Brilliant splendid Comet McNaught 1/8 and1/9 after sunset

Doug Zubenel and I saw the comet again on the 8th in Shawnee Mission, KS ( West of Kansas City) USA. Seemed even brighter with the gold-white coma, the fan light -yellow tail then night before. It seemed brighter tonight with the filmy hood around the coma more distinct. I took this shot with my digital kodak 290, 2 sec at 100 asa looking through Doug's 6 inch telescope as the comet was going toward the trees. (The red dot is a tower light in the trees and Upside down because of telescope)

Another highlight was the spectacular look through binoculars on the 9th. Tonight the coma was brighter, tail was longer stretching at least 1 degree or more angling to Northwest.
What a splendid sight!! Here is a photo I took that wasn't a close up but the horizon is pretty and you can see the tail right of the airplane graphic I inserted.

You have until the 12th to catch .
Then it will be too close to the Sun.
Take some binoculars look at the sky charts at Sky and Telescope or Spaceweather or Astronomy.
Don't miss one of the brightest and nicest comets seen in the last 20-30 years!! Once you have an idea where it is in the West it is easier to catch.
? let me know

Dr. Eric Flescher (kcstarguy@aol.com), Olathe, KS: Member #2572 IMCA (International Meteorite Collectors Association) : E.O.A.S. (Earth, Oceans, Atmosphere and Space) Blog -:State of Kansas Solar System Ambassador: Comet Observers Coordinator- Astronomy League/ Astronomical Society of Kansas, KC, MO-Louisburg,KS: http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/comet/comet.htm: CometObserversAwardALsubscribe@yahoogroups.com - Dr. Eric Flescher (kcstarguy@aol.com), Olathe, KS: State of Kansas Solar System Ambassador:Eric's Black Sun Eclipse newsletter
: Subscribe to (send your email to)<>:Website- http://members.aol.com/kcstarguy/blacksun/eclipse.htm: Satori Astronomy Website- http://members.aol.com/kcstarguy/satoriastronomy/satoriastronomy.htm

surprisingly bright Comet McNaught appears in evening and morning!

The surprisingly bright Comet McNaught appears in evening as well as morning! It is bright but so close to the Sun it is difficult to see.

YES . It appears near the Sun and can be seen either in morning or after sunset as I have now seen and heard.
After sunset it is in between Venus and 1st magnitude Altair (in Aquila higher in the sky more the WEST)
I am still examining the pics I took. I looked in Olathe to the East and think I caught it but I don't have good binoculars.

More pics and detail at
http://www.spaceweather.com/
photo gallery of other pics
http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_mcnaught.htm

another nice pic at
omet McNaught Heads for the Sun
Credit & Copyright: Michael Jager and Gerald Rhemann
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070105.html

There is not much time as it is getting closer to the Sun and by next week will only be visible with the orbiting scopes. Who knows if it will survive entry near the Sun. But by then only Southern observers will be able to see it . So catch it while you can before close approach to Sun on 13th.

Good luck

Dr. Eric Flescher (kcstarguy@aol.com), Olathe, KS

Bright comet in dawn sky now near horizon

Sometimes we wait for a long time for a comet like Halley's in 1986 to come by and give us a show. But Halley's at it's best was only 3rd magnitude and was a disappointment. Our luck it comes by every 76 years but it decided to comet by this time too far away from Earth ( the worst pass I researched in 1000 years).

But sometimes one comes from out of the blue, literally, and puts on a great and even better show.Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) is here to watch while you can and before it leaves.


It first was discovered in August but now as this comet gets close to the Sun and Mercury it is really growing bright and putting on a show. The only problem, it is difficult to to spot as it is getting closer and closer to the sun.

It is very bright comet in the dawn sky now near the horizon. The trick is you have to have to find it.Now it is about 2nd magnitude which is as bright as most of the stars in the Big Dipper. But the brightness is spread around so they are more difficult to see then a star. But seeing the tail may help.

I tried this morning but could not see it. I will try again.

use spaceweather.com to see the latest photo, print and see a sky map where it is to catch a glimp

Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) at its closest approach on Jan. 13th will be only 0.17 AU away--much closer than Mercury (0.38 AU). It will then appear about 1 degree near Mercury.
We hope that it does not completely burn up or fall apart as some comet do when they come close to the Sun.

Meteorite came from asteroid originally

It is amazing that this little piece of metal hit the house. While small it still packed a punch to go through the roof and finally lodge in the wall. The local scientists have determined it came from a asteroid originally but it will be interesting to hear even more specifics. Did meteorite come from Vesta or another asteroid?

"The team has determined the meteorite is very metal-rich, and possibly represents the deep interior of an asteroid. Its coloration, markings, density and magnetic properties are characteristic of an iron meteorite," Brightman said.

More info at link above

News about December tornadoes

There were a rash of tornadoes in what is usually a very quite December. More appeared in Louisian on Jan 4 and information on these will be posted later
More below

http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_11497.html?from=wxcenter_news

vote for which is the best Cassini photo image

Many brilliant and interesting pictures. Which one do you think is the best? Make your choice and then wait for the results in the near future

Cassini Photo Contest
Join us as we approach the second anniversary of the Huygens Probe descent, and help us decide which of the Cassini spacecraft's many spectacular views from the last year and a half stands out the most.

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

Mysterious Metallic Object Crashes Into Home

I was trying to find a local news report for this news about a possible meteorite. Finally found a source close to the source.
Looks like a meteorite but time will tell with an analysis.

Mysterious Metallic Object Crashes Into Home
By CHRIS NEWMARKER, AP

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Jan. 4) - Authorities were trying to identify a mysterious metallic object that crashed through the roof of a house in eastern New Jersey.

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/NEWS/70103006

Extremophile Creatures -organisms like no other on Earth but possibly in Space?

I have been interested in extremophile organisms ever since I watched the first video of various extremophile creatures on the bottom of deep sea vents in the Pacific Ocean in the 1990s. These curious organisms are found in the steaming pools in Yellowstone National Park as well as places around the earth. The unique characteristics give us possible clues to organisms which have or still live on Mars and our solar systems moons (Europa of Jupiter) , Mars and possible life forms on extrasolar planets.
More information is being uncovered all the time. Here is the latest.


Date: December 22, 2006


Nanoorganisms: Probe Of Acid Mine Drainage Turns Up Unsuspected Virus-sized Archaea

Science Daily — For 11 years, Jill Banfield at the University of California, Berkeley, has collected and studied the microbes that slime the floors of mines and convert iron to acid, a common source of stream pollution around the world.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061222092509.htm

more about these organisms

- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Although the terms archaea and extremophile are occasionally used ... There are many different classes of extremophiles, each corresponding to the way its ...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremophile
Life in Extreme Environments | The Astrobiology Web | Your Online ...
Links to information about thermophiles, halophiles, and other extremophiles both inside and outside of the domain Archaea.
www.astrobiology.com/extreme.htm

Eclipse 2006 umbra from Space

As the New (total eclipse-less) 2007 Year approach, I send this last message to SEML for 2006
Spaceweather.com (Dec31, 2006) (other days check in archives)

TOTAL ECLIPSE: The moon's dark shadow touched Earth today, tracing a path from Brazil to central Asia, cutting across Africa and Turkey, and finally returning to space west of Mongolia. Wherever the shadow fell, people witnessed a spectacular eclipse of the sun:
2006 eclipse umbra on Earth from Space
http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi?view=1&day=29&month=03&year=2006

photo gallery.
2006 eclipse photo Gallery
http://spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_29mar06.htm

High above Earth, the GOES-East weather satellite photographed the moon's shadow approaching the west coast of Africa:



Happy New 2007 Year!! And may we all see many eclipses to come.

Dr. Eric Flescher

Red Razin:Skepticism greets claim of possible alien microbes

just found this one
Skepticism greets claim of possible alien microbes
Jan. 5, 2006
Special to World Science
The red rain phenomenon first started in Kerala after a meteor airburst event, which occurred on 25th July 2001 near Changanacherry in [the] Kottayam district. This meteor airburst is evidenced by the sonic boom experienced by several people during early morning of that day.
http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/060104_specksfrm1.htm

There is more to comet dust then thought

Surprises in comet dust. There is more to comet dust then thought. Scientists are learning much about our universe through the dust from comets. Here is the latest.

Dust gathered from a comet and brought to Earth tells a tale of a so‐Therelar sys‐tem that par‐tial‐ly turned itself in‐side out, re‐search‐ers say.
Dec. 14, 2006
Special to World Science
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/061214_stardust.htm
Updated Dec. 15

Happy New Year

Dr. Eric Flescher

History Channel "(Meteors) Fire in the Sky" &"Comets: Prophecy of Doom"

I know it is History Channel and it has some shows that are historical but in this case they are mostly science, astronomy, geology and more, in my way of thinking. Well the two shows "(Meteors) Fire in the Sky" and "Comets: Prophecy of Doom" snuck up on us late 12/28 when my wife noticed it on the HC. It had played earlier that evening so I hope some of you saw it or may see it.
(Meteors) Fire in the Sky included meteorite harvesting in Antarctica, finding ancient meteor craters in Europe, the comet discovery and hit by Comet Shoemaker- Levy on Jupiter, Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and demise of the dinosaurs.

"Comets: Prophecy of Doom" showed information about the history of Comet appearances in the sky and impact with the Earth. It starts off the simulation/ scenario in which pieces of a approaching unseen comet flake off the start to hit Los Angeles. Includes differences and likeness of meteors, meteorites, comets and asteroids.

Both are well done and include real and simulated footage, footage by scientists, astronomers including David Levy, Carolyn Shoemaker and others.

Hope you can catch. I am not sure when it first came out but it seems up to date about many discoveries, ideas, theories etc

Dr. Eric Flescher (kcstarguy@aol.com), Olathe, KS: Member #2572 IMCA (International Meteorite Collectors Association) : E.O.A.S. (Earth, Oceans, Atmosphere and Space) Blog -

Eros Asteroid and comet news semi-new and old

Photos, news and information about asteroids and comets are still of interest. Here's more of the latest, semi new and old news that is still good.

Asteroid's mystery 'blue ponds'
The Eros asteroid continues to excite scientists
By BBC News Online science editor Dr David Whitehouse
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1565564.stm

Tuesday, 25 September, 2001, 17:43 GMT 18:43 UK 'Stupendous' comet pictures revealed
The images are of a far better quality than was expected
By BBC News Online science editor Dr David Whitehouse
The Deep Space 1 (DS1) probe has returned the best images yet taken of the nucleus of a comet.
I's mind-boggling and stupendous
Astronomers are already saying that the pictures of the 10-kilometre- (6-mile-) wide core of Comet Borrelly will revolutionise our understanding of these frozen wanderers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1563427.stm


Giotto and comet Halley in 1986
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/giotto.html

Eros Asteroid and comet news semi-new and old

Photos, news and information about asteroids and comets are still of interest. Here's more of the latest, semi new and old news that is still good.

Asteroid's mystery 'blue ponds'
The Eros asteroid continues to excite scientists
By BBC News Online science editor Dr David Whitehouse
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1565564.stm

Tuesday, 25 September, 2001, 17:43 GMT 18:43 UK 'Stupendous' comet pictures revealed
The images are of a far better quality than was expected
By BBC News Online science editor Dr David Whitehouse
The Deep Space 1 (DS1) probe has returned the best images yet taken of the nucleus of a comet.
I's mind-boggling and stupendous
Astronomers are already saying that the pictures of the 10-kilometre- (6-mile-) wide core of Comet Borrelly will revolutionise our understanding of these frozen wanderers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1563427.stm


Giotto and comet Halley in 1986
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/giotto.html

Tornadoes Damage Hundreds of Florida Homes

December is not usually a day for tornadoes but anything can happen where there is warm weather .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Dec. 26) - Four Christmas Day tornadoes damaged hundreds of Florida homes, with one flipping airplanes at a flight school and tearing the roofs off three apartment buildings, officials confirmed Tuesday.

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/tornadoes-damage-hundreds-of-florida/20061225142209990001

" The sky appears blue" because and more misconceptions..

There are many misconceptions astronomical science and more out there that people either believe until they actual reasons etc are know or understood. Part education, part thinking , part reasoning and more.

The sky appears blue because while sunlight contains blue that is bounced around by air molecules .
The Oceans are blue, it is not the reflection of the sky, because water absorbs sunlight's red wavelength which leaves more of the blue to reflect off the sea.

Meanwhile the atmosphere on Mars is pinkish colored. Why? Because the soil and rocks on Mars are red and the resulting dust is lofted into the thin air of the planet.


red about other science and astronomical misconceptions at

More at
www.sciencemadesimple.com/sky_blue.html

More at Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy website
www.badastronomy.com/


Other astronomy urban legends

Top 10 Space Urban Legends - Myths & Bad Astronomy

http://space.about.com/cs/funandfunny/tp/tpspacemyths.htm

Meteorite Blaze

I have been working with youTube and soon there will be an EOAS to view tornadoes, fireballs and video collection of those who have found and place videos on Youtub. There are some interesting videos.
This one has an interesting video of a fireball in Mexico.
The link below is a nice article about Meteorite Hunters.

Meteorite Blaze
Meteorite blaze over Guadalajara Mexico.
MilkandCookies.com: Latest Links -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8mbA606ZRWI


Wired News - USA
... were discovered by members of an elite clique of globe-trotting meteorite hunters, adventurers ... and art gallery owners, who have come to see meteorites as high ...
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/meteor.html

Simulation bio-earth-space game Spore coming

Simulation game spore is coming. Look at links below.
I have never tried the game Sims but I love SimCity, SimFarm, SimEarth, SimLife and used them in my computer camps with Rocky's Boots and Robot Odysey and more. I have not done much with them since the internet really started ramping up.

Says it will come out for Windows (first?).
Boy this Spore sim better come out for mac otherwise I will have to get a new mac or have to play the intel side when Sue gets her new one :)


Hopefully kids will try their hand at this great program then on the drivel many spend their time (with their cheat codes of course!!).

The creator Will Wright says that this "game" uses "procedural" content development. which I liken to my "structured flexiblity thinking."

Will Wright Presents Spore... and a New Way to Think About Games
The legendary game designer presents an alternate way to develop games, and the awesome product of this way of thinking."This isn't so much a game preview as it is a look at new thoughts on game design in full effect."
By Dave 'Fargo' Kosak | March 14, 2005
Will Wright, creator of SimCity and The Sims, says YES. And more than that, he believes he's found a way to make gaming a much more personal experience for everyone it touches. And it won't take hordes of content developers: it'll just take a little savvy and use of what's called

"procedural" content development.
http://www.gamespy.com/articles/595/595975p1.html


Spore (video game) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[15] At E3 2006, Spore was awarded the following Game Critics Awards: Best PC Game, ... Will Wright Presents Spore... and a New Way to Think About Games. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spore_(video_game)<



Computer Game
Spore for PC - GameSpot offers reviews, previews cheats and more. Count on us for all of the latest on the Spore Computer Game.
www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/spore/index.htm

Will Wright wows GDC with new Sim - PC News at GameSpot
GameSpot provides in-depth news about Spore and hundreds of other games, including game ... Will Wright gives a sneak preview of his upcoming game Spore, ...
www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/11/news_6120274.html


Spore Gameplay Video - Google Video
Will Wright talking at the 2005 Game Developer's Conference about 'Spore', which looks like it could possibly be the best video game ever. ...
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8372603330420559198

GameSpy: Will Wright Presents Spore... and a New Way to Think ...
Will Wright Presents Spore... and a New Way to Think About Games The legendary game designer presents an alternate way to develop games, and the awesome ...
www.gamespy.com/articles/595/595975p1.htm

SimmingWorld.com / Games / Spore - 6:10pm
First shown to the public at the Game Developers Conference 2005 in San Jose, CA by Will Wright, Spore is a brand new franchise -- it's not SimCity, ...
www.games.simmingworld.com/pc/spore/


3D Gamers :: Game Listing :: Spore Info
Spore downloads, Spore demos, Spore maps, Spore patches, Spore screenshots, Spore images, Spore pics, Spore wallpaper, Spore trailers.
www.3dgamers.com/games/spore/

Slashdot | Will Wright's Next Game: Spore
Will Wright's Next Game: Spore -- article related to Games.
games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/s.slashdot.or&from=rss

fogo archive: Re: amazing video game: Spore by Gerald Oskoboiny ...
Gerald Oskoboiny [2006-03-03 02:51-0800] >I just watched a video demo of a game (Spore) to be released >this fall, ...
impressive.net/archives/fogo/impressive.net/archives/fogo/20060725090

eclipse sighting TUTULEMMA unique image spaceweather 12/24/2006

eclipse sighting TUTULEMMA unique image spaceweather 12/24/2006

This is one spectacular picture
spaceweather.com
(not on 12/24/06 go to archives)

TUTULEMMA: If you took a picture of the sun at the same time each day, would it remain in the same position? The answer is no, and the figure-8 shape traced out by the sun over the course of a year is called an analemma

"I call it a tutulemma," says Tezel. "I invented this word myself. It's a combination of analemma and tutulma (pronounced to-tool-ma), the Turkish word for eclipse."
The eclipse in question is the total eclipse of March 29, 2006: gallery. The path of totality cut through Antalya, Turkey, about 500 km south of Tezel's home in Bursa. Combining images taken from Bursa and Antalya to create a true analemma--and the wo.
Renowned astrophotographer Tunc Tezel and his brother Cenk took dozens of pictures of the sun throughout 2006 and made the analemma, below. Look carefully. One of the suns in the analemma is eclipsed:

Dr. Eric Flescher (kcstarguy@aol.com), Olathe, KS: Member #2572 IMCA (International Meteorite Collectors Association) : E.O.A.S. (Earth, Oceans, Atmosphere and Space) Blog - :State of Kansas Solar System Ambassador: Comet Observers Coordinator- Astronomy League/ Astronomical Society of Kansas, KC, MO-Louisburg,KS: http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/comet/comet.htm: CometObserversAwardALsubscribe@yahoogroups.com - Dr. Eric Flescher (kcstarguy@aol.com), Olathe, KS: State of Kansas Solar System Ambassador:Eric's Black Sun Eclipse newsletter
: Subscribe to (send your email to)< blacksuneclipse-subscribe@egroups.com>:Website- http://members.aol.com/kcstarguy/blacksun/eclipse.htm: Satori Astronomy Website- http://members.aol.com/kcstarguy/satoriastronomy/satoriastronomy.htm

10 top photos from National Geographic & more

10 top photos from National Geographic included below

http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/12/061219-top-photos.html

"Lost World" of New Species Found in Indonesia


(February 7)
See some of the previously unknown species that scientists discovered in a remote mountain range on the island of New Guinea.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0207_020607_lost_world.html<

Photo in the News: Giant Jellyfish Invade Japan
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0119_060119_jellyfish.html>Photo

in the News: Rare "Rainbow" Spotted Over Idaho
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/060619-rainbow-fire.html

Start-Ups Try to Plot A Complete Picture

I heard about Google Maps and started to find out about these maps.
First you have to preload the Google Maps software (for mac or pc) on to your computer.
Then you have to find a map file. For example the first good ones I found out about are eclipse maps that show the path of Total solar eclipses.
You find the website with the link, upload it to your desktop computer.
Then it is loaded into your computer.
If there are map layers you can click on and off and show different map layers.
I also found volcano maps, meteorite crater maps, meteorite falls and their location and many others.
You can zoom into the maps also which is neat and go all around.
I will post more google maps stuff as I found it and and links .
If you find something interesting, email me
Dr. Eric Flescher, Olathe, KS(dreric1kansas@aol.com)

Meanwhile read the article above for more on how maps are being used.



Start-Ups Try to Plot A Complete Picture: 'Mash-Ups' Add Data to Online Maps (By Kim Hart)

Start-Ups Try to Plot A Complete Picture
'Mash-Ups' Add Data to Online Maps
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/26/AR2006112600794.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

By Kim Hart

Washington Post Staff Writer

2006 best science news

I always like to see and read about the best of the year discoveries, inventions, news highlights and more.

Here is the latest

Latest Meteorite information and more below

Study Finds that a Single Impact Killed the Dinosaurs
http://www.astrobiology.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=21370<>


Turkish scientists Looking for oldest meteorite

A group of Turkish scientists are looking for the traces of a meteorite which they believe to be th...
KeralaNext: Science News -
http://www.keralanext.com<

Campo del Cielo
By Mark SubbaRao
Together with Peter Coppin, they are designing an interactice experience exploring the Campo del Cielo meteorite field in Argentina. The stewn field consists of about a dozen craters, and the fall is believed to have taken place about ...
-
http://adlercyberspace.blogspot.com >

Rugged bacteria may be sign of Martian life -- on Earth

Rugged bacteria may be sign of Martian life -- on Earth
Ottawa Citizen - Ontario, Canada
... There are about 30 known Mars meteorites on Earth (and certainly more that haven ... of attention that is being given to the environment of a meteorite that would

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=739e321d-fec5-46c2-b4bb-422fc97af972&k=24357

Rugged bacteria may be sign of Martian life -- on Earth

Rugged bacteria may be sign of Martian life -- on Earth
Ottawa Citizen - Ontario, Canada
... There are about 30 known Mars meteorites on Earth (and certainly more that haven ... of attention that is being given to the environment of a meteorite that would

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=739e321d-fec5-46c2-b4bb-422fc97af972&k=24357