2004 - The Year in Astronomy and Space - New Year's Edition (12/31 - 01/02)
Friday December 31, 2004
2004 opened on a sour note in space exploration when an eighth attempt to contact the European Space Agency's Beagle 2 Mars Probe failed. We had a roller-coaster year with ... Read More
Quake May Have Made Earth Wobble
Thursday December 30, 2004
According to CNN, scientists believe "The deadly Asian earthquake may have permanently accelerated the Earth's rotation, shortening days by a fraction of a second and caused the planet to wobble ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 30, 2004 - Weekend Edition
Thursday December 30, 2004
NASA Shuffle Presents Uncertain Future
ABC says, "When NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over East Texas almost two years ago, killing its crew of seven, many wondered: What will become ... Read More
Top 10 News Stories of 2004
Wednesday December 29, 2004
Every year in astronomy and space has great potential for exciting news and 2004 did not let us down. This year was filled with historic space flights, solar system discoveries ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 29, 2004
Wednesday December 29, 2004
2029 Asteroid Won't Hit Earth
After the fright of the NASA announcement concerning the 2029 possible collision, CBS says "Additional observations have ruled out the chance that a recently discovered asteroid, ... Read More
NASA Announces Latest Asteroid Threat to Earth
Tuesday December 28, 2004
Near-Earth Asteroid 2004 MN4 Reaches Highest Score To Date On Hazard Scale
It may sound like an Urban Legend, but it's not. A recently rediscovered 400-meter Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) is predicted ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 28, 2004
Tuesday December 28, 2004
Mars Rover Inspects Its Own Debris
You wouldn't expect to find trash on the pristine Martian surface, but accoring to MSNBC, NASA's Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover is examining a field of ... Read More
ISS Receives Christmas Present - More Time in Space
Monday December 27, 2004
It was propelled by a rocket instead of reindeer, but the Progress cargo craft made things aboard the International Space Station look a lot more like Christmas.
The unpiloted Russian ... Read More
NASA Helps Fetal Hearts Beat Loud and Clear - Holiday Edition (12/17 - 26)
Friday December 17, 2004
By keeping track of some very small American hearts with a new, portable fetal heart monitor, NASA technology is relieving some of the worry of a high-risk pregnancy.
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**I'll be away ... Read More
Top 10 Space Urban Legends - Myths & Bad Astronomy
Thursday December 16, 2004
Candlelight Vigil for 9/11
Extraterrestrial Contact Law
Great Wall of China Visible From Space
Space Pen - A Million Dollar Waste of Tax Dollars?
Space Shuttles and Horses' A**es
The Sun Will Explode in 6 ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 16, 2004
Thursday December 16, 2004
Failure Sets Back Missile Defense Plan
A multibillion-dollar shield against ballistic missiles proposed by the Bush White House was dealt a set back Wednesday by what critics called a stunning failure ... Read More
Build an Edible Spacecraft
Wednesday December 15, 2004
Make a Cassini Spacecraft that's good enough to eat. Follow these simple Step-By-Step instructions and create a wonderful treat for your next gathering.
Try your hand at building some spacecraft models.
Check ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 15, 2004
Wednesday December 15, 2004
Russians Keep Working on "Space Parachute"
MSNBC says, "The test flight of a potentially revolutionary transportation system for future space missions has been delayed several months for more preflight testing, project ... Read More
Astronomy & Space Quizzes
Tuesday December 14, 2004
Test your knowledge of astronomy and space by trying our quizzes. We've expanded our selection of quizzes and now have one for every planet in our solar system as well ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 14, 2004
Tuesday December 14, 2004
Mars Rovers See Water-Linked Mineral
One of NASA's twin robotic Mars rovers, Spirit, has discovered a mineral linked to water according to ABC.
"Scientists identified the mineral goethite in bedrock studied in ... Read More
Santa In Space - Christmas On Other Planets
Monday December 13, 2004
Just a few years ago, the folks at Science@NASA had a chance to interview the big, himself, Santa. Here's that interview, which was conducted Christmas Eve, 1998.
Read what Santa had ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 13, 2004
Monday December 13, 2004
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe to Resign
NASA administrator, Sean O'Keefe, has spent three tumultuous years running the US's space program. ABC says he is preparing to resign his post.
"In a sign ... Read More
Christmas From Lunar Orbit - Weekend Edition (12/10 - 12)
Friday December 10, 2004
Much like the shepherds and wise men during the first Christmas, people around the world had their attention turned toward the heavens Christmas week of 1968. They were far from ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 10, 2004 - Weekend Edition
Friday December 10, 2004
Feds To Regulate Space Tourism
CBS says welcome to the final frontier of tourism. The Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to regulate commercial human spaceflight.
"The bill, approved by voice vote in ... Read More
Top 10 People I Would Like to Meet
Thursday December 9, 2004
Here is a list of the top 10 people of astronomy and space I would like to meet and/or have dinner with. Unfortunately, it probably will not happen. Several names ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 9, 2004
Thursday December 9, 2004
Is It Time to Scrap SETI?
Many of us have been involved or at least interested in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). We keep hoping to catch a glimpse of ... Read More
NASA Space Pioneer John Young Retires
Wednesday December 8, 2004
Space pioneer John W. Young, a man who flew twice to the moon, walked on its surface and commanded the first Space Shuttle mission, is retiring.
Young's achievements during his 42-year ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 8, 2004
Wednesday December 8, 2004
Comet Becomes Visible to the Naked Eye
Donald Machholz discovered the comet that bears his name in August. Star gazers and professional and amateur astronomers have been following it with telescopes ... Read More
Galileo Galilei Lectures at Padua
Tuesday December 7, 2004
On this date in 1592, Galileo Galilei gave his inaugural lecture at the University of Padua (the university of the Republic of Venice). Despite his lack of a degree, he ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 7, 2004
Tuesday December 7, 2004
Robotic Fix for Hubble Challenged
We recently reported on the possibility of using a robot to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Now, MSNBC asks if the best person to fix Hubble ... Read More
Evacuating the International Space Station
Monday December 6, 2004
In our space headlines below, we referenced an article from Space.com about a possible evacuation of the International Space Station. If this unprecedented event occurs, the two crewmembers will use ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 6, 2004
Monday December 6, 2004
Weight Watchers: Astronaut Appetites Strain Station Supplies
Space.com reports that NASA officials are concerned. Despite being a person short of normal staffing, due to the grounding of the space shuttle fleet, ... Read More
December 3, 2004 - Weekend - Free Lesson Plans
Friday December 3, 2004
This week's About Astronomy & Space In the Classroom discusses NASA's recent breaking of a speed record as well as the garbage dump orbitting our planet. Check out these free ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 3, 2004 - Weekend Edition
Friday December 3, 2004
Rover's Findings Revive Life-on-Mars Questions
OK, so it was wet in the past, does that guarantee life? MSNBC reports that Mars definitely once supported a watery environment, according to researchers. Unfortunately, ... Read More
December 1, 2004 - Too Close for Comfort
Wednesday December 1, 2004
This Hubble Space Telescope view of the core of one of the nearest globular star clusters, called NGC 6397, resembles a treasure chest of glittering jewels. The cluster is located ... Read More
Space News Headlines for December 1, 2004
Wednesday December 1, 2004
Next-generation Russian Spaceship Unveiled
According to MSNBC, Russian space officials have unveiled a full-scale high-fidelity mockup of the Kliper (for "clipper ship") vehicle. They hope the Kliper will replace the veteran ... Read More