Herschel and Plank Launch Today :)

[Whiternoise]

For those of you who don't know, the launch of two pretty special satellites is due to take place in just under half an hour ( i think). The run up to this launch has been a long time, and there's a lot of research and money at stake.

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/herschel...V3ZVNUF_0.html You can watch it live here

HERSCHEL OBJECTIVES:

* Study the formation of galaxies in the early universe and their subsequent evolution
* Investigate the creation of stars and their interaction with the interstellar medium
* Observe the chemical composition of the atmospheres and surfaces of comets, planets and satellites
* Examine the molecular chemistry of the universe

The questions that Herschel will seek answers to include:

* How galaxies formed and evolved in the early Universe
* How stars form and evolve and their interrelationship with the interstellar medium

PLANCK OBJECTIVES:

* Mapping of Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropies with improved sensitivity and angular resolution
* Determination of Hubble constant
* Testing inflationary models of the early Universe
* Measuring amplitude of structures in Cosmic Microwave Background

The questions that Planck will seek answers to include:

* What are the (more precise) values of fundamental cosmological parameters such as the Hubble constant?
* Can it be shown conclusively that the early Universe passed through an inflationary phase?
* What is the nature of the dark matter that dominates the present Universe?


Pretty ground breaking stuff. Herschel is looking at wavelengths that are effectively "untouched" up until now and Planck is set to give us some real insight into what dark matter actually is.

Also in space news, as of yesterday, Kepler started to look for Earth like planets properly: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ke...200905013.html

[Output]

Am I the only one who thought from the title that it was either a sequel or parody of Ratchet & Clank?

I'll admit it's not something that I'm interested in really - though I'm sure determining the nature of dark matter is an important thing to find out and is probably an answer I'd be curious to know (assuming I'd understand the answer anyway).

[LWA]

Am I the only one who thought from the title that it was either a sequel or parody of Ratchet & Clank?

I read the thread title and thought exactly the same.....

[MadduckUK]

really cheap and nasty brand of telly?