The Europeans have several new spacecraft making the headlines.

If you are curious but have not kept up with the latest developments, then here is a short summary of one of them, the space truck known as the ATV.

Jules Verne ATV

Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV) are expendable, unmanned supply ships developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ATVs are to be launched annually to resupply the International Space Station.

The first ATV, Jules Verne, was launched March 9, 2008. It is named in memory of the first science fiction writer of modern times and carries two of Jules Verne's original handwritten manuscripts, to be received by the ISS crew as symbolic tokens of the success of the first flight

ATVs are currently intended as one way tickets. Once their payload is delivered to the ISS the ATV is filled with waste and flown on a steep re-entry path towards earth for controlled destruction above the Pacific Ocean (in other words, it burns up in the atmosphere).

Further information:

ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle - Wikipedia

European Space Agency (ESA) - Jules Verne ATV

 

The year is 2007 AD. My calendar reads December 21, the special date called Winter Solstice. Or Summer Solstice south of the equator.

The solstices and the equinoxes each mark the beginning of the four seasons. There is a Summer and a Winter Solstice. And there are two equinoxes as well (Spring and Autumn).

So what is Winter Solstice? It's the day on which Winter season starts in the northern hemisphere (and Summer starts below the equator).

And it's also the shortest day/longest night of the year north of the equator (or the longest day in the southern hemisphere).

Solstice was known as a special moment of the year since Neolithic times, as is confirmed by archaeological sites such as Stonehenge.

Many cultures celebrate the Winter and Summer solstices, the equinoxes, and even the midpoints between them, leading to LOTS and LOTS of holidays!

So many holidays around the world are linked to the winter solstice.

Christmas is the most popular midwinter celebration. The birth of Christ is observed on December 25th, since that was the winter Solstice when the Julian Calendar was created way back in 45 BC.

So why two solstices per year? Because the Earth's axis tilting furthest from or toward the Sun causes the Sun to be farthest north or south at noon.

It must be really amazing to witness the Winter solstice in places way up north in the Arctic Circle, where you see the Sun above the horizon the entire day! They call that the midnight sun (or midsummer-night sun or polar day). And the reverse happens down south in the Antarctic Circle - the Sun never even comes up at all. That is the polar night. And by now you surely guessed that during the Summer solstice the effects on both hemispheres are just the opposite.

Here's something that not everyone knows... the seasons are NOT caused by Earth being cloeser or farther from the Sun. The orbital eccentricity of the Earth's orbit does make a small contribution, but the main reason is because of Earth's tilt!

Oh, did I mention my favorite reason for celebrating Winter Solstice? Simple, the days are getting longer again (here in the northern hemisphere). That's right, for the next six months we get a bit more sunlight every day.

So have a happy Winter Solstice! And even if you are covered in snow and the skies are grey, rest assured the turning point has been reached. Out with the old, in with the new!

 

 

Up This Month
===========
See Comet Holmes Tonight!
-----------------------------
The strangest comet to burst onto the celestial scene in our lifetime is a MUST SEE! And it is easy to see with your bare eyes — even if your sky is fairly light-polluted! You just have to know where to look for this amazing fuzzball. See below for instructions!

Between October 23 and 25, 2007, the comet’s brightness increased from 17th magnitude to 2nd (a smaller number indicates a brighter source) -- a factor of one MILLION. It is now a fuzzy light-yellow ball brighter than most stars you can see with the naked eye. How can this happen? Astronomers actually don't know why!

The tiny, solid nucleus puffed out a huge cloud of dust, and this dust is lit by sunlight. As the dust cloud spread out wider, the comet started to look like a tiny, round disk. The disk has been getting a bit wider every night, as the dust spreads.

The comet has not developed a tail, however, because it is too far from the Sun. As a result, it is difficult to distinguish from a true star. Binoculars or a small telescope reveal a bit of fuzziness around its edges.

Learn more:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10862521.html



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=======
AstroTip
=======
How To Find Comet Holmes in the Evening Sky
--------------------------------------------------
The following applies to people living in the world’s northern latitudes. If you’re in the tropics or the Southern Hemisphere, use an sky chart such as this one:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/

Comet Holmes is in the constellation Perseus, the hero. Perseus is high in the northeast in early evening and passes almost directly overhead in the wee hours of the morning.

Conditions couldn't better for seeing Comet Holmes. All you need are clear skies. And try to find whatever binoculars or telescope you can lay your hands on.

A few hours after sunset, find a spot where bright lights don’t glare into your eyes, and face northeast. Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness.

Look for Cassiopeia, the W-shaped constellation, which is a landmark of the autumn sky. The W is standing on end and as wide as your fist held at arm’s length.

Look to the lower right of Cassiopeia by about a fist and a half at arm’s length to find Perseus. The brightest star in Perseus is Mirfak (also called Alpha Persei).
Nov. 19th is a good night to look: The comet will glide by Mirfak and appear to swallow it--a sight not to be missed!

If you are not familiar with constellations you can consult a good star chart.

To track Holmes use a finder chart such as the one here:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10862521.html



===================
DISTANT DISCOVERIES
===================
WHY IS IT CALLED COMET HOLMES?
----------------------------------------------
Comet what?? Comet Holmes!

In case you have not heard, Comet Holmes is a comet that is exciting astronomers around the world.

It was discovered over a hundred years ago by amateur astronomer Edwin Holmes. Back in 1892 it flared up enough for Holmes to find it.

And now, without warning, the distant ball of rock and ice has flared up again. Don't miss it!



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============
FAR OUT FACT
============
COMET HOLMES IS BIGGER THAN THE SUN!
------------------------------------------------------
Our sun used to be the largest object in the Solar System.

Now, Comet Holmes holds that distinction.

A team of Hawaii astronomers measured the diameter of the comet's expanding debris cloud: 1.4 million kilometers, slightly larger than the sun itself. Wow!

 

 

My friend Peter just turned me on to Stellarium!

It is a FREE (open source) planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic 3D sky, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a scope.

It is being used in planetarium projectors. Download it for free and use it on your computer!

You'll get:

• over 120,000 stars from the Hipparchos catalogue with info
• asterisms and illustrations of the constellations
• images of nebulae
• realistic Milky Way
• realistic atmosphere, sunrise and sunset
• planets and their satellites

interface

• a powerful zoom
• time control
• scripting to record and play your own shows
• fisheye projection for planetarium domes
• graphical interface and extensive keyboard control

visualisation

• equatorial and azimuthal grids
• star twinkling
• shooting stars
• eclipse simulation
• skinnable landscapes

customisability

• add your own deep sky objects, landscapes, constellation images, scripts...

Dowload Stellarium here: http://stellarium.sourceforge.net/