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| Another Sponsor: VisibleSky.com |
Nov 26, 2003 - I've got another sponsor joining Universe Today: VisibleSky. They create a custom skychart that shows the position of the stars at an exact date, time and location. It would make a cool gift to celebrate a birth, anniversary, etc. You can order a PDF or purchase a framed copy. Click here to check out their website - VisibleSky.com.
I've moved Universe Today to its new server, and things went well... too well. I've caught a few bugs, but if you notice something unusual, please let me know so I can fix it. Finally, I'm sending this newsletter from the new server, so if this is the first time you've gotten the newsletter, even though you subscribed for it weeks or months ago, let me know.
Thanks!
Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today
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| Image credit: ESA |
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| Images of Wetlands from Space |
| Nov 26, 2003 - The Earth's wetlands are home to some of the most fragile and diverse ecosystems on the planet, and they're under constant threat from human agriculture, pollution, and settlement. This month the European Space Agency began a program to map 50 wetland areas around the Earth from space to help keep track of their health. ESA's Envisat is able to tell the difference between dry and waterlogged areas, and will be able to provide annual data about how various wetlands change throughout the seasons. |
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| Image credit: ESO |
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| The Next Supernova? |
| Nov 26, 2003 - The European Southern Observatory has released new images of a relatively nearby star, Eta Carina, which could be in the final stages of its life and could explode as a supernova in the near future (astronomically-speaking) - within the next 10-20,000 years or so. The star is 7,500 light years away, 100 times the mass of the Sun, and the most luminous object in the Milky Way. Since 1841, it has created a beautiful nebula around itself by continuously shedding outside layers while it spins quickly. By watching how Eta Carina changes, astronomers will gain valuable insights into the final stages of a supermassive star's life. |
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