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Book review: Europe to the Stars, by Govert Schilling and Lars Lindberg Christensen
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/08/16 11:05 CDT
The world's great telescopes capture stunning photographs of stars, nebulae, and other sky phenomena. In Europe to the Stars, authors Govert Schilling and Lars Lindberg Christensen share many such photos. But the real stars of this book are the great telescopes of the European Southern Observatory.
August Advocacy Update: Where We Stand
The House and Senate have increased funding for Planetary Science thanks to your letters and phone calls
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/08/15 07:02 CDT | 6 comments
Planetary exploration sees strong support from both parties in the current budget process, but we have a long way to go before a budget is passed this year.
Dream Chaser mini-shuttle prepares for free flight tests
Posted by Jason Davis on 2013/08/15 03:42 CDT | 3 comments
Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser spacecraft recently completed a series of range and taxi tow tests, which pave the way for free flights that could begin this fall.
Pretty picture: spectacular Saturn and Titan
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/08/15 08:04 CDT | 3 comments
A lovely view of the ringed planet and its hazy moon seen from nearly behind them just a few days ago.
SMAP Under Construction: Field trip to the Spacecraft Assembly Facility
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/08/14 04:53 CDT | 1 comments
Yesterday I enjoyed my second-ever opportunity to suit up and enter the clean room of the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. On display were SMAP, an Earth orbiting radar mission, and ISS-RapidScat, which will perform a different radar experiment from the Space Station.
Pretty Picture: A Plethora of Perseids
Posted by Jason Davis on 2013/08/14 12:53 CDT | 3 comments
A pretty picture of the Perseid meteor shower from Mount Lemmon, Ariz.
Comet ISON lives on! (we think...)
Posted by Karl Battams on 2013/08/13 01:31 CDT | 1 comments
For several weeks now, ground-based observers have been blind to Comet ISON as our local star was sitting directly between us and the comet. I am delighted to share two pieces of good news: first, that ISON is still alive and well, and secondly that it has been recovered.
Back to the Future With NIAC Program Exec Jay Falker
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2013/08/13 10:51 CDT
This week's Planetary Radio talks with the head of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program about its mission and 12 newly-funded projects that could change the world.
Posted by Bill Dunford on 2013/08/12 08:03 CDT | 8 comments
New images from Mars.
Want to learn how to process space images? Take my Cosmoquest Academy class!
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/08/09 05:40 CDT | 2 comments
The Planetary Society and Cosmoquest have teamed up to offer a short course in space image processing, and I'll be teaching! The course comprises four one-hour sessions from October 14 to 23.
Interplanetary eyes on the lookout for comet ISON
Posted by Daniel Fischer on 2013/08/09 02:15 CDT
Space blogger Daniel Fischer provides a preview of the exciting interplanetary observing campaign that has recently begun to study comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) from vantage points across the solar system.
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/08/09 01:45 CDT | 2 comments
Both Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and CFO Beth Robinson are leaving NASA within the next few months.
The coolest video of an expanding supernova you'll see today
Posted by Jason Davis on 2013/08/09 09:32 CDT | 11 comments
Professional astrophotographer Adam Block created a video showing the expansion of M1, the Crab Nebula, using two images taken more than a decade apart.
Beautiful science by Elektro-L
Posted by Vitaliy Egorov on 2013/08/08 03:54 CDT | 5 comments
Six months ago, I wrote about the Russian weather satellite Elektro-L, which has more than two years of successful experience in the geostationary orbit. Then I promised that I would be here to share the materials that we collected. I think it's time to deliver on the promise.
"Water on Mars" in Sky & Telescope
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/08/08 11:44 CDT | 7 comments
A shameless plug for my article on "Water on Mars," the cover story in the September issue of Sky & Telescope.
Mysterious tides in the Martian atmosphere
Posted by Armin Kleinboehl on 2013/08/07 03:49 CDT | 1 comments
Observations made by the Mars Climate Sounder, an instrument aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, have revealed new information about atmospheric tides on the Red Planet.
Curiosity's first year on Mars: Where's the science?
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/08/07 02:53 CDT | 31 comments
Yesterday was the first anniversary of Curiosity's landing on Mars, and there was much rejoicing. It's been fun to look back at that exciting day, and it's been an opportunity to reflect on what Curiosity has accomplished in her first year. What science do we have to show for it?
Field Report From Mars: Sol 3385 - August 2, 2013
Posted by Larry Crumpler on 2013/08/06 06:54 CDT
This week Opportunity finished up a quick investigation of the strange rocky terrain out here in the plains where it is approaching the next mountain rim segment of Endeavour crater, Solander Point.
One Year on Mars: My Favorite Moments from Planetfest 2012
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/08/06 04:28 CDT | 1 comments
It seems like it was just yesterday that 2000 people gathered in the Pasadena Convention Center to celebrate Curiosity's landing on Mars. All of Planetfest 2012 is online for your enjoyment.
The Ancient Snows of Mars on Planetary Radio
Grad student Kat Scanlon leads research indicating precipitation may have helped shape the surface of the red planet
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2013/08/06 10:20 CDT
Kat Scanlon tells Planetary Radio that Hawaii and Mars have more in common than you might think.
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