The Last 31 Days in Astronomy

AUG-20-2007 • Nearest Neutron Star • Astronomers from Penn State University report that they may have found the closest neutron star. The distance is between 250 and 1,000 lightyears. The object, nicknamed Calvera, will be the subject of a lot of study including some observations from Chandra to see if it pulsates in X-rays. http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Fox8-2007.htm

AUG-29-2007 • Deep, Dark Pit on Mars • The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned some high-resolution images. One of them confirms the appearance of a crater that appears to be deep and nearly perfectly vertical. These so-called “pit craters” have been seen on volcanoes in Hawaii. http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12566

SEP-04-2007 • Phoenix Passes Tests • The Phoenix Mars lander has passed earlier tests of its camera, radar and UHF transmitter. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-094a

SEP-06-2007 • Days (on Saturn) really are shorter • Calculations based on radio astronomy performed on Cassini, Yoyager and Pioneer spacecraft have been used to come up with a new estimate for the length of a Saturnian day. The new estimate is shorter than the previous estimate by about 15 minutes. The new estimate is 10 hours, 32 minutes and 35 seconds. What difference does that make? Well, the longer day implied that all of the winds on the planet must all be traveling in the same direction. The shorter day allows for more complex weather. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070906_saturn_day.html

SEP-06-2007 • Rocket Failure Compacts Schedule • A Proton rocket launching a Japanese satellite failed dropping rocket parts and fuel over the Kazakh countryside. Besides creating more tension between Russia and Kazakhstan, the satellite launching schedule is getting cramped. The Atlas 5 is booked until 2009 at the earliest. Sea Launch is booked through 2008, assuming it can resume launches this year. Ariannespace might have a slot open in 2008. http://www.space.com/spacenews/070910_busmon_protonfail.html

SEP-07-2007 • Rovers Revived • The Mars rovers are ready to go back to work after surviving dust storms. Opportunity will travel into an 800 meter wide crater called Victoria Crater but early results suggest that the terrain might be too slippery. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-098 , http://www.space.com/news/070912_rovers_update.html , http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20070907a.html