Astronomers lately have found:

• an early galaxy, a long time ago and far, far away, that indicates star formation began quite early on in the universe’s history.
• a pair of alien worlds in such close orbit that an observer on one would see the other in the sky.
• more evidence in a lunar crater that our moon has ice on its surface.

Closer to home:

• Sunita Williams, who holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a female astronaut will take over as the commander of the International Space Station
• Scientists and others gather this weekend to discuss the search for alien life in California. Er, they’re gathering in California to discuss the search for alien life.
• Some guy claims leprechauns attacked him.

Click for some spectacular video unrelated to any of these stories.

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The Chinese space program launches its first human-crewed space-docking mission, and the crew includes their first female taikonaut.

SF/Fantasy icon Lucy Lawless has pleaded guity to charges stemming from her eco-activism, and could spend up to three years in jail.

Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle reboot has been pushed back, and may even be shelved.

In Manitoba, Canada, a hockey-playing robot took gold at a Robotics Competition.

And from Japan comes…. The air-conditioned bra? Video below:

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Nasa’s Nustar X-ray telescope zooms into orbit, as this week brings us a great deal of space-related items.

Are extrasolar planets commonplace, as we see in so much SF? Recent observations suggest earthlike planets do NOT need stars with heavy metal content to form. Meanwhile, this poorly-titled article suggest life may be quite common out there.

Closer to home: Titan has a lake, of sorts, but you likely wouldn’t want to swim it.

An asteroid the size of a city block will buzz by tomorrow; here‘s how you can get a look online.

Kim Stanley Robinson discusses his recent book, 2312, which returns to hard SF with a peek at the colonization of the solar system.

And below….

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In addition to general news, I hope people here will treat this as a place for general OT comments, as well.

Today, we have Jerry O’Connell and Eddie Izzard starring in a dark, gritty, and (one imagines) wholly ill-conceived and unnecessary reimagining of The Munsters. It will be called Mockingbird Lane and premiere sometime next year.

NASA and congress arrive at an agreement concerning private space taxi service.

Meanwhile, America’s National Reconnaissance Office has just donated two spy telescopes to NASA.

Below, this week in unique uses of technology. These have to be seen to be believed.

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“Misheard Lyrics” are an old gag, but this video for “O Fortuna” features hilarious lyrics and surreal, fantasy-appropriate imagery.

Astronomers tell us the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Spiral Galaxy will collide— though not for a few years.

Some guy wants to build the Enterprise.

Assorted videos follow:

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Marvel Comics has created a sidekick for Hawkeye. A speedy knock-off, prompted by the success of The Avengers? No—it’s a plan to help a hearing-impaired child. The character may never appear in continuity, but it’s some compensation for the loss of DC’s physically-challenged super-doer, Oracle.

Virgin Galactic has received the go-ahead for the next phase in their development, as the Dragon Capsule readies for departure from the International Space Station.

Our own Crossover Comix page welcomes scans from the new Doctor Who/Star Trek crossover, and last year’s Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes shindig.

And by now we’ve all heard of the Miami cannibal attack, and doubtless made or heard the standard grim gag: is the zombie apocalypse, in fact, upon us?

Various video, and Venus, below:

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SpaceX’s launch is a go for Saturday and, with that, we have reflections on the privatization of space travel. We also have new fuel for the ongoing debate about what (and who) might wait in the distant reaches of space.

A recent fossil find in China could represent a hitherto unknown species of human.

Of course, Maria Jose Cristerna, the Vampire Woman of Guadaljara, Mexico, might also be a hitherto unknown species of human.

Light clothing, Seattle ComicCon, and more of the Vampire Woman, below:

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Your phone could become a digital wallet.

The self-published e-book “Wool” has garnered enough of a following that the movie studios have become interested.

George Lucas does something very cool, for the first time in a while.

Find out how you can watch SpaceX’s launch to the International Space Station on May 19 (Of course, two cosmonauts and one astronaut are en route soon).

Guess what the world oldest known cave art appears to represent?

A meteor miss of a populated planet and more, follow:

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The Japanese think we need a witty, trilingual vacuum cleaner

In a what NASA calls an historic achievement, astronomers have detected the light emanating from an extrasolar world.

Wednesday May 9, Buzz Aldrin will announce the winner of the Space Race 2012 contest, the lucky person who will make a suborbital flight with Armadillo Airspace. Lauren Furgason of Seattle, Sara Cook of Washington, D.C., and Gregory Schneider of Tucson, Arizona are the final three contestants from an original roster of 50,000+.

Video of this below, plus a superheroic endorsement (with an appearance by a Bureau-crat), and yet another unique Youtube take on The Avengers:

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SpaceX once again has delayed its first launch to the International Space Station. The new date is May 19.

Made in Space: the European Space Agency wants people to be aware of how many developments and products have origins in a healthy space program.

The Loch Ness Monster—or a reasonable facsimile— has been ordered to leave the Chippewa River in Wisconsin.

And below, a video glimpse of Free Comic Book Day, 2012 at my LCS, featuring Andrew Murray’s homemade replica of the 1966 Batmobile:

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