First light for SOFIA

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, aka SOFIA, just took its first astronomy images on Wednesday.  SOFIA is a highly modified Boing 747 jet with a telescope poking out of the side, that will fly at 50,000 ft and observe, high above most of the Earth's atmosphere.

SOFIA has been much-delayed  -- I'm sure it's a huge relief to get it working.

 Images courtesy NASA.

Marquette U (Milwaukee) rescinds job offer to lesbian

Article from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Marquette University has pulled an offer to hire a new dean for the College of Arts and Sciences from a lesbian who has written scholarly works on gender and sexual orientation, a move that is sparking criticism from faculty and a protest by students.

It's a Catholic University, though one whose diversity statement says, "Marquette cherishes the dignity of each individual regardless of age, culture, faith, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability or social class."  

I've been repeatedly told that a paper job offer from a University is legally binding.  Especially once you accept the offer, sign it, and sent it back.  Is it legal for Marquette to withdraw this job offer?  Thoughts?

2010 Senior Review Report

NASA periodically convenes a "Senior Review" of astronomers to consider all current missions (except Hubble, for political reasons), judge their future prospects, and recommend which ones should be given more money, and which should be axed.  The 2010 report just came out.  Here's the report, a table, and a summary article, via Kelle at Astrobetter:

2010 Senior Review for Operating Missions – NASA Science | 
Results of the most recent Senior Review of NASA’s operating missions. Link to a PDF with comments on each mission at the bottom of the page. Their rank ordering, from highest to lowest: Plank, Chandra, Warm Spitzer, Swift, Newton, WMAP, Suzaku, GALEX, RXTE, INTEGRAL, Warm WISE. (via Adam Kraus) 

A nice article and summary table at Nature News (via John Gizis).