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The expression ‘space research’ means exploring the extra-terrestrial space, starting from our Solar System and reaching to the outer edges of the known universe. For centuries the astronomers have observed motions of the planets, paths of the Sun, phases of the Moon, comets and many kinds of celestial phenomena that can be seen with the naked eye. The research area was widened and became more detailed when the observation tools developed. There were many surprises in store for the observers using telescopes: craters on the Moon, the four biggest moons of Jupiter, the Galilean moons, as well as the rings of Saturn. The astronomers were thrilled by these findings and they wanted to proceed in developing better and more sophisticated equipment. A manned spaceflight has, no doubt, been the biggest achievement and the best research method during recent history. The farthest object for a man to explore, so far, has been the Moon. During the last few years, however, there have been no spaceflights.
The modern space research uses space telescopes, satellites on the orbits around the Earth and probes. The size of the telescopes placed on earth has grown. Above the atmosphere, circling the Earth, there are effective telescopes, the most well-known of which is perhaps Hubble. Various organizations have also launched plenty of research satellites. In addition to the probes exploring the planets and the Sun, the development activities have also produced probes for launching into outer space.
Numerous organizations in various countries have activities in the field of space research. The most well-known of them are NASA, ESA and ESO. The results are widely introduced on the Internet.
Equipment for space research is constantly under further development. Technology and data processing methods are taking huge leaps ahead. More and more results, gained from farther than ever before, can be processed ever faster to ready-to-use data. The researchers are planning trips reaching even farther away from the globe. The most recent dream has been to arrange a manned trip to Mars. In the picture, there are some models of space rockets prepared by students in the 6th grade (picture IH, Finland).
Links to the space research results:
Daily information on the phenomena of the space, Sun and atmosphere as well as options to see the Northern Lights.
The best photos of the space telescope Hubble with descriptive information (Hubble Heritage Image Gallery).
The new and versatile programme introducing space and space research by Microsoft.
‘Today’s photo’ by Nasa introduces a phenomenon or a finding of the space.
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/
The pages of SOHO (sun probe): photos and videos introducing solar research.
On the pages of ESA (The European Space Agency) there is a lot of information on the European space research.
The pages of ESO (The European Southern Observatory), the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, contain myriad photos and information on the results and observations of the space research.
Nordic Optical Telescope, photos and information on observations.
The pages of LOFT (= Large Observatory for X-ray Timing) introduce researches in the event horizon of a black hole and the existence and distribution of matter of neutron stars.
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