a.Astronomers discover a new planet
- Astronomers, using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Kepler planet-hunting spacecraft announced on September 15, 2011 that they had discovered a new planet. On this planet, from double sunrise to double sunset, the show goes on, always changing. Sometimes the orange sun rises first. Or the red one, though they are never far apart and one can see them moving around each other, casting double shadows across the firmament and periodically crossing right in front of each other.
- The official name of the new planet is Kepler 16b, but astronomers are already referring to it informally as Tatooine, after the home planet of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, in the George Lucas “ Star Wars” movies, which also had two Suns.
b.India to have one more satellite launch site :
- Amid reuests from various countries for launch of their satellites, India has decided to set up one more launch site to expand its capacity in this aspect. At a meeting held by the Prime Minister’s Prinicipal Secretary Mr. T.K.A. Nair on September 11, 2011 to review performance of the Department of Space, it was decided that feasibility study would be conducted for a new site, souces said, The decision to find a new site was taken after the meeting was told that ISRO has only two satellite launch pads, both of which are affected during the cyclone season
