In the light on the recent tragedy in Boston, the USS ZAVALA would like to let you know, there is still good out there in the world and we are all with those hurt in Boston and their families. Remember we are not alone.

“Earth Isnt Unique” –Kepler Mission Opens Window on Alien Planets of the Milky Way – HubbleSci.

In Celebration of Yuri Alexseyevich Gagarin’s first mission into Space, on this day in 1961, we bring you today’s APOD celebrating the event.

So what are you doing to commemorate the first human into space?

Astronomy Picture of the Day.

After looking at the wonderful GRAIL survey map posted on the APOD today, I found this referenced blog entry by one of the best authorities on the subject of Lunar Gravity. Emily Lakdawalla is the Senior Editor of the Planitary Society and has written this very clear and easy to understand essay on what we are looking at in these maps. The Moon is a very gravitationally bumpy place and she explains why.

Isostasy, gravity, and the Moon: an explainer of the first results of the GRAIL mission | The Planetary Society.

This comet will start to be visible in a few days.  It’s just reached perihelion today and should be coming up north enough to be visible in the northern hemisphere at Sunset in the next few days.