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By Jeremy Hsu Staff Writer posted: 30 January 2008 06:42 am ET |
An asteroid once thought to be on a collision course with Mars passed the Red Planet today without incident.
Astronomers first estimated that asteroid 2007 WD5 had as high as a 3.6 percent chance of striking the planet. Newer observations kept lowering the odds for the 164-foot space rock until Jan. 9, when NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) program office effectively ruled out chances of an impact.
“Mars sees these kinds of near-miss encounters every ten or twenty years, but the impact rate for asteroids this size is about once in a thousand years,” said Steve Chesley, an astronomer at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California.
Astronomers had hoped the fleet of spacecraft orbiting Mars would get a chance to observe the asteroid plowing into the Martian surface. The subsequent crater would have roughly equaled the size of the Meteor Crater that formed in northern Arizona 50,000 years ago, with a 0.5-mile diameter. Such an impact would have also allowed scientists to study the dust cloud from the impact.
“We were hoping for a spectacular show to reveal a lot,” Chesley said. “We’ve actually never seen a significant impact on a terrestrial planet.”
Mars is a smaller and harder target for space rocks to hit when compared with Earth, but about five times as many asteroids cross the Martian orbit, according to Chesley. 2007 WD5’s path around the sun ranges from just outside Earth’s orbit to the outer edge of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but will not impact with either Mars or Earth in the next century, JPL researchers said.
The asteroid missed Mars by a distance of approximately 6.5 Mars radii.
Similar near misses occur with Earth. And similarly, astronomers sometimes give odds on a possible impact and then, with further observations, reduce the odds to zero.
In fact, the Mars flyby occurred a day after a 500-foot asteroid flew by Earth at a distance somewhat greater than from the Earth to the Moon.
Chesley and other astronomers considered having one of the Martian rovers eyeball the passing 2007 WD5, but judged the task too difficult for the robotic explorers. None of the orbiting spacecraft turned their cameras or other equipment on the passing rock, either.
“After we knew it was going to miss, it’s really a pretty ordinary asteroid cruising around the solar system,” Chesley said.
To see more articals, go to space.com
I hope you had a ROCKING Christmas! And a Jingling New Year! 2008 is here! Celebrate!
I hope you have a great winter time with your families! Spring will be here before we know it!
- Christmas Coco
This is a great treat to have when its cold and dreary outside!
Ingredients:
Hot Chocolate pack
Marshmallows
Cinnamon or Cinnamon sticks
Hot water
A favorite mug
Whipped topping or ice cream
Cherries
Love 
Directions:
Heat up the water until it’s just the right temperature. Pour the hot water into the mug and dump the package of hot coco in. Stir with a cinnamon stick or a spoon. Add marshmallows and a dash of cinnamon. Take a scoop of your favorite ice cream or whipped topping and add the cherry on the top.
Enjoy family time with this fun and yummy recipe!
Tip: you can even add a small chocolate bar to make it more chocolaty
December is here! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Have a good time with family and relatives! HO HO HO! 
“Isn’t there anyone? Who knows what Chrismas is about?”
“Sure, I can tell you what Christmas is all about, Just watch this video to find out!”
If you missed the last episode, click here.
When the heroes were safe at HQ, They took care of the injuries. In a few day, the legion was well rested and ready for action. Star was sitting down on a couch, reading a book about villains, The Twins were trying to get into a cookie jar by standing on top of each other, Zinx was typing a computer code into his computer, Warrior and Phantom Girl went to go practice their fighting skills, Blueberry munched on some tarts, Talana turned into a bird and was preening her feathers, Myru (Myrum) was taking a nap in the sun, and Ruby, Blacklight, Frost and Flaze were just chit-chatting. Suddenly, Ruby paused in talking.
Does anyone know where Comet Boy is?
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing. They all shook their heads, they had no idea where he was. Ruby got up from her beanbag and stepped outside. It was an unusally quiet day. No birds were singing and even the streets were quiet. Ruby shivered. It’s way too quiet! She thought. Suddenly, Ruby heard a swooping noise. She looked up. It was Comet Boy!! He landed and looked flushed. What’s wrong Comet Boy? Ruby asked. And where were you?
Comet Boy seemed out of breath. I was at the police HQ, Some terrible news! Trask and Steel Man have escaped prison!! Ruby gasped. Comet Boy flew inside quickly to tell the others. Ruby hurried in after him. Comet Boy had just finished telling Zinx. Zinx looked at the others. Prepare yourselves, they could head here next. All I hope is that they don’t destroy the city.
To be continued….
Filed under: Club Penguin
Here’s the link. You’ll have to see them on your own.
I hope you had a fun halloween! I sure did. The candy I recieved filled 1/4 of the table!! 
!!!
Filed under: Mythical Fire Stars
Some people reading my Mythical Fire Stars stories got a little confused on the characters. Here’s a full list of the legionnaire and the villains.
Star: A girl from Myton who never expected to be asked to join the legion!
Blueberry: Star’s best bud. She still doesn’t know what her real power is.
Warrior: An Guardian Angel with a strange temper.
Zinx: A highly intelligent robot that has lived in Optonium most of his life.
Comet Boy: The last person of his kind.
Talana: She shape-shifts into animals and plants.
The Twins: Two lovable twins who can never seem to stop fighting. They have no known power right now.
Blacklight: A shy black cat who was morphed into a cat during an thunderstorm.
Frost: From the chilly Nyistal mountain, this girl and her people dwell. Frost has adapted to the freezing temperatures.
Ruby: A small girl who loves the color Ruby Red. Commander Maxwell is her guardian.
Flaze: Totally fire powered, She can survive in temperatures up to 600* Fahrenheit.
Myrum: Her name is pronounced Myru, but she likes it spelled Myrum. She is a quiet girl with large wisdom.
Phantom Girl: She comes from a ghostly planet called Phansom.
Spinx: The old leader of the legion. A girl that’s a little hard to understand.
Villains
Steel Man: He and Thunder Man are brothers. His main issue is Star.
Thunder Man: He is a little bit older than his brother. His main issue is Blueberry.
Blizzard: Her mood can become very sour a lot of times. Her main issue is Warrior.
Vortex: He sometimes misuses his powers for fun. His main issue is Comet Boy.
Shadow: A almost true living shadow, this girl’s weakness is super bright light. Her main issue is Talana.
Earth Illusion: Thunder Man and Steel Man’s sister. This girl just relaxes and never takes anything seriously…Except her hair appointments. Her main issue is, well, she doesn’t have one. Yet.
Trask: Tainto’s long lost son. Accidentally morphed into a half scaly black snake half human. His main issue is definitely Star.
Tainto: An enemy of old. He disappeared in a meteor shower.
Hunter: A bounty hunter searching for Comet Boy.
If you missed the last episode, Click here
Trask’s tongue flickered back and forth. You’re right Ssstar. He hissed. I am Tainto’s ssson. His scaly face crooked into a smile. Ssstar, I have returned to Myton to carry out my father’sss dream. I will desstroy Myton if it’ss the lasst thing I do! Thunder flashed behind him. Trask turned around quickly. A galactic ssstorm iss approaching! He hissed angrily. He turned to the fallen legion and his robots. We’ve done our damage here! He yelled over the bellowing winds. Retreat! The robots quickly followed after their leader. The robot that was holding Star turned and dropped her into a huge cave in the ground.
Star watched helplessly at the escaping villains. She grabbed onto the side of the wall and started climbing. Her body hurt to much to fly. Just as she climbed out of the cavern, Star saw a familiar ship approaching. She quickly hurried after Trask and his robots. Suddenly, she heard a male voice.
Don’t worry Star. We got them. The voice said. Star looked up into the smiling faces of the Twins. Don’t worry Star. They said again. The rest of the legionnaire are here. Star looked up and spotted Frost, Flaze, Blacklight and Comet Boy. They all smiled at each other for a second. Than Twin #1 said, Hey! There goes Trask! Come on ! Come on! Let’s go get him! He took off running. Hey!! Twin #2 yelled after his brother. Wait for us!! He also took off running. Comet Boy shrugged and waved for the legionnaire to follow him.
When Trask saw them, he hissed with rage. Not fair! Not fair! The twins landed in front of him. Yes fair! They said together. Trask was quickly over come. Meanwhile, Star hurried back to the others, who were just getting up. They groaned. Man….Blueberry said. Those guys were tough! Star quickly helped them all up. A few of the legionaries were injured badly. (The battle was worse than I wrote it) Soon, Comet boy came with the rest of the legion. Trask had been handed over to the police and imported safely to his prison. As the healthy part of the legion helped the injured ones on board, Star spotted her father running towards her.
He grasped her in his arms. Star, he mumbled. I was afraid I’d lose you! Are you all right? Star looked up into her father’s eyes. I’m fine. She turned around and saw The Twins wave to her. She turned back to her father. I must go. I’ll be back soon to help with the clean up. But right now, I have to help my injured friends. They hugged one last time and Star took off. Soon the legion was heading back to Optonium.
If you missed the last episode, Click here.
After a quick talk, the legion and Star’s father made a plan. Costar (Star’s Father) decided that he would help evacuate the city while the legion held off Trask and his robots for as long as possible. He explained that some of the other people on Myton where also helping with the evacuation. He also told them that Tainto had died in a meteor shower a few months ago.
Star quickly followed the departing legion. She fingered the pink cape that Blueberry had given to her for her birthday. She had added glitter to it so when Star flew, it would shimmer behind her. Oh wait, I’m getting off the subject. As they all flew out, Star turned back to look at her father. He waved to her and quickly departed out another door. When the main building’s doors flew open, the legion was met with the smiling face of Trask and 10 of his robots. His black tongue flickered in and out as if sampling something. Well, what have we here? Ssstar and the legionairssss? He turned to his robots and barked (Not like a dog) Well? What are you waiting for you sssimpletonsss?!? Desstroy the legion!!!
The robots attacked the legion at lightning speed. Oh, this will be a piece of cake! Talana grinned. Suddenly, the robots pulled out shocker rods. Talana groaned. As the legion attacked, whirlwinds started blowing in from the north. Comet Boy emitted a screech towards one of the robots. It shook it’s head in confusion, that regained itself and brought the rod down hard on CB’s head. Comet Boy moaned and went down. Talana circled a robot and transformed into a snarling jaguar. She leaped at it with her sharp claws. The robot raised its rod and Talana smacked right into it. With a howl of pain, she felt back to the ground, smoking. The rest of the legionnaire were quickly brought to the ground.
Star was outnumbered now. She had her robot to take care of, and now she had to deal with all the others too! Only a few were lying disabled on the ground. Before long, Star was held by three of the robots. Trask chuckled a evil chuckle. My worthless friend, you don’t know me well, but I know you. Star quit struggling and stared at Trask. Trask clasped his black arms behind his back. You sssee, After you left Myton, a few months later, Tainto wass killed in the meteor ssshower. But no one knew he had a ssson.Trask paused and let his words sink in. Star just stared at him. He had a son?
Trask hissed and continued. Hiss sson to rule Myton after he dissssappeared. But the ssson had different plansss. He wasss alwaysss fasssinated by sssnakesss. Sso one day he decided to turn himssself into a lifes ssize ssnake. But ssomething went wrong. In the tesssting, a bolt of lightning sshocked the DNA changer. The sson was in the machine than tessting the experiment. The sshock caused a mental flaw in the program. Sso when the transssformation wass compete, the sson wass sshocked! He looked like a human with ssscaley black armss and a black cobra’ss head combined! Trask stopped and grinned a snaky smile at Star. The sson than later decided to be a sssupervillian. He came back to Myton to rule.
Star felt like a lightning bolt had hit her. She realized who Trask was now! She opened her mouth.
YOU were that son!
