NASA rocket to 'bomb' moon to find water

A US rocket is to crash into the moon on Friday in an experiment scientists hope will provide data about ice hidden in the perpetually dark lunar craters.

Astronomers around the world are prepared to capture the impact of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) into the moon's Caebus crater at 1130 GMT. The rocket will deliberately crash into the moon, kicking up a plume of dust that scientists hope to analyse for traces of water that they believe are abundant in the cold, shadowy craters.

The impact is designed to mimic that of the large, natural asteroids that slam into the moon several times a month. The probe belonging to the US space agency NASA is targeting a 100-km wide, 4-kilometre deep crater and is timed to strike when lighting conditions are ideal for observing the impact. The 585-km craft will hit the moon at about 9,000 kilometres per hour creating at impact crater about 2 metres deep.

Despite the concerns of some naysayers in the blogosphere, the moon will not be harmed by the event. 'The impact has about a million times less impact on the moon than a passenger's eyelash falling to the floor of a 747 during flight,' said Daniel Andrews, LCROSS project manager.

The total event - from impact until the dust settles - will last just 120 seconds, but scientists say the experiment will produce valuable information to be collected on nine instruments, including five cameras that capture images in colour, thermal and near-infrared images.

For this operation, a Centaur spacecraft launched from the orbiting LCROSS craft is scheduled to make a direct vertical impact on the moon on October 9.

This two tonne, used non-explosive rocket will bomb the surface of the moon. This is expected to create a huge plume of dust, which will be analysed for water by different instruments including the Thermoteknix camera, which will follow the Centaur down four minutes later.

The debris plumes are expected to be visible from certain Earth and space-based telescopes. As we report the rocket is progressing towards moon and can be followed at - http://twitter.com/Lcross_Nasa

A live TV broadcast of the event is being shown at NASA's website.

Simultaneously, images of the impact will be captured by the companion Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite now circling the moon, as well as the Hubble Space Telescope and terrestrial telescopes. The composition of the material kicked up by the impact will help scientists deduce whether water is present.

When seen from the ground with an amateur telescope, the dust cloud will amount to a dim shimmer across a shadow adjacent to the crater. NASA says the best way to watch is at the parties being hosted by astronomy societies or online at the NASA website.

Data from three deep-space missions late last month revealed that there are small, but widespread amounts of water across the entire surface of the moon. That announcement is seen as complementing, not preempting, the LCROSS mission.

Astronomers said before the impact that new data from $79-millionLCROSS mission will complement the earlier findings because water is believed to be much more abundant in the craters. The findings could aid future manned missions to the moon, which could establish long-term outposts.

NASA scientists said that it is possible for frozen water to have remained in the moon's craters for billions of years, because the bottoms of the craters are never reached by sunlight and protect any ice from evaporation into the thin lunar atmosphere.

Barack Obama gets Nobel Prize for Peace

London, Oct 9 (IANS) US President Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize for 'his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples', it was announced in Oslo Friday.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

'Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play,' the committee said on its website.

'Only very rarely has a person, to the same extent as Obama, captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population,' the committee said.

Obama was elected as the first African-American president of his country in November 2008.

Drink in public, pay Rs 5,000 as fine

New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- Soon, you will be able to pick up a bottle of your favourite liquor from your neighbourhood mall.

But if you were planning to drink in your car - give up the thought. Doing so will leave you poorer by Rs 5,000.

At present, drinking in public attracts a fine of Rs 200. Most penalties levied on drunken behaviour are based on the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, that is effect in Delhi at present.

The Delhi Excise Bill aims to make fines and penalties deterrent enough. The Bill will be placed in the Delhi assembly in its winter session.

And if you are one of those who get a little unmanageable after a drink, be careful. You could get both a prison term up to three months and a Rs 10,000 fine for creating public nuisance.

For any owner of a liquor joint - whether a bar, theka (roadside liquor vend) or night club - who allows drunken behaviour or allows anti-social elements to gather at his establishment - the penalty is even more stringent. The owner would attract a prison term up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 50,000.

"We have to be careful about public law and order. We are allowing the sale of liquor in malls, but that requires more stringent measures for curbing drinking in public," said Delhi finance minister AK Walia.

"People should not feel they could just buy liquor from a mall and drink anywhere." The Delhi Cabinet had approved a new excise policy last week that allowed sale of liquor in malls.

Cities like Bangalore have allowed sale of liquor from malls and general stores for almost a decade now.

Floods displace over 18 lakh people

Flood situation in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh continues to be grim with over 50 villages in Andhra Pradesh submerged in water following unprecedented flooding of the Krishna River in a century.

The death toll in the two states devastated by the unseasonal rains in northern Karnataka and floods downstream crossed the 200 mark.

Flood situation in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh improved Monday as water levels receded substantially, state Chief Minister K Rosaiah said.

Rosaiah said the outflow of water in Tungabhadra, Sunkesula, Narayanpur and Jurala projects came down substantially. At 5 pm on Oct 5, the outflows were 1.18 lakh cusecs in Tungabhdara, where the highest in the last five days was 1.96 lakh cusecs.

In Sunkesula, the outflow was 0.75 lakh cusecs, where the highest in five days was 9.80 lakh cusecs. In Srisailam dam, present inflow and outflow were 5.38 lakh cusecs and 10 lakh cusecs.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of the ravaged areas in Bellary district and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who accompanied her, said the state suffered an unprecedented damage exceeding Rs 20,000 crore. Torrential rains left a trail of death and destruction in 15 districts of Karnataka damaging over two lakh houses in 1,467 villages subsided since.

Over 4.53 lakh people have been sheltered in 13,330 relief camps. A 500 m-long bridge across Tungabhadra river, 32 km from Raichur, was washed away in flood waters, officials said.

Some more facts:

- The Krishna river experienced the heaviest flood since 1903, when it had 10.30 lakh cusecs of flood waters.

- About 18 lakh people in nearly 400 villages of Andhra Pradesh have been affected by the floods.

- Economictimes.com reported that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have reported damages of a staggering Rs 32,000 crore following unprecedented floods.

- Estimates indicate that over 1.5 lakh hectares of farmland in northern Karnataka are lying submerged, and close to 1.12 lakh hectares are marooned in Kurnool, Guntur, Cuddapah and Mehboobnagar districts in AP.

- Commodity prices may see a steep hike. The crops worst affected are chilli, cotton, paddy, maize, groundnut, jowar besides pulses like tur.

Floods are an every-year phenomenon for India. Government seems to take a reactionary approach rather than a pro-active disaster management.

Watson cracks another century as Australia retain title

Shane Watson struck another commanding century to lead holders Australia to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Monday.

Australia restricted New Zealand to 200 for nine before reaching 206 for four in 45.2 overs.

It was not all plain sailing for Australia, however, as New Zealand fast bowlers Kyle Mills and Shane Bond claimed a wicket each in the first three overs to leave the defending champions reeling on six for two.

With captain and leading run-scorer Ricky Ponting trapped lbw by the impressive Mills, who finished with three for 27, for just a single, Australia struggled to 37 for two after 16 overs.

But they wriggled off the hook as Watson, who scored 136 not out in the semi-final win over England, showed great composure before hitting successive sixes off spinner Jeetan Patel to end the match and finish on 105 not out.

New Zealand had a great chance to seize control in the 18th over when Cameron White, on 15, skied a pull off Ian Butler but wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum could not take the catch which would have reduced Australia to 41 for three.

The Black Caps regretted the lapse by their stand-in captain, Daniel Vettori having been ruled out of the final with a hamstring strain, as Watson and White (62) put on 128 for the third wicket.

New Zealand had elected to bat first and found themselves in early trouble when McCullum was caught behind off Peter Siddle for a 14-ball duck.

Aaron Redmond (26) and Martin Guptill (40) added 61 for the second wicket, but New Zealand were in a sticky situation once again when they slumped to 94 for five in the 27th over.

Neil Broom, with a career-best 37, and James Franklin (33) put on 65 as the Kiwis resolutely batted out their 50 overs.

Siddle produced an inspired new-ball spell of one for eight in five overs before off-spinner Nathan Hauritz completed figures of three for 37 in 10 excellent overs.

(Editing by Ed Osmond; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Record flood discharge in river Krishna in Andhra

Vijayawada, Oct 5 (PTI) The flood discharge in river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh touched a record 11.39 lakh cusecs at Prakasam Barrage here tonight. The level was touched at 10 pm.

This is the heaviest flood in river Krishna in 106 years as the previous high of 10.61 lakh cusecs was recorded in 1903 when there were no dams on it. Many colonies along the left bank of Krishna river in Vijayawada city got submerged as the flood level touched four feet this evening.

The situation is expected to remain grim till Wednesday due to the heavy flood discharge at Prakasam Barrage, officials said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Rosaiah has appealed to the Centre to consider the devastating floods in the state as a national calamity and provide Rs 6,000 crore for relief works immediately.

Nearly half a dozen districts in the state, where 39 people have died till now, have been hit by unprecedented floods which have caused widespread destruction of property. PTI DBV RSY.