Curiosity Finds Methane, Organic Molecules on Mars

http://www.sci-news.com/space/science-curiosity-methane-organic-molecules-mars-02351.html

#science #space #spaceexploration #curiosity #Mars #nasa  

Camera Shake May Have Privacy Implications

Researchers say that the camera shake found in video captured by wearable cameras contains a "motion signature" unique to the person wearing the camera. This could be used to trace anonymous videos back to the creator.

NASA's PAGEOS Satellite
Test inflation of a PAGEOS satellite in a blimp hangar at Weeksville, North Carolina. The PAGEOS (Passive Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite) spacecraft was a 30.48 m inflatable sphere, and had no instrumentation on board. It was the second (following GEOS 1) NASA satellite in the National Geodetic Satellites Program. It was launched in 1966.

PAGEOS 1 was made up of 84 gores and 2 pole caps of 0.0127-mm aluminized mylar film. The gores were 48 m long with maximum width of 1.24 m and the pole caps were 1.02 m in diameter. It was more or less a copy of the Echo 1 passive comsat. The primary purpose of the satellite was to provide a tracking target for geodetic purposes. It had a specular reflectance of 0.862, and a diffuse reflectance of 0.029, providing a reflecting light source whose brightness was relatively independent of observer-satellite-sun phase angle. The surface was also 97% reflectant for microwave energy in the range from 17 to 4E5 kHz.

The launch, orbit, separation, inflation and initial operation were nominal, with more than 40 ground stations participating in the observation program. The orbit was generally considered too high for drag-density study, although some work was done in this area by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

The PAGEOS orbit was a polar one (inclination 85-86°) with a height of approx. 4000 km, sinking down gently up to 1975. A disintegration occurred in July 1975, closing one of the most successful satellite projects of the 20th century. A second break-up occurred in January 1976 resulting in dozens of fragments. Most of these re-entered during the following decade, but one piece remains in orbit.

Credit: NASA Archives, Wikipedia
Image Date: August 5, 1965

#NASA  #Space #Satellite #Earth  #PAGEOS #Inflatable #Sphere #Mylar #Orbit  #Geodetic  #Triangulation #Network #International #Intercontinental #History

During a Dec. 16 launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, SpaceX will try to bring the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket back to Earth in a controlled landing on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.

NASA has announced findings that Gale Crater---where the Mars Curiosity rover is now---was once the site of a massive lake, which may have lasted for millions of years!:

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/mars-curiosity-rover-finds-clues-genesis-ancient-lake-peak-n264081

#Mars   #Curiosity  

Here's how to DIY your own ring light: http://goo.gl/Unrg86

Chemistry. Sets. On. Mars. +NASA's Curiosity rover measures spiked levels of organic molecules on the Red Planet: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4413

Say what you want about the lightsaber, but this poster is amazing   #starwars  

Name Your Own Price for Art on Amazon

Amazon is rolling out a new feature that lets you make an offer to sellers for fine art pieces on Amazon.

NASA's Mars Rover Finds Stronger Potential for Life | NYTimes
For lifeless chemical compounds to organize themselves into something alive, scientists generally agree, three sets of things must be present:
■ Standing water and an energy source.
■ Five basic elements: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus and nitrogen.
■ And time, lots of time.
In its search for environments where life might have started on Mars, the Curiosity rover has found the standing water, the energy and the key elements with the right atomic charges. As a result, scientists have concluded that at least some of the planet must have been habitable long ago.

Credit: +The New York Times 

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Mars #Curiosity #Rover #Robotic #Astrobiology #Habitable #Life #Science #Exploration #Climate #Lake #GaleCrater  #MountSharp #Sediment #Mastcam #Camera #JPL 

10 tips to improve your winter photography: http://goo.gl/CaKYbv

Night Trails by Toby Harriman: http://goo.gl/n9Yj3E