LOOKING UP: Year of Astronomy inspires us to look up Apr 4, 2009
A very rare surge of the Leonid Meteor Shower was raining hundreds of blazing meteors across the sky every hour, many being brilliant and leaving lingering gray trails ... Being surprised by a totally unexpected meteor, seeing the Milky Way Band under a dark sky or remembering the joy of sharing what you found out with your spouse, your child or grandchild or a friend, makes more precious times. (Medfield Press, MA)
'Monsters' takes tips from vintage villains Apr 3, 2009
The referential wink arrives early, when one of the NASA guys tracking the plummeting meteor suddenly pulls out a paddle ball and hits it toward the audience, much like a top-hatted sidewalk performer in House of Wax. DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg at first questioned the scene, then got the joke. (USA Today -- Life)
HUMOR IS AN ALIEN CONCEPT HERE Apr 3, 2009
During a meteor shower, his barbecue is interrupted by the arrival of a spaceship. The pilot, an intergalactic marshal, borrows McCormack's body to battle cheesy-looking rubber monsters from outer space. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
Invasion spoof 'Alien Trespass' is easy to forgive Apr 3, 2009
on a night in 1957 when meteor showers are expected. Astronomer Ted Lewis (Eric McCormack) is celebrating an anniversary with his wife, Lana (Jody Thompson), when a fiery ball crashes to Earth. (USA Today -- Life)
Sunday Night's Virginia Fireball:a Meteor, Not a Rocket Reentry Apr 1, 2009
Update, March 31: The confusion over whether the great Virginia fireball Sunday night was a meteor or a Russian rocket re-entry has been resolved in favor of a meteor ... "So the hunt for fallen meteorites is back on. Or maybe should be. Here's our original post about the big boomer:Bright fireballs really brilliant meteors, the kind that flood police stations with phone calls aren't all that rare. Anyone who spends a lot of time under clear night skies will probably see a real screamer once or... (SkyAndTelescope.com)
> read more Apr 1, 2009
com - Homepage Observing - Sunday Night's Virginia Fireball:a Meteor, Not a Rocket Reentry ... Sunday Night's Virginia Fireball:a Meteor, Not a Rocket Reentry ... Update, March 31: The confusion over whether the great Virginia fireball Sunday night was a meteor or a Russian rocket re-entry has been resolved in favor of a meteor. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Virginia fireball said to be meteor, not rocket Apr 1, 2009
A brilliant fireball in the Virginia sky on Sunday was likely a natural meteor event and not the remnants of a Russian rocket, scientists now say, a reversal from yesterday's initial analysis ... The evidence now suggests, he said, that the loud boom and streak of light was created by a natural meteor, or bolide, burning up as it plummeted through Earth's atmosphere ... "I'm confident that this was a meteoric event," Bill Cooke of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama said this morning.... (MSNBC -- Technology)
Ice That Burns Could Be a Green Fossil Fuel Mar 27, 2009
Meteor expert Peter Jenniskens describes what it was like to scour the Nubian Desert for fragments of the first space rock ever observed before it hit Earth. 18:02 25 March 2009. (Newsmax)
'Monsters' voice role a first for Witherspoon Mar 27, 2009
Witherspoon's character is your typical bride-to-be until a close encounter with a meteor turns her into a super-strong giant. Arnett voices The Missing Link, and Laurie's the voice of half man/half cockroach Dr. Cockroach Ph. (Fresno Bee)
Space Storm Alert: 'We're moving closer and closer to the edge of a possible disaster'... Mar 26, 2009
Meteor expert Peter Jenniskens describes what it was like to scour the Nubian Desert for fragments of the first space rock ever observed before it hit Earth ... Meteor expert Peter Jenniskens describes what it was like to scour the Nubian Desert for fragments of the first space rock ever observed before it hit Earth. (The Drudge Report)
Scientists track an asteroid and match its remnants Mar 26, 2009
The discovery and analysis of the meteorites, reported in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, give scientists solid data on the composition of meteorites that originate from what are known as F-class asteroids ... It is not uncommon for the fireball of an incoming asteroid to light up the night sky and then for people to find meteorites the surviving fragments ... But in most cases, scientists can only guess what kind of asteroid the meteorites came from. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Chance of impact: 100 per cent Mar 26, 2009
This NASA photo shows a black chunk of rock found in the Sudan desert, the first time astronomers have tracked an asteroid from space, through the Earth's atmosphere and down on the ground as a meteorite ... PARIS - Stunned astronomers watched a car-sized asteroid explode into a brilliant meteor shower as it crashed into Earth's atmosphere, then wandered into a Sudanese desert to pick up the pieces, a study reports ... "Any number of meteorites have been observed as fireballs and smoking meteor... (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Astronomers catch shooting star for first time Mar 26, 2009
NASANASA meteor astronomer Peter Jenniskens ... WASHINGTON - For the first time U.S. scientists matched a meteorite found on Earth with a specific asteroid that became a fireball plunging through the sky ... "This was a meteorite that was not in our collection, a completely new material," said study lead author Peter Jenniskens of NASA's Ames Research Center in California. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Asteroid Impact Helps Trace Meteorite Origins Mar 26, 2009
Researchers rushed to collect the resulting meteorite debris, and a new paper in Nature reports on this first-ever opportunity to calibrate telescopic observations of a known asteroid with laboratory analyses of its fragments. "Any number of meteorites have been observed as fireballs and smoking meteor trails as they come through the atmosphere," says Douglas Rumble of the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory, a co-author of the paper ... On the other hand, meteorites recovered on Earth... (Science Daily)
'Impact tonight!': Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth Mar 26, 2009
Stunned astronomers watched a car-sized asteroid explode into a brilliant meteor shower as it crashed into Earth's atmosphere, then wandered into a Sudanese desert to pick up the pieces, a study reports ... Any number of meteorites have been observed as fireballs and smoking meteor trails as they come through the atmosphere,'' said co-author Douglas Rumble, a researcher at the Carnegie Institution. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
NASA Teleconference To Discuss Recovered Meteorites Mar 25, 2009
WASHINGTON -- NASA will hold a media teleconference on Wednesday, March 25, at 2 p.m. EDT to reveal science findings from recently discovered meteorites. The meteorites originate from a small asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere over the Nubian Desert of northern Sudan on Oct. 7, 2008 ... - Peter Jenniskens, meteor astronomer at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. (NASA Watch)
`Monsters vs. Aliens' creates another dimension Mar 25, 2009
Producer Lisa Stewart said it made sense for the story, which she characterized as "an homage to the 1950s and '60s monster horror movies where 3-D really first came into the fore." The film follows Susan (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), who's transformed into the 49-foot-tall Ginormica after she gets hit by a meteor on her wedding day ... "I'm 42 years old, and there's that one shot where the meteorites are heading toward Earth and they slowly pass over your right shoulder, then slowly over your... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Monsters vs. Aliens is one loony toon Mar 24, 2009
A meteorite turns a girl into a giant and she is taken to a secret government compound where she is enlisted, along with a group of monsters, to fight aliens ... Susan (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) is looking forward to her wedding to self-centered weatherman Derek (Paul Rudd), but when a stray meteorite hits her just before the ceremony, Susan grows to gigantic proportions ... The monsters are brought out of hiding when obnoxious alien Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) sends an enormous robot to Earth... (MSNBC -- Movies)
The stars crawl out for 'Monsters vs. Aliens' Mar 24, 2009
The animated film tells the tale of a California woman (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) who gets hit by a meteor on her wedding day that turns her into a 49-foot human named Ginormica. She meets up with a motley crew of monsters: Dr. Cockroach, Ph. (USA Today -- Life)
Save The Date: Los Angeles Premiere of DreamWorks Animation's MONSTERS VS ALIENS Mar 13, 2009
When California girl Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. The military jumps into action and Susan is captured and secreted away to a covert government compound. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Stolen Meteorite Found After 41 Years Mar 12, 2009
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Jim Stingl Column: Rummager's Galactic Find Turns Out to Be Stolen Meteorite ... Recently, he saw a show about meteorites on the Travel Channel and realized that's probably what he had ... Yes, they said, it's a meteorite. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
LOOKING UP: Moons recession is short lived Mar 8, 2009
Some held to a volcanic origin rather than meteoric impacts ... Earth has meteor craters, although most have been erased by erosion ... Meteor Crater, Arizona, is likely the best known. (Medfield Press, MA)
Register for "Monsters vs. Aliens" Private Screening Tickets! Mar 7, 2009
Synopsis: When California girl Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. The military jumps into action and Susan is captured and secreted away to a covert government compound. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Asteroids should come with warning labels Mar 6, 2009
Ihave to say, now's not a really good week for me to get vaporized by a meteor impact. My sweet Annette is out of the state, on tour with the Washington Generals, doing battle with those showoff Globetrotters. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Phew! Asteroid's passing was a cosmic near-miss Mar 5, 2009
AFP/Getty Images/File A meteor streaks diagonally across the sky against a field of star trails behind one of the peaks of ... But not as close as the tiny meteoroid 2004 FU162, which came within 4,000 miles in 2004. (Yahoo News)
Things that go bump in the night Mar 5, 2009
The object appears to have been a bolide, a meteor the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, which makes a very bright streak that takes a while to fade. The resulting meteorite, if there is one, has not been found as of this writing (2/17) ... 5 billion years ago, the Earth was hit by everything but the kitchen sink, including asteroids, meteors, comets, baby planets, and other stuff from the beginning of the Solar System. (Danvers Herald, MA)
Asteroid plays chicken with Earth Mar 4, 2009
WA Today - Business News, World News & Breaking News in Australia Skip directly to: Search Box, , , Text Version. Unknown asteroid comes close to earth. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Space rock gives Earth a close shave Mar 3, 2009
AFP/Getty Images/File A meteor streaks diagonally across the sky against a field of star trails behind one of the peaks of. PARIS (AFP) An asteroid of a similar size to a rock that exploded above Siberia in 1908 with the force of a thousand atomic bombs whizzed close past Earth on Monday, astronomers said on Tuesday. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Nearby Asteroid To Zoom By Earth Mar 2, 2009
An asteroid of similar size crashed to earth in October of 2007 with little fanfare, but a smaller meteor made headlines last month when it streaked across the Texas sky. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. (TheSanDiegoChannel.com, CA)
Longest serving Dem senator slams Obama......Byrd warns of power grab Feb 26, 2009
" Party: NA Reply #7 Date: Feb. 25, 2009 - 11:13 AM EST Reminds me of another Byrd Letter: I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds. Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944, [3][7] Party: NA Reply #8 Date: Feb. 25, 2009 -... (The Drudge Report)
How A Cometary Boulder Lit Up The Spanish Sky Feb 25, 2009
Fireballs (or bolides) are the name given by astronomers to the brightest meteors (popularly referred to as shooting stars ) ... 8 tonnes, large enough that some fragments probably survived intact and fell to the ground as meteorites ... This orbit is very similar to that of a cloud of dusty particles (meteoroids) known as the Omicron Draconids, which on rare occasions produces a minor meteor shower and probably originates from the breakup of Comet C/1919 Q2 Metcalf in 1920. (Science Daily)
Comet's heart may have struck Earth Feb 24, 2009
Scientists aptly call the objects because they are the brightest meteors, or "shooting stars," that fall to Earth ... Many meteoroids are the detritus left over from collisions of asteroids and comets and impacts to other planets ... If a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it starts to burn up, forming a bright streak in the sky, called a meteor. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Comet comes to town Feb 21, 2009
Although a reasonable knowledge of astronomy and a dark sky were needed to find it, ASSA comet and meteor section director Tim Cooper said it could be followed with binoculars until the end of March. On February 23, the comet would be 2. (iAfrica.com)
Fireball lights up sky and causes jaws to drop Feb 21, 2009
Astronomers said the celestial apparition could have been a new meteor, possibly from "a clump of cometary material that hadn't dispersed enough to become an annual shower." ... He said they were waiting for Saturn to come into view at about 9:05 p.m. "when all of a sudden, out of nowhere this streaking bullet of a meteor comes ripping across the sky over the Marriott Beach Club timeshare building (from the east) heading downwards at a 45-degree angle towards the ocean (the west)." ... "However,... (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
What a mess! Experts ponder space junk Feb 20, 2009
Feb. 16: Astronomers have determined that the flash of bright lights that moved across the skies of Texas Sunday morning was from a meteor and not debris from a space collision of two communications satellites, as previously thought. NBC's Brian Williams reports. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Meteor Strike Triggers Central Texas Treasure Hunt Feb 20, 2009
But it turns out that the roar that rattled many Central Texans Sunday morning, was a falling meteor. Meteor showers happen all over Earth every day, said Dr. Dwight Russell, Astronomy and Physics professor at Baylor University ... Meteors that produce fireballs such as the one many Central Texans saw Sunday happen about 10 times a year, he said, and its rare for such a show of light and smoke to be seen during the daytime. (KWTX.com, TX)
Down to Earth (6) Feb 20, 2009
Feb. 17 marked 79th anniversary of Paragould meteorite's landing ... Published: Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:14 PM CST At 4:08 a.m. Feb. 17, 1930, a meteorite cluster put Paragould in history and science books ... Kenneth Renshaw, a Solar System Ambassador from NASA and Paragould native, is a longtime astronomer and has studied the Paragould meteorites for years. (Paragould Daily Press, AR)
FUMC to hear from coach on true football sportsmanship Feb 19, 2009
In no way do they represent the view of Madisonvillemeteor. com. (Madisonville Meteor, TX)
Texas astronomers say they found samples of meteor Feb 19, 2009
Two University of North Texas astronomers think they've found two pieces of a meteor that alarmed numerous residents when it streaked across the Texas sky on Sunday ... People on Sunday reported seeing a fireball streak across the sky and DiLulio said the reason it created such a fireball was because the meteor expanded and broke into pieces ... The pair said they were not alone in the search and ran into others including "a commercial meteorite hunter and we wanted to get there so we could have... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Science)
Flashes, bangs in the sky were meteors Feb 18, 2009
"That explanation seemed to fit with what had happened a few days before, when two communications satellites collided 490 miles above northern Siberia. But the FAA notice was quickly withdrawn after the military advised that no satellite debris was falling, FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said Monday."It was the result of some sort of natural phenomenon," Bergen said.It turns out, astronomers say, that the satellite debris was too high to be falling back to Earth this quickly and probably too... (Anchorage Daily News)
FIREBALL IN TEXAS SKY, ITS ORIGIN UNKNOWN... Feb 17, 2009
It has since been identified as a meteor by the Federal Aviation Administation, who are calling it a natural phenomenon ... The meteor was visible Sunday morning from Austin to Dallas and into East Texas ... Local astronomers are taking advantage of the excitementsurrounding the meteor. (The Drudge Report)
FAA says Texas fireball was meteor, not a UFO Feb 17, 2009
DALLAS The fireball that streaked across the sky and alarmed numerous Texas residents was likely just a big meteor and not wreckage from colliding satellites, experts said today ... And Preston Starr, observatory manager at the University of North Texas, said it probably was a meteor about the size of a pickup truck with the consistency of a chunk of concrete. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Military denies link... Feb 17, 2009
Metallic meteorite likely sent fireball across Texas sky ... Sunday s great Texas fireball was probably just a meteor ... Our indication is this was a natural phenomenon, perhaps something like a meteor, said Air Force Maj. (The Drudge Report)
Homes Shake, Windows Rattle As Satellite Debris Crashes To Earth Here Feb 16, 2009
I thought it was a meteor. Thank goodness no one was hurt by this. (KWTX.com, TX)
Pinki's pride Feb 16, 2009
" Pinki's father is confident they will win the Oscar. But mother Shimla Devi plays down the expectation. For her, she says, the biggest award is Pinki's new found smile. Bookmark with: Print Sponsor FILM AWARDS 2009 BAFTAS VIDEO REPORTS GOLDEN GLOBES OSCARS BUILD-UP OTHER AWARDS RELATED INTERNET LINKS The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites E-MAILED Dog turns into expert climber Jacksons star in Nigeria resort row Henry VIII love letter exhibited Galaxy has... (BBC News -- South Asia)
Afghanistan death marine named Feb 16, 2009
" He is the seventh British serviceman to die in Afghanistan so far this year. Bookmark with: Print Sponsor UK TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN LATEST NEWS FEATURES AND ANALYSIS BACKGROUND FATALITIES HAVE YOUR SAY E-MAILED Dog turns into expert climber Harsh winter hits 'tender' plants Galaxy has 'billions of Earths' Alzheimer's helmet therapy hope US uses songs to deter immigrants READ Australian arson suspect named Galaxy has 'billions of Earths' 'US missile strikes' hit Pakistan Crash plane 'dropped in... (BBC News -- UK)
Euro cash use by Wales discussed Feb 16, 2009
" Recovery He will also discuss how European funding can be used to support struggling businesses. The EU Economic Recovery Plan, announced in November 2008, was introduced to help member states and regions respond to the current economic downturn. The proposals include the better targeting of resources to prevent unemployment and raise skill levels in line with labour market needs. There are also proposals to provide more investment in improving energy efficiency in low income households. The... (BBC News -- UK)
'Brutal' attack on stab death man Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 14:35 GMT, Sunday, 15 February 2009. Brutal' attack on stab death man. (BBC News -- UK)
Nuclear future 'key for Scotland' Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 00:23 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009. Nuclear future 'key for Scotland. (BBC News -- UK)
Tennant named theatregoers' pick Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 18:58 GMT, Sunday, 15 February 2009. Tennant had to pull out of the role for back surgery. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Juicy row: Council clashes with energy firm over 'juice' trademark Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 01:32 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009. Npower urged to drop 'juice' row. (BBC News -- UK)
Talking NICE around the globe Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 00:07 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009. Emma Wilkinson Health reporter, BBC News online. (BBC News)
DNA testing fails on ancient British polar bear remains Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 06:28 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009. Polar bear skull defies DNA test. (BBC News -- Science)
Appeal over city murder inquiry Feb 16, 2009
" Officers are looking to trace three men in connection with the incident: The first man is described as white, 23-24 years old, of average build, 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in tall, with dark brown hair, a dark brown goatee beard, wearing glasses, wearing a light coloured jacket and jeans. He was with a woman aged around 20 with dyed blonde hair and who was possibly pregnant. The second man is described as approximately 19-21 years of age, of black or mixed race appearance, slim build, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in... (BBC News)
Making a turn Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 16:54 GMT, Sunday, 15 February 2009. Turning crack dealers into chief executives. (BBC News -- Americas)
Venezuelan leader wins key reform Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 08:07 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009. Please turn on JavaScript. (BBC News -- Americas)
US sex-abstinence drive 'flawed' Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 02:13 GMT, Friday, 1 December 2006. US sex-abstinence drive 'flawed. (Yahoo News -- Birth Control)
Light 'could detect Parkinson's' Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 10:39 GMT, Saturday, 14 February 2009. Light 'could detect Parkinson's. (BBC News)
Search site aims to rival Google Feb 16, 2009
Meteor' streaks across Sweden ... Meteor spotted over US. (Yahoo News -- Internet and WWW)
Murderers 'bringing pain to city' Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 17:47 GMT, Sunday, 15 February 2009. Murderers 'bringing pain to city. (BBC News -- UK)
Tories want 'honest' food labels Feb 16, 2009
Page last updated at 00:29 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009. The Tories say that currently meat labelling is "misleading". (BBC News -- UK)
> read more Feb 11, 2009
Sky & Telescope contributing editor David H. Levy explains that there's simple pleasure in paying attention to sparser showers (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Abraham Lincoln's Celestial Connections Feb 8, 2009
The article notes the famed "alamanc trial" of 1857, the Leonid meteor storm of 1833, a daytime sighting of Venus after his second inaugural address in 1865, and a visit to the U.S. Naval Observatory ... Besides witnessing the Leonid meteor storm, Lincoln had another celestial observation to make modern skygazers envious. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Observing Highlights Feb 8, 2009
December 27, 2008 Sky & Telescope predicts that 2009's best meteor showers should be the Quadrantids, Orionids, and Geminids with the added possibility of a spectacular outburst from the Leonids in mid-November. December 10, 2008 Anyone who remembers the spectacular displays of Leonid meteors in 1999 2002 would surely love to see them again. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Image Submission FAQ Feb 8, 2009
Typical S&T subjects include the Sun, Moon, planets, constellations, deep-sky objects (star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies), eclipses, conjunctions, meteors, occultations, rainbows, halos, auroras, and landscapes including one or more celestial objects ... Images of transient events such as eclipses, meteor showers, occultations, or conjunctions should be submitted at the earliest possible time, as we often try to cover such events in the issue then already in production. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
