Blog Archive

See What's NEXT for Humanity

Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2012/08/16 01:23 CDT | 5 comments

A new monthly series of Southern California Public Radio events begins with a look at how intelligent machines and virtual humans will change what it means to be a real human. Attend or watch the live webcast tonight, Thursday, August 16.

Curiosity's MAHLI (Hand Lens Imager) looks to the north of the rover on the afternoon of sol 1, the first day after landing. In the distance, the image shows the rim of Gale Crater. The image is murky because the MAHLI’s removable dust cover is apparently coated with dust blown onto the camera during the rover’s terminal descent.

Curiosity's MAHLI camera: Much more than a microscopic imager

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/07 06:19 CDT | 3 comments

Today's press briefing featured the first image from MAHLI, the Mars Hand Lens Imager, so it's time for me to dive in to this camera's capabilities.

Curiosity photo face by Emily Lakdawalla

Videos: Where are Curiosity's science instruments and how do they work?

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/08/01 12:51 CDT | 2 comments

Mat Kaplan and I recently recorded a couple of videos giving a tour of the science instruments on the Curiosity Mars rover.

The Planetary Report, June 2012: Dark Skies?

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/25 02:27 CDT

The June Solstice issue of our member magazine The Planetary Report is out! The feature article, by W. Scott Kardel of the International Dark-Sky Association, looks at the ecological, economic, and philosophical problem of light pollution. My inside-the-cover Snapshots from Space features image processing work by Gordan Ugarkovic. Bill Nye's Planetary Society Kids section shows you how to build your own MarsDial, and on its back page I share some weird and interesting facts about Mars' moons.

Test image from Curiosity MARDI containing Ken Edgett

Curiosity's seventeenth camera: MARDI

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/20 02:21 CDT | 4 comments

Curiosity is equipped with seventeen cameras. One of them, the Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) will capture a movie as the rover descends to the surface.

Curiosity artist's concept EDL 50 touchdown

Got questions about Curiosity? I've got answers for you

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/07/19 02:35 CDT | 18 comments

Whether you are a scientist or a layman, if you have ever asked yourself any question about Curiosity, I strongly suggest that you read the newly published press kit!