OUR GALAXY !

Our Galaxy was "born" -- 4 Billion Years Ago!!

Out of this gaseous matter our solar system began to take form-with the Sun - our only daylite star - in the center. Our Milky Way Galaxy is a Spiral Galaxy-part of a cluster of 30 Galaxies. Our Sun is only one star in this Galaxy!!



Mercury-Venus-Earth-Mars are the closest to the Sun--separated by an Asteroid Belt from the Outer Solar System.



The outer Solar System -- Saturn-Jupiter-Uranus-Neptune and Pluto. Scientists are still debating whether Pluto should be considered a planet. It is believed to be mostly ice and too small to be a planet. Jupiter, on the other hand, is so large it could contain all the other planets and their moons. It is 1000 times bigger than Earth!!



In May 2000 European Astronomers discovered 8 more "Exoplanets" orbiting a distant Star-or Sun- about 140 light years away. Light travels about 6 trillion miles in one year through space. We do not know how many more may be "Out There" !



Space exploration and travel to other planets is in its infancy. Our Star - the Sun - is only one of countless trillions - then why not other Solar Systems in other Galaxies!!

If--We are exploring our Solar System.....then why not expect the same from other Explorers from other Solar Systems? After all we have only been "Toying" with the thought of Inter-Planetary Exploration within the last generation. Even the first Moon Landing was believed to have been staged and never really happened.



In July 1947 a strange object appeared over Roswell, New Mexico and crashed into the desert----A Weather Balloon----as was later publicised from information released by the US government----or something else? Witnesses reported shortly after the crash--It was an Object propelled-with a definite trajectory--not at all like a balloon floating on the wind! According to witnesses--materials found at the Crash Site--did not resemble that of a Weather Balloon. Pieces resembling a metalic substance with strange markings were seen but later vanished when the news report was released of the weather balloon. What was "IT" and who has the answer??



Since that day in July many more objects have been seen in the sky-some by more than one person. Are they all seeing weather balloons or flares used by the Military in training exercises? Or are they the same UFO's that were seen in the sky by our Ancestors a long time ago, as depicted on cave walls around the world!

In 1991 the space shuttle Discovery took photographs of a UFO (STS48). It was said, by NASA later, that the object the Shuttle Crew saw was most likely Shuttle Bay debris or water expelled by the Shuttle. This "Explanation" does not explain why the object took off out of site of the crew at a high rate of speed and a specific angle!



It was not so long ago we believed "The Sun revolved around the Earth", the Earth was "Flat" and people fell off the edge if they ventured too close and the Moon was made of Green Cheese...!!



If we have come this far in the last generation - what great things may our grandchildren discover - what wonderful frontiers to be explored? We can now visit these far off places by Virtual Reality or through the "Eye" of the Hubble Telescope. I hope you will be in awe, as I am, after visiting these wonderful sites! The links on this page will take you there.

But first here are a few close-up photos taken by Hubble and some interesting facts. There will be updates on new discoveries when they become available in this section ----- So check back for more soon!!!

CRAB NEBULA---This is what remains of a tremendous stellar explosion blasted into space, which was the supernova that was witnessed by Chinese Astronomers in 1054 AD, which generated the Crab Nebula: This close-up picture from Hubble June 1, 2000

GALACTIC SILHOUETTES---This extraordinary alignment of a Face-On spiral galaxy lying precisely in front of another larger spiral - called NGC 3314 - This pair lies about 140 million light-years from earth in the southern hemisphere constellation Hydra: Photo taken May 11. 2000

Hubble Finds Universes missing Hydrogen---Much of it was "Cooked Up" in the Big Bang the rest is locked up in Galaxies: May3, 2000



All these extraordinary photographs, Credit: NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team

Look for Updates Here!

A Canada made Space Telescope called "MOST" - no bigger than a suitcase and costing $12 million - will be launched in 2002. It will measure Stars vibrating and scientists will be able to detect how old the Universe is!!

International Space Station--finished for occupancy in 2004. Seven Scientists will be able to live and work there at one time---16 countries are participating in its construction with Canada building a Remote Manipulator Arm. It is located, in orbit, 350 km above the Earth and will be in operation until 2019.

April 24, 2000 - Ten Years Hubble Anniversary

June 19, 2000 - Greatest discovery so far from the surface of Mars -the Global Surveyor space craft found definite evidence that there is water on Mars and a Polar Ice Cap

July 11, 2000 - Russia launches the Space Capsule which will become working-living quarters for the International Space Station. The launch is 2 years overdue caused by lack of funding.

October 31, 2000 - The First Crew of the International Space Station was launched into orbit-2 Russians and 1 American. In one month a Canadian will visit the Station. In the Spring of 2001 the Canadarm will be attached to the Station for future work on the Space Station!

The Space Stations 17 ton Solar Panels were unfurled with the help of the Canadarm. Because of the reflection it will now be the brightest object in the night sky. December 2000

Mars Global Surveyor found sedimentary deposits on Mars. Proof of water and life on the Red Planet. December 2000

The Science Lab named "Destiny" was installed on the Space Station. It took 6 hours to install. After its installation it can control all the functions on the Station. The U.S. built Science Lab cost over 1.4 Billion US. It was suppose to have been installed in January 2001 but arrived at the Station February 9, 2001 and was installed February 10, 2001

The Space Station is now "Streaking" along at 17,500 mi/hr.



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Space Station "Alpha" welcomed a Canadian visitor !

Chris Hadfield - He will be installing the new Canadarm 2 ! He will be the FIRST Canadian to walk in Space! Certainly a momentous occasion for all Canadians!

The Canadarm 2 is unique in that it will be able to "walk" along the space station -plugging into the Station at certain intervals! In this way it will be able to maintain the Station at all times!

April 20, 2001

Ladybugs in Space!

Here is some information for all you "Ladybug Lovers" out there-especially for my email "Buddy" Ladybug! In 1999, four Ladybugs were sent into space on the Space Shuttle. Aphids, a Ladybugs favourite food, were also sent. The experiment was to see if the Aphids could escape the Ladybugs without being able to jump in zero gravity. They also studied how both "Bugs" would react!!

Thank You Ladybug for the update!!

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