Things Are Looking Up

Here are a couple of extraterrestrial items in the news.  First, a monthly publication by the National Academy of Sciences has a study estimating that as many as 11 billion Earth-like planets may exist in our Milky Way galaxy alone.  Although they may or may not contain the life-sustaining elements found on Earth, they may meet the "habitable" zone requirements as far as temperature is concerned.

The next item involves the launch of a rocket to orbit Mars by India earlier today.  India, which is in competition with Asian rival China for technology, previously sent a probe to the moon in 2008.  There is concern that the technology used by nations in that region will lend itself to a stepped-up arms race.  Below is a video of the launch, via CNN.