Bill Nye the New Executive Director Guy

You know... it's just not as catchy at the old science guy jingle still bobbling around in my head. But, it is way more awesome in a whole new way. Today it was announced that Bill Nye has signed up for the role of Executive Director of the Planetary Society. The role will become vacant in september with the retirement of the Society's first Executive Director Louis Friedman. Thirty years ago Friedman helped found the Planetary Society along with Carl Sagan and Bruce Murray.

For folks my age Bill Nye is more famously known for his wacky on screen persona corner stoned by his science show "Bill Nye the Science Guy". Offscreen Nye is an accomplished educator and contributor to science in culture. Prior to today's appointment he had already been Vice President of the Society sine 2005. It is true for this author and no doubt many other people.. although I have no evidence to support my hypothesis; Early exposure Bill Nye is an major contributing factor to a life long interest in science.

Congratulations Bill Nye on your new job at the Planetary Society. You have once again inspired us to appreciate and take part in science as part of our day to day lives. For more information on this appointment head on over to the Society's blog posting.

Kepler Team’s Mission Manager Update

This image zooms into a small portion of Kepler's full field of view -- an expansive, 100-square-degree patch of sky in our Milky Way galaxy. Credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

The Kepler mission manger released a report last week providing exciting news from that team. The first update from the team annouced an important milestone. On May 12, 2010 Kepler completed one full year of on-orbit operations. In addition to the birthday celebration the team also provided an update on the progress of a June 15, 2010 pubic data release. This package contains the first 43 days of science data captured by the telescope. As if that wasn't a grand enough birthday gift the team is also releasing four papers intended to help the public wade through gigabytes of data. Kepler's been a busy probe indeed.

It is easy to forget that while you carry out your day to day chores, Kepler has been quietly staring at and recording the stars. For one year it has captured signs of the tiny amount of dimming caused when a planet crosses in front of its parents star; blocking out a portion of the light. Although stars dim and brighten all the time it is the repetitive nature of the dimming caused by a planet transiting is the evidence Kepler is designed to collect.

X-37b Live Launch

Kinnnnnda of late notice. But the new Air Force space plane (only the fourth to be flown in the history of EVER) is launching in about 20 minutes. There is a live view of the feed including mission control's chatter. Oh man, this is too nerdy good. Anyway, click the read more thing to see the video.