Visible image of extra-solar planets

For some time, astronomers have inferred from spectrographic data that there were objects (presumably planets) orbiting far away stars. Visually imaging an extra-solar planet has been impossible, until now.

Using the Keck and Gemini telescopes (located on top of Mauna Kea, Hawaii), astronomers have imaged not one, but three planets in orbit around the star […]

Where’s the stick?

Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage used to say, “Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggy’ while looking for a stick.” TIME.com reports that president-elect Obama is already being tested by foreign powers. He is clearly quite skilled at the ‘nice doggy’ part. It remains to be seen if he can find a […]

November cache hunting

4 Nov 2008 9:33 PM Venona 2008 activities begin

The annual Venona puzzle activities started with a real geocache this year. It was a cipher and was solved by the GBA master puzzlers. Since Dan and I were close to the cache we headed out to retrieve the hint contained in it, and also claimed […]