Astronomy Today – 21
Astronomy today is a serious science as well as a hobby enjoyed by many people. With old and new discoveries, space missions, current events, videos and photos, astronomy is a hobby that can fill countless hours. And it’s fun. So here are a few of the latest and greatest astronomy facts, figures and happenings.
Astronomy today on any given day might have news of meteors. As 2008 came to an end meteors certainly were in the news. Meteor swarms such as the Taurids in Leonids were quite active in November. Into was a full moon in December washing out the Gemenids. Don’t fret. Whereas the peak only happens for a short time meteor showers continue for as much as two weeks before and two weeks after the peak. People won’t miss these showers.
Astronomy today in 2008 was often a matter of discussing a return to the moon by 2015. The talk is of this as a world wide effort rather something any one country or agency would endeavor to accomplish. It may even result in a moon colony. Hard to believe. Minus the aliens and hopefully the moon set adrift by an explosion, the TV series “Space 1999†could soon become a reality only 16 years too late.
Space garbage, a used up tank, was often discussed when people talked about astronomy today. Its long orbit had finally decayed to the point it would fall to Earth. There was some worry that large chunks would fall, or that some parts would strike in populated areas. But it broke up into very small pieces which mostly fell into the ocean near Australia.
The good old Hubble telescope made the biggest impact in astronomy today. First the telescope was damaged when some instrument control and data formatting modules failed in September. Those were brought back on line in October. After recovery, Hubble snapped the first visible light pictures of a planet orbiting a distance sun. Talk about a hard year’s work.
Astrology today is an ever expanding subject. Keep up with everything on the Internet.
