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Blog Archive
Full Free Intro Astronomy Class Now Online
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2012/05/22 02:57 CDT | 1 comments
Bruce Betts' complete CSUDH Intro Astronomy and Planetary Science class is now available online. Find out how to access it, and go behind the scenes.
A stunning view of Mars from Argyre to Thaumasia
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/05/18 06:33 CDT
Image magician Daniel Machacek has done it again, producing a jaw-dropping view of Mars from Viking Orbiter 1, featuring a frosty Argyre basin and stretching across to a series of faults called Thaumasia Fossae.
Third Martian Anniversary for Mars Climate Sounder
Posted by David Kass on 2012/05/16 11:35 CDT | 2 comments
May 16, 2012 is the third martian anniversary of the start of Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) observations from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. MCS started measuring the atmosphere of Mars three Mars years ago, on September 24, 2006. We can now compare the weather and behavior of the atmosphere in three different years, and find the temperature differences to be surprisingly large.
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2012/05/03 10:06 CDT
As winter began to retreat in the southern hemisphere of the Red Planet, Opportunity was commanded to finish up her science assignments in April in preparation for leaving its refuge, and the Mars Exploration Rover mission rolled through its 100th month of exploration.
Swirly lava patterns in beautiful HiRISE images
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/04/26 05:19 CDT | 4 comments
In a channel near a pedestal crater on the plains of Cerberus Palus, Mars, there are wacky swirl patterns.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Gets Energy Boost and Works Through Depths of Winter
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2012/03/31 05:40 CDT
March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb at Meridiani Planum, Mars: Opportunity felt the cold wind on her solar panels, then "settled" in a little more, working through the depths of its fifth Martian winter, as the team honored one of its own up there, and the Mars Exploration Rover mission logged month number 99 of exploration.
Pretty picture: A sunset postcard and a special shadow from Opportunity
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/02/21 04:31 CST
It took Don Davis many hours of meticulous labor to assemble this beautiful postcard from Mars.
Emily's New Video Series: Snapshots From Space
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2012/02/20 04:29 CST
This is the first episode of editor Emily Lakdawalla's new video series exploring the solar system.
Has Mars Express MARSIS data proved that Mars once had a northern ocean?
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/02/07 05:46 CST
There's been a bit of buzz on the Web this week regarding an ESA press release titled "ESA's Mars Express radar gives strong evidence for former Mars ocean." I don't ordinarily write about press-released science papers, but am making an exception for this one
At last: Rosetta's Mars flyby photos have been released!
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/01/24 03:51 CST
At last: Rosetta's Mars flyby photos have been released!
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/01/23 05:32 CST
Today Opportunity sent back to Earth the last few frames of the "deck pan" self-portrait she took during the waning days of 2011. Her solar panels are very dusty, which isn't helpful. It's near winter solstice in her southern location on Mars, so the angled Sun is not providing as much power as it would in a different season.
Posted by Jim Bell on 2012/01/09 11:15 CST
It's the best of times for Mars exploration because we've got three orbiters and a rover studying the Red Planet. It's also the worst of times for my Russian, European, and Chinese colleagues who were part of the Phobos-Grunt mission.
Mariner 9 approaching Mars: a movie!
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/12/09 01:32 CST
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Mariner 9's November 13, 1971 arrival at Mars, Daniel Macháček has produced a morphed animation of the images that Mars' first orbiter took while approaching the planet.
Curiosity, from a 1935 perspective
Posted by Jason Davis on 2011/12/03 01:49 CST
With a new rover, Curiosity, on its way to Mars, Jason Davis takes a look at what we knew - or thought we knew - about the planet back in 1935.
How did they make the nuclear power source for the Curiosity rover?
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/11/28 03:07 CST
Maybe it's because I was a kid during the Cold War; I always assume that information about anything nuclear only comes out on that "need-to-know basis."
Mars Exploration Family Portrait
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/11/23 12:26 CST | 1 comments
Jason Davis put together this neat summary of the checkered history of Mars exploration.
Nighttime Water Ice Clouds Predicted by Models are Confirmed by MCS Observations
Posted by Jim Shirley on 2011/10/25 12:00 CDT
A daily cycle of cloud formation in the Martian tropics during northern summer is driven largely by solar radiation and the associated solar thermal tide. Models predict a striking pattern of cloud formation above the high altitude volcanoes of the Tharsis region. At mid-day, the atmosphere is typically free of clouds due to elevated temperatures. Beginning in the early evening hours, atmospheric cooling at altitudes above 20 kilometers begins to foster water ice cloud formation. During the night, the altitude of cloud formation descends closer to the surface.
New Horizons workshop, day 1: Chemistry & climate on Pluto & other cold places
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/08/30 11:27 CDT
Today and tomorrow I'm attending the New Horizons Workshop on Icy Surface Processes. The first day was all about the composition of the surface and atmosphere of Pluto, Charon, Triton, and other distant places.
The Making of Martian Clouds in Motion: Part 2, tweening the animation
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/08/28 06:14 CDT
The Making of Martian Clouds in Motion: Part 2, tweening the animation
The Making of Martian Clouds in Motion: Part 1, working with Mars Express HRSC data
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/08/22 08:39 CDT
The Making of Martian Clouds in Motion: Part 1, working with Mars Express HRSC data
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