SPACE | You can follow NASA missions in real time.

Exploring the solar system from home.

The application 'Eyes on the Solar System' is free. | NASA.

NASA offers the possibility of a virtual journey through the Solar System through a new interactive tool on the Internet. 'Eyes on the Solar System' (http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eyes/intro.html) 

(Eyes on the Solar System), combines the technology of video and data from NASA to create an environment in which users travel with a spaceship and explore the cosmos. The graphics on the screen and the information about the location of planets and spacecraft maneuvers using real data from the missions.

"This is the first time the public has seen the Solar System and our mission moving together in real time," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA headquarters of the agency in Washington. "This demonstrates the continued commitment from NASA to share our knowledge with everyone."

The virtual environment using the Unity game engine to display models of planets, moons, asteroids, comets and spacecraft moving through our solar system. Using the control keyboard and mouse, users navigate through a space to explore everything that catches their attention. A free browser plug-in available on the site, you need to run the Web application.

Time travel

Time travel Users can experience real-time missions, and the application also allows time travel, with NASA data dating back to 1950 and are projected to 2050.

The playback speed can be accelerated or slowed. In the case of the Juno spacecraft, which launched on August 5, users can look forward to seeing the five-year mission trip to Jupiter in just seconds.

Tens of controls in a series of pop-up menus allow users to completely customize what they see, and audio and video tutorials explain how to use many tool options. Users can choose between modes 2-D or 3-D, and in this case only required a couple of red-cyan glasses.

source of information: www.elmundo.es

The world does not end in 2012

As 2012 approaches is reinforced apocalyptic theories that predict the end of the world for the coming years. France has even warn last week on the proliferation of new sects that advocate mass suicide before the arrival of doomsday. The widespread fear that is being developed has led NASA for two years to repeat insist on the falsity of any kind of cataclysm next: there is the slightest scientific support and He explains that the space agency has jumped into the fray unusually to answer questions that arise at the time or not to believe that on doomsday is near. David Morrison, a space scientist at NASA, leaves no doubt: "There is no danger. All the talk about the day of reckoning is a great hoax perpetuated on the Internet by people trying to make money.does not stand any comparison with the reality that surrounds us.

Is there evidence that something will happen to our planet next year? The U.S. space agency is conclusive: "None. Nothing will happen to Earth in 2012." The origin of this dire prediction is given by the mythology around Nibiru, a supposed planet four times larger than we discovered thousands of years ago by the Sumerian civilization and the next year would hit the Earth causing the end of time, an idea that is supported further by the end of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012 Is that the day of reckoning? NASA said if any body Nibiru was hitting us not only should have been detected since the last decade by the telescopes, but even it could already see at a glance.

On the last day of the Mayan calendar the agency scientists are also clear. Like today's calendar ends on December 31, Maya does the December 21, neither more nor less. The next day, simply revert to the first day of the year.

Other theories suggest that the cataclysm will come upon a planetary alignment. But this will not affect the Earth, which is only influenced externally by the Sun and the Moon. Mars, Pluto, the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Saturn are aligned does not mean anything and, besides, NASA warns that this is not even going to produce. Yes there will be an alignment of the Sun to the center of the Galaxy: "It happens every year in December and, indeed, happen again in 2012 with nothing special about it. There is the slightest scientific interest," explains Morrison.

What a reversal of the magnetic poles of the Earth? It is a real phenomenon that happens around the planet every 400,000 years. Its result: no because it does not cause a change in the planet's rotation, which is impossible. And, of course, does not have to happen soon.

"I get questions from people really worried and even young people who think about suicide at the end of the world. Do not worry about 2012 and 2013 when you get to enjoy," he says Morrison. Humanity is safe, at least for now.

Source of information:  http://www.lasprovincias.es