Astrosphere for June 12, 2007

2007-0612omega.thumbnail-2.jpg

Back out to the astrosphere. Let's see what's out there.

Today's amateur astrophoto is from Bad Astronomy/Universe Today forum member

clop

. It's a beautiful shot of the globular cluster Omega Centauri. You can see

this and a photo of M83 in the forum

.

First off, Emily Lakdawalla from the Planetary Society debunks the discovery of puddles on Mars. Apparently, they were on the side of a cliff.

We think we know what life looks like, but would we recognize non-carbon life if we saw it?

The Daily Galaxy

has an interesting story on this

.

It's time to go to school. First, the

Astroprof

explains

how magnitudes work

. And then

Dr. Pamela Gay

describes what

a sidereal day is

.

Now this is just crazy. Space entrepreneur Rick Tumlinson is working on a company that will let people skydive from space. Well, from 36,000 metres (120,000 feet).

Alan Boyle

has the details

.

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain is the publisher of Universe Today, founding the website in March 1999. He's also the co-host of Astronomy Cast.