2009 has come and gone, and it was a banner year for all things related to space, science, Club Galahad and The Big Brain Club. As we roll ahead into 2010 — new year, new decade, new opportunities — we thought it would be appropriate to take a look back at the past 12 months and reflect on some of the highlights. What follows is a small sampling of the stories and events that kept us busy this year. As always, YOU played a crucial role in all of this because of your continued support of the Galahad book series, this website and its sister-sites, BigBrainClub.com and DomTesta.com. So thank you… and Happy New Year!
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January
- We kicked off the International Year of Astronomy (in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first observations through a telescope) with a link to this cool series of global podcasts. It’s still worth a listen.
- The Comet’s Curse was re-released in an all-new Tor hardcover edition, and we threw a big party at Denver’s Tattered Cover Bookstore.
- Spirit and Opportunity, the twin Mars rovers that touched down on the red planet in 2004 for an expected three month mission, celebrated their five year anniversary.
February
- A 19 year-old student from China made big news when he discovered a green comet.
- We caught sight of one of the most spectacular explosions in the universe: a gamma ray burst, equal to about 9,000 supernovae. Thankfully it was a comfy 12 billion light years away.
- Comet’s Curse author Dom Testa weighed in on the hot-button issue of ‘text language’.
- Triana Martell gives this journal entry a human touch.
March
- NASA launched the Kepler mission, which has the humble little task of finding Earth-like planets (like the ones that the crew of Galahad has set out for).
- Two of our most popular entries in the Writing Exercise and Writing Tip of the Month appeared in March. If you missed them then, check them out now!
- These handy-dandy study guides for The Comet’s Curse became available for the first time.
April
- One very creative teacher in Texas used The Comet’s Curse as the catalyst for a school-wide project that was loads of fun and a giant success! Meet Dalhart’s Rocket Kids!
- Another teacher, this time in Colorado, took the Rocket Kids idea and molded it into a cross-curricular lesson plan that any school can easily implement and enjoy.
- The Galahad series gets its own Facebook fan page. Dom does, too.
May
- The astronauts of the Space Shuttle Atlantis made some home improvements to the world’s most famous telescope.
- Dom is featured in Colorado Parent Magazine, where he talks about his books, The Big Brain Club, and his own rock star ambitions.
- President Obama appointed Charles Bolden, a distinguished astronaut and former Navy pilot, as the new boss at NASA.
- Triana wisely points out that there’s more within our control than we realize.
June
- Scientists find definitive evidence of a lake on Mars.
- The International Space Station snaps some cool pictures of a Russian volcano in mid-eruption. Look out!
- We find a simple game that steals hours of productivity from us. It becomes one of the first posts in our new Math & Science section on the Big Brain Club website.
July
- Dom delivers a fun and educational presentation at the American Librarian’s Association conference in Chicago.
- After the ALA conference, he sneaks away to Hawaii and forgoes beach time for more scholarly pursuits.
- A big month at Club Galahad: the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, an Earth-sized hole in Jupiter’s atmosphere, and some very high-tech Japanese underwear.
- We meet an author and a robot scientist… who happen to be the same guy.
August
- Club Galahad goes viral. The first installment in Dom’s ongoing video series is released, and there is much rejoicing.
- Science guy Steve Spangler visits Dom’s radio show. Predictably, mayhem ensues.
- NOVA ScienceNOW gives us a peek behind the curtain of the final Hubble repair mission.
- What if we’re not alone? It’s another of the most popular writing exercises at BigBrainClub.com.
September
- Take a walk through Castlewood Canyon with Dom and meet Galahad’s crew.
- You can go to Mars for free in 2011. Don’t believe us? Well, how about this?
- Dom visits the Mountains and Plains trade show. His publicist is not amused, but his friend and fellow author Kevin J. Anderson gets in on the fun.
- Some insightful thoughts on what it means to be competitive, courtesy of Triana’s Journal.
- Part 1 in an important two-part series about challenges and expectations appears on the Big Brain Club site.
October
- Dom hosts the 24th annual Crystal Ball in support of Colorado’s largest school district.
- NASA crashes a rocket into the moon. On purpose.
- Part 2 in the ‘Reward of the Challenge’ series. Powerful stuff.
- The Eyes on the Earth project at NASA’s website is the very definition of cool, fun and interactive.
- We are forced to question our cultural priorities when a major discovery goes unnoticed.
November
-Release dates for the next two Galahad books are announced!
- A poll reveals our biggest regrets in life. Dom thinks it’s not too late for some of us.
- Space and Science news galore: water on the moon, the green power of viruses, the Leonid meteor and the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Whew, busy month.
- Dom makes a special visit to Preston Middle School in Fort Collins, Colorado.
December
- Dom penned this article for the highly respected youth advocacy magazine VOYA.
- Commercial space travel looks like a reality — and soon.
- Speaking of reality: this article is called ‘A Unique Reality‘, and you should read it.
- 300+ satisfied kids and faculty = another successful school presentation.
- MSNBC gives us the best space photos of the year.
- You don’t have to fake it to fit in. So why do so many of us do exactly that?
- Dom hosts the Red Robin Kids Cook Off. The winner gets her burger on the Red Robin menu for a year!
- A new web series is born. It’s called A Writer Recommends, and this is Volume One.
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Well, that’s it for 2009. It’s a wrap! Thank you so much for your continued support of the Galahad series and The Big Brain Club. Don’t forget to sign up for our free newsletter, to become a Facebook Fan of the book series or to subscribe to the Club Galahad Channel on YouTube. We’ll see you in 2010 — onward and upward!