The 2012 Quadrantids, a little-known meteor shower named after an extinct constellation, will present an excellent chance for hardy souls to start the year off with some late-night meteor watching.

Peaking in the wee morning hours of Jan. 4, the Quadrantids have a maximum rate of about 100 per hour, varying between 60-200. The waxing gibbous moon will set around 3 a.m. local time, leaving about two hours of excellent meteor observing before dawn. It’s a good thing, too, because unlike the more famous Perseid and Geminid meteor showers, the Quadrantids only last a few hours — it’s the morning of Jan. 4, or nothing.

[PIC]

Wanted: A few new astronauts- NASA says it’s opening the application process for astronaut candidates in early November, for the first time since the shuttle fleet’s retirement this summer.

The last time NASA selected a new class was in 2009. About 3,500 people applied, somewhere around 110 were selected to undergo an initial interview, and in the end nine Americans were selected to join NASA’s astronaut corps. Check out the rest of the story here.

 BRB, getting my resume ready.

(Source: nbcnews)

Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.

(Source: bl0ssom)

The Earth and the Moon. Taken 6 million miles away by the Juno spacecraft which is on its way to Jupiter. 

Man, space is neat! Everything we love and hate and know is on that pale blue dot.