Across The Universe

-->

Third posting, third title, from The Week In Space to My Outer Space now to Across The Universe, an old Beatles tune, a new movie and now the new title of this column.  So it goes and here is what is new in the universe this week...

When you look up into the sky you can spot The Great Andromeda a flat smooth oval light that glows.  It is our closest galaxy neighbor but how close is close?  When you see the luminous disc you are looking at ancient history, in fact you are looking at light that started its journey 250,000 years ago (and I thought I was old)...

In the sixties they called it a space race but it only included two horses the USA and USSR, now we have Europe, China, Russia, India who recently sent up a lunar orbiter that is sending back beautiful moon shots.  But besides these governments that are competing, the private sector has jumped into the race, besides Richard Branson’s project to start space trips for the average citizen now Google the out of this world, mega search engine has joined with the X prize to award 30 million dollars for any private enterprise that creates and delivers a lunar vehicle by 2014.  Get your inventions and ideas ready, set, go to the moon...

After 25 years and two billion dollars of spending the European space agency has finally finished their space lab that will be flown to the international space station next year.  It will be the third lab at the station and the most elaborate...

If you’re in New York City checkout "Beyond" at the Natural History Museum. It is a display 30 photos found by Michael Benson from the NASA archives.  The photos are of mind-blowing quality of planets, space and anomalies that make you think you are there...

Finally, for a little Christmas cheer and a sound from outer space check out the NASA website and listen to 44 seconds of sounds from Venus.  If you listen to it clearly you can hear the sounds of Christmas bells.  At least that is what I hear but I’m a bit tone death...