What used to take a clear sky and a telescope can now be accomplished on a semi-dark evening with an off-the-shelf, computer-model camera. No need to join NASA or hitch a ride with SpaceX to see the lunar surface when there’s a Nikon P900 handy.

As consumer camera tech takes off, more and more possibilities are available without needing specialized equipment. The camera comes with a 24-2000mm lens that can pull off a 83x optical zoom – point, zoom, click and you can become an amateur astronomer.

Not that the P900 is the only camera that can do this – give it a few years and your smartphone will probably be able to do the same as these other semi-professional setups.

The post Lunar Close-Up: New Consumer Camera Zooms Way Into the Moon first appeared on Gajitz.

After much speculation, research and confirmation, it is official: NASA scientists have announced that the Earth has a second moon, known as Asteroid 2016 H03, that has been orbiting the planet for around a century.

The wee asteroid is just a few hundred feet across and was detected earlier this year from a survey telescope in Hawaii. It follows an orbital pattern taking it on slow long loops. No one is quite sure how long the body will stay in our vicinity, but gravitational forces seem intent on keeping it around, at least for a while.

Paul Chodas, manager of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object (NEO) Studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains that because of its distance, this object is “quasi-satellite” of Earth. “Its loops drift a little ahead or behind from year to year, but when they drift too far forward or backward, Earth’s gravity is just strong enough to reverse the drift and hold onto the asteroid so that it never wanders farther away than about 100 times the distance of the moon. The same effect also prevents the asteroid from approaching much closer than about 38 times the distance of the moon. In effect, this small asteroid is caught in a little dance with Earth.”

The post Mini Moon: NASA Scientists Confirm Earth Has Two Moons first appeared on Gajitz.

Welcomed by an erotic female ‘mission control’ voice, this incredible array of space suites combines direct references to outer space travel while conveying the overall aesthetics of 2001: A Space Odyssey and other topical science-fiction thrillers.

Everything has something to do from space, from the starry carpets and paint jobs to seemingly-floating beds and even rocket-booster-shaped ceiling lights. Guests get the sense they are living in either a space habitat, space movie or both.

Other nice touches include a space glove valet sticking out of the wall, ready to ‘hold’ your keys or cellular phone. Mockups of historic rockets and photos of real lunar adventures decorate the place as well.

Space-referencing materials can be found subtly throughout like foil, while the bookshelves are filled with both scientific and fictional works about space. Seriously, there is a lot of space in this place. Visit for yourself at the Kameha Grand Zürich Hotel, and pack your spacesuit if you really want to get into the mood, though depressurization is unlikely.

The post Space Odyssey Suite: Out-of-this-World Luxury Hotel Room first appeared on Gajitz.

While facing the trials and tribulations of first-time space travel, astronauts of the early Apollo space program managed to capture an epic volume of space pictures, many of which were recently released for the first time by NASA and highlights of which you can see here.

The release is in part a product of a multi-year Earth mission to scan and digitize the huge archive of film that exists from the missions, preserving it for NASA and the future.

The rich and variegated cache contains a treasure trove of shots including many images of Earth, the moon, space but also candid pictures of the astronauts themselves in the cramped environs of space vehicles.

As Becket Mufson notes, the images are a mixed bag in terms of content and quality but worth a look: “It can be compelling to wander through more than 2,400 of unadulterated space photos unearthed by a research team, complete with over-exposure, blurriness, and other hallmarks of an untrained film photographer. [They] capture the claustrophobia of spacewalks [and the] the framing is out-of-this-world.”

The post Moon Shots: NASA Releases 10,000+ Apollo Mission Photos first appeared on Gajitz.

A simple concept backed by provocative design execution, this lunar lamp series comes in seven sizes, letting you bring a little moon with you wherever you go.

Developed by Acorn Studio in Taipei, the spherical lanterns are handcrafted from non-toxic latex and glass fiber and have already made their way into music videos and onto concert stages.

LED-illuminated Luna lamps can be suspended like a celestial body or simply set on an available surface. They are water- and heat-resistant and have adjustable light settings. Being handmade, each one is also unique in its variegated lunar-inspired surface texture.

“Divine and serene, the moon is a resting place for our heart. After a long day, we sometimes want to take a glimpse at the moon for a sense of relief, only to find skyscrapers in the city. But now, you can bring the moon along with you. Inspired by the moon, Luna, hopes to bring more delight and content into your life. Indulge yourself into the moonlight. Let Luna illuminate your space, and your mind.”

The post Goodnight, Moon: Luna Lamps Bring Moonlight Inside first appeared on Gajitz.