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Google announced late last week a new X Prize competition. This time, the goal is the moon!
(From X PRIZE Founder – Peter H. Diamandis, MD)
It has been many decades since we explored the Moon from the lunar surface, and it could be another 6 - 8 years before any government returns. Even then, it will be at a large expense, and probably with little public involvement.
The Google Lunar X PRIZE seeks to create a global private race to the Moon that excites and involves people around the world and, accelerates space exploration for the benefit of all humanity. The use of space has dramatically enhanced the quality of life and may ultimately lead to solutions to some of the most pressing environmental problems that we face on earth – energy independence and climate change.
The X PRIZE Foundation could think of no better sponsor and partner than Google. We share a common vision for opening frontiers and a belief that a small dedicated group of individuals can accomplish amazing feats at very low cost.
With the Ansari X PRIZE, we were able to demonstrate that personal spaceflight is possible. Now, a new industry is emerging making it possible for anyone to fulfill their dream of spaceflight. With the Google Lunar X PRIZE we hope to usher in an era of commercial exploration and development, in which small companies, groups of individuals and universities can build, launch and explore the Moon and beyond.
We are very grateful to Google for their support, vision and courage and look forward to working with them to extend the online community to the Moon and beyond.
View more of the press conference, access education guides, and read details of the competition at the Google Lunar X Prize website: http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/
Seeing in the Dark
PBS film by Timothy Ferris
Premiere scheduled for September 19, 2007 (check local listings for times/channels)
When youngsters are asked for their favorite topics in science, astronomy (along with dinosaurs) is always high on the list. As a “gateway” to science education, astronomy is essential to the curriculum in many states and school districts. But even where astronomy is not required, it can often be a wonderful way to approach required science principles and ideas. Examples from astronomy can make vivid any general discussion of gravity and forces, of nuclear energy, of light and color, and of the nature of scientific hypotheses.
As you explore the Seeing in the Dark website, be sure to take a look at the how-to videos for stargazing, print out a custom star chart of the night sky where you live, read and watch special effects videos of fascinating astronomy topics, and consider requesting an image from our high-powered Internet telescope.
The companion website includes a special section for educators and features a robotic telescope located at a high-altitude site in New Mexico. Students and teachers can request images of the galaxy by registering online and then sending an e-mail specifying the object they would like to image (for free).
The website also has a digital star chart that can be customized for your date and location. You can even set it to get the most suitable results depending on whether you’re observing with the unaided eye, binoculars, or a small telescope.
