NASA announces that the new name for the "Space Infrared Telescope Facility" will be the
Spitzer Space Telescope (after the late
Dr. Lyman Spitzer, Jr.). This coincides with the release of the telescope's first images, which show the glowing stars of the
Elephant's Trunk nebula, the dusty arms of the
Messier 81 spiral galaxy, a disc of planet-forming debris, and organic material 3.25 billion light years away.
[1][2][3][permanent dead link]
It is alleged that, in cases where their treatment of a detainee may never come under public scrutiny,
The Pentagon and
CIA are using a number of controversial techniques to extract information.
[9]
Prosecutors in
California charge singer
Michael Jackson with seven counts of child molestation and schedule hearings for January 16, 2004.
[12]
Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon warns the
Palestinian Authority that Israel will take unilateral steps to separate from the Palestinians unless there is progress on the
road map peace plan and sets a deadline of "a few months" for Palestinian compliance. The speech is strongly criticised by the
United States, the Israeli left, the Jewish settler movement and the Palestinians.
[13]
Red Hat, in its third quarter, buys
Sistina Software. Red Hat expects that it will close the deal by early January for $31 million dollars.
[14]
Sudanese authorities close the
Khartoum office of the Arab satellite channel
Al Jazeera and detain its bureau chief for questioning.
[15]