What Did Apollo Accomplish?

Forty years ago man first set foot on the Moon. In the euphoria of the time some commentators went so far as to proclaim a redefinition of the calendar based on the historic event. Yet today a whole generation has grown up without man's exploration of space extending beyond low-Earth orbit.

On the Edge of a Vast Ocean

Global astronomy stands in a unique position in history. Just 400 years after Galileo first turned a telescope towards the heavens, professional astronomers will, in the next few years, have an array of ground based and space based telescopes that will cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum in unprecedented detail.

Planck Spacecraft In Cooling

Since its launch 6 weeks ago, the Planck spacecraft system have been steadily cooling the instruments down to a fraction of a degree above absolute zero. These ultra cool temperatures are essential for the precise measurements Planck will make of the cosmic microwave background. Temperatures on the sorbtion coolers on the HFI instrument are nominal at approximately 17.5 Kelvin (or -255.5 °C).

Missions: 

First Light for Herschel

The new ESA Herschel mission recently opened its eyes to the infrared universe. The spacecraft is still en route to its final operational orbit, but while traveling to L2 scientists are taking the opportunity to checkout and calibrate the payload to maximise the potential for dedicated observations.

Herschel First Light

Missions: 

AstroViz

The aim of AstroViz is to provide a website that helps those working in the area of science education and public outreach, with an emphasis towards those trying to help visualise science and, in particular, astronomy.

The long term aim of AstroViz is to meet the needs of many communities by providing materials and input on the most effective methods for teaching and educating people of all ages and backgrounds on the value and role of astronomy in the 21st century.

Pages

Subscribe to AstroViz RSS