Universe Today - November 17, 1999

Universe Today - November 17, 1999

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 17th, 1999 - Issue #125
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-- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY --

* Leonid Meteors Will Put On a Show
* SETI's 25th Anniversary Celebrated
* Mars Microprobes Named After Antarctic Explorers
* Another Gyro Fails, Crippling Hubble
* Mercury Transits in Front of the Sun
* Japanese Rocket Detonated After Launch


LEONID METEORS WILL PUT ON A SHOW
------------------------
As Thursday approaches, astronomers and scientists anticipate
the possibility of a dazzling Leonid meteor shower. As the
Earth moves through Comet Tempel-Tuttle's dust trail, it's
predicted that 4,000-6,000 meteors per hour will streak a
burning trail through our atmosphere.

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC2000/abc2000science/Leonids_991116.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_523000/523348.stm
http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/brief1.html?ct=383271d4
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/111699/leonids_fox.sml
http://www.msnbc.com/news/213237.asp


SETI'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
------------------------
It's been twenty-five years since a message was sent from the
Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico towards the Great Cluster
in Hercules. It's still to soon to hear back from the expected
audience, as the Cluster is 25,000 light years away, and no
other stars were in the path of the message.

http://www.astronomynow.com/breaking/9911/16message/index.html
http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/brief2.html?ct=383271d4
http://www.msnbc.com/news/335961.asp
http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/16b.html


MARS MICROPROBES NAMED AFTER ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS
------------------------
Two microprobes carried on board the Mars Polar Lander have been
officially named after the leaders of two Antarctic expeditions:
Amundsen and Scott. The probes will slam into the surface of the
Red Planet and drive detection equipment one-meter under the surface.

http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/16c.html


ANOTHER GYRO FAILS, CRIPPLING HUBBLE
------------------------
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope knew they were
working on borrowed time, and their fears were realized on Saturday
when another of Hubble's gyro's failed, leaving the scope with
only two operation. The telescope needs three to operate, so
until the Dec. 6th Space Shuttle Discovery mission is complete,
Hubble is out of commission.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/hubble991115.html
http://www.astronomynow.com/breaking/9911/15hubble/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_521000/521351.stm
http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9911/15/hubble.breakdown.02/index.html
http://www.msnbc.com/news/333215.asp
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/hubble-99d.html
http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/15c.html


MERCURY TRANSITS IN FRONT OF THE SUN
------------------------
In an event that only happens every 13 times a century, a transit
of the planet Mercury across the face of the sun was visible from
Earth. North and South America were the best places to see the
transit, which lasted 52 minutes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_521000/521539.stm


JAPANESE ROCKET DETONATED AFTER LAUNCH
------------------------
After a Japanese H-2 rocket veered off course controllers on
the ground were forced to detonate it 8-minutes after launch
to prevent a possible crash. Authorities believe the misfire
was caused by a malfunctioning main engine. The rocket was
carrying a multi-purpose satellite for aviation control
and meteorological observation.

http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9911/15/space.japan.reut/index.html
http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/11/15a.html


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Space News from SpaceDaily.com for today

An Ocean of Ice In Retreat
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/arctic-99a.html

Boeing Issues Independent Launch Review
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/launchers-99t.html

Hubble Offline Until Discovery Arrives
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/hubble-99d.html

Japan Vows To Review Space Program
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/h2-99e.html

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