The video is about 9 minutes (without audio), might be boring for people that are not interested in astronomy related stuff.

Press release by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)…

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) have successfully performed the world’s first high-definition image taking of an Earth-rise* by the lunar explorer “KAGUYA” (SELENE,) which was injected into a lunar orbit at an altitude of about 100 km on October 18, 2007 (Japan Standard Time. Following times and dates are all JST.)

The Apollo project was the first mission to take images of Earth rising over the Moon. The KAGUYA successfully shot high-definition images of the Earth-rise showing an impressive image of the blue Earth which was the only floating object in pitch-dark space. These are the world’s first high-definition earth images taken from about 380,000 km away from the earth in space.

The image taking was performed by the KAGUYA’s onboard high definition television (HDTV) for space use developed by NHK. The moving image data acquired by the KAGUYA was received at the JAXA Usuda Deep Space Center, and processed by NHK.

The satellite was confirmed to be in good health through telemetry data received at the Usuda station.

* Note: we use the expression “Earth-rise” in this press release, but the Earth-rise is a phenomenon seen only from satellites that travel around the Moon, such as the KAGUYA and the Apollo space ship. The Earth-rise cannot be observed by a person who is on the Moon as they can always see the Earth at the same position.

Crater created by the meteorite (Image courtesy of Xinhuanet)

Jorge Lopez, director of the health department in the southern state of Puno, said at least 200 people had become ill after inhaling “toxic” fumes emanating from the resulting crater; but a team of doctors who reached the isolated site said they found no evidence the meteorite had caused sickness.

Modesto Montoya, a member of the medical team, told El Comercio that fear may have provoked psychosomatic ailments.

“When a meteorite falls, it produces horrid sounds when it makes contact with the atmosphere,” he said. “It is as if a giant rock is being sanded. Those sounds could have frightened them.” [Telegraph]

Japan launches Kaguya lunar probe (Image courtesy of Xinhuanet)

The liftoff occurred at Tanegashima Space Center at 10.31am; 45 minutes after liftoff, at an altitude of about 390 kilometers, the satellite separated from the rocket, successfully concluding the launch.

The three-tonne probe is called Selene, the Selenological and Engineering Explorer. It has been nicknamed Kaguya, after a princess in a folk story who ascended to the moon.

Japanese scientists say it is the most complex lunar mission since NASA’s Apollo programme in the 1960s and 70s, when astronauts walked on the moon. Over the course of a year, the orbiter will gather data on the moon’s origin and evolution. [BBC]

Screenshots of ‘Sky in Google Earth’ (Image courtesy of Google Latlong)

You need to download the latest Google Earth (free) to use the feature.

Astronomers using a NASA space telescope, the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, have spotted an amazingly long comet-like tail behind a star streaking through space.

The star, named Mira after the Latin word for “wonderful,” has been a favorite of astronomers for about 400 years, yet this is the first time the tail has been seen.

Galactic Suite, the space hotel model (Image courtesy of Galacticsuite)

Its Barcelona-based architects say the space hotel will be the most expensive in the galaxy, costing $4 million for a three-day stay. [Reuters]

No worries if you can’t afford the $4mil price tag… a decade ago probably nobody has dreamed that a space hotel could become a reality, not so soon. Perhaps another decade later staying in space will become affordable for more people.

A small portion of the Veil Nebula (Image courtesy of ESA)

A beautiful portion of the Veil Nebula (Image courtesy of ESA)

A supernova releases so much light that it can outshine a whole galaxy of stars put together. The exploding star sweeps out a huge bubble in its surroundings, fringed with actual stellar debris along with material swept up by the blast wave. This glowing, brightly-coloured shell of gas forms a nebula that astronomers call a ‘supernova remnant’. Such a remnant can remain visible long after the initial explosion fades away. [ESA]

The Great Canary Telescope (Image courtesy of GTC, via Newscientist)

The huge observatory (with 10.4 metre telescope) is built atop a mountain on the island of La Palma (part of the Canary Islands); it cost $180 million and 7 years to construct. The GTC is doing test observations at the moment, with science observations intended to begin in about a year.