Carnival of Space Week 79 – One Astronomer’s Noise

"Ellie, still waiting for E.T. to call?" Our CoS #79 host Nicole's tribute to Jodie Foster in the movie Contact.

“One astronomer’s noise is another astronomer’s data,” is the quote from Nicole’s One Astronomer’s Noise website and I can’t think of a better way to kick off this week’s superb Carnival of Space. You’ll find international plans to move mankind off-Earth, some impressive terrestrial craters, a singing Saturn and the uses for inflatable solar sails in space.

This week, I felt the need to chat about one of my favourite regions of the Solar System, the Kuiper Belt. The objects in this icy location are a source of mystery, bettered only by the Oort Cloud (which is probably there, but we can’t see it, thereby making Oort Cloud Objects even more mysterious). So I gave a quick run-down of my favourite five Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), and the number one slot went to a highly unlikely candidate (you’ll be shocked!).

Anyhow, great carnival Nicole! I love your site and your profile’s striking resemblance to a certain Jodie Foster film…