http://astrophotography.toplisted.net Our round up of the top Astrophotography news stories of the day on the Top Listed Network Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=1 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=1 ]]> The European Space Agency?s new launch vehicle, Vega, has its first "qualification flight" scheduled for Monday morning: the launch window is from 10:00 to 12:00 UTC (05:00 to 07:00 Eastern US time). ESA has a page where you can watch the launch live . Vega is a smaller rocket, designed to haul 300 ? 2000 kg payloads to low Earth orbit. It?s 30 meters tall by 3 meters wide (100 x 10 feet), so we ... The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=2 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=2 ]]> I?m getting email and tweets about a Flash-based interactive tool where you can zoom in and out on the Universe, getting a scale of things from the tiniest fluctuations in the quantum foam of space to the size of the Universe itself. It?s done logarithmically, using factors of ten, and does a pretty good job. It?s called The Scale of the Universe 2 . It takes a few minutes to load, so be patient ... The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=3 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=3 ]]> HAVE you ever noticed how much the stars move on an average night? The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=4 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=4 ]]> Sometimes, the images from the Cassini Saturn probe are so cool it?s tempting just to post them and say, "Look at THAT!" See what I mean? [Click to gigantesenate.] But of course, I can?t just leave it at that. This image , taken on January 4, 2012, is a bit different than most. Sure, we see Saturn?s magnificent rings, nearly edge on from this perspective. And we?ve seen this icy moon Enceladus ... The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=5 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=5 ]]> An array of top international scientists including the inventor of Wi-Fi and astronomer who downgraded Pluto converges on Auckland next week for the SKANZ 2012* conference hosted by AUT University. The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=6 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=6 ]]> GREENWICH, Conn. ? Hey Greenwich, are you looking for something fun to do this weekend? Check out some of the family-friendly events coming up: Friday, Feb. 10 ? 6 ? 9 p.m. ? Middle school members of the Boys and Girls Club can swim, participate in game ... The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=7 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=7 ]]> Learn from the Macworld experts at our exclusive training days. The Macworld Masterclass is a series of live training events that aim to improve your knowledge of the latest Mac software and tools. The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=8 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=8 ]]> Photographer Maik Thomas posted this time lapse video on Google+ , and it made me chuckle. The bright object is the Moon, and as it sets it turns red, looking like a missile from space curving right into a church. I love the star trails effect. It?s just a way of adding the individual frames together to show motion, but it does give the video an oddly other-world feel to it. And in this case it ... The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=9 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=9 ]]> # monstermachines How do you create the world's largest virtual optical telescope and the most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory? Teamwork. The Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory combines the visual prowess of four huge telescopes?for the first time ever?to mimic a 130-meter-wide mirror. More » The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=10 http://astrophotography.toplisted.net/news.php?article=1329128769&element=10 ]]> ( University of California - Los Angeles ) A team of astronomers led by UCLA research astronomer Michael Rich has used a novel telescope to discover a previously unknown companion to a nearby galaxy, known as NGC 4449, some 12.5 million light years from Earth. The new galaxy had escaped even the prying eyes of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Toplisted Network (http://www.toplisted.net) rssWebmaster@toplisted.net Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:10 +0000