Slashdot Mirror

Captain Foobar writes: "The little-known but very active Quadrantid meteor shower will be visible over most of the U.S. (clear skies permitting) in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, January 3, 2001. The peak is supposed to occur in a two-hour block around 7:00am Eastern time (viewing will be limited due to sunrise), 4:00am Pacific time (viewing should be quite good). Details are here." Note that CNN says the best viewing isn't early Wednesday morning, but late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning.

An AC points us to this article about the space elevator concept, once solely the realm of science fiction but now coming a bit closer to reality. The main problem seems to be the lack of some material with the ludicrous tensile strength required. Oh, and an asteroid to anchor it. And the willpower to actually build it. Check out the slashdot discussion of an earlier spacescience.com article on this idea as well.

Ecyrd writes: "Those fine guys at NASA have figured out a way to hitch rides to space inside magnetic bubbles, creating both an efficient propulsion system and protection from high-energy particles. Sorta taking the Earth's magnetosphere with you as a protective cloak when you go." The propulsion in this case comes not from within, but by using the magnetic bubble as a giant solar sail.

savas was one of the folks who sent in the story concerning the possiblities of a space elevator in 50 years time. They make good sense, especially if we are committed to doing something more than the current small commitment to space.

Erik Hovland writes: "The NEAT project at JPL found a nice big rock (about half a km). And it is going by earth at about 0.0317 AU, a close call by cosmic terms but definitely a miss. Still one of the closest encounters yet, glad someone is playing chicken little for us.Full story here." The chunk of rock has been dubbed 2000 QW7, and was spotted last weekend because of its speed and brightness. But rest easy, since "there is absolutely no danger of a collision." As if they'd tell us -- even now, I bet Bruce Willis and Liv Tyler are suiting up.

Gonzo, the Pirate King of the Underworld writes "It sounds like something out of one of those magazines that you might find at a grocery story checkout stand, but as is typical with news sensationalism, it is a play on words for what is really going on. Researchers at Stanford University, in cooperation with NASA, are preparing an experiment consisting of four extremely precise gyroscopes in the form of quartz crystal spheres. The Relativity Mission will last a year in an attept to measure the effects of frame-dragging and geodetic precession, and give scientists a means of testing General Relativity. "

A lot of people have been writing to us for the last couple of days, talking about the massive sunflare or cornoral mass ejection that's headed our way. The folks in Quebec probably remember the disastrous one from 11 years ago - solar flares can due massive damage. So, don't be surprised if the cell phone/satellite dish and such isn't work up to snuff - and if you live in the North, keep an eye out for some beautiful aurorae, as skajohna pointed out. BTW, the touchdown dates are expected to be the 19th (today) and 20th.