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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Grab bag: "Rocky" exoplanet, molten lunar core, Rhea close encounter
The Kepler exoplanet hunting mission has made news today with a report of
Stardust mission update: 38 days to Tempel 1
Stardust is healthy after performing a
Solar eclipses from space: Hinode and SDO
Two spacecraft that keep their ever-watchful eyes on the Sun -- NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and JAXA's Hinode -- were doing their thing, when something large wandered past: the Moon.
Two possible futures for Akatsuki
There are two intriguing possibilities being discussed in the Japanese media for what to do with Akatsuki, a space probe in orbit near Venus with a fully functional, highly capable suite of cameras but a damaged main engine.
Sunset and eclipse on Mars
These two movies were posted to the JPL website a couple of weeks ago, and they are just amazing.
Juno in an alternate universe
I was browsing JPL's Planetary Photojournal today and noticed that they've posted an updated artist's concept of the Juno spacecraft, which is set to launch in August for a 2016 arrival at Jupiter.
Two views of Santa Maria, from orbit and from the ground
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has just snapped another photo of Opportunity sitting on the ground on Mars. These pictures never get old.
How Mars Express' orbit shifts with time
While I was writing yesterday's blog entry on Mars Express' Phobos flybys I realized that I didn't understand Mars Express' orbit very well. So I sent an inquiry to the Mars Express blog, which they answered in a blog entry today.
It's Phobos season again for Mars Express
The Mars Express blog has been reactivated today, as a new series of Phobos flybys is already underway.
Happy 2011, and an end to the 2010 advent calendar
Welcome 2011! I can't wait for what this year has in store. The prize for all of you who have enjoyed opening each door in the Planetary Society's 2010 advent calendar is one of the best views we can get of one of the biggest objects in the asteroid belt, Vesta.
Door 31 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the thirty-first (and next-to-last) door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system are these dark-rimmed craters?
Bye bye, Kodachrome, but "Kodak moments" will live on in space
This week is the end for Kodachrome film. It's a casualty of the digital revolution.
Door 30 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the thirtieth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this ridged crater?
The Year in Pictures: 2010
I've just posted my annual roundup of significant images from planetary exploration in 2010.
Door 29 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the twenty-ninth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this fractured flowing ice?
SOHO's 2000th comet
SOHO was launched more than 15 years ago to study the Sun, primarily; but a side benefit of its constant observation of the Sun has been its ability to notice
Door 28 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the twenty-eighth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this cratered and streaked surface?
365 Days of Astronomy Podcast: Small Worlds
Today the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast aired my contribution, Small Worlds, about the smaller denizens of the solar system visited in the past year, and due to be visited in the next.
Door 27 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the twenty-seventh door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this flat-floored depression?
Door 26 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the twenty-sixth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this rayed crater?



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