You Don't Know Sith

Well I am starting to believe what my shirt says. You don't know sith!

I just got my cool, yet geeky shirt yesterday and wore it to work today.

I don't work with too many people, but someone should have gotten it.

But no! Not a one. In fact one person actually asked me what it meant.

I said it was a Star Wars thang and you wouldn't understand.

Which might have to be the next shirt I get!

 

If you wanna see the shirt I am referring to you can spot it here:

http://www.cafeshops.com/dontknowsith?pid=5969&tid=blogs

 

I am sporting the black shirt [I had trouble choosing between the ringer and the black shirt]

I think I made a good choice. Even if know one gets it :)

 

Cool Site - Technovelgy.com

Technovelgy has over 850 ideas and inventions from hundreds of science fiction books and stories.

See Inventions and Ideas from Science Fiction Books and Movies at Technovelgy.com

Technovelgy where science meets fiction. Check out their website at:

http://www.technovelgy.com/

Chicks Dig Klingons

Who knew chicks dig Klingons? Apparently this apparel company :) Funky cool black tee with an image of our favorite Klingon Worf in red on the front. Text is in a klingon like font for the added geek factor.


Star Trek: Chicks Dig Klingons Black T-Shirt (ADULT)


"Chicks Dig Klingons!" This black t-shirt features Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Wars Christmas Stuff

Check out the cool Star Wars Christmas Stuff at the Star Wars Shop. They have ornaments, stockings, stocking stuffers, lego....you know all the really cool SW stuff :)

Kirk vs Kong!

If you own a dog and are a bit of a sci-fi geek you'll get this :)

Win a SONY PSP and Coheed Cambria Goodies @ ScifiSlacker.com

Go to SCIFISLACKER.com

http://www.scifislacker.com/contests/

 

And enter to win a SONY PSP, Coheed & Cambria DVD and their new CD!

 

It is the BEST contest we have had yet!

 

If you want to know more about the band Coheed & Cambria check out:

http://www.scifislacker.com/music/coheed-cambria-interview.shtml

 

GOOD LUCK!

~ScifiSlacker.com

Chiller Theatre

We attempted to go to Chiller Theatre Horror convention this past weekend. Drove all the way up to the Meadowlands in northern Jersey and it was sold out. [We had to argue with them to even let us in to go potty before turning around for the 3+ hour drive home!]

 

But in a way after walking around the building and seeing the line to get into the tent to see the guest [it was at least 2 football fields long ----wrapped completely around the building] I was a little relieved. I would not have liked hanging out in the cold all day just to get in to get the few autographs I wanted.

 

I will just bu them off the actors websites. And maybe try Chiller again when it is not their 15th Anniversary big show!

If you wanna see who was there check out their website www.chillertheatre.com

 

Win Something at ScifiSlacker.com

Loads of contests going on right now at www.scifislacker.com.

 

Right Now You Could Win:

Tripping the Rift Season 1 on DVD

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Season 1 on DVD

X-Files Colonization DVD

Serenity Prize Pack

Save the Green Planet DVD

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters Season 1 DVD

Atomic Swindlers CD

Matrix Path of Neo PS2 Game

House of Voices DVD

Unleashed DVD

Street Fighter Alpha Generations DVD

 

Coming Soon:

Land of the Dead DVD

Sony PSP

and tons more!

 

 

Contests change every month so keep checking back at http://www.scifislacker.com/contests/ for your chance to enter to win great prizes!

 

 

WORLD OF 2100 – GLOBAL CONTEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Visit http://www.UCtheFuture.org for complete details.

Submit a graphic depiction (drawing, photo, video or other image) along with a brief description of what an aspect of the world will look like at the end of the century. 

A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the most interesting and intriguing submission chosen from the first 50 entries selected for viewing at www.UCtheFuture.org.  The New Jersey

Institute of Technology will double the award if the winner attends their school.

The mission of UCTheFuture is to stimulate young people's interest in creativity, design, and career paths, and to encourage them to pursue math, science and engineering so that they can better manage the world they are inheriting.

All entries must be received by Midnight, Daylight Savings Time, June 30,2006.
 
If a submission is chosen to be one of the fifty finalists, it will be displayed on our website, www.ucthefutue.org, within two weeks of receipt.
 
The winner will be notified on September 30, 2006 and posted on our website.

Point Pleasant

Anyone remember this show? It was a little like Dawson's creek meets Damien [I said this the first night it aired and soon after they were using a similar tag line from some other reviewer ---- OC meets the Omen ---- they stole it from me I tellz ya!].

 

It is about this blonde evil chick [aren't all blondes evil?] who supposedly has these powers and the mark of the devil on her.

 

The series did not last the whole season....and I think it was up against something else I watched. So I never saw all the episodes.

 

Well it is coming out on DVD [info will be posted on www.scifislacker.com soon] and I just got my copy. Looks like the complete series is on 3 disks and it even includes 5 unaired episodes.

 

 

Just got Tripping the Rift Season 1

Just got the DVDs for season one of Tripping the Rift and I can't wait to get home tonight after work and start watching them!

 

Loving season 2 and look forward to catching up on season 1

[I was not really faithful to it due to my hatred of SCIFI channel].

 

 

REVIEW: Atomic Swindlers CD

Melodic songs from across the galaxy come poring out of April Laragy
and the members of the band Atomic Swindlers.

There's no swindle here just good music. We travel back in time to a
period when bands and their music told a story like the Beatles and
Ziggy Stardust. And you'll hear a bit of their sound in the Atomic
Swindlers as well. Albeit some of the stories told here might be
beyond the grasp of the average human intellect.

As soon as the disk starts spinning you can hear the influences of the
bands mentioned earlier mixed with the sounds of today. Some of the
tunes bring to mind No Doubt or Garbage while others flash back to the
Pandoras [thanks in part to the lead vocals on all accounts]. Laragy's
cow punk past even shines through on one or two of the tracks.

Each tune lends itself to a different style of music while never
straying too far. The deceptively cheery music tends to hide the
darker forces working within the lyrics [which you can read on the
bands official website]. The science fiction theme is never lost in
any of the songs, taking the listener to the outer reaches of space
and time while more often than not returning us to look even deeper
into the human psyche to see what we might have learned on our
journey.

Their first music video is a spiffy little animated Samurai-Jack-like
adventure where we find the heroine searching the galaxy for her
ladylove. The video premiered at the ImageOut film festival for its
lesbian theme. And another song, Intergalactic Lesbian Love Song,
suggests a future time and place when homosexually just is without the
controversy --- as hopefully one day it will be here when all peoples
are excepted no matter their race, religion or orientation.

You can watch the video on their website. It is also available on the
enhanced CD. Once you see it you'll want more.

Take Atomic Swindlers CD, Coming Out Electric out for a spin or two
you'll find yourself listening to it all the time. Be sur eto check
out the band and the cd on their official website.

CD available through CD Baby.com.

Official Website: www.atomicswindlers.com

Win! Enter our contest to win a copy of the CD @ http://www.scifislacker.com !

Jet Li in UNLEASHED now on DVD

Martial arts superstar Jet Li delivers a break-out performance in the gripping, action-packed story about a man raised from childhood by a ruthless crime boss and becomes a violent killing machine...

 

more on the film at:

http://www.scifislacker.com/films/unleashed.shtml

 

and enter to win your own copy at SCIFISLACKER.com

 

http://www.scifislacker.com/contests/

 

 

 

STREET FIGHTER ALPHA: GENERATIONS on DVD

STREET FIGHTER ALPHA: GENERATIONS  is now on DVD and now you have a chance to win a copy from SCIFISLACKER.com

 

Contest information can be found here:

http://www.scifislacker.com/contests/

 

More info on the title:

In this thrilling prequel to Street Fighter Alpha, Ryu returns to pay homage to his deceased mentor, but is tormented by disturbing memories of his master's killer. In a quest to become a true martial arts master, Ryu sets out to hone his street fighting skills and to deliver himself from the haunting legacy of the Dark Hadou. But the ultimate test of his new power can only be accomplished through one last fateful confrontation with his arch-nemesis, Gouki.

 

 

Chance to let the scifi geek shine on TV

The casting producer from ABC Televisions show, Wife Swap has contacted me looking for help finding a Sci-fi family for the show. Here is what they are looking for:

"We are specifically looking for a family that is into Science Fiction. We are want families that not only love the movies and TV shows but also love to attend the conventions and participating in any type of sci-fi club! The premise of the show is to take two very different families and switch the mom's for a week. Each family should consist of two parents and at least one child over the age of five and should reside in the continental U.S. It's a positive experience for people to learn about other families and other ways of life. "

And here is something to chew on: " This is a very unique experience that can be life changing for everyone. In addition, each family that tapes an episode of Wife Swap receives a $20,000 honorarium."

If interested let me know [just send me an email scifi at whataslacker dot com] and I will send you the contact info and you too can be a famous and slightly richer sci-fi slacker!

Enter to WIN Tripping the Rift Season 1 on DVD

Tripping the Rift Season 1 is coming to DVD and you can win a copy from SCIFISLACKER.com

 

Just head over to: http://www.scifislacker.com/television/tripping-the-rift-season-1.shtml for more info on the DVDs and for your chance to win this fun sci-fi series on DVD. If you have not watched this on the SCIFI channel here's your chance and you'll be hooked!

 

Contest ends  11.15.05

www.scifislacker.com

 

 

Dark Shadows Reunion @ Chiller Theatre

all appearing at chiller theatre this october....
 

Nancy Barrett
Diana Millay
Denise Nickerson
Lara Parker
Kathryn Leigh Scott
David Selby
Marie Wallace

 

Slacker's Sci-Fi Source Newsletter for 8.10.2005

Slacker's Sci-Fi Source Newsletter for 8.10.2005
http://www.scifislacker.com/index.shtml
--------------------------------------------------

This Week at ScifiSlacker.com you'll find...

----------------------------
--- IMPORTANT INFO ---
----------------------------

Our virtual postcards are back [sorry we had some technical
difficulties with them]. So start sending all your friends ecards from
scifislacker.com. We have classic to current sci-fi, fantasy and
horror cards. Check them out at:
http://www.scifislacker.com/postcards/index.shtml

We have new sections on the site for all you sci-fi needs. Like:
Sci-fi TV on DVD http://www.scifislacker.com/television/
Sci-fi Music http://www.scifislacker.com/music/
Sci-fi Books etc http://www.scifislacker.com/books/
Sci-fi Movies http://www.scifislacker.com/films/

Plus Asia Extreme [Asian Sci-fi/Horror Movies from TarTan Films]
http://www.scifislacker.com/films/asian-extreme-films.shtml

Coming soon....Video Game Reviews, PSP movie/game reviews and more!

----------------------------
--- Other News / Info ---
----------------------------

Scotty [aka James Doohan] has passed away. He will be missed. But as
long as there is Trek he will always be here! One to beam up.

Atomic Swindlers are still going strong. Check out the links to more
reviews and cast your vote for April.
http://www.scifislacker.com/reviews/atomic-swindlers-coming-out-electric.shtml

-----------------------
--- Incoming Stuff ---
-----------------------

ALF season 2, Earth 2 complete series, Sliders season 3, Cleopatra
2525 complete series, 3rd Rock from the sun Season 1, Enterprise
season 2 and loads of other cool sci-fi TV have hit DVD. Check out
more information at www.scifislacker.com


--------------------------
--- Important Dates ---
--------------------------

    8.9.05 - Ascension on DVD
    8.19.05 - Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
    9.23.05 - The Corpse Bride
    10.7.05 - Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit

-------------------
--- CONTESTS ---
-------------------

Sci-Fi Slacker has a bunch of stuff for science fiction fans to win!
Like the Futurama Robot Maniac on DVD, The War of the Worlds
Soundtrack on CD, Battlestar Galactica Score on CD, ALF Season 2 on
DVD, Best of He-Man DVD and More! Check out the complete rules online.
And while there check out all the other cool stuff you can win all
over the web.

So stop by http://www.scifislacker.com/contests/ today and test your luck.


--------------------------------
--- Eastern PA Sci-Fi Fans ---
--------------------------------

Join our new discussion group more details at: http://www.pagodascifi.com
Invite your friends too!

-----------------------------------------
--- Newest additions to our Directory ---
-----------------------------------------

G.A.A.K: Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures
http://www.drunkduck.com/GAAK

   What is GAAK? It's like "ET"--With teeth! It's like "The
   Gremlins" if they came from outer space and had great comic
   timing. GAAK the scifi adventure webcomic is what you get
   when you mix Steven Spielberg's "The Goonies" with classic
   50's style creature feature movies like "The Invaders from
   Mars".


UEG - 3D Robotech Movie
http://www.uegroup.scherdan.com

   3D Robotech anime movie project. Download free preview
   movies, pictures and wallpapers.


#1 Simm on the net! Independence Fleet RPG
http://www.independencefleet.com/home.html

   The hottest RPG on the net! Independence Fleet RPG hs 15
   Play be Email simm's and is continously looking for new
   members! If you think you have what it takes to rise to the
   challenge, feel free to check us out! We have positions that
   will fit ANYONE, and if we dont have what you want, we are
   willing to help create it!


Apuliacon - Star Trek convention
http://www.apuliacon.it

   A Star Trek convention in the south of Italy, the house of
   sun!


Haunted-Index.com
http://www.haunted-index.com

   Track haunted places in your area.  Browse/submit haunted
   places, investigations, and comments.


Rex -X and the City of the Amazon
http://rexstories.tripod.com/

     "Rex-X and the city of the Amazon Women" is a continuing
   online story series on the Blacklight Kabuki website. A 60s
   style campy tale of a former late 21st century dictator who
   awakens 500 years in the future to discover earth conquered
   by an alien force who have mutated the human male gender
   into mindless slugs. A cult quickly forms around his return
   as he struggles with his tyrannical madness of the past.


www.shallowgroundmovie.com
http://www.shallowgroundmovie .com

   The nightmares couldn't possibly get any worse…or so
   Sheriff Jack Sheppard thought as he packed the last of his
   things, ready to leave the small town of Shallow Valley
   behind him once and for all.  But as Jack is about to learn,
   the horrible events that have transpired here over the past
   year are not about to loosen their grip quite as easily.


Atomic Swindlers
http://www.atomicswindlers.com

   The Atomic Swindlers' Coming Out Electric is being met with
   rave reviews! With descriptions like "lush," "big and
   beautiful melodic rock," "grand Beatles pop as told by
   Barbarella…" the CD has fans across the US on an
   intergalactic groove.


CauldronCon 2005
http://www.cauldroncon.com

   Cauldron Con is a multi-genre fantasy and sci-fi themed
   convention taking place on 12th, 13th and 14th August 2005
   at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort and Conference Center in
   Danvers, Massachusetts that will be attended by many of your
   favourite actors and actresses including John Rhys Davies
   and Harry Potter's favourite classmates.


Gormglaith by Heidi Wyss
http://www.literateweb.com/wyss.htm

   Radical feminist cult classic set in a scientifically
   plausible, witchy future. Free to read online.


SCIFIPUNDIT...Blog me up Scotty
http://scifipundit.blogspot.com/

   A place where Sci-Fi fans they may discuss their hopes,
   dreams, and wishes for what's to come in the universe of
   Science Fiction and related topics.


Wade's Worlds
http://home.comcast.net/~wadekimberlin

   Home of SciFi author Wade A. Kimberlin.  Free short
   stories, news, and information!


Slayer: Return to the Hellmouth
http://spikeluver.com/slayer/Slayer/

   A fic archive for the Buffy Universe (angel fics are
   welcome too). Fans can register and then upload their own
   fics about any character, season, situation,
   etc...Categories are Canon, Fantasy, Adult, and *Virtual
   Seaon*. Characters listed are from both Buffy and Angel
   series.


Totally Shanks
http://www.totallyshanks.net

   Large, comprehensive Michael Shanks based site.
   Transcripts, image galleries, forums, Conventions,latest
   news,Message To Michael Book, spoilers and much more.


ScifiGate
http://www.scifigate.net

   Large, comprehensive site based on the show's Stargate SG1,
   Stargate Atlantis & The 4400. Transcripts, image galleries,
   latest news, spoilers, forums, commentaries, Egyptology,
   multimedia and much more.


Aaron Douglas Adoration society
http://aaronsdedicationpage.tripod.com

   It is the site of the new Aaron Douglas Official Fan Club.
   Learn about Aaron and the different characters he has
   played.


Superhero Songs
http://www.superherosongs.com

   The place where songwriters and superhero fans collide!


Juda Tverski
http://www.judatverski.com

   The official web site of Juda Tverski contains his art work
   and a preview of his new comic book "scar"


Si Fi Online
http://www.scifionline.net/

   everything sci fi


Liza Phoenix Fantasy Art
http://www.lizaphoenix.com/fantasy.html

   All original sci-fi fantasy images. Including ufos,
   mermaids, and fairies.


lexxfans.com
http://www.lexxfans.com

   the old lexx bborad has been sent to the protein bank an
   another reborn, here it is!! happy posting!!


Haunted Times Magazine
http://www.hauntedtimes.com

   Haunted Times Magazine is an online and print publication.
   The premier issue contains 80 full-size, full-color glossy
   pages of the best and most diverse paranormal content
   available today. Stop by the HTM web site at to check out
   sample articles and a lot of other great interactive
   content.


Realms Fantasy Art
http://www.realmsart.com

   High and dark fantasy (and sometimes a little sexy). Art by
   Tony Meszaros for commercial and non-commercial use -- or
   just for looking at. Each image in the gallery has an
   interactive story where visitors can collaboratively write
   each chapter of the tale - great fun and very unpredictable!


Talk Theory
http://www.talktheory.com

   Bring an open mind, sit back and wrap your mind around the
   a conspiracy theory, strange fact, unexplained mystery, or
   story about a great place or unusual person.  Don't forget
   your coffee and a sense of humor.  Link or trackback to us
   and we will do the same.


MarsDust - The Fandom Lifestyles 'Zine
http://www.marsdust.com

   Previous SciFi.com Site of the Week. Online fandom
   lifestyles publication dedicated to covering the real lives
   and fantasy lives of fanboys and girls across the globe.
   Interviews, convention reports, fashion, message board,
   blogs, downloads, amazing photos and art - even live fandom
   events!


Phantasms
http://www.lizaphoenix.com

   All original sci fi fantasy artwork.


Dr. Warpenstein's Science & Soceity
http://drwarpenstein.home.comcast.net

   Subject is Science & Society.





The Slacker's Sci-Fi Source Newsletter and all its contents are
(c)2001-2003 KHoffman and Slacker's Sci-Fi Source.
All Rights Reserved. http://www.scifislacker.com

Joanna Cameron / ISIS Autograph / Request for Help

Thanks to a fellow list member I was able to get 2 signed photos from
Joanna Cameron, who played ISIS in the 70s TV show.

Address Used [if you want to try it yourself]
Joanna Cameron
c/o Joanna Cameron Photos
PO Box 198900-9MB 808
Hawi, HI  96719-8900

Not sure how long it took [it was my second time I sent out to her ---
I know it was a couple of months].

Along with the signed photos she included a note on a 3x5 card:

"Aloha - Thank you for your delightful note. I am hoping to do an
intro from Hawaii on the release of ISIS on DVD.... if that sounds
like a good idea --- Please email Gillian Thomas at
www.entertainmentrights.com --- she will make the decision... Mahalo,
JC"

So it looks like Joanna is asking for fans help with getting her
intro/commentary onto the DVD. I will do my part. Certainly easy
enough to do, just an email. What's a DVD without this type of thing
anywho, so head over to www.entertainmentrights.com and let them know
we want her on the DVD!

And check out all my autographs at: http://autographs.whataslacker.com/

BLOB FEST

This weekend is the annual BLOB Fest in Phoenixville, PA. Location is
at the acutal theater used in the original film THE BLOB. Which was
film right here in PA in Yellow Springs, Chester County [who hold
their own Blob Fest and you can see some the Studios builds, equipment
and stills from their films....you can see pics from last years event
at: http://www.scifislacker.com/blob_fest/blob_fest.shtml ]

Friday, July 15 at 9:30 will be the re-enactment of the running of the
Blob....the theater gets filled to the gills and everyone runs out as
if the Blob is after them! [I am heading to this just for the Photo
ops]. This event is FREE.

Saturday, July 16 there will be a street fair at noon, costume contest
[being judged by Kira Schon of Night of the Living Dead], big screen
showings of THE BLOB, Ghost In The Invisible Bikini and 9pm a Double
Feature of Robot Monster in AMAZING 2D and THE BLOB. Wes Shank and the
BLOB itself will be there to.

More details for Blob Fest 2005 at:
http://www.thecolonialtheatre.com/html/BlobFest.html

REVIEW: Destroy All Humans

Destroy all Humans [review of PS2 game]

If you like B-Movies from the 50s/60s looks like Destroy All Humans
might just be the game for you. The game sets you down smack in the
middle of what feels just like a 50s sci-fi film. The story is a
simple one you are a part of a superior alien race who needs to
retrieve DNA placed in the brains of humans to survive. So your
mission is simple - Destroy All Humans!

Both the story and game play options are described to you during your
game play. So you don't really need to read the instructions and can
just dive right in. [However you may wish to familiarize yourself with
the controls a wee bit before starting --- we found ourselves hitting
all the wrong buttons at all the wrong times.]

Fun game for almost all ages [violence you know --- kinda figured that
one out with a name like Destroy All Humans].

Biggest downfall of the game is that when you die you start your
mission from the beginning. And that can be very frustrating when
nearly complete and you get your final zap. Game play is not saved
until you complete the mission and head back to the Mothership for
further instructions.

Good luck and good Zapping!

REVIEW: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds

Get immersed into the world of HG Wells' novel War of the Worlds with
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds. Originally
released in 1978, Jeff's music has had many fans and has grown to
become a classic. Now a whole new generation will be exposed to this
galactic experience. And they will be pleasantly surprised at how
quickly the music will pull them into the story a create a whole new
world from HG Wells words.

At times the music seems a little dated [at one point it is very
reminiscent of Logan's Run or the disco scenes from Buck Roger's in
the 25th Century], but that feeling quickly disappears as one becomes
so engulfed in the music and what it is telling us above and beyond
the words of the narration.

Fans of the both the book and films will find this to be a remarkable
addition to the entire War of the Worlds experience.

For more info and to enter to win the CDs go to:
http://www.scifislacker.com/music/war-of-worlds-cd.shtml

Losers in Long Lines at Star Wars Episode III

[being the slacker I am I know this is a month late but....]

I know the title is a bit dregrading but hey I was the second loser in line!

We arrived around 4 PM to stand in line for the mid-night showing of
the latest episode of the latest Star Wars trilogy. There was one
other person in front of us. She too was holding spaces for a group of
friends --- my group would eventually total ten [I had the task of
buying the tix and holding our spot in line].

Heck we had done this as a group since our days of working together at
800-Trekker [a once great sci-fi mail order company] so why should we
stop now.

As the night continued the rest of my group started appearing. We took
turns leaving for potty breaks and to get food [theater was none to
happy with us for outside food but we weren't technically in the
theater yet]. We played games. Mostly sat / stood around and talked
about all things but mostly sci-fi. One of the guys in front of us was
a trekkie too so we talk star trek in a star wars line [I thought for
sure something was going to open up and swallow us whole].

Then the local news came around and interviewed some of us. I was one
of those interviewed [as they say hind sight is 20/20], I did not plug
the site nor mention my online sci-fi group www.pagodascifi.com, most
of who were in line with me --- DOH! Also did not bother calling
anyone as I hoped my portion would be edited out. It was not, as I
later found out.

Folks came in costume. Some pretty lame others were most excellent.
[Will post pics somewhere --- most likely my yahoo group Pagoda Scifi
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pagoda_scifi/

The TV camera guy caught a full costume Vader dancing on the arcade
game, Dance Dance Revolution...priceless.

Loads of folks had the Master Replicas Light up Lightsabres. [Way cool
at around $100 bucks]

As the night progressed so did the line. I took a walk down through
and got to stop and talk with other friends/fans as I did.

The whole night was a great experience and it was topped off by a
pretty good film. Yes, the acting was a bit shallow and the dialog
wasn't great, but it was packed with action, lead right into Episode
IV [A New Hope] and both R2 and Yoda had the best parts [but isn't it
supposed to be that way]. Even though you missed the fun of the
midnight show go see this film on the big screen.

S C I E N C E: Space probe begins descent to Saturn moon Titan

A European-designed space probe broke away from its NASA mothership on a plunge toward the mysterious Saturn moon Titan, starting a journey researchers hope will end with answers about one of the most puzzling bodies in the solar system.

Ground controllers received a signal indicating that Huygens had separated from NASA’s Saturn probe Cassini, as small explosives sheared away locking bolts and a set of springs gently pushed the probe off on a collision course with Titan. “The only thing we have to do now is assess how it left,” said Earl Maize, deputy programme manager for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory here, referring to the probe’s trajectory and how it spins as it heads to Titan.

Huygens will “sleep” for the next three weeks, coasting in a suspended state toward Titan and waking just four hours before its arrival on January 14.

The European Space Agency-managed Huygens aims to shed light on the only moon in the solar system with an atmosphere, a place where the surface may not be solid and the truth, scientists say, is almost certainly stranger than fiction. “There are several books on the subject and I’m sure that they’re all wrong,” said Jean-Pierre Lebreton, the Huygens project manager with the ESA.

Long a favourite home for science-fiction tales, Titan is larger than the planets Mercury and Pluto. Its atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, like Earth, but its surface temperatures of about minus-180 degrees Celsius make it inhospitable. “In some sense it’s a trip to early Earth,” said David Southwood, director of the scientific program for the ESA.

One of the biggest questions, Southwood and colleagues said, is whether there is any liquid on Titan’s surface – like lakes filled with methane rain. Huygens will hopefully answer that question, having already traveled 2.2 billion miles to Saturn over seven years on the hip of the NASA craft Cassini.

About 2.5 yards wide and shaped something like a flying saucer, it was due to make a leisurely descent of about two-and-a-half hours through Titan’s atmosphere, using three parachutes to reduce its speed and give the on-board instruments time to take detailed readings.

Once it reaches the surface of Titan, presuming there is a solid surface for it to impact, Huygens is expected to remain operational for only a brief time, possibly as little as 30 minutes, before its batteries die. “It’s fair to say we have very little idea what the surface is,” Southwood said. “We don’t know if we’re going to splash down or crash down.”