BBC Focus Magazine

[MikeG]

The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted new evidence of complex organic molecules — the carbon-containing building blocks of life as we know it — on the frigid surface of Pluto, a new study finds.

Time to restore planetary status to Pluto in recognition of its efforts to promote life as we know it ?

http://www.space.com/14006-planet-pluto ... photo.html

[M Paul Lloyd]

Hopefully the New Horizons probe will tell us more?
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newho ... index.html

[MikeG]

Great link. Can't wait till it arrives. Here's hoping it passes by Titan and Europa as well. Those moons are definitely worth a closer look. And talking about closer looks, I wonder if it would be possible to "push" the Hubble into a deeper space orbit once it reaches the end of its useful life (and the James Webb took over)? Since the Hubble was designed to be serviceable, maybe it's solar panels could be given a boost with some type of additional add on power source, and then nudged towards the outer planets. It would be a shame to let a $2.5 billion telescope crash and burn.