Astronomers have been busy trying to determine the spin period and composition of Venus‘ moon. December 8, 2010, results were announced by JPL/Caltech scientists, led by Michael Hicks. “Wait a minute; back up”, I hear you ask. “Venus has a Moon?” Of course it does. Well, kind of… Let me explain. It has […]
Topographic computer model of Sotra Facula, an apparent ice volcano on Saturn’s moon Titan. Not unlike the volcanoes of Hawaii, the supposed ice volcano, known as Sotra Facula, rises 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above the surrounding plain in a large, gently shaped dome, according to the mountain’s discoverer, geophysicist Randolph Kirk. The feature had previously […]
On 27 December, COROT is to be launched into space on a unique astronomy mission: its twin goals are to detect exoplanets orbiting around other stars and to probe the mysteries of stellar interiors as never before. . . . While CNES is completing preparations for the launch from Baikonur/Kazakhstan, ESA and a large number […]
