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China Goes for Second Phase of Lunar Program 


Japan's First Moon Probe Reaches Destination Japan is going where no Japanese has gone before with its first lunar probe now orbiting the Moon. The Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE), is considered the biggest lunar mission undertaking since the Apollo missions of the United States. It cost $279 million to launch. It uses two sub-satellites for the polar regions. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) hopes that the new probe will help shed light on the Moon's origins. The picture above is an artist's rendition of the successful mission. In related news, Star Trek actor George Takei, now 70, was honored with an asteroid bearing his name (7307 Takei). The asteroid, which was discovered by two Japanese astronomers in 1994 (hence its original name, 1994 GT9) follows a list of others named after people involved in the famous science-fiction series, like creator Gene Roddenberry (4659 Roddenberry), and Enterprise communications officer actress Nichelle Nichols (68410 Nichols).

It was astronomy professor Tom Burbine, of the Massachusetts Mt. Holyoke College who lobbied for naming an asteroid after Takei, who is now known for his work on Howard Stein's radio show and in civil rights groups.

More on Star Trek and the latest movie by J.J. Abrams.
Posted by alvinwriter at 8:49 PM 0 comments Labels: 1994 GT9, 7307 Takei, asteroid, George Takei, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, lunar mission, moon, SELENE, Selonogical and Engineering Explorer, Star Trek, Sulu, Tom Burbine

Martian Dust Devils Caught By Spirit Ever wonder what a dust devil (small tornado) on Mars looks like. Wonder no more. Here are a handful caught on a sequence of images by the roving robot explorer Spirit, the sister of Opportunity, another robot on Mars. Click on the black and white image to view the video. This wind phenomenon is believed to cause warming of Mars as it exposes dark soil underneath the lighter sand. Being on Mars is like going up to an altitude of 100,000 feet here on Earth, where the air is thin and cold. The colored picture above was also taken by Spirit on the 486th day of the Martian year (Sol 486).

Click here for a video on the latest images of the Martian surface from the robots.
Posted by alvinwriter at 5:17 PM 0 comments Labels: dust devil, Mars, Spirit, tornado, video, wind

Translucent Frog Developed for No-dissection Study Biologists from Hiroshima University Institute for Amphibian Biology in Japan have developed a transparent (actually translucent) frog which they hope can be used for education. They say the frog no longer needs to be dissected due to its semi-transparent skin. Lead scientist Masayuki Sumida says the new frog can help in scientific research. Naturally translucent frogs also exist, like the Translucent Reed Frog below. Click here for a video of the genetically-engineered frog.
Posted by alvinwriter at 3:15 AM 0 comments Labels: frog, Hiroshima University Institute for Amphibian Biology, Masayuki Sumida, translucent, Translucent Reed Frog, transparent, transparent frog
