Astrosphere for October 10th, 2007

First, your photo for the day is of the Trifid Nebula, captured by JAICOA.

In Universe Today news, I’m testing out a new forum/blogging software called Lefora. This could be an eventual new home for Universe Today, or maybe it’ll be a botched experiment, quickly forgotten. To help me decide, please take a moment and come check it out at: http://universetoday.lefora.com/. Register as a user, comment on stories, start new discussions, post pictures, vote. And give your feedback. I’d really appreciate your help.

Now, onto the ‘sphere.

As a tribute for the 100,000th asteroid discovery, researchers have decided to rename it to Astronautica.

SPACE.com has a video of a potential asteroid mission.

Astronomy.com reports on the battle to save the Arecibo observatory.

Australian researchers are working on a design for a self-sufficient lunar colony.

Didn’t you think it was cool that Google redesigned its logo to celebrate Sputnik’s 50th anniversary? Not everyone did, apparently.

No, that’s not a big glass worm on the surface of Mars.

Remember the DARPA Grand Challenge, where robotic cars navigated a complex track? The urban version is about to begin. Robotic cars on busy city streets. I can’t wait.

And finally, Centauri Dreams remembers Robert Bussard, inventor of the ram jet that bears his name. He passed away from cancer a few days ago.