MESSENGER's first Mercury flyby is coming up

I've received many emails from people who are concerned that I may have forgotten about MESSENGER's upcoming flyby of Mercury, its first -- and the first spacecraft visit to that planet in 33 years. Closest approach happens on Monday, January 14, at 19:04:39 UTC. Don't fear, this event is very much on my radar screen; I'm gathing information about the science plans for the flyby and will have much to say about it later this week and next week. In the meantime, please check out this week's Planetary Radio show, which features an interview of MESSENGER principal investigator Sean Solomon.

While I'm mentioning new stuff on the website, take a look at Tyler Nordgren's latest entry from his "Stars Above, Earth Below" blog, this one from Chaco Culture National Historic Park; as usual, his photographs are totally spectacular.