CENAP Infoline - no 149

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-INFOLINE
Issue Date: January 19, 2002
Issue Number: 149

This issue of CENAP-INFOLINE, dated January 19, 2002, offers a 'RUECKBLICK' (Retrospective) on events and scientific developments. The magazine covers a range of topics from space exploration and astronomy to reported miracles and the intersection of science and religion.

Articles

"Sonde soll auf Komet landen" (Probe to Land on Comet)

This article reports on the 'Rosetta-Lander' mission, a project by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Ottobrunn, which was handed over to the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission aims to land a probe on Comet Wirtanen in January 2003. The probe will analyze the comet's composition and search for the basic building blocks of life. Comet Wirtanen is described as being about one kilometer in diameter and orbiting the sun on an elliptical path. The launch is planned from Kourou in French Guiana using an Ariane-5 rocket. The probe will use flybys of Mars and Earth to gain momentum, with the landing expected in 2012. The lander will carry various analysis, drilling, and observation instruments. It will also investigate how a comet's surface properties change as it approaches the sun, causing it to thaw and develop a tail.

"Riesenschwindel um Marien-Wunder" (Giant Swindle around Mary's Miracle)

This piece details a reported miracle in Marpingen, Saarland, where a woman named Marion G. claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary at a grotto. The event attracted thousands of pilgrims from across Europe. A 'Kapellenverein' (Chapel Association) was formed, which rented the land around the grotto and collected donations from visitors. The article suggests that the association profited significantly, with buses arriving and hotels and inns benefiting. However, the community faced costs, and the association is now reportedly in debt, with the 'Kapellenverein' facing tax debts of half a million Marks and the prospect of a bailiff.

"Hier fliegt eine Staubwolke durchs All" (Here a Dust Cloud Flies Through Space)

Astronomers at Cambridge, USA, using the Hawaiian Super-Telescope 'Keck I', discovered a giant dust cloud in space, located 4.5 billion light-years from Earth. Astrophysicist Dr. John D. Monnier described it as a scientific sensation. The cloud is near a very hot star that is expected to explode as a supernova soon. The dust cloud is believed to have formed from an extraterrestrial storm, caused by two stellar winds colliding at 9.6 million kilometers per hour.

"Asteroid beinahe mit Erde zusammengestoßen" (Asteroid Nearly Collided with Earth)

An asteroid, approximately 300 meters in length, passed by Earth at a distance of 600,000 kilometers, which is described as a 'cat's leap' in cosmic terms. Researchers noted that if it had impacted, the consequences would have been devastating. The asteroid was only discovered in December. Experts stated that if it had been on a collision course, there would have been nothing that could be done.

"Gott erschuf auch Außerirdische" (God Also Created Extraterrestrials)

This article features an interview with Father George Coyne, the chief astronomer of the Pope, from the Vatican Observatory. He asserts that humans are not alone in the universe and that God may have created extraterrestrial beings. Coyne argues that the universe is too vast to be inhabited solely by humans and that the existence of aliens does not constitute blasphemy. He suggests that the search for extraterrestrials aligns with and can even strengthen faith. The article also mentions Pope John Paul II's interest in space research and theories about the origin of the universe.

"Asteroid rast knapp an der Erde vorbei" (Asteroid Races Past Earth)

This article provides further details about the near-miss of asteroid '2001 YB5'. Experts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena described the event as a 'grazing shot' and stated that while the asteroid was not considered dangerous, it was an interesting event. The asteroid, with a diameter of 300 meters, passed at a distance roughly twice that of the Moon. The article also mentions that collisions with small asteroids occur about 100 times a year, but an asteroid of '2001 YB5's' size impacts Earth only every few hundred thousand years. It highlights the problem of not knowing about all asteroids, as many are yet to be discovered. The article also references a future close encounter with asteroid '1999 AN10' in 2027 and discusses the catastrophic potential of larger asteroid impacts, citing the event that wiped out the dinosaurs.

"Chandra enthüllt Chaos im Herzen der Milchstraße" (Chandra Reveals Chaos in the Heart of the Milky Way)

US scientists, using the NASA X-ray satellite 'Chandra', have captured highly detailed images of the chaotic center of the Milky Way. The images reveal hundreds of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes clustered around a supermassive black hole. The research, presented at a US Astronomical Society meeting, indicates that the galactic center is a region of intense activity with numerous massive stars forming and dying. The 'Chandra' satellite has identified around 1000 strong X-ray sources, far more than previously known.

"Die Farbe des Universums" (The Color of the Universe)

Scientists from the University of Baltimore have determined that the predominant color of the universe is green, or a pale turquoise with a tendency towards green. They calculated this by analyzing the light from 200,000 galaxies. The color is expected to change to red over billions of years. This research also has scientific implications for determining the age of stars, as younger stars emit bluer light, middle-aged stars greener, and older stars redder light.

"Aliensuche und Aidsforschung am PC" (Alien Search and AIDS Research on PC)

This article discusses the concept of 'Peer-to-Peer' computing, where individuals can donate their computer's processing power to large-scale scientific projects. It highlights the SETI@home project, which searches for extraterrestrial signals, and other initiatives in medical research, such as 'folding@home' for developing new cancer and AIDS drugs. The article also mentions 'money bee', a project where participants analyze stock market data. It explains that users typically download software, often in the form of a screensaver, which then processes assigned tasks when the computer is idle. Completed tasks are uploaded, and new ones are downloaded, without significantly impacting the computer's normal operation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features articles on space exploration, astronomy, and the search for extraterrestrial life, reflecting a strong interest in these subjects. There is also a notable engagement with reported unusual phenomena, such as the 'Marien-Wunder', presented with a critical eye towards potential deception. The publication also explores the intersection of science and religion, as seen in the interview with the Vatican astronomer. The overall stance appears to be one of informing the public about scientific advancements and intriguing events, while maintaining a degree of skepticism towards claims lacking strong evidence.