Phases of the Moon to accompany the prior post.

https://www.universetoday.com/wp-con...es-580x580.png

Very nice speach by the President of France, there is "currently" no Planet B!!!Hope TESS works produces results even then creating vessels to travel at the speeds needed are still in the science fiction stages!!

ET phone TESS!

http://fo4mw16y1z42edr6j2m4n6vt.wpen...aper__yvt2.jpg

Uranus stinks. No, really, it does
Astronomy Now | 26 April 2018

https://mk0astronomynow9oh6g.kinstac...618_uranus.jpg
Uranus, as viewed by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft. Image: NASA

In case anyone is wondering, Uranus smells.

Astronomers using the 8-meter Gemini North telescope in Hawaii spectroscopically dissected infrared light reflected from the cloud tops of the seventh planet and detected noxious hydrogen sulphide, a gas familiar to anyone who’s ever encountered rotten eggs.

The composition of Uranus’ atmosphere has long been a bit of a mystery with astronomers debating whether ammonia or hydrogen sulphide dominates. But now, using the Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer with Gemini North, Patrick Irwin from the University of Oxford and a team of collaborators have found definitive traces of the odiferous gas just above the visible cloud tops.

“Thanks to improved hydrogen sulphide absorption-line data and the wonderful Gemini spectra, we have the fingerprint which caught the culprit,” Irwin said in a statement.

The detection of hydrogen sulphide in the atmosphere of Uranus – and, presumably, Neptune’s – stands in contrast to the atmospheres of the inner gas giants Jupiter and Saturn where ammonia dominates and hydrogen sulphide is absent.

How can i not comment on Uranus...really :cool:

Yep, its name and malodor kind of go hand in hand.

Well that puts a dent on my plans to go there one day... Have to get my refund from Elon Musk

Without all kinds of support equipment, it looks like there ain't no place like home.

Stunning Virtual Tour of Exoplanets Takes Its One Millionth 'Passenger'
University Of Exeter, UK | Published: Thursday, April 26, 2018

One million budding astronomers and space enthusiasts have taken a magical tour to explore the exotic worlds orbiting distant stars, through a stunning virtual reality documentary.

http://www.astronomy.com/-/media/Ima...?mw=500&mh=400
Image of a hot Jupiter seen as part of the new VR documentary.
Engine House Vfx/University of Exeter/We The Curious

The spectacular and dramatic first-person journey across the landscape of six exoplanets was designed and created by astrophysicists from the University of Exeter, in conjunction with ‘We The Curious’ in Bristol and visual effects artists from Cornwall-based animation studio Engine House.

The team created a detailed 360° visual display to teleport viewers from Earth to these exotic worlds, to see how they differ from our own planet.

The researchers also provide a commentary to guide virtual space travellers through the experience.

Since launching late last year, the virtual planet tour has attracted one million views...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...;v=qhLExhpXX0E
What would it be like to stand on the surface of another planet? We teamed up with a group of astrophysicists
to create a scientifically accurate, virtual reality tour of six planets discovered outside our solar system. So
strap on a VR headset, surf the giant waves of Kepler-62e, and gaze across the lava fields of 55 Cancri e.
Engine House Vfx / University of Exeter / We The Curious

I was watching this before and it's so freaking cool...Thanks for the share!!