"My question is about the pictures taken on mars. Why does NASA change the coloring throughout the pictures to make them look red?"
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Russian Astrobiology Center
Dr. Anatoli Pavlov
Director of Russian Astrobiology Center
Anatoli.Pavlov@pop.ioffe.rssi.ruThe Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Science (PTI), Cytology Institute of Russian Academy of Science and the St. Petersburg Polytechnical State University (SPSU) form the core of Russian Astrobiology Center (RAC), located within Cosmic Research Department of St. Petersburg Polytechnical State University. The purpose of the RAC is to provide a single organization through which all of the astrobiology research, teaching and outreach in St. Petersburg can be coordinated.
The main scientific projects of RAC :
1) Studying of possible migration of life through the galaxy and Solar system.
2) Studying of the Solar System interactions with the high density interstellar clouds.
3) Research of geochemical records of the late accretion events and their possible correlation with the biogenic activity in ancient rocks
4) Development of cooperation between earth and biological sciences on the interaction of knowledge for the spatial and temporal limits of the deep cold biosphere on and beyond the Earth, and in the search for extraterrestrial life.
5) Studying of the early stage of chemical evolution and the possibility of organic substance formation on the surface of small Solar system bodies.RAC activities.
The RAC performs the following functions:
1) Coordination of research. RAC integrates the individual research programs into a single astrobiology program. RAC organizes the collaborative research of the participants from different institutions. If the individual research is important for a whole astrobiology program, RAC’s funds can support it. The RAC is responsible for the financial oversight of the individual research programs funded through the RAC proposals.2) Coordination of teaching. RAC organizes Astrobiology courses for students of SPSU and the special physical and mathematical school founded by PTI and SPSU. Members of RAC will organize lectures in the schools of St. Petersburg. Astrobiology teaching and research programs will be organized for graduate students of SPSU, using facilities of the RAC and laboratories of the RAC participants.
3) Astrobiology colloquiums and workshops. Speakers will be the RAC participants and national and international scientists, interested in astrobiology problems.
January 12, 2008
