One Week to Go!

[Paolo]

I consulted Stellarium's software. Whatever it was wasn't listed, and it was MOVING.

[Dave (imported)]

It was NOT Venus.

Swamp gas --- anything strange up there is swamp gas.

but seriously boys and girls, eggs and yolks ...

Quite possibly a cloud in a dark sky against. I have some friends who own telescopes and do serious star gazing and they say most of the oddness the eye sees are clouds. Even stars moving like planes and satellites are not real but the eye sees them as real.

you're human...

[A-1 (imported)]

I consulted Stellarium's software. Whatever it was wasn't listed, and it was MOVING.

It was the NEW SPACE SHUTTLE in orbit... READ HERE... (http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworl ... ipxml.html)

Boeing-made mystery spacecraft launched

The military’s small, top-secret version of the space shuttle rocketed into orbit Tuesday for a repeat mystery mission, two years after making the first flight of its kind.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The military’s small, top-secret version of the space shuttle rocketed into orbit Tuesday for a repeat mystery mission, two years after making the first flight of its kind.

The space plane, dubbed the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, was launched into orbit hidden atop an Atlas V rocket Tuesday for a classified Air Force mission that could last more than nine months.

This is the third time the Air Force will send an X-37B into orbit. It resembles a miniature space shuttle, is 29 feet long with a wingspan of 15 feet, and draws solar power for energy using unfolding panels.

The X-37B vehicles were built by Boeing in Huntington Beach, Calif. Engineering work was done at the company’s facilities in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach, Calif. Components also came from Boeing’s satellite-making plant in El Segundo, Calif.

While the Air Force has said the space plane is designed to stay in orbit for 270 days, it hasn’t said much about the overall mission. It has said only that the vehicle provides a way to test new technologies in outer space. In fact, launch commentary ended 17 minutes into the flight, and a news blackout followed.

The first X-37B was launched in April 2010 and landed 224 days later on a 15,000-foot airstrip at Vandenberg Air Force Base, northwest of Santa Barbara, Calif. The second X-37B spent 469 days in space.

These high-tech mystery machines are about one-quarter the size of NASA’s old space shuttles and can land automatically on a runway. The two previous touchdowns occurred in Southern California; this one might end on NASA’s three-mile-long runway once reserved for space shuttles.

Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, speculates the space plane is carrying sensors designed for spying and likely is serving as a test bed for future satellites. He dismisses rumors of “exotic ideas” for the X-37B, such as weaponry or shadowing a Chinese satellite.

While acknowledging he does not know what the space plane is carrying, McDowell said onboard sensors could be capable of imaging or intercepting electronic transmissions from terrorist training sites in Afghanistan or other hot spots.

The beauty of a reusable space plane is that it can be launched on short notice, McDowell said.

What’s important about this flight is that it is the first reflight.

“ That’s something that has only really been done with the shuttle,” he said.

The two previous secret X-37B flights were in 200-plus-mile-high orbits, circling at roughly 40-degree angles to the equator, as calculated by amateur satellite trackers.

[gareth19 (imported)]

I vote that nothing at all will happen. My girlfriend, on the other hand, believes that something along the lines of a global consciousness shift is coming soon, similar to the "Age of Aquarius" which was predicted in late the 60's, where people will stop being so hostile, peace shall guide the planets, and love shall steer the stars.

As much as I wish that was true, I'm not optimistic.

Maybe on Dec.22 a lot of stupid people will realize that they are stupid.

[Paolo]

And a lot of frenzied Christmas shopping, I am sure.

[~Tiamat~ (imported)]

I consulted Stellarium's software. Whatever it was wasn't listed, and it was MOVING.

It's clearly a giant Mayan space pyramid.

Or ziggurat, or whatever they built. But a space one

[Riverwind (imported)]

My fire pit is ready wood is covered so snow and rain wont bother it, we light the fire at midnight on the 20th/21st and keep it going for a day.

So Happy Yule to all.

River

[A-1 (imported)]

Maybe on Dec.22 a lot of stupid people will realize that they are stupid.

That's the real hope for the nation and for the world.

...but don't hold your breath. Connecticut is a prime example of what a damned fool with a gun can do.

[devi (imported)]

Mayan gods will return and force us to work as slaves to build the biggest hugest pyramid in the middle of Kansas, the likes of which has never been seen before, higher than the Empire State Building but a pyramid of immense size. We shall unwittingly become members of the Church of Latter Day Mound Builders whether we like it or not. However the gods will repent of their evil deeds, get converted and become canonized as saints by the pope himself whereupon there shall be statues of these gods turned saints throughout all the land. The gods turned saints shall then say, "Go home and give it a rest, already! And all the people shall say "amen".

[harveywrwh (imported)]

Good Evening all. After reading all the input. I feel just like the event on the Y2K. event.

But this time I am going to jump in my easy chair, with a PEPIS, a carton of POP CORN, and which the MECUM AUTO ACTION, Hoping that some real Classics will pass thru.