Astronomical League News
Volume I Number 4
November 4, 2000

Top News:

>>> NASA CANCELS ASTEROID NANO-ROVER.

NASA has canceled development of a miniature rover, which would have been part of the U.S. contribution to a Japanese mission to an asteroid. The primary reasons for the cancellation were rising costs and weight. NASA will hold discussions with the Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) to consider alternative cooperation in the Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft-C (MUSES-C) mission, the first asteroid sample- return mission, scheduled for launch in late 2002. The MUSES-CN nano-rover was originally expected to cost $21 million, but had recently experienced significant cost growth, resulting in a management and cost review at NASA Headquarters.

Links:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/facts/muses.pdf

>>> JUPITER AND ITS MOONS TO OCCULT STAR.

The 9.8 magnitude star HIP 20994 = SAO 76633 = PPM 76633 = TYC 1277-01320-1 will be occulted by Jupiter and a few of its moons on November 5 (U.T.). While it will be hard to see the faint star against Jupiter's -2.7 magnitude surface, Metis (J-XVI) will occult the star across western Russia, the Baltic states, southern Sweden, and Norway around 04:10 UT, NE Canada around 04:12 UT, and the USA from the Great Lakes (Duluth) to California (L.A.) around 04:14 UT (10:14 p.m. on Nov. 4).

Links:
http://sorry.vse.cz/~ludek/mp/updates/1105jup.html (link from here to maps, etc.)

>>> MINOR PLANET TO HIT EARTH IN 2030?

Astronomers announced that that an object may hit the Earth, or at least come very close, in September 2030. The object, dubbed 2000 SG344, has an estimated 1 in 500 chance of hitting the Earth. The object is either a tiny asteroid, or possibly a rocket body that launched a space probe in the 1960s. For example, the S-IVB stages of the five Saturn V rockets (Apollo 8-12) entered into heliocentric orbits like that of 2000 SG344. If this is a man-made rocket booster, it would have a higher reflectivity than a natural asteroid and would thereby have to be smaller to reflect them same amount of light as a much darker asteroid.

Links:
http://www.egroups.com/message/mpml/2168
http://www.msnbc.com/news/485240.asp
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/orbits/2000sg344/ (cool applet to display orbit.)

>>> WHERE ARE THE PLANETS IN 47 TUCANAE?

47 Tucanae, a globular cluster with over 35,000 stars, was found to have no planets in observations with the Hubble Space Telescope. Astronomers expected to find about 17 planets that they should have been able to detect in the cluster which is about 15,000 light-years away. The fact that they found no planets implies that planetary formation may have occurred differently or not at all globular clusters. Globular clusters are very old clusters, almost as old as our galaxy.

Links:
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pr/2000/33/
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0011/01hubble/

>>> WANTED: STUDENTS TO BUILD ROBOTS

NASA is seeking future engineers with creative imaginations, drive, energy or just plain curiosity to build their own robot. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, is putting out the call to Southern California area high schools to involve them in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program. The FIRST program is a robotics competition aimed at inspiring students, providing hands-on activities, fostering teamwork and giving students access to work with engineers to help students build their own robot. Each year, students get "a problem" or task that their robot must perform and a kit with "nuts and bolts" to get them started.

Links:
http://technology.jpl.nasa.gov/education/education_index.html#FIRST
 

>>> NASA ANNOUNCES NEW MARS STRATEGY

In the next ten years, Mars will be visited by six major NASA missions in NASA's newly revised Mars Exploration Program. Robotic orbiters and landers will visit the Red Planet sending back data and images. In 2010, NASA will send a sample return mission to bring back pieces of Mars for analysis. The cost will be $450 million per year. This program did not include any manned missions.

Links:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/marsnews/newmarsprogram.html
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/mars_strategy001026.html
http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/10/26/mars.announce.02/index.html
 

>>> Upcoming Events:

Preview: ALCon 2001!

The Astronomical League's 2001 Convention will be held Wednesday, July 25, 2001 to Saturday, July 28, 2001 in Frederick, Maryland. Don't miss the exciting tours, speakers, astronomical vendors, and the League's annual awards banquet!

For Additional Information contact:
Frank Moon, ALCON 2001 Chair
E-mail: ALCON2001CHAIR@aol.com

ALCon 2001 Website:
http://alcon2001.homestead.com/alcon2001.html
 

>>> Celestial Happenings:

Nov. 8 (Tuesday):
Edmund Halley born in 1656

Nov. 11 (Friday):
Morning: Mars just west of 4th mag. Eta Virginis separation approximate 0.3 degrees, while Mercury is 26 degrees to their lower left.
Full Moon 3:15 p.m. CST (21:15 UT)

Coming up:
Nov. 17: A possible meteor storm from the Leonid Meteor Shower. Plan to observe this event. It could be fantastic. More information next time.

>>> Planet Situation Report:

Midnight: Saturn, Jupiter

Morning Twilight: Mercury, Mars

>>> This message is brought to you by Astronomical League Sales

Stop by the Astronomical League Sales Website at http://www.astronomicalleague.com to see David Levy’s 16-inch planisphere. Designed from the ground up by David Levy and Ken Graun, this is the large and easily read planisphere. Lots of useful information is on the back, including yearly meteor showers, planet facts, the Moon, and binocular objects. There are summer and winter sky tours on front. For northern latitudes 30° to 60° and made in the USA of 100% durable plastic. Ink cannot be scratched off. Great for the beginning astronomer, as well as the seasoned stargazer!

While you are there take a look at all the other goodies you can get directly from the Astronomical League!

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