Settling on the Moon

Pics taken from the NASA website

With the GRAIL mission set to launch soon, the moon is going to be examined yet again for lots of different reasons.  During the NASA lecture back in May, Dr. Williams mentioned that if people were to settle on the moon, the best bet would be to land around the southern pole region where a large deposit of water has been found.  Scientists are also beginning to think that there may be more water than previously thought.  GRAIL will certainly shed some light on this matter and a whole lot more including the formations of rocky planets. A study was done about the water on the moon and they discovered that just beneath the surface, they found frozen deposits.  When those deposits were exposed, they "evaporated" into space. 

Aitken Basin where large deposits of water were found

"NASA said Friday(6/3) it had discovered water on the moon, opening "a new chapter" that could allow for the development of a lunar space station. The discovery was announced by project scientist Anthony Colaprete at a midday news conference. "I'm here today to tell you that indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit; we found a significant amount" -- about a dozen, two-gallon bucketfuls, he said, holding up several white plastic containers. The find is based on preliminary data collected when the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, intentionally crashed October 9 into the permanently shadowed region of Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole.

Until recently the moon was regarded as bone dry – more desiccated than the most arid desert on Earth. That perception has changed recently with the discovery of significant amounts of ice near the lunar poles, first from satellite observations and then from the 2009 US mission to smash a probe into a shady crater. A new study, published last week in the journal Science, shows that there is also far more water inside the moon than lunar geologists had realised. And it raises questions about the favoured theory for the origin of the moon: that it formed from material ejected by a huge impact in Earth’s early history. The NASA-funded researchers re-examined lunar material brought back to Earth by Apollo 17, the last manned expedition to the moon, using new microprobe technology that can detect the presence of chemicals on a microscopic scale. They focused on volcanic glass beads, coloured orange by their high titanium content, which formed about 3.7bn years ago when volcanic eruptions were still taking place on the moon. The beads contain “melt inclusions” – tiny samples of the moon’s molten magma that were trapped inside crystals before the eruption.  “In contrast to most volcanic deposits, the melt inclusions are encased in crystals that prevent the escape of water and other volatiles during eruption. These samples provide the best window we have on the amount of water in the interior of the moon,” says James Van Orman, a geologist at Case Western Reserve University. The results show levels of water around 0.1 per cent. That is 100 times more than scientists had found earlier with simpler technology, and similar to the levels in solidified magma collected from mid-ocean ridges on Earth. Amounts of other volatile elements such as fluorine, chlorine and sulphur were also much higher than measured previously and close to those found in corresponding terrestrial material.Although the study points to the Earth and moon having a common origin, it is not consistent with the giant impact theory, because the water would have been driven off into space as vapour by such a cataclysmic high-temperature event. So the authors say that ideas about the early solar system may need revising. The study also gives a new twist to the origin of ice detected in craters at the lunar poles. The usual explanation is that the ice was brought to the moon by bombardment over billions of years from water-rich comets and meteoroids. But it now seems possible that some of the lunar ice came from within the moon – released by past volcanic eruptions." End of article.  Source:  http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/493de45a-8bef-11e0-854c-00144feab49a.html#axzz1ONCM7xhR

A closer look at the pole.

So while constructing a space station may be some time away, it appears there is a better chance of it with the presence of ice.  There are a million things to consider when it comes to colonizing the moon....How would one process the water?  Also let's not forget the space debris that likes to hit the moon....on Earth it gets eaten up in our atmosphere. There are many other things to consider, but imagine the scientific opportunities that await us in the stars.  Unfortuneatly, I've come to an end on the science part of this series.  I hope you've enjoyed the NASA presentations as much as I have. Comicons or conventions are more than just comic books and geeks coming together. Fiction helped us imagine the possibilities and many scientists are doing what they are doing today because as kids, they were inspired by the infinite possibilities of our universe. As Mr. Spock would say, "Fascinating." One last look at the Phoenix Comicon tomorrow.  Until then.....

Legends

My shot of Leonard Nimoy. I love this guy.

Remembering.  Connecting.  Feeling.  These are all things that come together when I watched these two great men present.  Leonard Nimoy spoke of his life while George Takei spoke about the many political things going on in our country.....and focused on diversity and defending those in the LGBT community.  While both these men were presenting, I remembered my own childhood.  Here is my connection with these two wonderful actors.  As a child, I was forced to watch Star Trek reruns with my mother while folding laundry on a cold winter's day. I had two options....shovel snow with my dad or stay inside the warm house and fold laundry with my mom(and do dishes).  Laundry was a major project in our household of 8 people. TV was not negotiable and it was what mom wanted to watch. So it was Star Trek or Somewhere in Time(with the late great Christopher Reeves).  I hated this show so much.  It was boring to me and my siblings, but it was on ALL the time in the 70's.  Even worse, if I went over to my grandparent's house, I'd have to watch it with my grandpa!! At the time, Star Wars was way cooler! Lightsabers, aliens of all shapes and sizes, awesome music.......well Star Wars was my world as I collected all the toys.  Today I still have all of them in boxes in my closet. What I wouldn't do to go back in time to relive those innocent days! My grandfather and mom used to take me to all the Star Wars and Star Trek movies as a kid. It would just be the 3 of us unknown geeks sitting down and watching these movies together..... and sometimes we would go back twice!

George Takei

Again, these characters were like family to me because they were embraced by some important people in my own life.  My grandfather and I would do a lot together....shop for the perfect shortcakes to make the perfect desert for my grandma, go on drives around town, go fishing on the lake.....and so many other things.  But the Star Trek movies were something the three of us did together ALWAYS.  We take so many things for granted in life......especially with the people we love the most.  Little did I know that Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home(the whale one:) would be the last time I ever saw a Star Trek movie with my grandpa again. Today it's still one of the big losses of my life....even though it has been 24 years since he has passed away, I miss him as if it were yesterday.  He was my best friend as a kid growing up.  Today I carry his torch by carrying on with his jokes and watching Star Trek.

Standing next to these men was like standing next to adopted grandparents.  I imagined my grandpa with me as I had my picture taken with these gentlemen. Eventually I began to appreciate Star Trek more than Star Wars because it spoke about diversity and embracing new ideas and cultures. My first book that I ever read was Watership Down.  My second book was a Star Trek book that I had to read for my Freshman year of high school.....and I haven't stopped reading since!  Some of my favorites are Life of Pi, Water for Elephants, Lord of the Rings, and many many more!

Hearing Nimoy talk about his life really connected me with those childhood years growing up with him.....in programs like Search for Tomorrow, Transformers(the animated series), etc. because they were all memories with my family. You may say that I think of Nimoy as a "god" and you'd be right.  He was genuine and witty with a strong life message.....live with honor.  Make decisions that honor who you are as a person and those that surround you.  It was quite beautiful.  The hour flew by and before I knew it....Nimoy was gone.

While I didn't care for the character of Sulu much as a kid, I have grown to really respect this actor today.  What I like best about Takei is that he is making a difference now in his stand against discrimination and hate crimes in the world.  He spoke of his days trapped in the Japanese confinement camps within the US and how that affected him as a kid growing up. Takei has recently come out of the closet and has been vocal since for the rights of the LGBT community.  He also shared a story about how Tennessee is trying to pass a bill to prevent teachers from using the word "gay" in the classroom.  In a strong statement, he said that our citizens have  the "Right to Free Speech" and preventing people from using any word was against the rights of the American people. I agree.  If this bill passes, it will be one of the most stupid things that ignorant and hateful people do to others.  George told the audience that if teachers needed to use the word "gay", they could replace it with "Takei" instead.  Everyone clapped and cheered at the suggestion.  I should also mention that this bill is directed at Elementary and Jr. High School teachers and that Takei said that all words must be used responsibly but also that they shouldn't be denied as it goes against our rights.  Some of you may be thinking, "Well you shouldn't be teaching that in the classroom anyway!"  I agree and so did Takei, but as a teacher with my own class, I thought of why this bill is ridiculous.  We teach kids to accept all walks of life especially me with my background on Spanish culture!  A lot of students like to use words like "gay" or "retarded" with one another and to me that is not acceptable in my own classroom and this is exactly the moment when a teacher needs to step in and correct this inappropriate behavior. For this reason, my respect for Mr. Takei has shot up tenfold!

My other grandpa....Nimoy!

It was a day come true meeting some of my heroes growing up.  I went with the spirit of my grandfather next to me and snapped a shot for my mother.....and for one moment, we all stood together remembering the past.  I forgot about my mortgage, watering the plants, and the various mundane routines of life.....and felt happy and connected to my inner core.  The afterglow lasted several days afterwards......and I'll never forget this weekend of legends and science.

The cool Uncle I wish I had....George Takei. Oh My!

WHEATON!!!

Storytime with Wil Wheaton(Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me, ST:TNG)
Actor pics from the Comicon were taken by me.  If you want to use my pics anytime from this blog, please drop a note first or source the pic.

In life, we sometimes make imaginary bonds with people that are on screen or from a book. My youth was no different.  Even today during life's little trials as an adult, I still have those attachments which act like a security blanket that comforts me when I need escape.  I grew up watching Wil Wheaton on TV always wondering what it would be like to be a child actor.  During my awkward high school years, I struggled with my identity, like most teenagers, and escaped into the world of science fiction.   In my imaginary world, I have always dreamed of leaving the planet Earth for the stars and Star Trek allowed me the chance to escape my reality.  Like my Grandpa and Mother, I joined the realm of the exciting and unknown.  Each week I followed the voyages of the starship Enterprise as it explored new planets and met strange aliens. I was a freshman in high school when Star Trek: The Next Generation began and Wil Wheaton was part of the cast.

Telling the tale of the Unicorn Pegasus Kitten

Both of us were the same age and both in our teenage years. Everyone made fun of Star Trek(sometimes they still do...but I don't care anymore:), but having someone from the same age group seemed to make it okay to watch TNG.  Eventually, we grew both grew up to be 39 years old.  He is turning 39 this month and I'll be celebrating my birthday in October. Seeing him in person and hearing his voice made me smile and think about how much time has passed in my own life. During his presentation, he shared with the audience that he really enjoyed writing.....something I also enjoy doing now. Beyond having the "writing bug", I discovered that we had a lot more in common.....a relationship, travel, and a similiar snarky sense of humor.  It was great to see someone having fun in their 30's.  Sometimes I see a lot of my peers and siblings irritated that they can't always do the things they want to do because of kids, their work, or marriage. Life is, of course, what you make of it.  Both of us have blogs and both of us have found writing to be quite exciting.  Even better, I think we're both more comfortable in our own skins as adults and people.  So while my imaginary friend and I have taken different paths in our lives, we still have taken on similiar interests.......and it brought me a strange comfort.  Why should it matter?  I think many people sensationalize an actor's life thinking it's awesome.  Some parts of it seem cool, but I don't think I'd want that life. But it's comforting to know that the people we enjoy watching on TV have somewhat normal lives just like everybody else. Now if he reads this blog, his response would be, "That sounds &*%^$ %$^!" And I'd laugh because I would probably say the same thing.  However, I have students who like to pop in every now and again and read my work so I have to keep it clean:) Anyhow, if you read this Wil, I get it, but I just wanted to thank you for the fun time we had up at the Phoenix Comicon.  It was a good escape after the school year ended.

Bazinga!

So this blog sounds as if I am a stalker and that isn't the case at all.....just a huge fan and geek at heart. It's about the respect I felt for this actor as a kid as well as the appreciation for the work he's done and continues to do.  Conventions allow us to meet these imaginary and timeless friends in person and connect with them via stories from their real lives, etc. In many ways, it's like visiting an old friend who you haven't seen in awhile.  It was great to finally meet this funny and witty blogger. Stay tuned for more personal stories and science info from the Phoenix Comicon.  I have a lot of reporting to do....I'm working on my Panama posts right now from our work with the turtle program in Bocas Del Toro as well as our adventure from Coiba Island.....plus some features on the local flora and fauna.  So much to write on plus several updates on the garden.....Until tomorrow!

Phoenix Comicon 2011

Trying to tie the gardening part of my blog in with the convention.  This is Poison Ivy from the Batman series who loves plants above all living things including humans.  She's one of my favorite villains.  As we all  know, touching Poison Ivy can have some very itchy consequences:)

With one Comicon done and another to go.....the San Diego Comicon begins this weekend!!  We'll be there snapping pics.  I'm going to celebrate by sharing my love of all things space.  From my heart and from NASA, we will explore the universe and celebrate the adventures that lie ahead of us.....welcome to my blog.  Watch for updates this weekend from the San Diego Comicon and my daily posts from May's Phoenix Comicon.  So get your geek on as we explore space! This following write is from May 2011.

Greetings all,

As I sit here tonight thinking about how I am going to break down all this information over the course of several blogs, I am also needing to explain what you will be reading and why I feel it’s important to share.  Las Aventuras is a blog about gardening and travel.  It is going to look “spacy” and “science fiction” like over the next several days as I report on some really fascinating stuff.  In my mind, space is one of the great adventures that lies ahead and of course  that is what this blog is all about….adventure of the garden, travel, and imagination.  Dr. Williams, from ASU, gave an amazing lecture at the Comicon in Phoenix in May and I can’t wait to share that information with you all.  You are going to find articles in 3 primary categories…..the Adventures of Space, the Adventures of my Childhood(that which inspires me), and of course the Adventures of Gardening with a Sci-Fi twist.  I hope you enjoy this series of writes as I have from a fun filled weekend in May of fact, fiction, and discovery.    Let’s begin…..

Lightsabers from Star Wars

If you’ve  never been to a sci fi convention, it can be a bit of an eye opener.  As you look at the pics in this blog, you’ll see A LOT of people dressing up in all kinds of outfits.  I remember a time once during my high school years when I went to my first convention with my Dad.  We both had a good laugh as people with pointed ears and blue attenaes walked around us.  I met some of my childhood heroes growing up….Uhura(Nichelle Nichols) and Chekov(Walter Koenig) from Star Trek.  It was one of the most fun experiences I remember from my childhood.  And the best part was that my Dad was a good sport and came along for the fun.  This time, me and the better half, went together and had a blast.  You’ll see a lot of familiar faces on several of the blogs coming up.  We got to meet A LOT of cool actors and have a couple laughs with them.  Actors make up one part of the convention scene.  You’ll find a lot of legit scientists doing presentations from NASA  that will include many advisors from our national programs.

R2D2 from Star Wars

Bring plenty of money for this weekend event as it can get pricey with all the food, hotel, and “other” expenses that pop up.  The Phoenix Comicon comes once a year(generally around Memorial Day weekend), but there are other events that pop up from time to time….so keep your pointed ears openJ It's located at the Phoenix Convention Center with several hotels nearby. If you’re a fan of fantasy, comic books, anime, science, or science fiction,  you won’t want to miss this event.  Tickets can be purchased online as well as other special event items. I recommend you do this ahead of time so that you can avoid the lines and hassle of waiting. We also discovered that we need backbacks full of food and water to keep from passing out!  Stay tuned for more out of this world fun.  Las Aventuras is taking you up into space and beyond.  After that, we’re coming back to Earth and investigating the beautiful country of Panama!  Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Han Solo Frozen

Created from some vid I took.  Enjoy:)