Universe Today - November 15, 1999 |
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the U N I V E R S E T O D A Y Space Exploration News From Around the Internet, Updated Every Weekday. November 15th, 1999 - Issue #124 http://www.universetoday.com info@universetoday.com To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER". An HTML version of this Newsletter is available at: http://www.universetoday.com/html/misc/today.html ************************************** -- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY -- * Ariane Rocket Lifts Telecommunications Satellite Into Orbit * Discovery Moved to the Launch Pad * Extrasolar Planet Seen Passing in Front of Star * Solar Maximum Approaches * 200 Dangerous Asteroids Now Discovered ARIANE ROCKET LIFTS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE INTO ORBIT ------------------------ Arianespace added another successful launch to its track record when the GE-4 telecommunications satellite was placed into orbit on board an Ariane 44LP with two strap-on solid rocket boosters. Built by Lockheed Martin, the satellite will service the C-/Ku-bands for North and South America. This is Arianespace's 49th consecutive successful launch. http://www.astronomynow.com/breaking/9911/13arianev123/index.html http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/13c.html DISCOVERY MOVED TO THE LAUNCH PAD ------------------------ After a series of delays, the Space Shuttle Discovery has finally been moved to the launch pad in preparation for its December 6th mission to help repair the ailing Hubble Space Telescope. The trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad is 6.75 kms, and took the shuttle over four hours to make the journey. http://www.astronomynow.com/breaking/9911/13rollout/index.html http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/13d.html EXTRASOLAR PLANET SEEN PASSING IN FRONT OF STAR ------------------------ Astronomers at the University of California, Berkeley have witnessed an extrasolar planet passing in front of its star - the first time this has ever been seen! After the team discovered the evidence of a planet through its gravitation effect on star HD 209458 they viewed the star with an automated telescope. The planet passed in front of the star exactly when they predicted, and dimmed it the same amount every orbit, allowing the team to measure the size and density of the planet. http://www.astronomynow.com/breaking/9911/14planet/index.html http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9911/13/newplanet.ap/index.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/335007.asp http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/1999b/111499b.htm http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/extrasolar-99y.html http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/14a.html SOLAR MAXIMUM APPROACHES ------------------------ The Earth is about to enter the Solar Maximum - a time when activity on the sun's 11 year cycle reaches its peak. The aerospace industry is concerned about the impact the increase in solar storms will have on the constellation of telecommunications satellites in orbit, which will face the full brunt of the sun's energy. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/111199/solarflare_fox.sml 200 DANGEROUS ASTEROIDS NOW DISCOVERED ------------------------ Astronomers using the LINEAR telescope in New Mexico recently discovered the 200th potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) named 1999 VP11. PHAs are objects above 200 meters in diameter, and pass within 7.5 million kilometers of the Earth's orbit. Although the LINEAR facility has only been operational for three years, it has discovered a third of all PHAs. http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/12b.html ************************************** Space News from SpaceDaily.com for today Supernova Jives To The Jetsons http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/supernova-99b.html Japan To Launch Weather Sat Today http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/h2-99b.html Ariane 5 To Launch XMM Dec 10 http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/ariane-99u.html SETI Call To ET Celebrates 25th Anniversary http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/seti-99f.html Micromirrors To Light Up Space Telescope http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/ngst-99h.html Robot Astronomer Discovers Supernova http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/supernova-99c.html To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER". All contents copyright (c) 1999 Universe Today |