Delayed the start of MSG-3 to July 5, 2012

Arianespace announce the start of MSG-3 satellite from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, originally programmed for June 19 has been delayed until July 5 at night. This delay was caused by additional checks perform on the EchoStar 17 telecommunications satellite to be launched along with MSG-3 aboard an Ariane5 ECA.MSG-3 has successfully passed all pre-launch tests and is ready to begin the process of loading fuel in their tanks.

how to observe the planets of our solar system

The planets of our solar system are on tomes some of the most rewarding and simplest sky watching targets to spot, if you know when and where to look. Here's a look at how to observe the planets of the solar system in 2011. Some have worlds of their own.

Astronomer’s measure distances in the sky in terms of degrees. For reference, your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of the night sky.

NASA arranged to watch the transit of Venus until 2117

NASA and other EU institutions are arranged to watch the transit of Venus between 5 and 6 June, with dozens of activities to capture the best images from this moment not ensue again until 2117. The transit occurs when Venus passes directly between Earth and the Sun, which will see the planet as a tiny dot gliding slowly across the sun king, a phenomenon that was seen by astronomers as Galileo Galilei. Scientists from the sixteenth and seventeenth observed transits of Mercury and Venus, the two planets "inside", to measure the distance from Earth to the Sun in an effort to estimate the size of our solar system.