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| Spacecraft New Horizons and Pluto |
The New Horizons Spacecraft: launched by NASA in January 2006, is approaching the dwarf planet Pluto. Last month, the probe woke up from a very long nap designed to save reduce wear and tear and lower operational costs along the nearly 3 billion mile journey.
The probe sent a weekly signal back to Earth, and is woken up every six to 10 months to assure that it is still operational. New Horizons will also visit Pluto’s largest moon Charon and a few other objects in the Kuiper Belt. The closest approach will take place in July.
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| Spacecraft Dawn and Dwarf Planet Ceres |
Four other space probes have traveled as far out into the solar system as New Horizons, including Voyager I and Voyager II. It will be the first space probe to make a close approach of Pluto, coming within 7,767 miles of the surface.
New horizons will continue on past Pluto and into the Kuiper Belt which is an unexplored asteroid-rich region of our solar system that might have thousands of small, icy, rocky planets similar to Pluto. Studying the Kuiper Belt could offer scientific insight into how our solar system formed.
2015 is shaping up to be a spectacular year for astronomy. In march the spacecraft Dawn will approach the dwarf planet Ceres
Super Bowl: New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. I’ll go with the Patriots because Tom Brady went to the University of Michigan. It’ll be interesting to see the Vegas odds and the over under.
Finally: I posted a Robin Williams video on the previous post. If you need a good laugh, take a couple minutes to view it.
Amazing the New Horizon is almost to Pluto and going farther. And thanks for letting me know who is playing in the Super Bowl. I haven't been paying attention.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend lived in Seattle for many years and is a huge Hawks fan. I was very happy to see them win last night. As for the Super Bowl, I'm not really pulling for either.
ReplyDeletePoor Pluto the non-planet is about to get probed.
Ummmm .... no comment. But like you said, Poor Pluto.
DeleteI was working on a guest post yesterday and mentioned New Horizons!
ReplyDeleteThat Seattle game was a nail biter. Shame the second one was such a blowout. Hopefully it's a good Super Bowl.
I'm not a big sports fan, but I actually watched some of both football games with my hubby.
ReplyDeleteBe interesting to see some of the pictures that are sent back of that area.
ReplyDeleteI watched both games with hubs--altho we lost part of the Pats game due to some sort of network glitch. I'm a Packers fan. I just shook my head. Well, I cursed a few times too. Pat's just don't have the defense to take on the Hawks--they have a brutal offense reminicent of the old Cowboys team 20 years ago. Mow down everything in their way. I'd like to see Brady win in the superbowl. If he doesn't, he'll set a record, three tiems winning and three times losing. Between the two teams, the Pats are my choice. Of course, Packers almost won by playing smart and taking advantage of mistakes and penalties. If the Pats can do the same, wouldn't that be nice?
Sia McKye Over Coffee
I've always been fascinated by space. Growing up, my favorite planet was always Pluto...because I lived on Pluto Street. True story.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the Patriots so I'll go against you and root for the Seahawks. ;)
Chrys, how cool is that! You lived on Pluto Street. So cool. And I read your book this weekend.
DeleteI can't wait for it to make it to the Kuiper Belt! How exciting that will be.
ReplyDeleteThis is exciting news and i hope people are following and are excited about this. You know you can always check my blog and my 2015 Celestial calendar for the latest and greatest.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to visit Pluto. In fact, when I was a child, I told myself that Pluto was mine. I'm weird. Space is so awesome.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should consider going to Pluto for my next vacation. Since I'm retired now I have lots of time and my wife might like me out of the house for a while.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Glad things are sill thriving in the space frontier. It will be interesting to see what data and photos are shared by the probe.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a fave team, so I'm hoping there will awesome commercials lol!
I love that I can come to your blog and learn about stuff I don't know much about… space… sports… it's always fun and entertaining. You rock, Stephen! Always love visiting here! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, I teach English so science isn't my thing, but this really is AMAZING!! I could care less about the Super Bowl, but I'll go for the Patriots for the same reason as you. I'm assuming you're from MI? I was born there, and my trilogy is set in Grand Haven :-)
ReplyDeleteThe science stuff is always fascinating. I get so used to watching/reading sci fi, I sometimes forget what's really going on.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a Pats fan so I have to root for them for him.
After all the kerfuffle over balls this week, I don't know which team will win. NASA is definitely a winner with New Horizons. I hope it sends pictures!
ReplyDeleteCarol, according to Tom Brady himself, he prefers his balls hard and firm.
DeleteI think it awesome that we will finally have a probe close to Pluto! Amazing to think about the 8-9 year journey it has been on. That is just fabulous. I love science. Can't wait to see the pictures!
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS, you and me both!
DeleteMy first ever report in school was on the planet Pluto...who knew 60 years ago it was only a dwarf planet..and shouldn't that be "Little Planet?"
ReplyDeleteWhere the QB went to school is a s good a way to predict this years game as any. I am going with Seattle, but only because I don't like NE. No real reason to not like them, neither team is soft and fuzzy.
My first ever report in school was on the planet Pluto...who knew 60 years ago it was only a dwarf planet..and shouldn't that be "Little Planet?"
ReplyDeleteWhere the QB went to school is a s good a way to predict this years game as any. I am going with Seattle, but only because I don't like NE. No real reason to not like them, neither team is soft and fuzzy.
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ReplyDeleteMy first ever report in school was on the planet Pluto...who knew 60 years ago it was only a dwarf planet..and shouldn't that be "Little Planet?"
ReplyDeleteWhere the QB went to school is a s good a way to predict this years game as any. I am going with Seattle, but only because I don't like NE. No real reason to not like them, neither team is soft and fuzzy.
I still feel sorry for Pluto being 'downgraded' to a dwarf planet. Had to change my whole astronomy lesson plans around. And am I the only one that hears "V---ger" and sees bald Deltans when Voyager is mentioned? *lol*
ReplyDeleteAnd the football season pretty much ended for me when Dallas lost...a.g.a.i.n. *sigh* Looking forward to A to Z!
I find the sheer size of space a little more than I can comfortably comprehend…. I have to stop thinking about it because it freaks me out!
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I'll hate checking out of this will be because of all the exciting space travel that will be coming our way. Maybe there is always next time. Good luck to your team.
ReplyDeleteI will cheer for the Patriots too.
ReplyDeleteDwarf planet? Hmmmm, maybe I should go there and see if I can find some dwarves to work for me!
Thanks for keeping us updated on the space frontier! I'm so glad we are still discovering new things. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm rooting for the Seahawks! 12th man pride and all! :) I've lived in Washington state my whole life and despite being raised by parents who were anti-professional-sports, I'll be watching the Superbowl in green and blue!
I think Pluto should still be a bonafide planet! If it has a moon, I don't see why it wouldn't be. It's amazing that the probe has already made it that far. I'd love to see pictures of what's beyond Pluto.
ReplyDeleteI think Pluto should still be a bonafide planet! If it has a moon, I don't see why it wouldn't be. It's amazing that the probe has already made it that far. I'd love to see pictures of what's beyond Pluto.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see sending probes out into space. But humans? I'm not so sure. I just don't think we were meant to live in space.
ReplyDeletePosted a couple of Skeletons for you at the "Crypt"...
ReplyDeleteA great Weekend to you and yours..
I'm from the Keys. This makes me a lifelong Dolfan (with a bag over my head these days). So. I ain't pullin' for no Pats. That said, they could win. Their running back is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteA probe on Pluto. Wow! Just wow! I'm sharing your post in homeschool on Monday.
GO SEAHAWKS! YEAH!