It doesn’t get billions, and much of it doesn’t go directly into government coffers but into specific programs like education for girls or sanitation projects which are controlled by NGOs, not Modi 

Perhaps we should offer Putin some cash from our Aid budget to help get a Russian space programme that worked as well as India's? Do you think that might get him "on side" and out of Ukraine?
I like Matty's robust challenge of India's priorities. However I suspect most of us would approve of such scientific endeavour for its own sake and for the many spin off benefits which have come from space exploration projects. I confess to a regret that human achievement in this field has left a lot of space junk in obit, on the moon and out into the Solar System. It may be tiny, insignificant even, but it is "littering". "Space Tipping", if you will. The link below might resonate....

Lincolnshire-wide dispersal order for Boston travellers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66605132 

 

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Perhaps we should offer Putin some cash from our Aid budget to help get a Russian space programme that worked as well as India's? Do you think that might get him "on side" and out of Ukraine?
I like Matty's robust challenge of India's priorities. However I suspect most of us would approve of such scientific endeavour for its own sake and for the many spin off benefits which have come from space exploration projects. I confess to a regret that human achievement in this field has left a lot of space junk in obit, on the moon and out into the Solar System. It may be tiny, insignificant even, but it is "littering". "Space Tipping", if you will. The link below might resonate....

Lincolnshire-wide dispersal order for Boston travellers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66605132 

 

I agree, but we’re simply doing in space what we’ve been doing to planet Earth.  We don’t seem to learn, do we.

I wonder how long it will be before the areas around the first bases on the Moon are littered with discarded junk?

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I agree, but we’re simply doing in space what we’ve been doing to planet Earth.  We don’t seem to learn, do we.

I wonder how long it will be before the areas around the first bases on the Moon are littered with discarded junk?

... and sewage? The poo from the Apollo landings was left at the site! An old but interesting article from the Grauniad 2019....
Moon buggies and bags of poo: what humans left on the moon
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jul/19/moon-buggies-and-bags-of-poo-what-humans-left-on-the-moon 
 

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... and sewage? The poo from the Apollo landings was left at the site! An old but interesting article from the Grauniad 2019....
Moon buggies and bags of poo: what humans left on the moon
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jul/19/moon-buggies-and-bags-of-poo-what-humans-left-on-the-moon 
 

Perfectly preserved? Why use a bag though, the plastic will never break down
 

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Nasa found alien life on Mars then accidentally killed it, scientist claims

A scientist claims that we might have already found alien life on Mars 50 years ago but accidentally drowned it.

https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/29/we-might-have-already-found-alien-life-on-mars-and-drowned-it-19411445/ 

This seems a bit dubious, but if true this is pretty big news if you ask me. It would basically prove that humans haven't just caused damage on Earth, but on Mars too.

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Did you miss the Blue Supermoon? Try this link...
Watch: Where had the best view of the blue supermoon?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-66663534 
 

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Tantalising sign of possible life on faraway world
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66786611 .
I think life is quite widespread across the universe but mostly that of microbial type. This will be very interesting if it verifies.

Is anyone else admiring Saturn in the SSE sky? And Jupiter to the East? 😁

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Is anyone else admiring Saturn in the SSE sky? And Jupiter to the East? 😁

I am. Took a number of photos of these. I have a 6" SC Telescope. 😀
Not sure about others on here. 😕

I am. Took a number of photos of these. I have a 6" SC Telescope. 😀
Not sure about others on here. 😕

Can they be seen with naked eye. I assume the bright star I can see every evening is Venus

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Can they be seen with naked eye. I assume the bright star I can see every evening is Venus

Yes, they can.

The brightest star that currently rises from the east in the evening is Jupiter. Saturn can also be seen in the southern skies; it looks just like an ordinary yellowish star (but is brighter than most other stars at that time), but it does not flicker as much as actual stars.

Venus (the 3rd brightest natural object in the sky) is currently a morning star. It was an evening star several months ago. 🙂

Bennu craft asteroid samples returned successfully:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66893661 .

👍👍

Yes, they can.

The brightest star that currently rises from the east in the evening is Jupiter. Saturn can also be seen in the southern skies; it looks just like an ordinary yellowish star (but is brighter than most other stars at that time), but it does not flicker as much as actual stars.

Venus (the 3rd brightest natural object in the sky) is currently a morning star. It was an evening star several months ago.

Thanks, I am guessing that it is Jupiter that I am seeing, didnt realise it could be so bright. 

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Thanks, I am guessing that it is Jupiter that I am seeing, didnt realise it could be so bright. 

Jupiter in to the east, Saturn SSE. You should try Stellarium.  I love it. Try it on the Web or download it.

https://stellarium.org/ 


 

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Bennu craft asteroid samples returned successfully:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66893661 .

👍👍

I listened to a description of the process of collecting the sample. Apparently the surface of the asteroid was not at all what they were expecting - lots of dust rather than a solid surface. 

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Bennu craft asteroid samples returned successfully:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66893661 .

👍👍

I'm still open mouthed in amazement thinking how incredibly complex this mission has been and in awe of how clever those involved in the project are. For all the faults, mankind (and womankind) can really deliver........ 
 

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I'm still open mouthed in amazement thinking how incredibly complex this mission has been and in awe of how clever those involved in the project are. For all the faults, mankind (and womankind) can really deliver........ 
 

To find it; predict its course and track it; build the kit to visit it; make a successful rendezvous; collect and return a sample safely and zoom off to do something else. All mind-boggling stuff. 😲  Do you think some moronic gainsaying troublemaker will say "It's fake news"? It would not surprise me in this dissenting decade.

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Auroras.
"The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are expected to be stronger than they have been for at least a decade over the next few months. Here is how to spot them."
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394136-how-to-see-the-northern-lights-this-winter/ 

Also see: Aurorawatch link: Bookmark and keep checking...
https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ 

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These are the next comets that will be visible in 2023
Three comets named Hartley, Encke and Tsuchinshan will pass by the sun in
the next few months and be visible from Earth. Here’s how you can spot them.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394923-these-are-the-next-comets-that-will-be-visible-in-2023/ 
 

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