Archive for the 'Space travel' Category
Explore outer space from Greater L.A.
December 30, 2008 2:45pm
Exactly 84 years ago, on Dec. 30, 1924, astronomer Edwin Hubble helped us earthlings expand our world view when he revealed his finding that the Milky Way is not the sole galaxy in the universe; read Wired’s interesting blog post on the subject.
Though space tourism is no longer as improbable as it once was, most of us will have to settle for seeing outer space, not to mention outer galaxies, from our own planet in our lifetimes.
Thankfully, Greater Los Angeles offers a number of fun and interesting places from which to learn about the worlds beyond. Below are some good spacey spots to check out: Read the rest of this entry »
The 12 books of Christmas: ‘Sacred Places’
December 16, 2008 12:10pm
If you want something a bit more in tune with the vibe of the season, think “Sacred Places of a Lifetime” (National Geographic, $40).
Its subtitle, “500 of the World’s Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations,” tells you it’s a big ride, but its really the organizing principle that is fascinating.
The 12 books of Christmas: ‘Encyclopedia of Earth’
December 15, 2008 5:41pm
Did you know most valleys are either V-shaped or U-shaped? That most tress cannot grow if the temperature doesn’t average at least 50 degrees in summer? That the harmattan wind, a dry, dusty Saharan wind, is so devoid of moisture that it can warp wood?
This is part of the delight of “The Encyclopedia of Earth: A Complete Visual Guide” (University of California Press, $39.95).
A chance to see space shuttle Endeavour heading home
December 9, 2008 12:51pm
Endeavour may finally be ready to head home. The space shuttle, which was rerouted to Edwards Air Force Base on Nov. 30, will be ferried atop a Boeing 747 for its journey to Cape Canaveral, Fla., where it was originally supposed to end its 16-day mission over a week ago.
As of NASA’s latest report yesterday afternoon, the pair — shuttle and plane — will set off on the first leg of their trip at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, Wednesday, Dec. 10. Edwards AFB itself will not be open to the public to view the takeoff; however, spots surrounding the Antelope Valley base offer a good chance to view the 747-shuttle combo.
Currently, the departure is planned for Edwards’ Runway 04, which points toward the northeast. If that plan holds, would-be spectators are advised to look up from the Boron and north Edwards areas. But don’t be too upset if you’re left looking at nothing.
Depending on winds, the departure point could change — even at the very last minute — to a different runway. “It has before,” said NASA spokesperson Alan Brown in an e-mail. Read the rest of this entry »
Roundup: The looming asteroid threat; ‘millennium bomber’ resentenced; cellphones for travel
December 4, 2008 8:54am
If you’re going to be in the Tom Bradley Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) today, swing by the just-opened reLAX Lounge. It’s a pay-use space ($25 per person for three hours) for the public, where you can while away time with wireless Internet access and coffee, tea, soda and snacks.
Keep reading for other news: a threat from outer space, an update on a would-be airport bomber, and — for something that’s far less anxiety-inducing — a look at cellphones for travelers.
Space | A major asteroid could hit Earth in less than 20 years, warn space experts. The Association of Space Explorers, as reported in a BBC article, “World ‘must tackle space threat’,” says the international community must join forces to address the potentially devastating problem. According to the article, history is a reminder of the danger of asteroids: one may have been responsible for the dinosaur exodus 65 million years ago, and an asteroid in 1908 in Siberia caused a fire covering over 770 square miles. Read the rest of this entry »
Roundup: Space shuttle lands in SoCal; World AIDS Day events; 21% off at Park Hyatt hotels
December 1, 2008 8:22am
Today, the Monday after the long Thanksgiving weekend, is known as Cyber Monday for its reputation as one of the busiest online shopping days of the year. If you’re getting a jump on holiday gift-buying today, have a browse down the aisles of the L.A. Times shopping blog first, for tips on shopping at stores of both the online and brick-and-mortar varieties.
NASA news | Did you hear a big boom Sunday afternoon? If so, it was probably one of two sonic booms produced by space shuttle Endeavour. The shuttle, with a crew of seven aboard, landed at Edwards Air Force Base at 1:25 p.m. Sunday. It was initially supposed to land in Cape Canaveral in Florida but, due to unfavorable weather, was rerouted to Edwards AFB, in the Mojave Desert. Read the rest of this entry »
Night owls and early birds: Orionid meteor showers peak on Tuesday
October 20, 2008 4:12pm
You won’t be able to see Halley’s comet with the naked eye until 2061, according to Griffith Observatory’s Sky Report, but you can see “pieces of the famous comet” in the form of meteors between 2 a.m. and 5:38 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 21) as part of the Orionid meteor showers that began earlier this month.
The shower reaches its “expected maximum,” the report says, on Tuesday morning. However, moonlight may impede the “dark-sky rate of 20 meteors per hour.”
The StarDate website, produced by the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, gives this helpful hint to first-time stargazers: “Meteors will instantly grab your attention as they streak by.” Read the rest of this entry »
Catch the Orionid meteor shower in the wee hours
October 15, 2008 2:34pm
The Orionid meteor shower — that heavenly annual light display that returns to the sky each October — will peak in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 21, according to the Griffith Observatory. The “showers” can be seen now through Nov. 7, but tonight (Oct. 15) through Oct. 22 is predicted to be the best time to watch meteors flame across the sky at a speed of 35 miles per second. (Find out-of-the-way spots to view meteors.)
“Best viewing is just before dawn starts at about 5:30 a.m.,” said Anthony Cook, astronomical observer at the L.A. observatory. Viewing is best at that time, Cook said, because it’s when the Earth is “facing into the stream of meteors that are passing by.”
The only fly in the ointment: The moon will be pretty bright, which means many of the dim meteors likely won’t be visible.
Watch a video of some sky-watching tips after the jump.
Join the Race for Space and earn a seat on a Virgin Galactic suborbital flight
July 29, 2008 4:59pm
When I was a kid, I dreamed about going to space. That meant I thought about being abducted by aliens or becoming an astronaut. I figured someday we’d be able to travel to space, but didn’t do too much about it figuring it was still so far away. Yesterday, hearing Richard Branson and Burt Rutan talk about their dream of getting 100,000 people into space, I realized semi-affordable commercial space flight will become a reality in my lifetime. And that’s exciting. Even better, Virgin America is teaming up with Virgin Galactic to make it possible for a frequent flyer to earn his or her way onto a suborbital flight.
Race for Space: Virgin America Elevate members will need 10,000 Elevate points (by July 2009) to enter the Race for Space and compete for a seat on one of Virgin Galactic’s first space flights. Elevate members earn 5 points for every $1 they spend on Virgin America. Virgin America wants to make it easy for you to get started earning points in the Race for Space and just launched a new airfare sale.
