Sky & Telescope's Weekly Bulletin - May 12

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SKY & TELESCOPE'S WEEKLY BULLETIN - May 12, 2006
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Welcome to SKY & TELESCOPE's Weekly Bulletin. Images, the full stories
abridged here, and other enhancements are on our Web site at
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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
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Jupiter's New Red Spot

Last April two teams of astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to
obtain our sharpest views of Jupiter's long-lasting, Earth-size storm:
"Red Spot Jr." Also known as Oval BA, in February the storm stunned
observers by suddenly and mysteriously changing color from white to
orange-red. The oval is now nearly identical in hue to the planet's
famous Great Red Spot (GRS). . . .

Joining the project as co-investigator is Christopher Go, an
accomplished amateur planetary imager from Cebu, Philippines, and a
member of the Astronomical League of the Philippines. It was Go who
discovered the color change last February 24th. . . .

http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1724_1.asp

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Mars Rovers Hunker Down for Winter

The longevity of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and
Opportunity, is becoming the stuff of legend. Mission scientists had
hoped that the wheeled robots would each last 90 sols (Martian days) on
the surface and perhaps drive as far as 600 meters (2,000 feet). As of
early May, both rovers had passed the 800-sol mark; Spirit had traveled
6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles) and Opportunity 7.5 km. Combined, the twin
craft have shot more than 150,000 images and analyzed many dozens of
rocks. Most importantly, the rovers, reporting from opposite sides of
the planet, have confirmed suspicions that ancient Mars was indeed wet.


The rovers are showing their age, however. . . .

http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1725_1.asp

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OBSERVING - SKY AT A GLANCE
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May 12 - 20

The double comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is passing Earth this week,
just 6 million miles away. Moonlight in the sky will affect the view,
but to a lesser and lesser degree: the Moon is full on Friday night,
May 12th, and wanes to last quarter by the 20th.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing...icle_110_1.asp

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OBSERVING - THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
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BRIGHTENING DOUBLE COMET

It's nearly at its closest now. Read what the comet has been doing, use
charts to find it with your binoculars or telescope, and see
breathtaking images that both professional and amateur astronomers are
shooting.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/

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SHOP AT SKY (Advertisement)
===========================

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Stuart Goldman
Associate Editor http://SkyandTelescope.com
Night Sky Magazine http://NightSkyMag.com
49 Bay State Rd.
Cambridge, MA 02138

In article .com, SJG
wrote:

Also known as Oval BA, in February the storm stunned
observers by suddenly and mysteriously changing color from white to
orange-red.

If observers are going to be "stunned" every time something happens or
changes on Jupiter, they should consider choosing a new observing
target before they suffer permanent brain damage.

--
Joe Bergeron

http://www.joebergeron.com

wrote on behalf of Sky & Telescope:

Also known as Oval BA, in February the storm stunned
observers by suddenly and mysteriously changing color from white to
orange-red.

Joe Bergeron:
If observers are going to be "stunned" every time something happens or
changes on Jupiter, they should consider choosing a new observing
target before they suffer permanent brain damage.

I beg to nitpick.

Firstly, I think that a little bit of hyperbole is not a big thing in
this instance.

Secondly, I think that "stunned" in the context in which Mr. Goldman
used the term is meant as a positive emotion. Pleasantly surprised,
delighted, pleased, appealing to healthy curiosity, etc.

It's not the "stunned" that comes from learning that one's spouse has
killed and eaten the children, e.g., or that Dubya has been re-elected.

Mr. Goldman's "stunned" is thought by researchers to be quite healthy
for the brain; there is evidence that maintaining one's sense of
curiosity and continuing to learn new things into old age -- sometimes
quite extreme old age -- keeps the mind young and agile. Like my 94
year-old friend whose short and long-term memory are as perfect as can
be, and whose knowledge and understanding of current events, etc. are
as good as anyone else's without regard to age.

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com