The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 has begun its two-year-long science mission. On Nov 15, it sent a 30-kilogram impact-probe crashing to the surface of the Moon. The probe, painted on two sides with the Indian flag, reached the Moon's surface at 20:34 Indian Standard Time (15:04 GMT).

An ISRO representative told the AFP news agency, "During its descent from Chandrayaan-1, an onboard video camera transmitted lunar pictures to the ISRO command centre." The probe also sent back data about the Moon's tenuous atmosphere.

Under normal light Mr Green Genes is ginger tabby. Switch off the light and turn on the infrared and he glows green.

The six-month old cat has been genetically engineered by scientists at the Audubon Centre for Research of Endangered Species in New Orleans. They have taken a section of jelly fish DNA and inserted it into the cat's genetic material or genome. Having DNA from another species in his genome makes Mr Green Genes a transgenic cat.

Richard Garriott, the 47-year-old creator of the Ultima series of computer games, has become the world's sixth space tourist. His 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) cost US$30 million.

Garriott and ISS Expedition 18 members Mike Fincke and Yuri Lonchakov launched to the ISS from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 12, arriving at the ISS two days later.

Uni of St Andrews

Imagine shining a torch on a wall of a large dark room. The further away from the wall you are the larger and dimmer the circle of light will be. A normal light source spreads out with distance, an effect known as diffraction.

Gliese 581, ESO

The giant RT-70 radio telescope in the Ukraine sent the message on Oct 9. It is now over 100 billion miles from Earth. The target star Gliese 581 lies 20.1 light years from Earth. The Bebo team selected it because it has planets orbiting within the habitable zone. The region from the star where liquid water can exist.