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1. [] All over the sky the evidence of the Milky Way devouring its smaller close galaxies is evident. A team of astronomers from Cambridge University recently discovered two streams of stars in the southern galactic hemisphere. These stars were torn off the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. This information came from the analization of data made from the most recent Sloane Digital Sky Survey. These two streams of stars have been linked with two streams that have been found in the northern hemisphere. An astronomer from the American University of Astronomy said that this was an incredible discovery and that the structure of the south was missing until now. New data shows that the Sagittarius stream in the south has also been split into two. The Sloane Digital Sky Survey has provided an abundance of much needed information on the engorgement of the Sagittarius galaxy. 2. [] 3. [] 4. [] 5. [] Quadrantids, which is a very small-known meteor shower, presented a chance for a viewing of a meteor shower to bring in the New Year. Quandrantids was named after an extinct constellation. This should be visible in the early hours of January 4th. The waxing gibbous moon will set at the perfect time for two hours of meteor shower viewing. Unlike other meteor showers, Quandrantids only last a few hours so there’s really only one chance to see it. Not unlike Geminids, Quandrantids originate from an asteroid called 2003 EH1. The meteors that will be visible on January 4th are pieces of a comet that broke off centuries ago. They enter our atmosphere after centuries of orbiting the sun.

6.

[] Everybody knows about the 2012 theory but nobody knows the facts about it. The idea of this is a cosmic alignment of the Earth with the Sun and the center of the galaxy. All of this happening on the winter solstice. These alignments will most likely do no harm at all.  The position that the sun will take near the galactic center on December 21, the winter solstice for the northern hemisphere will produce nothing at all. On December 21, 2012, the sun will pass about 6.6 degrees north of the galactic center. The sun is actually closer a couple of says sooner than this. Some facts that go against the 2012 theory are that the solstice does not match up with any movement of the stars or anything else in the universe and that Earth is not within range of the gravitational force of a black hole. Also the sun appears to be at the same spot in the sky every year, the date of this has no relevance. 7. [] The first spacecraft of two to orbit the moon was sent into orbit. NASA’s GRAIL-A spacecraft entered orbit December 31, 2011 at 2 pm. GRAIL-B who is GRAIL-A’s mirror twin spaceship was launched into orbit the next day. Once both of the spacecraft’s are conformed in orbit and that they are operating correctly NASA will begin work in March. The spacecraft’s will communicate by transmitting radio signals giving information to Earth about the moon. The space between the spacecraft’s will change when they fly over areas where the gravity changes. Areas such as mountains and craters. The information gathered by the scientists will be transmitted into a high-resolution map. This map will show the moons gravitational field. This information will also help scientists understand how Earth and the solar system have developed. 8. [] A new discovery states that the weightless conditions in space effect biological organisms can be all clued together by fruit flies. A team of scientists have proven that using magnets to interact with the weightlessness of fruit flies on earth can cause the flies to walk faster. This same effect has been observed on the International Space Station. Dr. Richard Hill states that by studying the effects that the magnets have on the fruit fly, they can hope to obtain information about how weightlessness affects biological mechanisms. He continues to explain that in order to explore space and its planets, it is important that we understand the effects of weightlessness on all living organisms. There are many reasons why these experiments are performed on the ground. One major reason is that it is much cheaper. Another reason is that scientists do not have to worry about the high-g forces that come with launching a fly into space.

9.

[] Titan is Saturn’s largest moon. It has an average surface temperature of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Also it has a diameter of less than half of earths. Titan is the only place in the Milky Way, other than Earth, that has large bodies of liquid on its surface. Titan has methane clouds and fog, also Titan has rainstorms and lakes. The origins of these features are still unknown to scientists. Researchers have created a computer model of Titans atmosphere and methane cycle that break down what is puzzling most people about its atmosphere. This model includes and explains that scientists have found that Titans methane lakes tend to cluster around its poles, the areas of low altitude which are found around Titans equator are known to be dry, and that clouds observed over the past decade cluster around the southern middle and high altitudes during summer in Titan’s southern atmosphere. This is just the beginning though. Scientists have been given a new tool and the possibilities of what they can achieve with it are endless. 10. [] An image of Omega Nebula taken by ESO’s Very Large Telescope is one of the most vivid and clear images ever taken from the ground. It shows extraordinary detail, including dusty, rose colored central parts, its cosmic landscape of gas clouds, dust and newborn stars. The Omega Nebula goes by many names, which name is used is determined by when and where it was seen. The nebula's smoky-looking ribbons of dust stand in silhouette against the glowing gas. The main reddish colors of this portion of the cloud-like expanse come from hydrogen gas. This hydrogen gas is glowing under the influence of the intense ultraviolet rays from the stars. These stars are some of the hottest, this being because they are young stars.