Dartmouth researcher proposes the use of high-altitude airships for astronomy

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An illustration of the type of high-altitude catamaran that could carry an astronomical telescope. (Credit: Southwest Research Institute and Dartmouth College)
An illustration of the type of high-altitude catamaran that could carry an astronomical telescope. (Credit: Southwest Research Institute and Dartmouth College)

Dartmouth astronomy professor Robert Fesen appreciates NASA's Hubble Telescope, which he says has proven to be a terrific astronomical observatory since it was launched in 1990. But, he adds, there may be a vastly cheaper way to obtain nearly as sharp images of stars and galaxies that doesn't require space shuttle flights or teams of astronauts to launch or repair it.


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NASA presses ahead for Mars rover launch in 2009

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(AP) -- NASA has decided to press ahead with plans to launch a big new rover to Mars next year. Friday's decision comes after concerns were raised about the budget and technical progress for the Mars Science ...

Palm oil clearing swathes of forest in Indonesia's Papua: Greenpeace

Oct 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Palm oil companies are clearing massive swathes of untouched forest in Indonesia's remote easternmost Papua region, environmental group Greenpeace said Friday.

Researchers Study Coastal Hazards of Increasing Wave Heights, Rising Sea Levels

Oct 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- While hurricanes Gustav and Ike were pummeling the Gulf Coast with rains and record flooding, researchers at Oregon State University were studying why wave heights in the Pacific Ocean have been increasing ...

Scientists resolve long-standing puzzle in climate science

Oct 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team led by Livermore scientists has helped reconcile the differences between simulated and observed temperature trends in the tropics.

Mars Odyssey Shifting Orbit for Extended Mission

Oct 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- The longest-serving of six spacecraft now studying Mars is up to new tricks for a third two-year extension of its mission to examine the most Earthlike of known foreign planets.
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