Universe Today - September 21, 2000 |
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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. September 21, 2000 - Issue #311 http://www.universetoday.com info@universetoday.com An HTML version of this newsletter including pictures is available at: http://www.universetoday.com/html/misc/today.html ************************************** -- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY -- * Astronomers Locate Milky Way's Black Hole * Hubble Timelapse Shows Dynamic Binary System * Mir Still in Financial Distress * Weather Satellite Launches ASTRONOMERS LOCATE MILKY WAY'S BLACK HOLE ------------------------- Astronomers using the giant Keck observatory in Hawaii have pinpointed an immense black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. With the mass of over 2 million suns, this black hole causes nearby stars to speed up as they revolve around the galactic core. By triangulating the effect of the hole, they were able to located its exact position, at a point known as Sagittarius A. Internet Coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_934000/934033.stm http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/09/21/black.hole.ap/index.html http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/20000920/sp_blackhole.html http://www.foxnews.com/science/092000/blackhole.sml Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/blackholes.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/blackholes.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/blackholes.html HUBBLE TIMELAPSE SHOWS DYNAMIC BINARY SYSTEM ------------------------- Thanks to Hubble's lengthy tour of service, astronomers have been able to go back and take another look at objects they imaged several years ago. Many of these objects are changing quite dramatically. For example, the binary system XZ Tauri is in the process of ejecting an enormous bubble of hot gas 96 billion kilometres into space. Watching this event unfold over the last 5 years has given astronomers valuable insights into the formation of these young star systems. Original Source: http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/2000/32/pr-photos.html Internet Coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.htm http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/20000921/sp_hubble.html http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0009/21hstmovies/ Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/hubble.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/astronomy.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/hubble.html MIR STILL IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS ------------------------- Even though it's been in the news regularly with all kinds of new entrepreneurial ventures, Mir's future is uncertain. The Russian spacestation is still in constant danger of running out of funding, forcing it to be deorbited. Despite the $20 million paid by businessman Dennis Tito for a flight to the station, as well as an additional $20 million when NBC pays for Destination Mir, the station is constantly strapped for cash, and the Russian parliament is considering a plan to deorbit the station safely. Internet Coverage: http://www.msnbc.com/news/464133.asp Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/mir.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/russia.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/mir.html WEATHER SATELLITE LAUNCHES ------------------------- After yesterday's delay, the Titan 2 carrying the NOAA-L weather satellite launched into orbit this morning without a hitch. The converted ICBM lifted off from the Space Launch Center 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California 10:22am GMT. The satellite separated from the booster almost 7 minutes later, at an altitude of 870 kilometres. The NOAA-L satellite will provide global weather data for use on short and long-term forecasts and climate models. Original Source: http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/earth/noaaL/noaal.htm Internet Coverage: http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/2000b/092100g.htm http://spaceflightnow.com/titan/g13/status.html http://www.spaceviews.com/2000/09/21a.html Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/satellites.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/satellites.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/satellites.html ------------------------- To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE !*EMAIL*!". All contents copyright (c) 2000 Universe Today |