Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Asteroid Collision

Jupiter and Mars aren't the only recent impact victims in our solar system. In two talks today at the Division for Planetary Sciences in Pasadena, California, astronomers report that a small asteroid located in the inner asteroid belt between those two planets took a major hit early last year. Previously rendered only in artists' conceptions, the first asteroid collision known in modern times revealed itself in a tail of debris streaming from what astronomers at first assumed was a comet. But the roughly 120-meter-diameter object—given the comet designator P/2010 A2—showed no signs of emitting the gases that all comets emit when producing tails. Instead of a steady stream of dust, astronomers found boulders near the object with dust moving away from them. Backtracking, they calculated that a single impact by a smaller asteroid  blasted all the debris off the asteroid in February or March 2009. No great loss, though; the tail debris adds up to the equivalent of only a 24-meter-diameter ball of rock. Small, perhaps in the scheme of things but it was the first time such a thing was witnessed. We must watch the skies; oh yeah.
Call it the Super-Grand Canyon. Melas Chasma on Mars is 9 kilometers deep in some places, or nearly six times deeper than Earth's famous landmark on average. How the giant feature was formed, itself one small stretch of the 4000-kilometer-long Valles Marineris rift valley, remains a mystery. But one thing seems evident: water played a role in its history. In this view, one of several images of Melas Chasma released today, a computer has reconstructed 3D images taken with the European Mars Express orbiter's High-Resolution Stereo Camera. Part of the canyon wall collapsed in multiple landslides in the distant past, with debris fanning out into the valley below. Scientists analyzing the texture of the rocks deposited by the landslides say they were transported by liquid water, water ice, or mud. They also see evidence of sediments in the exposed sides of the canyon, and the lighter-colored rocks apparently are composed of sulfates, another strong sign of a wet martian past.

92 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:59:00 PM

    Hi Cutie...sent you an e-mail 6:50PM my time , it's a long one[giggles]
    Dad asked did you get his note..he haven't checked in with you he's been out all day..he says it's under holloween post and I told him you know and he just grinned.She you later ...Luv..PIC

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  2. I just got finished reading your email. It was a lot to take in and I will email y ou later. A few things I didn't understand.

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  3. Anonymous10:02:00 PM

    They are bringing the first miner out. It's on the news now.

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  4. They are getting the men out of the mine right now live .I have it on TV.

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  5. Look at the time we made that last cfomment

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  6. Anonymous10:04:00 PM

    I may be able to answer them here or you can ask and I will send you a email, trying to put everything down at once.

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  7. Anonymous10:05:00 PM

    Damn that's what I told Anita today about my name change and you are a Genie. [giggles]

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  8. This is exciting TV.
    Wow, what a meeting you went to.
    Boy Gil is not the type to forgive and forget. Leon and Shirley will regret their duplicity for the rest of their lives.
    I will write my impressions to you later.

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  9. I just got in the house. Have been out all day.

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  10. They sent a mining engineer down the shaft to the men.

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  11. Anonymous10:08:00 PM

    Ask me, ask me, I'm dying to know what I miss....it was quite long.

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  12. Anonymous10:12:00 PM

    Gil did most of the talking, told Leon he needed his things out by Friday...Dad sitting with Anita as if he didn't know what was going on and grinning his ass off.

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  13. Anonymous10:13:00 PM

    Is there anything you need to do ??

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  14. The first guy is up. What a moment.

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  15. Anonymous10:13:00 PM

    The first one is up.Thank GOD

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  16. Anonymous10:15:00 PM

    You better quit reading my mind, you are scaring me.

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  17. That Dad is evil. He is taking great delight in all this.

    No I don't have to do anything.I took off my shoes and took a pee. That's all I wanted to do.

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  18. The time was exactly the same again,Geeeez!

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  19. It's a very skinny hole. It must be a horrible trip 5,000 feet up that shaft and the pulley goes so slow.

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  20. It takes 25 minutes to pull one up

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  21. We are watching it right across Canada.

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  22. Anonymous10:22:00 PM

    Nee I just got in from the barn you better check your phone your bad ass baby is calling his woman all I'm getting is a busy signal.

    Hi Jeanie
    Long time no see I haven't forgot about you old musty butt is working my butt off it's for a good cause.
    How is your husband and mother?
    Nan

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  23. Anonymous10:25:00 PM

    I think every station in the worl has this one on what a bless day, six months and all is living.

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  24. Hi Nan we're all good. Hope you are the same. Hard work is good for the soul. It's all in a good cause.Old Musty Butt has always taken advantage of your good nature...HA!

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  25. Anonymous10:29:00 PM

    NAN...I had it just a moment ago waiting on you are Lois to call me, and Gilly has it, that boycan climb...thankyou...musty butt .

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  26. Nan says you are working her ass off. I don't really believe she really minds a bit.

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  27. Anonymous10:33:00 PM

    Nee did you tell Jeannie you have to go out Thursday night ?

    Jeannie it's a lot of fun and I met so many people.
    Big G. recruits the ladies. We miss him today .

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  28. Is Nan at the barn every day? She is a good sidekick to have. You couldn't do without her.
    I bet you two missed each other when you were in California.

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  29. Anonymous10:36:00 PM

    NAN is full of shit and she's enjoying every minute of it. I wish I had her with me today so she could write it for me .
    How is Nana ? Was brian out with you ?

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  30. I bet you guys are having fun at the sale.I would love it too.

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  31. Anonymous10:37:00 PM

    No I didn't tell her yet , but I'm glad you reminded me to tell her, I'm getting feeble in my old age.

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  32. Nan, I don't think she did tell me about Thursday. When are you going to D.C.

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  33. Anonymous10:39:00 PM

    Yes she's there everyday and I did miss her a lot, I was coming home every 2/3 months and talked everyday.

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  34. Witchy, you did it again. Stop saying what I'm thinking. It's weird.

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  35. Anonymous10:41:00 PM

    We will leave Saturday evening.
    I wanted to know if you wanted to chat I can chat with you for a while.

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  36. Anonymous10:43:00 PM

    Glad NAN reminded me, we are taking the CC people out for drinks and I was going to ask you did you want NAN to chat a little with you, She is babysitting my babies and can use my PC.

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  37. That would be fun Nan if Musty Butt will let you take the time off.

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  38. I come on line between 9:45 and 10:00 your time.

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  39. Anonymous10:48:00 PM

    Jeanie Nee can come to the barn and spend an hour or so and if she stay longer you will see mom coming out there and Nee will leave , mom told Nee she was going to cut her musty butt we can handle it now.

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  40. You mom worries about her Nan and so do you. You know MB takes on too much sometimes. She was so exhausted when I talked to her a couple of days ago she didn't even know what was going on. She was falling off the chair.

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  41. Anonymous10:55:00 PM

    Nee show me her mail about you know know wish he was here we would show him a thing or two.

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  42. Anonymous10:57:00 PM

    Whew I'm back, had to pee and Dad is in the kitchen making a toddy.
    Now lets get back to the good stuff.

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  43. Anonymous11:01:00 PM

    Are they still airing the miners , I think they are going to show it all night.

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  44. Witchy told me about the meeting today. Boy, Gil is getting to the serious business now. He can be very hard when he has to. Not that those people don't have it coming.

    This is not the way the C****o family thought things would turn out.

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  45. Yes PIC they are showing it all night up here.

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  46. HA!...I don't think Bio would come home alive from there. I think you would feed him to the gators.

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  47. Anonymous11:05:00 PM

    I think Jaye is doing a good thing, it's good to be a germophobes because a new illness come out so quickly, and you never know about what they come in contact with.
    Way to go Jaye.

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  48. Matt Damon is on Letterman. He is one of my favorites.

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  49. Anonymous11:11:00 PM

    jeannie I will talk to Big G. and tell you more and as for Gil they have known him all his life and I will say from experience that there is not a nicer person but believe me he is one mean S.O.B. he is Big G.'s son.
    I will see you Thursday night and now I will say goodnight.
    Nan

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  50. Good night Nan. I think they are both nice men. They just don't like being crossed or betrayed. They don't take it lightly.

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  51. Anonymous11:16:00 PM

    Love me some Matt...I haven't seen the series but is it Matt that plays Dexter.

    Night musty butt , see you tomorrow. Your big bad auntie. [giggles]

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  52. Pleasant dreams Nan. Have a great time in Washington.

    I didn't know you liked him too PIC.

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  53. Anonymous11:21:00 PM

    NAN is going to grill Dad about what happen, I think at one point Dad dozed off.

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  54. I think I would like to see that movie.It's a different kind of role for him

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  55. Anonymous11:26:00 PM

    Matt is a bad boy, they tell me the series is about a cop that murders bad people, I keep for getting it, I'm going to tape a note to my PC. Hahaha

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  56. Did I ever show you the video 'I'm fucking Matt Damon' by Sarah Silverman and Matt.
    They shot it to get even with Sarah's boyfriend jimmy Kimmel for something.

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  57. Anonymous11:29:00 PM

    It's not a move ...it a series that come on TV and I think it's Matt Damon that plays the cop. Not for sure, I will find the day/time and you can see what channel it come on in your area.

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  58. Anonymous11:32:00 PM

    No I didn't see it. Is Sharah and boyfriend still together ??? I bet not.

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  59. Anonymous11:34:00 PM

    have you notice we have almost 4,500 on SH's. Not bad huh?

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  60. No they are no longer together.
    Thankyou for getting the info on the series. I don't know it but if you can get it, I can get it.

    I will put up that video.

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  61. I just put the video on the blog. go see it

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  62. Anonymous11:39:00 PM

    I got my TV guide and see if it's there.

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  63. Anonymous11:42:00 PM

    Dexter comes on Showtime Sundays 9/8...It says Michael C. Hall but they sure look alike and I will watch to see if it's Matt.

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  64. Sorry wrong vid...the correct one is up there now

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  65. Anonymous11:44:00 PM

    Thankyou and I will see it when we log off.

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  66. Anonymous11:45:00 PM

    OKay I will go now. be right back.

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  67. Anonymous11:50:00 PM

    Boy you are fast, I remember Sarah she's a comedienne right ?
    Craig is so silly now , I think I just watch him to hear him talk.

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  68. Then Jimmy kimmel made a vid to get back at those two, called 'I'm Fucking Ben Affleck', (you know he is Matt's best friend)

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  69. I noticed they have bleeped the word 'fucking'. The last time I watched it a year ago it had not been censored. The bleeping kind of spoiled the flow of the song

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  70. Anonymous11:53:00 PM

    The ghosts/bats are so crazy you touch them and they go behing the video.

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  71. Did you see the correct one ?? with MATT in it. I put up the wrong vid at first.

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  72. Anonymous11:56:00 PM

    I will just say fucking at the right time.
    How long do the terrible 2's last for boys ,Gilly acts like he's in heat? [giggles]

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  73. If you try to click on the ghosts or bat, they run away from you. you have to catch them and click and they will say things.

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  74. Anonymous11:58:00 PM

    Yes I seen the right one, you know I'm going to watch it again.

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  75. Anonymous11:59:00 PM

    They do like the puppies...Now Gilly and I will have fun tomorrow.

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  76. Anonymous12:03:00 AM

    I do what you told me about when he was wearing diapers, I don't make a fuss ...I just put something in his hands...
    He's too little for it to feel good...I get next he will be downing some little girl.

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  77. No honey it feels good to them at Gilly's age.

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  78. Anonymous12:06:00 AM

    When Gil see him pulling at his pants, he tell him to come them and he says his shorts was pulled up to high on his family jewels, he adjusts tham and it seems to work. I don't know shit about boys.

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  79. Anonymous12:09:00 AM

    Weel I'm glad Gilly is a single. Poor Jaye had two of the little rascals .
    I am so glad I got you/Sis to help me.

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  80. Boys are very sexual until they are five or so and then they forget about it for a few years.Then it's on their mind 24/7

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  81. Anonymous12:15:00 AM

    We are hot tonight...every other note we was saying the same thing at least on three of them .
    Did you see what I told Anita why I change my name to WITCHY ??

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  82. Anonymous12:18:00 AM

    Oh what mothers go through for their boys.

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  83. I bet you have fun Thursday night.I wonder if I'm right and Gil sells just enough shares to CC to give them control of the hotel/casinos. It is the perfect revenge to leave the C****os close to the money and yet unable to touch it.

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  84. Anonymous12:23:00 AM

    A guy is talking about the planet you put up a couple of days ago, the planet they think can support life...PIC...I think we are making a difference ...someone out there is listening to them and saying I read that on FTBB last week.
    He's talking to Craig.

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  85. Maybe we should call it a day.it gets really cold up here at night now. It's great for sleeping. I get out the fuzzy sheets and the goose down duvet and we snuggle in the cozy nest.

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  86. Anonymous12:26:00 AM

    You are right...he said that this morning, NAN asked him did he need hers and he said no she needed to keep hers so she could vote with the other shareholders.

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  87. I like this scientist. I have seen him before. I have another post in drafts about that planet.

    Have they brought another miner up yet?? I have lost track because I am watching Craig.

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  88. I think we are having a bit of influence. I have started picking blogs to visit and leave my message again. I stopped for a few months.My heart couldn't take any more sadness. But now that Brian is doing better I can handle it again.

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  89. Anonymous12:32:00 AM

    Okay we will call it a night, my sinus is clearing up a little , we are really cool here.
    If I left something out or you don't get the meaning , just asked and I will correct it, I wanted you to know what happen today, I didn't pull off my shoes...Sis made dinner for us again.

    Goodnite and pleasent dreams and snuggle up to the ROCK.

    SEE you around the old pond at twilight ...
    HUGS & KISSES...PIC
    Kiss the Rock.

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  90. Anonymous12:34:00 AM

    Last I seen they had 3 miners up and they are hoping they all will be out tomorrow.
    NITE

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  91. I had fun as always Sweetie and look forward to chatting with you again. I will send an email to you a bit later. Take it easy. Tell dad I will get back to him very soon. Happy dreams...Put your cold feet on Shank's ass and get some rest...LUV & HUGS PIC

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Through this ever open gate
None come too early
None too late
Thanks for dropping in ... the PICs