February, 2003

Wednesday, February 26th, 2003

NASA Starts Countdown To Mars Mission

Astronomers have started a countdown to the launch of two robotic buggies on a mission to find out if there is, or ever was, life on Mars. Find out more at CNN.com/SPACE.

Tuesday, February 25th, 2003

The Coldest Spot In The Universe

Revealed in all it's glory in this Hubble Space Telescope image, the Boomerang Nebula registers in at a bone chilling -458F. That's 1° above absolute zero... the point at which atomic activity ceases. Find out more at CNN.com/SPACE.

Monday, February 24th, 2003

NASA Solves Half-Century Old Moon Mystery

In the early morning hours of Nov. 15, 1953, an amateur astronomer in Oklahoma photographed what he believed to be a massive, white-hot fireball of vaporized rock rising from the center of the moon's face. If his theory was right, Dr. Leon Stuart would be the first and only human in history to witness and document the impact of an asteroid-sized body impacting the moon's scarred exterior. See Spaceflightnow.com's article for the complete story.

Friday, February 21st, 2003

Noctilucent Clouds

Astronauts aboard the orbiting International Space Station have imaged strange, electric-blue clouds at the very edge of space. While no one is exactly sure what causes them, they are beautiful.
Checkout SPACE.com for more info  

Wednesday, February 19th, 2003

The Big Debate

In light of the recent space shuttle disaster which claimed the lives of seven astronauts, a debate is raging as to whether we should be sending astronauts or robonauts into space.
Checkout CNN.com/SPACE for more info  

Friday, February 14th, 2003

Salt Lake City Kids Concerned about Light Pollution

Two Salt Lake City kids have voiced their concerns about irresponsible lighting, Light Pollution, and its affect on the Earth.  Read their articulate letter in the Salt Lake Tribune Public Forum. 

Sunday, February 9th, 2003

Sundogs on a Cold Park City Morning

Taken with a 35mm camera and a 28mm wide angle lens, this beautful phenomenon is known as sundogs.  Caused by sunlight refracted by ice crystals floating in the air, this beautiful sight greeted Park City on the morning of February 7th, 2003.

Sunday, February 16th, 2003

Aurora Watch

Earth remains inside of a strong solar wind. Keep an eye on the northern horizon for auroral activity. 
Checkout Spaceweather.com for more info  

Inner Solar System Asteroid Discovered

Astronomers announced the discovery of an asteroid that circles the Sun entirely within the Earth's orbit. Do others inhabit this hard to explore region?
Checkout Space.com for more info  

Saturday, February 15th, 2003

The Moon and Jupiter

On Valentine's Day, the Moon snuggled up next to planet Jupiter
Click here for more info  

Wednesday, February 12th, 2003

The Oldest Lights in the Universe

Astronomers announced that the universe is 13.7 billion years old. This number is said to be accurate to within 1%. Interestingly, the universe is made up of 73% dark energy, 23% dark matter... and only 4% everyday, ordinary matter. For more information, visit CNN.com/SPACE.

Tuesday, February 11th, 2003

End of the line for orbiting Galileo probe

After 14 years of discovery, the aging Galileo Spacecraft is scheduled for one final rendezvous with Jupiter. In September it will crash directly into the giant planet. For more information, visit CNN.com/SPACE.

Saturday, February 8th, 2003

A parting view from Columbia

This beautiful image was captured by the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Thursday, February 6th, 2003

Sun Pillar in the Morning

A beautiful phenomenon welcomed Park City this morning -- a sun pillar. Caused by light reflecting off of ice crystals in the atmosphere, pillars can be caused by the Moon and Venus, too! Terrestrial sources can create pillars, as well.

Wednesday, February 5th, 2003

NASA and the Future of Space Science

In a press release today, NASA reiterated its continued commitment to space science. "NASA remains committed to the pursuit of science in space, knowing that the unique environment offers something never before achievable in the history of humankind: a glimpse of what our life -- what nature itself -might be like in a world with a different level of gravity."  Visit NASA's website for more info on science in space...

Tuesday, February 4th, 2003

Naked Eye Comet

Comet C/2002 V1 NEAT is currently shining at mag5.4. It will brighten rapidly to about mag4 this weekend.
For more information on checkout our Comet NEAT page.

Saturday, February 1st, 2003

Space Shuttle Columbia Breaks Up On Reentry

The space shuttle Columbia, with seven astronauts aboard, broke up as it descended over central Texas Saturday toward a planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle was on final approach traveling approximately 12,500 mph and at just over 200,000' when reports indicated an explosion and debris.
For more information on this tragic event visit NASA and CNN.com/Shuttle