h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The engineers at NASA came up with an interesting idea some time back. As part of their LCROSS project to crash a spacecraft on the Moon, they started sending out regular tweets on Twitter, giving updates on the progress of the spacecraft as it neared it's target. They anthropomorphised the tweets, to give the impression that it was the spacecraft itself talking. So regularly enough, I would receive tweets such as "I am cruising at 150,000km from the Moon, travelling at 2,000 km per hour. Enjoying the scenery" etc.

Anyway, today LCROSS ended it's journey, slamming into the Moon at a tremendous speed. Detectors on Earth were primed to analyse the ejecta to determine if there is any water in the Moon's polar craters.

What's interesting to me were the twitterings from LCROSS at this time. It started saying things like "what's this object approaching me at great speed? I think I will call it my friend". "I should give it a name - 'oround', 'vound', ah - I think I'll call it 'ground' ".

These were the final tweets from LCROSS.

It was a nice touch, and I'm sure DNA would have been very proud.

No bowls of petunias were observed during those last few moments.

...and when it was only just coming to terms with its existence



I had no idea it was twittering - yes I think DNA would have been very proud

Aw I'm really sorry I missed those tweets!

Dear Woodpigeon and pailaway,

Thank you for your very interesting contributions.

I had no idea what was going on and was totally alarmed when I saw what was going to happen to the poor unfortunate moon literally ten minutes before it happened.

I rushed here and quickly sent you all a message, then rushed back to the TV and saw the whole thing happening.

Actually I do think that something did happen. They ringed the area of impact and I thought that a white light appeared under that rather odd shaped black area in the near-the-top part on the TV screen. They say we are going to report on it. However, in spite of what Gnoman- the- ghost tells me, I am still anxious about it.

I seem to remember from my youthful days that the moon plays a very big role in regulating the tides on earth. Am I correct or is t this or is it an old wives tale?

Bother why is it called and old "wives" tale and not an old "husband;s tale.!!!!

Nice to chat to you again woodpigeon.

Christiane
AR80
Saturday 10th |October 2009 8.30 BST

Hi alsoran, yes, the Moon causes the tides to happen on Earth, although how the tides happen on Earth is very complex. Here in southern Ireland, high tides are associated with the rising and setting of the Moon, whereas on the east coast of Ireland, low tides happen at these times.

When the Moon, the Earth and the Sun are in alignment, you get especially strong tides. These happen when the Moon is new or full.

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You were there first!

Hi woodpigeon,

Thank you for confirming that the moon does indeed affect the tides of the the ocean.

a. It is very interesting that on the east and the west of Ireland the tides occur at different times. I wonder why.

b. Sadly I never got beyond standard 6 geography at school (about 10-12years old) as I was going to study music for my matriculation. Therefore I have absolutely no idea how the latitude and longtitude of a particular area affect the tides.

I thought that I saw a light appearing under the area where the implosion took place. However we do not appear to have had much imformation about it although I think that I I might have just missed something on the BBC news just now ( at about 8.35. BST) I arrived as there were two huge orangey-yellow orbs on the TV screen and the male announcer saying that ".....floated away!" So I am mystified. He might have been talking about something else. !!

Again thank you for answering my question about the tides and the moon. Lovely to have your news. You are also friends with a friend of mine LLWAz I seem to remember. !!

I am trying to remember to do the "tranquilling sheep" "reaction/reflex" exercises regularly. I worked out that they should surely help my poor old brain where I suffered a Temporal stroke last November 2008. The results are spectacular and my memory goes back to about three years old now. !! But I am begining to be neglectful about doing them every day. !!Not so good that. !

With kind regards

Christiane
AlsoRan80

Tuesday 13/10/09 8.45 BST

Sorry woodpigoen.

The correct time for my posting to you was 10.15 BST. 14.10.2009 My carer arrived as I was editing the letter - hence the delay.

CME AlsoRan80
13.10 2009 10.25 BST