StarBaseOC

Grail A and Grail B on Moon's orbit insertion

2011-12-31T05:56:00.000-08:00

PASADENA, Calif. – NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL)-A spacecraft is within 24 hours of its insertion burn that will place it into lunar orbit. At the time the spacecraft crossed the milestone at 1:21 p.m. PST today (4:21 p.m. EST), the spacecraft was 30,758 miles (49,500 kilometers) from the moon.

Launched aboard the same rocket on Sept. 10, 2011, GRAIL-A's mirror twin, GRAIL-B, is also closing the gap between itself and the moon. GRAIL-B is scheduled to perform its lunar orbit insertion burn on New Year's Day (Jan. 1) at 2:05 p.m. PST (5:05 p.m. EST).

As they close in on the moon, both orbiters move toward the moon from the south, flying nearly directly over the lunar south pole. The lunar orbit insertion burn for GRAIL-A will take approximately 40 minutes to complete and change the spacecraft's velocity by about 427 mph (687 kph). GRAIL-B's insertion burn – occurring 25 hours later -- will last about 39 minutes and is expected to change its velocity by 430 mph (692 kph).

The insertion maneuvers will place each orbiter into a near-polar, elliptical orbit with an orbital period of 11.5 hours. Over the following weeks, the GRAIL team will execute a series of burns with each spacecraft to reduce their period down to just under two hours. At the start of the science phase in March 2012, the two GRAILs will be in a near-polar, near-circular orbit with an altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers).

During the science phase, the moon will rotate three times underneath the GRAIL orbit. The collection of gravity data over one complete rotation (27.3 days) is referred to as a Mapping Cycle. When science collection begins, the spacecraft will transmit radio signals precisely defining the distance between them as they orbit the moon in formation. Regional gravitational differences on the moon are expected to expand and contract that distance. GRAIL scientists will use these accurate measurements to define the moon's gravity field. The data will allow mission scientists to understand what goes on below the surface of our natural satellite. This information will help us learn more about how the moon, Earth and other terrestrial planets formed.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the GRAIL mission. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, is home to the mission's principal investigator, Maria Zuber. The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

More information about GRAIL is online at: http://www.nasa.gov/grail and http://grail.nasa.gov .

The GRAIL press kit can be found online at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_kits/graiLaunch.pdf .

Comet Lovejoy

2011-12-29T07:50:00.003-08:00

Comet Lovejoy above the Andes from Stéphane Guisard on Vimeo.

The Grails A & B will arrive and enter Moon's orbit on New Years

2011-12-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

The Twin will Grails will arrive to Lunar Orbit this New Years Weekend.

Grail-A and Grail-B won't be ready to start their science campaign immediately upon arriving at the moon. Rather, they'll spend another two months circling lower and lower, eventually settling into orbits just 34 miles (55 kilometers) above the lunar surface, researchers said.

The twin probes will begin taking measurements in March. They'll chase each other around the moon for 82 days, staying 75 to 225 miles (121 to 362 km) apart.

HT Space.com

Winter Solstice And why we have cold winter weather

2011-12-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

For those of us in the north, the days may begin to grow longer, but the coldest days are still to come. This is because ocean temperatures drive much of the weather on the continents, and they continue to cool in the relative lack of sunlight this time of year.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/12/22/why-winter-solstice-arrives-this-week/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fscitech+%28Internal+-+SciTech+-+Mixed%29#ixzz1hGrgBda5

Re-post: Genesis and Apollo 8

2011-12-22T05:19:00.001-08:00

Happy Winter Soltace!

2011-12-21T13:07:00.000-08:00

U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department

Sun and Moon Data for One Day

The following information is provided for Fullerton, Orange County, California (longitude W117.9, latitude N33.9):

Wednesday
        21 December 2011      Pacific Standard Time          

                         SUN
        Begin civil twilight       6:25 a.m.                 
        Sunrise                    6:53 a.m.                 
        Sun transit               11:50 a.m.                 
        Sunset                     4:47 p.m.                 
        End civil twilight         5:15 p.m.                 

                         MOON
        Moonset                    1:20 p.m. on preceding day
        Moonrise                   3:34 a.m.                 
        Moon transit               8:53 a.m.                 
        Moonset                    2:08 p.m.                 
        Moonrise                   4:43 a.m. on following day

Phase of the Moon on 21 December: waning crescent with 11% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
New Moon on 24 December 2011 at 10:07 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The Star of Bethlehem

2011-12-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

Story found here at Accuweather

Star Trek One Trek Mind #6: 'Twas the Night...

2011-12-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

Star Trek One Trek Mind #6: 'Twas the Night...

A Visit From St. Neelix (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)

'Twas the night before Christmas when all near the wormhole
Not a creature was stirring, not even a Cardassian Vole;
The gravity boots were hung by the replicator with care,
In hopes that St. Neelix soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their biobeds,
While visions of moba fruit danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long aphelion orbit's nap,

Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 - BBC One

2011-12-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

MEN IN BLACK 3 - Official Trailer - In Theaters 5/25/12

2011-12-12T05:35:00.000-08:00

Pad Abord 1

2011-12-09T05:16:00.001-08:00

Pad Abort 1 from NASA Orion Spacecraft on Vimeo.

SNL "Enterprise's Last Voyage"

2011-12-05T19:50:00.001-08:00

MCI Commercial with Leonard Nimoy, TOS Cast and Jonathan Frakes

2011-12-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Doctor Who Jam

2011-12-03T06:17:00.001-08:00

NASA Ready for November Launch of Car-Size Mars Rover - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2011-11-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

NASA Ready for November Launch of Car-Size Mars Rover - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Climate change is natural: 100 reasons why

2011-10-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Climate change is natural: 100 reasons why

89) It is a myth that CO2 is a pollutant, because nitrogen forms 80% of our atmosphere and human beings could not live in 100% nitrogen either: CO2 is no more a pollutant than nitrogen is and CO2 is essential to life.

Cult of Global Warming Is Losing Influence

2011-10-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

Cult of Global Warming Is Losing Influence

ROSAT Come on down!

2011-10-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T09:07:00.001-07:00

UARS we will miss you!

2011-09-24T09:14:00.001-07:00

Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Star Trek 45 years old!

2011-09-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Grail goes to the Moon this week

2011-09-05T06:17:00.005-07:00

Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Cause of Russian Rocket problem

2011-08-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Preliminary answers to Progress problems

30/08/201112:57

Juno Launch

2011-08-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

World Quidditch Cup V

2011-08-07T07:06:00.001-07:00

Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Boeing selects Atlas 5 rocket for initial CST-100 test flights

2011-08-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Boeing selects Atlas 5 rocket for initial CST-100 test flights Fingers Crossed!

Juno Probe Heads to Launch Pad | AVIATION WEEK

2011-07-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

Juno Probe Heads to Launch Pad | AVIATION WEEK

Office of the Governor Rick Perry - [Press Release] Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Final Landing of Shuttle Atlantis

2011-07-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

Office of the Governor Rick Perry - [Press Release] Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Final Landing of Shuttle Atlantis

Gov. Rick Perry issued the following statement on the final landing of NASA's Shuttle Atlantis:

"Forty-two years ago yesterday, America captured the world's imagination by putting a man on the moon, highlighting an era of excellence in space exploration. Unfortunately, with the final landing of the Shuttle Atlantis and no indication of plans for future missions, this administration has set a significantly different milestone by shutting down our nation's legacy of leadership in human spaceflight and exploration, leaving American astronauts with no alternative but to hitchhike into space.

Walter on the Moon walk

2011-07-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Flight day 13

2011-07-20T22:14:00.001-07:00

Flight Day 12

2011-07-20T22:08:00.001-07:00

Flight day 11

2011-07-20T22:02:00.001-07:00

Flight Day 10

2011-07-20T21:54:00.001-07:00

Flight Day 9

2011-07-20T21:51:00.001-07:00

Flight Day 8

2011-07-20T21:42:00.005-07:00

Flight Day 6 recap

2011-07-14T06:11:00.001-07:00

Flight day 5 recap

2011-07-14T05:55:00.001-07:00

Flight Day 4 recap

2011-07-14T05:51:00.001-07:00

Flight Day Three

2011-07-11T06:34:00.001-07:00

Flight day 2 recap

2011-07-10T06:34:00.001-07:00

An Era ends and what will we do now?

2011-07-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

Today was a sad day in an Era of Space travel ends. The Last Shuttle launch and into retirement. The United States does not have a space vehicle to replace the shuttle. The Constellation would not be ready until 2015 (but is not funded!)The "Orion Lite" that the current Administration proposes is just a rescue vehicle on the ISS. So NASA is left with the Russian program to transport our Astronauts to and from the ISS. Space X and other private compaines are not ready for Human Flight but are getting there. But when?

And it comes down to what we were doing for 30 years? LEO. Did we explore? Yes, we did explore with probes to the far planets and rovers on Mars. But Man has been stuck in Lower Earth Orbit for a long time. We need to come back with a vision that will lead to a plan of exploring the unknown. Our future depends on it.

Dan Radcliffe sings "Elements!"

2011-07-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Planes may increase snowfall at times

2011-07-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

Planes may increase snowfall at times

Some jets and propeller planes flying through certain kinds of clouds can seed ice crystals and create additional snowfall, scientists find.

Final Shuttle Mission Set for July 8th

2011-07-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

Spaceflight Now | STS-135 Shuttle Report | NASA formally sets July 8 for final space shuttle launch

Atlantis will deliver a year's worth of provisions to proactively stock the shelves of the International Space Station while NASA awaits commercial firms SpaceX and Orbital Sciences to begin routinely servicing the outpost with resupply missions.

"This flight is incredibly important to space station. The cargo that is coming up on this flight is really mandatory for the space station," Gerstenmaier said.

Minotaur I Launch

2011-06-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

A Minotaur rocket roared into orbit from the Virginia coast Wednesday night, successfully deploying a small spacecraft to make the benefits of satellite technology more accessible to deployed U.S. military forces in Afghanistan and other war zones in the Middle East.

From Spaceflightnow here.

Asteroid streaks by earth

2011-06-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

From Space.com here.

Iranian test Monkey

2011-06-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

I wonder what Alan B Shepard would think?

Iran says it plans to send a monkey into space next month as the next step in a space program that Western leaders worry could also bring major advances in Iran's missile arsenal.
The state-run news agency IRNA quotes the head of Iran's space agency as saying Monday that five monkeys are undergoing tests and one will be selected for the flight on a Kavoshgar-5 — or Explorer-5 — rocket.

Lunar Eclipse 6/15/2011

2011-06-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

Gemini 4 46 year Anniversary

2011-05-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

NASA- NSSDC link here.

Space Walk page here.

Column: Is Obama grounding JFK's space legacy? - USATODAY.com

2011-05-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Column: Is Obama grounding JFK's space legacy? - USATODAY.com

Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look: NASA

2011-05-20T20:41:00.001-07:00

Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look: NASA

2011-05-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look: NASA

NOAA hurricane outlook indicates an above-normal Atlantic season

2011-05-20T04:47:00.000-07:00

NOAA hurricane outlook indicates an above-normal Atlantic season

NLRB Comes to Big Labor's Defense | The Foundry

2011-05-19T08:46:00.001-07:00

NLRB Comes to Big Labor's Defense | The Foundry

Western snow pack is well above normal, Squaw Valley sets new all time snow record | Watts Up With That?

2011-05-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Western snow pack is well above normal, Squaw Valley sets new all time snow record | Watts Up With That?

Alan B. Shepard gets a piece of a Moon Rock!

2011-04-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

NASA HONORS PIONEER ASTRONAUT ALAN SHEPARD WITH MOON ROCK
Published 04/20/2011 - 9:11 a.m. CST
WASHINGTON -- NASA will posthumously honor Alan B. Shepard Jr., the first American astronaut in space who later walked on the moon, with an Ambassador of Exploration Award for his contributions to the U.S. space program.

Shepard's family members will accept the award on his behalf during a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 28, at the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, located at 74 Greenbury Point Road in Annapolis, Md. His family will present the award to the museum for permanent display. NASA's Chief Historian Bill Barry will represent the agency at the event, which will include a video message from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

Shepard, a 1945 graduate of the Naval Academy, was one of NASA's original seven Mercury astronauts selected in April 1959. On May 5, 1961, he was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft on a suborbital flight that carried him to an altitude of 116 miles.

Shepard made his second spaceflight as the commander of Apollo 14 from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, 1971. He was accompanied on the third lunar landing by astronauts Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell. Maneuvering the lunar module "Antares" to a landing in the hilly upland Fra Mauro region of the moon, Shepard and Mitchell deployed and activated a number of scientific instruments and collected almost 100 pounds of lunar samples for return to Earth.

NASA is giving the Ambassador of Exploration Award to the first generation of explorers in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs for realizing America's goal of going to the moon. The award is a moon rock encased in Lucite, mounted for public display.

The rock is part of the 842 pounds of lunar samples collected during six Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972. The astronauts or family members receiving the award present it to a museum of their choice, where the moon rock is placed on public display.

From Cypress Times here.

First Orbit Trailer

2011-04-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

STS-1 4/12/1981

2011-04-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Yuri's Night 4/12/2011

2011-04-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yuri wiki here

It is the 50th anniversary of Men and Women in space and 30 anniversary of the Space Shuttle in Space. To quote a dear friend who passed away just today, "Space is the place for the new human race!" Rest in Peace JGM!

AccuWeather.com - Weather News | 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be Active, Have more US Landfalls

2011-03-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

AccuWeather.com - Weather News | 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be Active, Have more US Landfalls

NASA To Make Last Effort To Communicate With Mars Rover ‘Spirit’ « CBS Los Angeles

2011-03-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

NASA To Make Last Effort To Communicate With Mars Rover ‘Spirit’ « CBS Los Angeles

MESSENGER: MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging

2011-03-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

MESSENGER: MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging

Astronomy Picture of the Day

2011-03-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Astronomy Picture of the Day All discovered stars and planets by Kepler probe.

'Star Trek Live' coming to UCM stage April 1-2 | digitalBURG.com

2011-03-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

'Star Trek Live' coming to UCM stage April 1-2 | digitalBURG.com

Comets & Asteroids, Stardust Mission | NASA's Stardust Comet Spacecraft Ends 12-Year Mission | Comet Photos, NASA Stardust Spacecraft | Space.com

2011-03-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

Comets & Asteroids, Stardust Mission | NASA's Stardust Comet Spacecraft Ends 12-Year Mission | Comet Photos, NASA Stardust Spacecraft | Space.com

earthhour.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2011-03-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

earthhour.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Please remember to leave all your lights on tonight from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. Technology is good! Humans need electricity! Think about washing your clothes by hand.(No washing machine) And then hanging them up to air dry. (No dryer) How about your dinner being cooked on an open fire? (No electric stove/oven) And then drying your left over meat. (no refrigerator) Get the point. Without electricity Humans would go back to the cave man days.

Happy Birthday Spock!

2011-03-26T14:32:00.001-07:00

Happy BDay JT Kirk!

2011-03-22T08:46:00.001-07:00

Cosmonaut Crashed Into Earth 'Crying In Rage' : Krulwich Wonders… : NPR

2011-03-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

Cosmonaut Crashed Into Earth 'Crying In Rage' : Krulwich Wonders… : NPR

Ireland : Image of the Day

2011-03-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

Ireland : Image of the Day

The Flame Trench: Work resumes at shuttle launch pad

2011-03-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Flame Trench: Work resumes at shuttle launch pad: "Kennedy Space Center teams have resumed work at launch pad 39A to prepare Endeavour for an April 19 flight, a day after colleague died ..."

Worker falls to his death at Kennedy Space Center, NASA says - CNN.com

2011-03-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

Worker falls to his death at Kennedy Space Center, NASA says - CNN.com

U.S. West Coast in Path of Fallout

2011-03-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

U.S. West Coast in Path of Fallout

YouTube - Goodbyes Shared as Shuttle Crew Leaves ISS

2011-03-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Goodbyes Shared as Shuttle Crew Leaves ISS

These are the Voyages of the Space Ship Discovery....

2011-03-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

Boeing X-37 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2011-03-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Boeing X-37 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here is the wiki on the X-37B.

Atlas V liftoff (full) | Video Library | FLORIDA TODAY

2011-03-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

Atlas V liftoff (full) | Video Library | FLORIDA TODAY

Atlas V X-37B OTV Cape launch set for March 4

2011-03-03T08:58:00.000-08:00

Atlas V X-37B OTV Cape launch set for March 4

Crop Circles 2010

2011-03-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

Science and Politics from The Conservative Dispatch

2011-02-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

The issue of Human activity causing Global Warming:

It’s impossible to do experiments to validate that human activity is causing global warming. You can’t experiment on the climate. Instead scientists look at measurements and try and develop models that can predict what’s going on. If scientists could develop models and prove that those models were capable of accurately predicting future climate then that would be an experiment.

If a computer model predicts climate for the next 40 years and after 40 years it turns out to be correct you have good reason to believe that it will accurately predict the climate. Of course we haven’t had time for that sort of validation. Therefore scientists look to see if models can model what happened in the past without essentially building the past results into their model.

Interestingly enough scientists haven’t been able to accurately model the climate in the past or predict the future climate. Climate models didn’t predict the current global cooling phase they’ve now declared is occurring until after it started.

There is a difference between climate and weather but a 10 year cooling period is climate. That none of the models that supposedly show that mankind is causing global warming predicted that 10 year event before it started makes it pretty clear that those models aren’t accurate. Hopefully that will improve but until it does it’s irrelevant if “most” scientists believe that mankind is causing global warming. Just as it would be irrelevant if “most” scientists believed that the Mets were going to win the next World Series.

The Flame Trench: LIFTOFF! DISCOVERY HEADS TO ISS.

2011-02-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

The Flame Trench: LIFTOFF! DISCOVERY HEADS TO ISS.: "Space Shuttle Discovery Launch"

Joe Bastardi no longer at Accuweather!

2011-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

I'm bummed that Joe is no longer at Accuweather! He resigned yesterday and all his videos on Accuweather are gone. Good bye and Good Luck. Hope to hear from you soon!

Story at Watts here.

Spaceflight Now | Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center

2011-02-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

Spaceflight Now | Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center

Friendship 7

2011-02-20T06:57:00.001-08:00

Godspeed, John Glenn!

2011-02-20T06:52:00.001-08:00

John Glenn orbits the Earth 49 years this day.

Death Valley Mystery stones

2011-02-18T20:20:00.001-08:00

NASA / Space Shuttle "and for other purposes" Part 3

2011-01-31T06:13:00.001-08:00

NASA / Space Shuttle... "and for other purposes" part 2

2011-01-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

NASA / Space Shuttle... "and for other purposes" part 1

2011-01-31T06:10:00.000-08:00

Challenger Memorial Ceremony

2011-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

Challenger 25 years ago

2011-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Here is what I posted 5 years ago on the 20th.

Here is the Challenger STS 51L Accident History site by NASA.

The Space Shuttle Challenger Accident page (Davinder Mahal)here.

Apollo 1 Fire 44 years ago

2011-01-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

Picture gallery from Space.com here.

There are three parks in the city of Fullerton named after the three Astronauts that died in the fire, Edward H. White II, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, and Roger B. Chaffee.

Apollo 1 Memorial site here.

NASA Apollo photo site here.

My post from five years ago here.

My post the same day about Gus Grissom here.

NASA Day of Remembrance

2011-01-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

NASA Link here.

The New Atlantis » In Search of a Conservative Space Policy

2011-01-22T06:16:00.000-08:00

The New Atlantis » In Search of a Conservative Space Policy

JAXA H2-B Launch

2011-01-22T06:01:00.000-08:00

From JAXA Mission site here.

OC Science article on Delta IV Heavy Launch

2011-01-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

Here is the OC Science article on the Delta IV Heavy Launch.

Launch seen from OC Register in Santa Ana, CA.

Largest-Ever Rocket, With Secret Payload, Launched On West Coast « CBS Los Angeles

2011-01-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

Largest-Ever Rocket, With Secret Payload, Launched On West Coast « CBS Los Angeles

Great report from Ch. 9 News.

USGS records and documents wildlife die offs

2011-01-11T11:13:00.000-08:00

From the USGS web site here:

In 2010, the USGS NWHC documented eight die-off events of 1,000 or more birds. The causes: starvation, avian cholera, Newcastle disease and parasites, according to Sleeman. Such records show that, while the causes of death may vary, events like the red-winged blackbird die-off in Beebe, Ark., and the smaller one near Baton Rouge, La., are more common than people may realize.

And Sleeman should know – he directs a staff of scientists whose primary purpose is to investigate the nation's wildlife diseases from avian influenza to plague and white-nose syndrome in bats.

"The USGS NWHC provides information, technical assistance, research, education, and leadership on national and international wildlife health issues," Sleeman added.

(HT from Beyond the Black)

Good article on all the fish and bird kills

2011-01-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

Thousands of dead turtle doves rained down on roofs and cars in an Italian town in the latest in a growing spate of mass animal deaths across the globe.

Residents in Faenza described the birds falling to the ground like 'little Christmas balls' with strange blue stains on their beaks.

Initial tests on up to 8,000 of the doves indicated that the blue stain could have been caused by poisoning or hypoxia.

Hypoxia, a lack of oxygen, is known to cause confusion and illness in animals. It is also a common precursor to altitude sickness.

Experts said results from tests on the doves will not be available for at least a week.

They said that cold weather could have caused the birds' deaths as the flock was swept into a high-altitude wind storm before falling to the earth.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344913/Animal-death-mystery-Two-MILLION-dead-fish-wash-Maryland-bay.html#ixzz1ASRNd0SE

RIP Altaira

2011-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

Now Ann Francis has passed away. Rest in peace Altaira.

StarBaseOC

Grail A and Grail B on Moon's orbit insertion

Comet Lovejoy

The Grails A & B will arrive and enter Moon's orbit on New Years

Winter Solstice And why we have cold winter weather

Re-post: Genesis and Apollo 8

Happy Winter Soltace!

U.S. Naval ObservatoryAstronomical Applications Department

Sun and Moon Data for One Day

The Star of Bethlehem

Star Trek One Trek Mind #6: 'Twas the Night...

Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 - BBC One

MEN IN BLACK 3 - Official Trailer - In Theaters 5/25/12

Pad Abord 1

SNL "Enterprise's Last Voyage"

MCI Commercial with Leonard Nimoy, TOS Cast and Jonathan Frakes

Doctor Who Jam

NASA Ready for November Launch of Car-Size Mars Rover - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Climate change is natural: 100 reasons why

Cult of Global Warming Is Losing Influence

ROSAT Come on down!

RIP Steve Jobs

UARS we will miss you!

Star Trek 45 years old!

Grail goes to the Moon this week

Cause of Russian Rocket problem

Juno Launch

World Quidditch Cup V

Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Boeing selects Atlas 5 rocket for initial CST-100 test flights

Juno Probe Heads to Launch Pad | AVIATION WEEK

Office of the Governor Rick Perry - [Press Release] Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Final Landing of Shuttle Atlantis

Walter on the Moon walk

Flight day 13

Flight Day 12

Flight day 11

Flight Day 10

Flight Day 9

Flight Day 8

Flight Day 6 recap

Flight day 5 recap

Flight Day 4 recap

Flight Day Three

Flight day 2 recap

An Era ends and what will we do now?

Dan Radcliffe sings "Elements!"

Planes may increase snowfall at times

Final Shuttle Mission Set for July 8th

Minotaur I Launch

Asteroid streaks by earth

Iranian test Monkey

Lunar Eclipse 6/15/2011

Gemini 4 46 year Anniversary

Column: Is Obama grounding JFK's space legacy? - USATODAY.com

Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look: NASA

Damaged shuttle tile to get closer look: NASA

NOAA hurricane outlook indicates an above-normal Atlantic season

NLRB Comes to Big Labor's Defense | The Foundry

Western snow pack is well above normal, Squaw Valley sets new all time snow record | Watts Up With That?

Alan B. Shepard gets a piece of a Moon Rock!

First Orbit Trailer

STS-1 4/12/1981

Yuri's Night 4/12/2011

AccuWeather.com - Weather News | 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be Active, Have more US Landfalls

NASA To Make Last Effort To Communicate With Mars Rover ‘Spirit’ « CBS Los Angeles

MESSENGER: MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging

Astronomy Picture of the Day

'Star Trek Live' coming to UCM stage April 1-2 | digitalBURG.com

Comets & Asteroids, Stardust Mission | NASA's Stardust Comet Spacecraft Ends 12-Year Mission | Comet Photos, NASA Stardust Spacecraft | Space.com

earthhour.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Happy Birthday Spock!

Happy BDay JT Kirk!

Cosmonaut Crashed Into Earth 'Crying In Rage' : Krulwich Wonders… : NPR

Ireland : Image of the Day

The Flame Trench: Work resumes at shuttle launch pad

Worker falls to his death at Kennedy Space Center, NASA says - CNN.com

U.S. West Coast in Path of Fallout

YouTube - Goodbyes Shared as Shuttle Crew Leaves ISS

These are the Voyages of the Space Ship Discovery....

Boeing X-37 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atlas V liftoff (full) | Video Library | FLORIDA TODAY

U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department