Astronomy

I agree with you, YesNo. Information is coming in dribs and drabs, and will continue to do so for the next 18 months.

Here is an item from EarthSky image with evidence of what looks like flowing ice on Pluto.

The closest exoplanet yet to be found is is just 21 light years away. it can be read about here: http://www.rt.com/news/311233-exoplanet-new-nasa-earth/. We may now be entering a new phase in space exploration using large telescopes launched into space.

I also liked this link contained in the one you mentioned about finding a planet similar to earth circling another star: http://www.rt.com/news/310612-space-...e-planet-nasa/

It has been 20 years since the first evidence of exoplanets was found.

Cassini is still operating around Saturn, it seems. This post shows that red arcs are visible on one of its larger moons, Tethys, that no-one is able to explain: http://www.space.com/30149-saturn-mo...kly_2015-08-05

Those red markings on Tethys are as unusual as those bright spots on Ceres.

This year will be very favourable for the annual Perseid meteors, with virtually no moonlight to spoil the view – weather permitting, of course! The peak of activity for the UK is expected this coming Wednesday night, 12–13 August, with the actual peak being predicted at 07h on the Thursday morning.
However, says Meteor Section Director Tony Markham, good rates are also likely during the nights of Aug 11–12 and 13–14, so don't just focus on the night of Aug 12–13 and risk it being clouded out.
While other predicted showers may have higher rates, the comparatively mild evenings at this time of year make the Perseids a favourite. And unlike most other types of observing, you need virtually no equipment other than your eyes. Just lie down comfortably on a lounger or similar, gazing up at as much of the sky as you can manage, out of the line of sight of any bright lights. Don’t forget a blanket – it can still get chilly in August!

I'm going to have to make sure I'm out looking for them later this week.

I saw a really bright shooting star last night while looking for the Perseid meteor showers. That one and the one I saw the night before last while trying to scout out the sky to find out where the Perseus constellation was are the only two that I saw. I noticed that the Andromeda galaxy is not far away, but the light was too bright where I live even with binoculars to locate it clearly. Also the sprinkler system for the lawn turned on and so I stopped.

The Perseides are meant to be especially visible at that time. I didn't get to see any. This idea for an inflatable space elevator is amazing. It just got funding to develop.

So they raise and lower this 12 mile high tower to reduce the initial liftoff costs. That is an amazing idea.

Well, its a private venture, and this was just an application for funding. I guess we will see :)

This post in Space discusses two project to visit Saturn's moon Enceladus to search for life. The post is quite detailed and worth reading,though it will only be in the mid-2020s that they will happen.

Being able to go through the plumes coming out of Enceladus without landing looks promising. Also using solar power for the mission should help expand our reach without using more expensive fuels.

I spent last week in Wisconsin along Green Bay in a cottage facing north-west and a picture window over the bay. The nights were mostly clear and I was able to watch the dippers and draco move around the north star and early in the morning watch Vega sink to the horizon while the swan and Hercules majestically came into view and pass into the dawn. At times there were shooting stars and I think I even saw satellites moving across the sky. Of course there was the Milky Way. Binoculars showed many more stars pointing in that direction than elsewhere.

Venus came close to the moon at dawn earlier this week and put on a fine display. Brilliant, it was, almost dazzling.