Astronomical League News
Volume I Number 6
November 27, 2000

Top News:

>>> NEW COMET DISCOVERED FOR CHRISTMAS.

If you were hoping for a comet for the holidays, you are in luck. Comet C/2000 W1 Utsunomya-Jones), discovered one week ago, lost, and then recovered again will reach perihelion in mid-December. It will come within 48 million kilometers (26 million miles) from the Earth. This makes the apparition of Comet Utsunomya-Jones one of the closest encounters in some years. Currently far south, the new comet will be a Northern Hemisphere object at perihelion on December 26th. The comet will probably only get up to 7th magnitude, but it will still be the brightest since Comet LINEAR earlier this year.

Links:
http://NearEarth.net

>>> E.T., THE BACTERIA?

A new bacteria has been discovered in the upper reaches of our atmosphere that is unlike any other bacteria known to science. An international scientific team using balloon-borne instrumentation snagged the bacteria at an altitude of 16 km (10 miles). While the discovery still needs to face a stringent scientific review, the discovery supports the theory of panspermia, where microbes were delivered to the Earth's atmosphere by comets and asteroids.

Links:
http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/11/11222000/upi_alien_40377.asp
http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/11/24/alien.microbe.claim/index.html

>>> MGS GIVES MORE INDICATIONS OF WATER ON SURFACE OF MARS.

As Mars Global Surveyor continues to snap photos of the Martian surface, it has given us even more evidence of the after-effects of flowing water on that planet. The latest evidence is found in Mars's colder areas, the poles and permanently shaded areas in the form of channels cut into the tops of sand dunes in some southern craters. The south polar cap is believed to contain water, and with winter beginning in the southern hemisphere, astronomers will have to wait a little while for Martian spring when the water may again appear in these areas.

Links:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/pictures/mars/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1032000/1032401.stm
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0011/20mgsgullies/

>>> 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. 27 (Monday):
Jupiter at opposition, magnitude -2.8

Nov. 29 (Wednesday):
Venus two degrees south of crescent Moon.

Dec. 3 (Sunday):
First Quarter Moon 08:55 p.m. CST (03:55 UT)

>>> Planet Situation Report:

Midnight: Saturn, Jupiter

Morning Twilight: Mercury, Mars

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

Want to tell everyone that you think light pollution should be controlled? You can get our "I Would Rather See Starlight than Streetlights" bumper sticker at a specially discounted price for A.L. Newsletter readers. Visit our Sales Website at http://www.astronomicalleague.com/News1.htm for this special deal!

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

Next Issue of AL News (December 10, 2000);

Previous Issue of AL News (November 15, 2000);

Subscribe to AL News E-mail List;

Index of Volume I of A.L. News;

Index of All Volumes of A.L. News;

Return to Astronomical League Home Page.