Solar eclipse july 22,2009

A South Korean student uses binoculars to watch the longest solar eclipse of the century from the ground of Yonsei University in Seoul. The phenomenon, which occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, lasted over two hours and 40 minutes.

Visitors gather to watch the solar eclipse in Hangzhou, China eastern Zhejiang province, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see. Millions of others, seeing the rare event as a bad omen, shuttered themselves indoors.
The sun is covered by the moon during a total solar eclipse in the Indian city of Varanasi. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century plunged millions across Asia into temporary darkness on Wednesday, triggering scenes of religious fervour, fear and excitement in India and China.


A partial solar eclipse is seen behind the Golden Temple, Sikhs holiest shrine, in Amritsar, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see. Millions of others, seeing the rare event as a bad omen, shuttered themselves indoor

The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century plunged Moganshan mountain in eastern China into darkness on Wednesday morning. Duration : 0:20

Solar eclipse july 22,2009

This combo photograph shows the different stages of the total solar eclipse as seen from two locations on the outskirts of Gauhati, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The first two photographs were shot from Sipajhar, 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Gauhati and the rest were shot from Baihata, 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Gauhati. Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see.

A partial solar eclipse is seen rising against the historical monument Taj Mahal in Agra, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

People gather to observe the solar eclipse at Taregna village near Patna in Bihar state, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Scientists had said the Indian village of Taregna would have the clearest view, where thousands of scientists, nature enthusiasts and students gathered a day in advance. But thick clouds and overnight rains provided no spectacle, just a cloudy darkness. Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see. Millions of others, fearing a bad omen, shuttered themselves indoors. (AP Photo/ Aftab Alam Siddiqui)
A woman uses a solar viewer to get a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse in Thimphu July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse on Wednesday swept across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken, though in some places thick summer clouds blocked the sun. REUTERS/Singye Wangchuk

Hindu devotees travel in an overcrowded passenger train after taking a holy dip and offering prayers in the waters of Brahma Sarovar, a sacred pond, during a solar eclipse in the northern Indian city of Kurukshetra July 22, 2009. Thousands of people gathered for a dip in the Ganges and other water bodies, an act considered as leading to salvation from the cycle of life and death. A total solar eclipse on Wednesday swept across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken, though in some places thick summer clouds blocked the sun. REUTERS/Ajay Verma (INDIA RELIGION SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT IMAGES OF THE DAY)Nature's show : Foreign tourists use a solar sheet strips to watch a partial solar eclipse at the Taj Mahal in Agra. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century cast a shadow over much of Asia, plunging hundreds of millions into darkness across the giant land masses of India and China. (AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)

Eclipse skyline : The sky goes dark over southwest China's Chongqing municipality as the lunar shadow or "umbra" moves over the city during a solar eclipse. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century cast its shadow over western India and headed for China on a path that was plunging hundreds of millions of people into temporary darkness. (AFP/Stringer)

Solar sky : The sun is partly covered by the moon during a total solar eclipse in Colombo. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century did not plunge the island in darkness, but it cast a shadow over much of Asia, plunging hundreds of millions into darkness across the giant land masses of neighbouring India and China. (AFP/Ishara S. Kodikara)

Solar Taj : The Taj Mahal is silhoutted as a partial solar eclipse is seen in Agra. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century cast a shadow over much of Asia, plunging hundreds of millions into darkness across the giant land masses of India and China. (AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)

In this photo released by the Xinhua news agency, a staff member feeds the newly born giant panda cub at Bifeng Gorge Base in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan province, on Wednesday July 22, 2009. Giant panda Na Na gave birth to twins on Wednesday when solar eclipse occurred in China, according to Xinhua. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Jiang Hongjing)

Sumo wrestlers observe a partial solar eclipse at Nagoya, central Japan, on Wednesday July 22, 2009. Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see

More picture solar eclipse

New NASA boss: Astronauts on Mars in his lifetime

WASHINGTON – NASA's new boss said Tuesday he will be "incredibly disappointed" if people aren't on Mars — or venturing somewhere beyond it — in his lifetime.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr., who's 62, said his ultimate goal isn't just Mars — it's anywhere far from Earth.

"I did grow up watching Buck Rogers, and Buck Rogers didn't stop at Mars," Bolden said in an interview with The Associated Press. "In my lifetime, I will be incredibly disappointed if we have not at least reached Mars."

That appears to be a shift from the space policy set in motion by the Bush administration, which proposed first returning to the moon by 2020 and then eventually going to Mars a decade or two later. Bolden didn't rule out using the moon as a stepping stone to Mars and beyond. But he talked more about Mars than the moon as NASA was still celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Bolden said NASA and other federal officials had too many conflicting views about how to get to Mars, including the existing Constellation project begun under President George W. Bush. That project calls for returning to the moon first, with a moon rocket design that Bolden's predecessor called "Apollo on steroids." NASA has already spent $6.9 billion on that plan.

"We cannot continue to survive on the path that we are on right now," Bolden told NASA employees in a televised speech earlier Tuesday.

A new independent commission is reviewing that plan and alternatives to it.

Bolden said in an interview that his main job over the next few months will be to champion an "agreed-upon compromise strategy to get first to Mars and then beyond. And we don't have that yet."

Bolden met with President Barack Obama on Monday, and some experts said he seems to be signaling a refocusing of NASA's general exploration plan.

A former astronaut, Bolden also vowed to extend the life of the international space station beyond 2016, the year the Bush administration planned to abandon it.

As one way to help fund a new moon rocket, the Bush administration had proposed not paying for the space station beyond 2015 — even as astronauts are currently in space building additions to it. And just last week, the space station program manager told The Washington Post that the plan was to guide the $100 billion station into the ocean at the end of its life.

"We have an incredible asset in the international space station that we need to preserve," Bolden said. The idea, he said, is to make the station work to further "our strong desire to leave the planet and leave low Earth orbit."

Thousands gather across India to watch eclipse

(Updated 8:53 a.m.) TAREGNA, India — Scientists, students and nature enthusiasts gathered in open spaces in parts of India Wednesday to watch the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, although heavy cloud cover and overnight rains threatened to spoil the party.

The eclipse began at about 5.30 a.m. (0000gmt) and was seen first in the eastern city of Gauhati, where the moon covered a slice of the sun to start the hour-long phenomenon that will culminate in the total eclipse.

The eclipse — visible only in Asia — will reach its peak in India at about 6:20 a.m. local time (0050 GMT).

It will then move north and east to Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China.

The eclipse will be seen for 3 minutes and 48 seconds in the Indian village of Taregna, where scientists say residents will have the clearest view. Thousands of scientists, nature enthusiasts and students gathered in Taregna but when dawn broke the sun was not visible because of thick clouds.

Television networks reported clouds in most parts of India where the eclipse was supposed to be visible.

At its peak it will last 6 minutes and 39 seconds in other parts of Asia. It is the longest such eclipse since July 11, 1991, when a total eclipse lasting 6 minutes, 53 seconds was visible from Hawaii to South America. There will not be a longer eclipse than Wednesday's until 2132.

"The excitement and uniqueness of a total eclipse has inspired us to visit this place. NASA had declared that this place would the best place to watch the celestial event," said Michel Vancaster, an amateur astronomer who traveled from Belgium to witness the eclipse in Taregna.

Public announcements informed the thousands gathered outside in Taregna that the first contact between moon and sun had taken place; they could not see for themselves because clouds obscured the sun after moderate rains hit the village overnight.

Still thousands of people gathered on rooftops and in open spaces. People from surrounding villages began walking toward Taregna as early as 4.00 a.m. (2230 GMT).

Television pictures showed thousands of people gathering in the northern city of Kurukshetra to take a dip in the river there during the eclipse, which devout Hindus believe will cleanse them of their sins.

Scientists set up telescopes and other equipment in Taregna a day in advance to make the most of the window of opportunity provided by the eclipse.

"We are hoping to make some valuable observations on the formation of asteroids around the sun," Pankaj Bhama, a scientist with India's Science Popularization Association of Communicators and Educators, said Tuesday.

A 10-member team of scientists from the premier Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore and the Indian air force plan to fly and film the eclipse, an air force press release said.

But millions across India were shunning the sight and planned to stay indoors, gripped by fearful myths.

Even in regions where the eclipse was not visible, pregnant women were advised to stay indoors in curtained rooms over a belief that the sun's invisible rays would harm the fetus and the baby would be born with disfigurations, birthmarks or a congenital defect.

Krati Jain, a software professional in New Delhi, said she planned to take a day off from work Wednesday to avoid what she called "any ill effects of the eclipse on my baby."

"My mother and aunts have called and told me stay in a darkened room with the curtains closed, lie in bed and chant prayers," said Jain, 24, who is expecting her first child.

In the northern Indian state of Punjab, authorities ordered schools to begin an hour late to prevent children from venturing out and gazing at the sun.

Others saw a business opportunity: one travel agency in India scheduled a charter flight to watch the eclipse by air, with seats facing the sun selling at a premium.

Additional police and paramilitary troops were posted around Patna and Taregna after Maoist rebels called for a strike Wednesday to protest increases in the price of gas and other essentials.

The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, often target police and government workers.

"Adequate numbers of forces have been deployed at Taregna where top scientists and researchers are gathering to view the celestial wonder," said R. Mallar Vizhi, a senior superintendent of police in Patna. - AP

Apollo 11 Image Gallery

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Apollo 11 Saturn V on launch pad 39A
July 1, 1969

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closeup of Earth and terminator

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crescent Earth photographed during return trip

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view of full lunar disc during return trip

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LM approaches CSM for docking / earthrise in b.g.
July 21, 1969
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Crater 308 viewed from orbit

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Lunar module inspection after undocking

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Aldrin stands beside LM strut and probe

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Aldrin on the LM footpad

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Liftoff of Apollo 11
July 16, 1969

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The Apollo 11 crew relaxes during training
May 24, 1969

The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. It was the fifth human spaceflight of Project Apollo and the third human voyage to the Moon or Moon orbit. Launched on July 16, 1969, it carried Mission Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon, while Collins orbited above.
The mission fulfilled President John F. Kennedy's goal of reaching the moon by the end of the 1960s, which he had expressed during a speech given before a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961: "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.

source ; http://history.nasa.gov/ap11ann/kippsphotos/apollo.html