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| Saturn's moon Enceladus backlit by the Sun. Image credit: NASA/JPL/SSI Click to enlarge |
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| Ice Volcanoes on Enceladus |
| Nov 29, 2005 - Cassini has returned amazing photographs of ice volcanoes erupting from the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus. On a previous pass of the moon, Cassini detected particles of water vapour stretching hundreds of kilometres above its surface, and this photograph shows the ice volcanoes in action. It's believed they're spewing out material that refreshes the ice in Saturn's E-ring. (Full Story) |
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| Hayabusa Successfully Collects an Asteroid Sample |
| Nov 29, 2005 - Japan's asteroid explorer, Hayabusa, successfully touched down onto the surface of asteroid Itokawa Saturday for the second time in a week, and the Japanese Agency announced that it's clutching a sample of material. The spacecraft will now begin the long journey back to Earth, and it all goes well, its sample capsule should land in the Australian outback in June 2007. This will be the first time material from an asteroid will ever be sampled back here on the Earth. (Full Story) |
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| Shadows Cast By Venus |
| Nov 29, 2005 - Have you ever heard that Venus can be so bright it can cast shadows? Well, very few people have ever actually seen their shadow cast by Venus, though. If you're up for the challenge, find a completely dark location before December 3rd; completely away from the lights of the city, and during a time when the Moon is absent from the night sky. As the sky darkens, the brightest object will be Venus. Hold your hand in front of a white piece of paper, and you should be able to see a very faint shadow. (Full Story) |
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| A Supernova in Progress |
| Nov 29, 2005 - This image taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory shows the ongoing expansion of supernova SN 1970G, which exploded more than 35 years ago. Astronomers estimate that the shockwaves from the supernova will crash into shells of material shed by the star about 25,000 years ago, completing its transition into a supernova remnant. (Full Story) |
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