September 2014

Map of the surface of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko showing in different colors the various morphological features (Image ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team/MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA)

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A group of scientists who are studying the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has created a map based on the analysis of surface images taken by the OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) instrument of the Rosetta space probe. The result is that the comet can be divided into different regions that have distinct physical appearancec. This map shows that it’s much more than a large rock mixed with ice.

The Russian cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Alexander Skvortsov and the American astronaut Steve Swanson assisted after they landed in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft (Image NASA TV)

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A few hours ago, the American astronaut Steve Swanson and the Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev returned to Earth on the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft, which landed safely in Kazakhstan. The three of them spent almost exactly six months on the International Space Station, where they arrived on March 28, 2014 Initially, they were part of Expedition 39, in the second half of their stay they were part of Expedition 40 with Steve Swanson as commander of the Station.

The Visitors by Clifford D. Simak (Italian edition)

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The novel “The Visitors” by Clifford D. Simak was published for the first time in 1979.

Lone Pine is a small town in Minnesota where generally nothing strange happens until one day a huge object that looks like a giant black box appears in the sky. The local barber reacts like he’s facing an invasion and shoots the mysterious object with a rifle he causes just one reaction, a beam that incinerates him.

The object lands on Jerry Conklin’s car and he gets captured and held prisoner for several hours. There isn’t exactly a communication between Jerry and the box yet he understands that it’s a form of intelligent life. Meanwhile, the news of its arrival starts spreading and everyone is wondering where it comes from and what it wants, also because there are many others in orbit.

Marin Cilic at the 2014 Madrid tournament

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The Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic won the Grand Slam tournament of the U.S. Open 2014 defeating Kei Nishikor in the final 6-3 6-3 6-3. For the Croatian it’s the first Grand Slam title.

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Serena Williams has won the tennis Grand Slam tournament of the U.S. Open 2014 defeating the Danish Caroline Wozniacki in the final 6-3 6-3. For the American player it’s the third consecutive U.S. Open title, her sixth overall and her 18th Grand Slam title, reaching Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.