Sky Notes: November 2010

One of the great things about being in astronomy is this field is so small that if any news happens, we are able to learn about it rather quickly. At a recent planetarium conference, I found the number of discovered exoplanets has reached over 700, and also early results concerning the tiny spacecraft Hayabusa. If is weren't for the fact that it recently returned to Earth - as it had been programmed to do - a lot of us probably wouldn't have really known much about it. Hayabusa left Earth in May of 2003, its destination the tiny asteroid 36 Itokawa. Unfortunately, this craft did have a few problems, including the fact that, once it arrived at its destination, it was unable to land properly. A second attempt got Hayabusa down, but it wasn't able to collect surface material as it was programmed to do.

And then came its return to Earth. For a time it seemed to be lost, that it had joined the ranks of so many spacecraft before it. Hayabusa disappeared for several months; but, suddenly it reappeared and was able to be guided back home. Finally, although it hadn't been able to scoop up part of the asteroid's surface, the landing actually kicked up part of the ground, and pieces stuck to the little craft. This will now be our first chance to actually touch an asteroid.

One of my associates recently gave a talk on what had gotten him into the astronomy profession. For him, it was a seventh grade homework assignment he did with his brother, to learn the night sky by means of H. A. Rey's Find the Constellations. It got me thinking about my own introduction to the subject - most likely two books in the Golden Guide series (you remember, the same as Insects, Rocks, Butterflies and Moths) by Herbert Zim, Stars, and The Sky Observer's Guide, both library books which were in my possession more than the library shelves. And, how about all of you? Was it a book that brought you to the depths of space? That might be a good discussion some night.