Gateway 2 Space

Cassini Does It Again!

2011-10-27T10:07:00.000-06:00

This "family of Moons" image was collected by the Cassini space probe on 17 September and released to the public this week for all of us to enjoy. The viewer immediately sees the bright moon Dione in the foreground. Titan is seen in the background. Just to the right of Saturn's almost edge-on rings is the moon Pandora. A sharp eye will help you spot the moon Pan embedded within the rings (look just to the left of Dione and Titan) in what is called Encke Gap in the ring structure. Cassini has been operating in orbit around Saturn for seven years. What an achievement for those men and women who built this amazing machine and who operate it from afar.

Where do we live?

2011-09-30T10:16:00.000-06:00

This exciting visual on our place in the universe came out a few years ago; but it is worth sharing with you again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jymDn0W6U&feature=player_embedded

Our problems on our"Blue" planet don't seem all that important compared to the universe around us.

Out of this World Family Photo!

2011-09-13T08:13:00.000-06:00

The exploration of the Solar System just keeps on giving us these out of this world images. See the latest photo taken by the Cassini space probe of some of the moons of Saturn and its rings. The Cassini spacecraft captured this view of five of Saturn's moons, plus the planet's rings, on 29 July 2011. The moon Janus is on the far left. The moon Pandora travels between two of the rings near the middle of the image. Enceladus appears above the center of the photo . Rhea is located on the right edge of the photo, and Mimas can be seen beyond Rhea, just to its left. The planet Saturn is not visible in this view but its rings are clearly visible to compliment the family photo.

Opportunity Just Keeps On Exploring!

2011-08-16T13:31:00.000-06:00

Let us not forget the Mars explorer, Opportunity, which has continued to survey the surface of Mars for these many years. This impressive piece of human developed technology is now near the west rim of the Endeavour crater. This 14 miles in diameter crater is the new target for exploration. We hope to learn more about Martian history through close inspection of what should be older rock formation that were exposed after this crater was formed. Be sure to follow Opportunity as it begins this new and exciting phase in its continuing mission to boldly go where no explorer has gone before.

Just too cool!

2011-08-02T08:32:00.000-06:00

The latest photos from the DAWN spacecraft now in orbit around the asteroid Vesta, are just too cool for words! Stay informed about the DAWN mission and the continuing exploration missions to Mars, Saturn, Mercury, and even Pluto by visiting www.gateway2space.com. The 'extreme' exploration missions to learn more about our Solar System are right just a click away by visiting my web site.

Enjoy

Saturn's Moon - Enceladus

2011-07-27T08:22:00.000-06:00

Wonderful photo of Saturn's moon Enceladus showing some of its water ice geysers that were discovered by the Cassini spacecraft that is still providing exciting images and scientific data from the Saturn system. Now scientists believe they have found the source of the water in Saturn's upper atmosphere that they have known about for some time. That source of water is from Enceladus. This relationship between a parent planet and one of its moons appears to be unique in the Solar System. Just when you think we know all there is to know about our Solar System, we are again surprised thanks in large part to our desire to explore our world and our place in the universe. Here is to all the future "explorers" who are in school today...don't stop reaching for the stars!

Wake up with DAWN

2011-07-22T09:48:00.000-06:00

Just because the Space Shuttle has made its last trip into space does not mean that the exploration of space has come to an end. In fact, it has been underway for some time and continues today. Just check out the latest image taken of the asteroid Vesta from the DAWN exploration spacecraft now in orbit around Vesta. You can learn more about the DAWN mission and other missions underway to explore the Solar System by just visiting my web site at www.gateway2space.com in which DAWN and other space exploration missions are highlighted. You can also check out some of the commercial space companies and find out what they are up to by clicking on the "commercial space" link on my site. Many of these commercial space ventures will be followed closely as our Nation looks to them to help return some of our citizens to space now that the Space Shuttle program has come to an end. For many of us old enough to remember; when the Apollo Moon program came to an end, it was many years before the first Space Shuttle launched Americans back into space. Let's hope this time we will not have to wait long for that day to come again.

Take the Tour!

2011-07-20T09:12:00.000-06:00

With the final Space Shuttle mission coming to an end on Thursday, many have only seen brief images of what the flight deck of the Space Shuttle even looks like. Now you can take a tour of Discovery's Flight Deck and see for yourself what it must be like to fly the most complicated flying machine ever designed and to fly into space, and return safely. Click on the provided link for your own tour of the Space Shuttle Orbiter flight deck. You will not be disappointed.

http://360vr.com/2011/06/22-discovery-flight-deck-opf_6236/index.html

p.s. Another moon discovered orbiting Pluto! We are up to four moons for this little "planet". That's right; I said "planet". Some may think of Pluto as a dwarf planet and that it should not be counted as a full member of the Solar System. But I am not part of that group.

Start your exploration with a good map!

2011-07-19T09:06:00.000-06:00

To have fun in exploring space, you need a good and easy to use map of the night sky to help you navigate your way through the evening sky for your particular location. I highly recommend the free star charts from Skymaps.com. You can download the star chart for a specific month and they even have charts for those living in the southern hemisphere. The monthly star charts from Skymaps.com also contain valuable information on key astronomical events for the month as well. Sure, star chart applications for your smart phone or ipad are fun to use, but having a hard copy map as your first exploration tool will help you get more from these star chart programs. You will find a link on the gateway2space.com web site to Skymap.com to help you get started with your initial exploration of space. Now get out there and start finding your place in the universe.

One Small Step into Blogging

2011-07-18T14:14:00.000-06:00

In order to better reach teachers, parents, students, or just those interested in learning more about space and space exploration, I am taking a very small step into the arena of blogging. With this first step, I hope to share with you in the future, information and ideas on how to learn more about past, present, and future space exploration missions into our solar system. I will also share with you some fun ideas and activities that are related to space exploration principals that will be fun for young and old alike.

Stay tuned!