Goings on around the Galaxy

Galactic gallivanting today because all kinds of interesting news items are calling for our attention.

Not this Milky Way, silly!

Our Home Galaxy (http://www.outerspaceuniverse.org)

First up, we start on our very own little planet, that "Third Rock from the Sun". So have you heard about this fellow who says the world is going to end on May 21st? His name is Harold Camping and through very mysterious calculations on his part from his own "interpretations" of the Bible, he has come up with the date for our Big Finale. Just so you aren't too worried, he has made this prediction before...many times. He keeps changing the date because of an error in his calculations.  To read an enlightening post on Camping's predictions, please click on this link to AmethJera's blog A Broom with a View

Now we move into Outer Space! The final launch of the shuttle Endeavor. Its mission days are just about over. How often in the past few years did we even know that there was a shuttle launch, or a mission? A lot of us have become rather blase about the shuttle space crafts. Space shuttle news is just so ho-hum. Far from the days when, as kids, we went running out into the streets at night to see the "Sputnik" passing by on its orbit, or "Skylab".  The thrill and mystery of the Space Program was so exciting. And now the last space shuttle mission is here and the news reported  the final docking of the Endeavor with the space station. Do you suppose everyone up there is saying things like: "This is the last time I will have breakfast in the shuttle"; "This is the last time we will change into our space suits in the shuttle." Maybe the next phase of the Space Program will stir up a little more excitement (that is, if it even gets off the ground.)

http://www.nasa.gov

Sputnik

Finally, for today's post on Galaxy Happenings is this intriguing discovery by our wily and ever-alert Earth scientists. Large single planets have been found that appear to have no orbit, or a very large, "loose" orbit. They apparently just roam around the Milky Way with no purpose or plan. Like Jupiter, they are huge gaseous bodies (and no I am not talking about republicans!). Certainly they can't be along the lines of the "Death Star" (from the Star Wars trilogy). Imagine that: Are aliens disguising their deadly "mother ships" as innocuous free-wheeling planets? I feel a Hollywood production may be in the works. Humor aside, though, I think it is incredible that there are so many wonderful and amazing things to discover in our Universe. It is exciting and shows us that there is so much more to be learned.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

from "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare