Astronomers have called on the Australian government to increase spending on asteroid detection in the southern hemisphere, after an asteroid detected on Monday morning was discovered to be on a collision course with Earth within a period of twenty-four hours. The asteroid measured only around a few metres in diameter, and burned up in the skies above Sudan at 2:46 am on Tuesday morning. The objected was spotted by the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. Within hours NASA experts had computed its orbit and published details of its expected trajectory through Earth's atmosphere. Although the asteroid was small and would most likely disintegrate well before impact, astronomers feared that the fireball could be mistaken for a ballistic missile, and so sought to ease tensions by publishing the information well in advance. It is the first time in history that scientists have been able to predict a meteor strike on Earth before it has taken place. But many experts believe that up until now we have been relatively lucky, and that had this particular asteroid been any bigger, it could have posed a serious threat to a city or nation.

Quote: "Professor Francis says most large near-earth objects have been mapped, but astronomers have identified only about 10 per cent of medium and small-sized asteroids. He says the Australian hunt for unidentified near earth objects has begun again, thanks to American funding. But it's only a small operation. "Well we've probably got lucky. We probably got lucky in the sense that we didn't search and nothing hit us since," he said. "But if in two years a city gets destroyed by a southern asteroid, then the government's decision will look pretty stupid. But we may have got lucky."

This time last year, a meteor that was estimated to be around 10 feet in diameter struck a remote village in Peru, leaving a impact crater around six metres deep and thirty metres wide. Locals reported hearing a thunderous roar and seeing a fireball flash across the sky. Many of the locals experienced nausea and vomiting after going to visit the site. Yesterday's meteor strike may be the first that was predicted in advance by mankind, but there is another that has been forecast to hit the earth. It's size and trajectory has already been mapped out, and the destruction caused by the impact already recorded. The book of Revelation predicts that a meteor, probably around a mile wide, will make impact in the sea (possibly the Mediterranean). A third of sea life will be wiped out, and a third of the ships will also be destroyed by the tsunami that will follow. The only detail that is not recorded for us is the date that this will occur. As we saw recently, astronomers are already calling for the United Nations to make preparations for such a scenario. Whether we will be able to predict this impact in advance or not, we are not told. But even if we could detect this asteroid in advance, there is no guarantee we could do anything to stop it. Have you made adequate preparation for this event? I'm not talking about taking out life insurance. When I was young I could never understand how life insurance worked. I used to think to myself, how can you pay money to someone to guarantee that you won't die? Now I realize that money goes to your relatives in the event that you do die. Life insurance won't save you in the day of judgement. I'm talking about taking out life assurance. There is only One Person that can give you that, and the price has already been paid in full. His name is Jesus Christ. He gave His life on the cross for you. He bore God's punishment for your sins, so that you could be forgiven and could have the assurance of eternal life in heaven. He is coming again to take all those who have trusted in Him for salvation, to be with Him where He is (John 17:24). Why don't you trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation today.

Revelation 8:8-9
And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 

Source ABC

An international group of astronauts, cosmonauts and members of the space community has just completed their investigation on threat posed by space objects within a near-Earth orbit (NEO). The Association of Space Explorers published their findings last week, which are a result of two years of study on the asteroid threat. In their report, ASE have called on a global information network to be set up which will detect and catalogue NEOs, and report to a UN committee when a threat has been discovered. This committee would then advise member nations on what action to take in response to the threat, whether to prepare defences or co-ordinate evacuations. A second UN committee would liase with space-faring nations to deflect or destroy asteroids that posed a threat to the Earth. It's not the first time the ASE have called for a project like this to be set up. Two years ago ASE called for strategies to be created that would enable the world to deal with such a scenario. 

Quote: "The ASE's vision is first for a global information network, coordinated by the U.N., that uses data from ground- and space-based telescopes to find, track and rate the risk of near-Earth objects (NEOs). Currently, NASA is watching 209 NEOs, none of which is considered to be dangerous. But a threat is likely to be detected within the next 15 years, according to the ASE. "New telescopes coming online will increase these discoveries by a factor of 100," said Ed Lu, astronaut on space shuttle Atlantis. A new NEO Threat Oversight group would advise the UN Security Council about these risks. In the case of a threat, this group would help member states set defences into motion and, if such information came too late to act, coordinate the evacuations of cities at risk.

Within the last few years, the world has become much more aware of the threat posed by asteroids. Thanks to films such as Asteroid (1997) and Armageddon (1998) , people have become almost acceptant of the idea that a meteor could strike the Earth, causing massive devastation. Perhaps the recent interest in asteroids stems from the impact of Shoemaker Levi 9 on Jupiter in 1994. For the first time in history, the world watched as as parts of a comet collided with a planetary body in our solar system, leaving visible 'bruises' the size of Earth on the surface of the gas giant. I do believe Shoemaker Levi 9 was a warning to mankind, not necessarily to be busy in setting up asteroid-defence systems, but to acknowledge our Creator who holds the powers of the heavens in His hands (Psalm 8). The Bible states that in the last days these powers will be shaken (Matthew 24:29), and the stars of heaven will fall to earth as the fig tree casts her figs (Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:13). There is no doubt that the world is being prepared for the fulfillment of Revelation 8:7-9, when it seems that a meteorite around the size of a mountain will plunge into the sea, destroying much life. Will people look to UN committees to save them in the day of their calamity? Or will a man look to his Maker? The Bible says about the Lord Jesus, that "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not", John 1:10. Jesus Christ is the Creator. He made you. He loves you. He wants you to be with Him forever. Your sins have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2). If your sins are not forgiven, you will be eternally separated from the One Who created you. But Jesus Christ bore God's punishment for your sins upon the cross, so God could be righteous in forgiving you your sins and your relationship with Him would be restored. Our relationship with Him can be restored as soon as we believe on Jesus Christ for salvation. Why don't you trust Him for salvation today?

John 1:12
But as many as received him (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

Source ABC News

This link from my friends Alison and Deb. Astronomers have reported that the sun has reached a record low in solar activity, when for the first time in roughly one hundred years, no sun spots have been detected on its surface for an entire month. Solar activity varies over an eleven year cycle, and we are presently in the low period of that cycle. But astronomers have been surprised by just how low the solar activity is at present. For the first seven months of this year, the number of detected sun spots averaged around three, while no spots have been detected for the entire month of August.  The last time solar activity reached a level similar to this was in the year 1913. While scientists believe that solar activity does not overtly affect the total solar irradiance which governs the overall temperature on earth, they believe the reduction on the solar magnetosphere which produces sun spots can affect cloud formation on earth. And some scientists are now predicting that Earth may be in for severe global cooling if the data from previous extreme solar minimums is anything to go by. With record snow falls recorded last year in China, the United States and South Africa, they could be right. 

Quote: "Meteorologist Anthony Watts, who runs a climate data auditing site, tells DailyTech the sunspot numbers are another indication the "sun's dynamo" is idling. According to Watts, the effect of sunspots on TSI (total solar irradiance) is negligible, but the reduction in the solar magnetosphere affects cloud formation here on Earth, which in turn modulates climate. This theory was originally proposed by physicist Henrik Svensmark, who has published a number of scientific papers on the subject. Last year Svensmark's "SKY" experiment claimed to have proven that galactic cosmic rays -- which the sun's magnetic field partially shields the Earth from -- increase the formation of molecular clusters that promote cloud growth. Svensmark, who recently published a book on the theory, says the relationship is a larger factor in climate change than greenhouse gases.

I don't know much about global warming or global cooling. But I do know that God is in complete control of our weather. And I would be more inclined to believe that the extreme weather conditions we are now experiencing are less to do with changes in the earth's atmosphere and more to do with changes in the hearts of men. Following the United Kingdom's record flooding, not this year's but last year's flooding, ministers of the Church of England called on the country to repent of their wickedness and turn to God. They declared that the floods were a judgement from God for the moral depravity of our nation. In May 2007 Britain had been afflicted with an anti-Semitic fever, after a large number of British universities, trade unions, charities and churches announced their intentions to boycott the Jewish state over its forty year 'occupation' of the Palestinian territories. In June and July 2007 the country suffered its worst flooding in over sixty years, causing around three billion pounds worth of damage. It turns out that the last flooding to occur on this scale was in England in March 1947, just a month after Britain deferred on its promise to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and passed the issue on its partition to the United Nations. So it seems that the British people have a short memory. And as the international community presses Israel into making peace with their enemies and giving up even more land, there is no doubt we will face even greater disasters in the coming days. But there is hope.

Isaiah 26:2
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

Our nation may not be righteous, but through the precious blood of Christ, we can be made righteous and become citizens of the heavenly country (Philippians 3:20). For those who have trusted in Christ for salvation are like sojourners in a foreign land. They are citizens of another country, and though they are here on the King's business, they look forward to the day when they can go home. That day is coming. When you come to the end of life's journey, will you hear this welcome invitation from Christ? Or will these words be true of you...

Psalm 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today!

Source Daily Tech, BBC, Zionism Israel

Last week NASA scientists announced that the Phoenix Lander, a robotic spacecraft that was sent to the red planet a year ago, has been successful in its mission to locate water. After several failed attempts, NASA experts were finally able to scoop some soil containing ice into one of Phoenix's miniature ovens. These soil samples were heated and the vapour analysed to see what chemicals were contained in the ice. The hydrogen and oxygen that was given off, along with the extra power required to heat water told the scientists what they already knew, that there is some water on Mars. Despite the claims that Mars may have once been awash with water, no sign of life has ever been detected on the red planet. A few years ago scientists discovered a Martian meteorite that contained very small carbon structures. It was claimed at the time that these structures were proof that life once existed on the red planet. Those claims were later retracted and most scientists agreed that these structures arose through non-biological processes. But NASA has briefed the US government on the findings of this latest mission, and is expected to announce later this month that Martian soil may be capable of supporting life. Not that there was life there originally, but that it could theoretically support life given the right conditions.

Quote: "News media cited the water ice finding as a major discovery, but it was totally expected by the science team. The different MECA data combined with TEGA is increasingly compelling as another piece in the puzzle of life. The key is in the soil and water, and how the two behave together at that site on Mars, not the expected confirmation of water ice at this stage in the mission, Mars investigators told Aviation Week. The MECA instrument, in its first of four wet chemistry runs a month ago, found soil chemistry that is "Earth-like" and capable of supporting life, researchers said then. It is intriguing that MECA could have found anything more positive than that, but NASA and the University of Arizona are taking steps to prevent word from leaking out on the nature of the discovery made during MECA's second soil test, in which water from Earth was automatically stirred with Martian soil.

I find this news extremely interesting. Sometimes I wonder what Mars was like in the past. We have a written record of the dramatic changes that Earth has endured over the past 6000 years, with Noah's flood and the collapse of the vapour canopy. Could it be that the flood was triggered by some cataclysmic event in the solar system? Could Mars have been affected by this? We aren't told. But the Bible does state that because of Adam's sin, the whole of creation groans and travails in pain until now (Romans 8:19-22). Even the outer space has been affected by Adam's sin (Job 15:15). And we know that following the Millennial Reign of Christ, God will create new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness (2nd Peter 3:13). Then sometimes I wonder why mankind shows more interest in a planet that's dead than one in which life abounds? We spend millions of dollars exploring planets that we know to be devoid of life, while neglecting the life that now occupies our own planet. I'm talking about Africa and other places, where people die every day because they haven't any food or water. Finding water on Mars isn't going to help them any. I think the reason why man is so interested in the moon and Mars is because of our sin. Mankind was created to be the caretaker of Earth (Genesis 2:15). He was instructed by God to fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). But he has neglected his God-given responsibility. Instead of filling the earth, mankind built cities (Genesis 4:17). Instead of taking care of a planet teeming with life, mankind has forsaken his own planet and now looks to Mars for the future. Perhaps if Mars was at one time capable of sustaining life, it is a mercy of God that it is not now.

Praise God that despite man's utter failure to fulfill his God-given role, we do have a glorious future to look forward to. And we know that when Christ returns, and following the Millennial Reign of Christ, there will be new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. And just like Mars, Revelation tells us that there will be no more sea (Revelation 21:1). And no more death, nor crying, nor pain, nor sorrow (Revelation 21:4), for the former things are passed away. Will you be one of the ones who will inhabit this new earth? You can be, if you have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation. Adam's sin brought ruin to this world (1st Corinthians 15:22), but Jesus Christ has brought salvation (Titus 2:11). Through His sacrifice upon the cross, all who repent of their sins and believe on Him for salvation can have everlasting life. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Revelation 21:1-7
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Source BBC, Space, Aviation Week