by Paul Gilster | Oct 3, 2017 | Administrative | 79 comments
An interruption that can’t be avoided. I never realized that so many non-Centauri Dreams obligations were about to converge this fall, but it’s now clear I won’t be able to keep the site stocked with new stories for the next couple of weeks. I’ll do my best to keep up with comment moderation during this period, though there may be interruptions. See you later in the month when things get a bit more normal.
In Centauri Dreams, Paul Gilster looks at peer-reviewed research on deep space exploration, with an eye toward interstellar possibilities. For many years this site coordinated its efforts with the Tau Zero Foundation. It now serves as an independent forum for deep space news and ideas. In the logo above, the leftmost star is Alpha Centauri, a triple system closer than any other star, and a primary target for early interstellar probes. To its right is Beta Centauri (not a part of the Alpha Centauri system), with Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon Crucis, stars in the Southern Cross, visible at the far right (image courtesy of Marco Lorenzi).
If you'd like to submit a comment for possible publication on Centauri Dreams, I will be glad to consider it. The primary criterion is that comments contribute meaningfully to the debate. Among other criteria for selection: Comments must be on topic, directly related to the post in question, must use appropriate language, and must not be abusive to others. Civility counts. In addition, a valid email address is required for a comment to be considered. Centauri Dreams is emphatically not a soapbox for political or religious views submitted by individuals or organizations. A long form of the policy can be viewed on the Administrative page. The short form is this: If your comment is not on topic and respectful to others, I'm probably not going to run it.
NASA HAS FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW ENCELADUS’ HEAT BUDGET WORKS!!! Enceladus’ core is composed ALMOST ENTIRELY of “wet sand” whose grains rub against each other due to tidal friction from Saturn, creating friction OF ITS OWN, which heats liquid water(which CONTINUOUSLY seeps down through the sand to the center of Enceladus itself) to the BOILING POINT, converting it to steam, which; being less dense than the cold liquid water, is forced upward and back into the global ocean via hydrothermal vents, preventing the ocean from freezing FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS!
Has a REAL Tattoine been finally discovered? “TCP J05074264+2447555 as a bright microlensing event due to a binary systen with a very low mass ratio component; hint for a new planetary system.” by A. A. Nucita, D Licchelli, F, De Paolis, G. Ingrosso, F. Strafella. Currently up on the Exoplanet eu website.