http://www.planetary.org A guide to interesting stuff going on in space science, space exploration, and space advocacy. Convio Content Management System Module en-us www.planetary.org-432758816 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/20130523-planetary-society-hangout-advocacy-update.html The Planetary Society just returned from a major political advocacy trip out to D.C. what did we do and what did we achieve? What's going on with the current funding situation regarding Planetary Science and NASA at large? How does the asteroid retrieval mission help or hurt planetary exploration goals? What's the larger plan and what are the consequences if cuts continue? Thu, 23 May 2013 11:40:57 -0500 www.planetary.org-432755954 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/05230912-radar-tracking-2013fb3-position-uncertainty.html No description available Thu, 23 May 2013 11:32:32 -0500 www.planetary.org-432585384 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2013/0522-lomberg-starship-century-conference.html This week Jon Lomberg is attending the Starship Century conference, which brings together scientists, writers, and futurists to imagine the future of interstellar travel. Here he reports on presentations by Freeman Dyson, Peter Schwartz, Robert Zubrin, Geoff Landis, Neal Stephenson, and Patti Grace Smith. Wed, 22 May 2013 18:54:23 -0500 www.planetary.org-432036650 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/05210800-indias-mars-orbiter-mission.html A couple of articles on India's Mars Orbiter Mission were published on the news website The Week yesterday, and they're much more in-depth and insightful than the norm. Tue, 21 May 2013 11:06:10 -0500 www.planetary.org-432206681 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2013/0521-lomberg-starship-century-conference.html This week Jon Lomberg is attending the Starship Century conference, which brings together scientists, writers, and futurists to imagine the future of interstellar travel. The organizers are Greg and Jim Benford, and among the attendees are: David Brin, Neal Stephenson, Vernor Vinge, Joe Haldeman, Alan Steele, Geoffrey Landis, Freeman Dyson, Jill Tarter, Paul Davies, Nalaka Gunawardene, and Daniel Richter. Tue, 21 May 2013 10:42:22 -0500 www.planetary.org-432115037 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/20130520-planetary-science-echoes-in-congress.html The Planetary Society just returned from a big trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for continued planetary exploration. Here's what happened. Tue, 21 May 2013 02:12:04 -0500 www.planetary.org-431947371 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/05200926-opportunity-and-curiosity.html For most of April, while Mars scuttled behind the Sun as seen from Earth, both Mars rovers were pretty inactive. Now that conjunction has ended, both are doing what rovers should be doing: roving and exploring. As of sol 3312 Opportunity had moved more than 300 meters southward toward Solander Point, while on her sol 279 Curiosity drilled at a second site, Cumberland. Mon, 20 May 2013 11:27:03 -0500 www.planetary.org-431840145 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/bill-dunford/20130519-crism.html Mars gives up its secrets through the unseen colors of its rocks. Mon, 20 May 2013 01:31:50 -0500 www.planetary.org-431340863 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2013/20130520-new-horizons-encounter-planning-accelerates.html Back in 2005 and 2006, when Pluto’s second and third moons (Nix and Hydra) were discovered, searches by astronomers for still more moons didn’t reveal any. So the accidental discovery of Pluto’s fourth moon by the Hubble Space Telescope in mid-2011 raised the possibility that the hazards in the Pluto system might be greater than previously anticipated. Fri, 17 May 2013 22:18:02 -0500 www.planetary.org-431259449 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/speaking-engagements-next.html Next week I'm traveling to speak at two events. Registration is still open for both, so I hope some of you can come. I also have some commentary on women being invited to speak at public events. Fri, 17 May 2013 14:10:07 -0500