Interesting Space News

[MrAngryFace]

I'm subscribed to the RSS feed but some of you might find these stories interesting:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17815839/

It’s been years since NASA last heard from either of its two Pioneer probes hurtling out of the solar system, but scientists are still debating the source of an odd force pushing against the outbound spacecraft.

Dubbed the Pioneer Anomaly, the unexplained force appears to be acting against NASA’s identical Pioneer 10 and 11 probes, holding them back as they head away from the sun.

Whether that force stems from the probes themselves, something exotic like dark matter, or some new facet of physics or gravity, remains in doubt.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17816192/

One of the most bizarre weather patterns in the solar system has been photographed at Saturn, where astronomers have spotted a huge, six-sided feature circling the north pole.

Rather than the normally sinuous cloud structures seen on all planets that have atmospheres, this thing is a hexagon.

The honeycomb feature has been seen before. NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft imaged it more than two decades ago. Now, having spotted it with the Cassini spacecraft, scientists conclude it is a long-lasting oddity.

[Madrun Badrun]

cool.  anymore info on either?

[MrAngryFace]

Just the links in the quotes to the articals. These are very recent. Probably wont hear anything new about the Pioneer Anomaly for at least 6 months. I think the theory surrounding expended heat from the probes makes the most sense on a practical level, but the 'missed' calculations regarding the overall galaxy's gravitational forces makes some sense. I doubt its something REALLY outside what we already know about astrophysics.

The hexagon thing is honestly just weird. I wish the article went in depth on how that even occurrs.

[Mupepe]

i love this type of news.

[MrAngryFace]

Subscribe to MSNBC's space sections RSS feed and get it all the time! Their space section also has a lot of neat features covering basics of astrophysics which is neat. They have a story about a exploding star simulation. Month in Space features always rock too. Great pictures.

[Disposable White Guy]

I love the theories that claim we need to re-think quantum and Einstein's general theory of relativity in order to make gravity more 'feasible' within a quantum environment.  It's like every time there's some new mystery of the universe, one of the first rationalizations is "lulz Einstein am wrong totl we should start from scratch".

The supergeek in me is also looking forward to the CERN collider experimentation which is happening...this year, I think.  If it actually brings factual information about Dark Matter, that'd be pretty swank too.

[MrAngryFace]

Disposable: I agree, i think its funny how scientists cling to their facts when people ask them to defend themselves, but are ready to call those facts garbage and the people who thought them up dumb when there's a chance at fame.

[Disposable White Guy]

If I can find the link, I'll post it, but my favorite regarding the Pioneer Anomaly is in regards to Dark Matter and how Dark Matter itself is light "slowing down below a constant"   The way the guy was writing his claims is exactly what you're talking about, MAF.

[MrAngryFace]

If you find it post it in here hehe.

[MrAngryFace]

This isn't space news but the people in this thread will probably find it interesting:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17853364/

[brawndolicious]

The reason they believe the theory of relativity needs to be revised on a quantum scale is that particles don't act the same.

[Tauntaun]

how close are we?

[Fragamemnon]

This isn't space news but the people in this thread will probably find it interesting:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17853364/

We need a planetary vote to launch a solar shade.

Also, every time I see something strange or weird space-related like that unexplained force on the Pioneer probles, I always think of this image:



Total programmed response. Thanks PC gaming!