The November 10 issue of Time featured an article titled, “ The 50 best inventions of the year .” Among the top 50 are four astronomy-related inventions — three even made the top 10. At 18 is the Mars Science Laboratory (pictured at right). Set to launch in the fall of 2009, the robotic explorer will possibly determine if Mars was ever able to support microbial life. Number nine, the Orbital Internet, is new to me. Scientists are working on a connection...