Nov 12 2009 You Fools!: Government Convinced Martians Were Going To Make Contact In 1924
In 1924, during Mars's opposition (when Earth, on its inner orbit, passes between the Sun and Mars) the US Navy sent a telegram alerting all its stations to be on the lookout for possible alien contact from the red planet. WOW!
Turns out that during the 1924 Mars opposition--when Mars would be closer to Earth than it had been since 1804--the secretary of the Navy sent a telegram to all naval stations asking them to "COOPERATE ASTRONOMERS WHO BELIEVE POSSIBLE THAT MARS MAY ATTEMPT COMMUNICATION BY RADIO WAVES WITH THIS PLANET WHILE THEY ARE NEAR TOGETHER."
BWAHAHAHAHA -- Martians! Like, aliens from Mars! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! I've got news for you: there aren't any aliens on Mars. Pluto, yes, but they're so pissed off we reclassified their home as a dwarf planet they don't have anything to say to us.
UPDATE: I lied, turns out they do have something to say: "F*** you -- have fun with the global warming".
Navy was ordered to listen for Martians in 1924 [scifiwire]
Thanks to junkyard dog, who eats scrap metal and tires and shit because that's what junkyard dogs do.
Nov 2 2009 Mmmm, That's Milky: 648 Megapixel Milky Way
This is a 648 megapixel composite (higher-res version HERE) of the Milky Way created by physicist (and all around badass) Axel Mellinger. Good lookin', Axel.
Physicist Axel Mellinger spent nearly two years traveling 26,000 miles across South Africa, Texas and Michigan. What does he have to show for it? Well, he's cobbled together a stunning 648 megapixel panorama of the Milky Way as seen from Earth, using 3,000 individual photographs. The Central Michigan University professor wants to make the image available for planetariums, as it's large enough to serve educational purposes. It even shows stars that are 1,000 times too faint to be seen by the human eye, so this is a Milky Way like you've never seen.
That IS a Milky Way like I've never seen. Get it? BECAUSE THERE'S NO CHOCOLATE OR NOUGAT LIKE THE CANDY BAR! Yep *cracking knuckles* I can already tell today's gonna be a good day.
Photo: stunning 648 megapixel image of the Milky Way [dvice]
Thanks to Closet Nerd, who sends enough tips to be out already.
Oct 17 2009 Europa Has Enough Oxygen To Support Life?
So apparently one of Jupiter's moons, Europa, might have enough oxygen to support life. Well that's cool BECAUSE I'M TOTALLY MOVING THERE. Who's with me? You better shower!
The global ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa contains about twice the liquid water of all the Earth's oceans combined. New research suggests that there may be plenty of oxygen available in that ocean to support life, a hundred times more oxygen than previously estimated.
The chances for life there have been uncertain, because Europa's ocean lies beneath several miles of ice, which separates it from the production of oxygen at the surface by energetic charged particles (similar to cosmic rays). Without oxygen, life could conceivably exist at hot springs in the ocean floor using exotic metabolic chemistries, based on sulfur or the production of methane. However, it is not certain whether the ocean floor actually would provide the conditions for such life.
Hell yeah, Europa -- I've always wanted to visit Holland! Do they really wear those wooden shoes?
Jupiter's Moon Europa Has Enough Oxygen For Life [physorg]
Thanks to Kelly, who can come with me provided she steer the spaceship while I get drunk and puke out a porthole.
Oct 16 2009 Coool!: Earth And Jupiter In The Same Photo
This is an amazing photograph of the earth (and moon) and Jupiter (and a few of its moons) in the same frame. Now I know what you're thinking, and no, God didn't take this one.
Sometimes the planets line up in such a way that you can see Earth and Jupiter in the same wide-angle shot. That is, if you were aboard the Mars Global Surveyor on May 22, 2003. When the Mars Orbiter Camera snapped this unique view, Earth was 86 million miles away, and Jupiter was 600 million miles away.
Wow, that really gets you thinking, doesn't it? Like about how far objects in space are from one another. Really far. And speaking of which -- will one of you be so kind as to walk the remote over here?
Hit the jump to see a diagram explaining how the planets were aligned.
Continue Reading " Coool!: Earth And Jupiter In The Same Photo "
Sep 16 2009 We're Saved!: Astronomers Discover Solid Planet Outside Of Our Solar System
Unfortunately, it's solid lava and has a daytime temperature of 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, I'd live there. With Satan. You hear that, my fiery little bitch? I SAID LIGHT THE GRILL.
As scientists search the skies for life elsewhere, they have found more than 300 planets outside our solar system. But they all have been gas balls or can't be proven to be solid. Now a team of European astronomers has confirmed the first rocky extrasolar planet.
The planet is called Corot-7b. It was first discovered earlier this year. European scientists then watched it dozens of times to measure its density to prove that it is rocky like Earth. It's in our general neighborhood, circling a star in the winter sky about 500 light-years away. Each light-year is about 6 trillion miles.
Well folks, it's been real. But I think it's time for your Geekologie Writer to hit the big red 'BLAST-OFF' button and shoot himself to Corot-7b. And like that saying goes, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you make it, your dad will still call you a failure."
Found: Firm place to stand outside solar system [yahoonews]
Aug 13 2009 Why Not?: Send A Text Message To Aliens
HelloFromEarth.net is a website where you can submit text messages to be broadcast to Gliese 581d, a planet 20-light years away that may or may not support life (but 100% does). You have until the 24th of the month to submit your texts. Aaaaaaand here are some awful examples of why the aliens are gonna come kill us all.
Come here and take me with us. Here everyone is crazy.
Ever heard of Jesus? He's pretty awesome. Yay space travel!... hi....... hehehehehhehehehehee (runs off giggling like a little school girl at lunch over a cute boy)
Of course, not everyone can be an idiot moron, so thankfully there were a couple people who actually know how to talk to aliens.
You are cordially invited to an Interplanetary BBQ. 6.00pm, 4th October, 2452 at my place BYO Meat and Beer. RSVP: Year 2100 Cheers
Junjun, I love you forever. Although we are different and our love is not accepted by others,I cant stop loving you.I want to share my dream with you forever.
Hell yeah, Junjun, get you some! Share that dream. Share it ALL. NIGHT. LONG.
Thanks to Katie and Harsh, who accidentally sexted the aliens. Nice going, guys (forward them to me).
Aug 13 2009 You're Doing It Wrong!: Astronomers Discover A Planet Orbiting Its Sun Backwards
So apparently astronomers have spotted a planet that orbits its sun in the opposite direction that the sun rotates, the first known of its kind. Nice. WAY TO BE DIFFERENT YOU STUPID LITTLE PLANET, YOU JUST BLEW MY WHOLE THEORY OF PLANETARY ORBITY THINGS! You jerk.
The star and its planet, WASP-17, are about 1,000 light-years away.WASP-17 likely had a close encounter with a larger planet, and the gravitational interaction acted like a slingshot to put WASP-17 on its odd course, the astronomers figure.
You know, this reminds me of a special little planet I knew growing up. He always put his shoes on the wrong feet and had to wear headgear to school. But you know what? HE TURNED OUT TO BE THE LITTLE PLANET THAT COULD. What -- no I'm not talking about myself, this kid was actually retarded (of course it was me).
Newfound Planet Orbits Backward [yahoonews]
Mar 18 2009 Rare Quadruple Moon Transit On Saturn
Will you look at that -- four of Saturn's moons (from left to right) Enceladus, Dione, Titan, and Mimas, all transiting its face at the same time. Amazing! This picture was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and just recently released by NASA. You know, pictures like this really get me thinking about the beauty of space and just how small we are compared to the vast expanse outside our own atmosphere. Also, naked-ass aliens gettin' freaky deaky on the moon.
Hit the jump for a cool time lapse photo of the transit in progress.
Mar 5 2009 Little Moon Spotted Hiding In Saturn's Rings
Saturn, the second largest moon-whore in the solar system (behind Jupiter), has been caught hiding another trick in one of it's outer rings. What a slut!
The discovery of what appeared to astronomers as a faint, moving pinprick of light, was announced by the International Astronomical Union.
The international Cassini spacecraft spotted the small moon, which measures about a third of a mile wide.
Pfft -- 1/3 mile wide? That ain't no moon. That ain't even a moonlet. That, my friends, is a moonatoid. Come get some, Pluto!
'Moonlet' Found in Outer Saturn Ring [discovery]
Thanks to tarastars, who once stole a moon from Neptune and sold it at a yard sale to buy a video game.
Nov 14 2008 First Peek At Another Planetary System!
That's right folks, this is the first photo (I have no idea what this was then), taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, of a planet orbiting another star. "[The picture] shows a planet orbiting the bright southern star Fomalhaut, located 25 light-years away in the constellation Piscis Australis." Hit the jump for another pictures of a planetary system 130 light-years away. That Hubble must have some camera! And, wait a minute -- THAT'S NOT A PLANET, THAT'S THE EYE OF SAURON! We're all dead! But, before I go, where'd that sexy little Gollum run off to?
Hit it for a couple more photos.
Continue Reading " First Peek At Another Planetary System! "
Aug 13 2008 Is This The Car Of The Future? (Hint: No)
This is a BMW concept car designed by Transportation Design students Jai Ho Yoo and Lukas Vanek from the instituo Europeo di Design. They imagined the ZX-6 after being asked what the vehicles of 2015 would look like. Now call me crazy, but isn't 2015 just 7 years away? These guys are nuts. Besides, by 2015 we're not going to be driving cars anyways. Nope, the only thing we'll be driving is golf balls -- on Mars. ZOMG, Interplanetary Olympics!
Jul 18 2008 Moon Transits Earth: Time-Lapse Video Caught From A Cool 31 Million Miles Away
This is a time-lapse video taken by NASA's EPOXI spacecraft from 31 million miles. It's pretty awe-inspiring. Halfway through the moon makes an appearance. You know, just to say what's up. In other lunar news: tonight's a full moon, so go check that shit out. But remember: If it's hairy, you're probably standing on the bathroom sink with your head between your legs, staring at your own ass in the mirror. Go outside.
HOLY FRAK! Moon transits Earth! [discover]
Jun 20 2008 It's Official: There's Ice On Mars After All
This is a picture taken by the Phoenix Lander of water ice on Mars. Or, alternatively, some ice in a Hollywood backlot that somebody staged. Or, alternatively, Photoshopped ice. No but seriously, it's water ice on Mars.
The confirmation that water ice exists in the area directly surrounding the lander is big and good news for the Martian mission. NASA's stated goal for the Mars Phoenix was to find exactly this -- water ice -- and then analyze it. With the latest news, the first step is accomplished. All that's left now is to get the water into the Phoenix's instruments, a task which has occasionally proven more difficult than anticipated.
Now I know what many of you are thinking -- "So freaking what?" Well apparently you don't understand the profound implications of such a discovery -- we won't have to tote bagged ice up there to keep our drinks cold.
Mars Phoenix Tweets: "We Have ICE!" [wired]
Thanks to Lee, who is actually helping me throw a party on Mars that's gonna be freaking awesome. Martian chicks and a cooler full of desert juice -- who's coming with us?
Jun 18 2008 Scientists Discover 'Super-Earths' 42-Light Years Away, Regular Earth Gets Depressed
So scientists have discovered what they're dubbing "super-Earths" circling a star 42-light years away. That's an artist's depiction of what they might look like if they were identical in appearance to earth and weren't actually pink with purple polka-dots like I know they are. Three have been identified so far, and they were detected not by sight, but by the effects they have on the star they orbit.
Using a new tool to study more than 100 stars once thought to be devoid of planets, the Swiss-French team found that about one-third had planets that are only slightly bigger than Earth.That's how the star with three super-Earths, 42 light-years away, was spotted. The European team took a second look with a relatively new instrument that measures tiny changes in light wave lengths and is so sensitive that it is precisely positioned and locked in a special room below the observatory in Chile. And the key is kept in Switzerland, scientists say.
So, you're probably still wondering what the hell a super-Earth is, aren't you? Well you're in luck, because I'm a scientist and I just happen to know. Super-Earths are planets similar to Earth, but have gained super powers -- like the ability to see through another planet's shirt and ogle its mountains.
Astronomers find 'super Earths' circling a star [yahoonews]
Thanks and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to loyal Geekologie operative Altaire
Mar 28 2008 NASA Testing Lunar Chariot Vehicle For Moon, I Wouldn't Be Caught Dead On It
This is NASA's Lunar Chariot, a six wheeled, all-wheel-drive, all-wheel-steering vehicle for the moon mission scheduled in 2020. It will be used to bulldoze roads, dig trenches, and drill for minerals on the moon thanks to its numerous attachments. Now I find this fascinating and all, and you know I love outerspace as much as the next boy-astronaut, but I still have one problem -- it's fugly as hell. It looks like a mechanical crab with wheels.
Aliens exist. And since the moon is a logical place for visiting aliens to stop for a cold drink, snacks, and to use the pisser before hitting earth, we should make the best impression possible. Now what if they come and see this goofy bastard lumbering around? They're going to laugh at us. Get with it NASA! I'll be damned if I miss my opportunity to score sweet alien poon because you were too cheap to make a cooler looking moon vehicle.
Video of the testing after the jump.
Continue Reading " NASA Testing Lunar Chariot Vehicle For Moon, I Wouldn't Be Caught Dead On It "
Mar 24 2008 More Robots Of The Coming Apocalypse
In the near future the planet will be ruled by robots and any surviving humans will live huddled in caves crying about how it was a bad idea to create them in the first place. So yeah, be warned. This is a video of a climbing robot. It looks friendly and harmless enough, but deep down, just like every robot, it wants to kill.
Called Capuchin, the robot scales vertical walls using four limbs that can shift its weight to stay balanced. It and other climbing robots could be key to uncovering the geology of Mars.
Weight shifting robot, cool. But you know what would be cooler? If it had guns. And bombs. Ooh ooh ooh -- and a laser razor chainsaw for an arm. Now that would be a damn robot.*
*Until one actually kills me, robots with weapons will remain awesome.
Thanks to Raul, a man capable of surviving the robot apocalypse, for the tip
Dec 17 2007 Orbiting Fan Is Wack Looking, Okay I Think
The Brisa 2000 ceiling fan is pretty funny looking. That's because the fan actually orbits around that big sphere in the center, allowing for all kinds of air mobility! You can rotate the fan itself from straight down to straight up, depending on the season, so it's also pretty functional. It's also pretty expensive -- $1000 a pop. But you can get them in all kinds of different finishes and the company accepts custom orders as well. I actually made one myself, and it turned out surprisingly alright. It makes getting in and out of the bunk-bed a little dangerous, but if you do get hit it isn't that painful. Definitely nothing compared to the scorch of the flame-throwing bidet I made for my wife.
Two different models after the jump if you're curious.
Continue Reading " Orbiting Fan Is Wack Looking, Okay I Think "
