Space Linkfest

-- The known universe on video.

-- I've mentioned the MESSENGER spacecraft a couple of times. It will go into orbit around Mercury in 2011, but in the meantime, its swingbys have allowed us to create a global map of Mercury.

-- Saturn's moon Iapetus has one light side and one dark side, a confusing problem that may have just been solved.

-- Here are some awesome pictures from the new Vista telescope. Accompanying article here.

-- And while we're on it, here's an amazing picture of a dying star, showing us what will eventually happen with our own sun.

-- On his blog, Rand Simberg has an update on the Constellation project (the plan to return to the Moon). See also here and here.

-- Elsewhere, Simberg writes about the unveiling of Virgin Galactic's Spaceship Two. Alan Boyle comments as well here.