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The SpaceWriter's Ramblings

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Anything and everything about science, especially astronomy and the cosmos.

NOTE: This blog has migrated to a new address. Please update your favorites link accordingly.



Visit my web site at
TheSpaceWriter.com
for astronomy info, stargazing thoughts, and reviews and recommendations for astronomy-related goodies!




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US Eastern Standard Time.
All postings Copyright 2003-2008
C.C. Petersen

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ABOUT ME

I'm a science writer and editor. I work with clients in the observatory and planetarium community, as well as my own book, web, planetarium, and other projects.

Need a writer/editor? Visit my services page for my projects and availability.


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Note: The ads you see below and at the bottom of this page are screened for content and many fine companies do appear here. Occasionally ads I don't want DO slip through, particularly for pseudo-science, st*r-naming, ID, and other questionable sites. Please understand that I cannot be held responsible for their content. Do visit them if you wish, but as with all advertising, be logical and use common sense.






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Graphics and design by Ann Stretton © 2001 at
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Fine Art:Eyebalm



About the ads here


12.22.2007





Smacking Mars



Ever hear of 2007 WD5? It's all over the news right now, so I'm probably not telling you anything new about it, but just in case you've been out holiday shopping or traveling or hiding under a rock, here's the scoop. 2007 WD5 is a 164-foot-wide asteroid that is moving in an orbit that will cross Mars's orbital path in late January. It comes close enough to Mars that it will pass within 30,000 miles (48,000 kilometers) of the planet. It's possible, although not likely, that this thing could actually smack into Mars's surface. The chances are about 1 in 75. If it did, this rock (traveling at 30,000 miles per hour) would dig out a crater about the same size as the one that the Opportunity rover is exploring right now.



Victoria Crater on Mars


Over the next few weeks astronomers will get a better idea of the asteroid's orbit and whether it will actually hit Mars or sail on by. You can follow the action by visiting NASA's Near Earth Object Program web page for updates.

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posted by CCP on 12/22/2007 03:46:00 PM | * |

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Earth Hour!

Do it for the Planet!

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Blog Roll

Planetarium-related

Loch Ness Productions
Purveyors of fine planetarium shows, music, and services.

INTENSELY Good Space Music
from a master in the genre!

My cool astronomy cause:
The Friends of the Griffith Observatory.
Join up today!

Science

The sites below belong to space and astronomy enthusiasts. I make every effort to check them and make sure they are still appropriate. However, I am not responsible for their content, nor do I endorse any of it by simply linking to them. As with all Web surfing, please exercise caution.


Adot's Notblog
A fellow traveler blogger and astronomy enthusiast!

Astronomy Blog
An astronomy blog pondering the big questions

Astronomy Cast
Astronomy Podcasting from Pamela Gay

BadAstronomy.com
Bad astronomy discussed and debunked along with fun stuff about really good astronomy!

Chris Lintott's Universe
Musings from an Oxford Astronomer.

Cosmic Variance
Random Samplings from a Universe of Ideas.

Dave P's Astronomy blog
Observational Astronomy and other TidBits

European Southern Observatory
Fine Ground-based astronomy images.

Gemini Observatory
Fine astronomy in infrared and visible wavelengths.

Griffith Observatory's page.
I wrote their exhibits!

Observing The Sky
Nightly Observation Reports from dedicated skygazers.

The Official String Theory Web Site. Time to feed your mind!

Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal. Cast off your blinders and come on in!

Science Made Cool
A compendium of discoveries, inventions and commentary.

Slacker Astronomy
Astronomy with a Slacker Twist.

Space Telescope Science Institute
The best from Hubble Space Telescope

The Eternal Golden Braid
Astronomy, Space Science, and Science Fiction Commentary.

The Inoculated Mind
Bills Itself as a weekly science mindcast. Thought-provoking, honest.


Truth.

Unique

The Hairy Museum of Natural History
Defies description. Just go there (yes, it's safe for work).

Olduvai George
Absolutely fantastic natural history illustrations from a master.



News

The Agonist
News and Commentary

EurekAlert
Breaking Science News

National Public Radio
The Original Fair and Balanced

Slashdot.org
Like it says: News for Nerds


Shopping, Internet Stuff, and Web Guides

The Blog Search Engine Searching out the Blogoverse.

Blogwise.com
A blogger's listing service

Google
Best search engine

A blogger's listing service

Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com

The Truth Laid Bare Listings in the Blogosphere.


Links to My Site
Alternate Reality
An awful waste of space
Asa Dotzler - Firefox and more
A Song of November
Astroprof's Page
Astronomy Blog
Space/Astronomy
Bad Astronomy blog
BEEP! BEEP! IT'S ME
Bohemian Mama
boyruageek
Centauri Dreams
Colony Worlds
Cosmic Views
DaveP's astronomy
Dick's Rocket Dungeon
Electron Blue
Fly me to the Moon
From The Earth To The Moon
NYC Nova Hunter
Perspective and Soda
Robot guy
Salty Snack
Skymania's blogcast
Space Pragmatism
Solar Empire
Space Feeds
Space Law Probe
StarBaseOC
Sue Denham
Technology Integration
The Rabid Librarian's Ravings in the Wind
The Sublime Will
The Q80 Girl
TexasBestGrok
The Astronomy Blog
True Anomaly