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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Boulders and Ponds on 433 Eros
There is really cool geology being explored on large, oddly shaped asteroids. The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission reached 433 Eros in 2000, and one of the exciting results was the discovery of features called
Door 13 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the thirteenth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system are these parallel gouges?
Door 12 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the twelfth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this trapezoidal mountain?
Door 11 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the eleventh door in the advent calendar. Until the New Year, I'll be opening a door onto a different landscape from somewhere in the solar system. Where in the solar system are these sinuous ridges?
Door 10 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the tenth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this jumble of bouldery fissures?
Come back, Venus.....
This image is so, so beautiful, and so, so sad.
Door 9 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the ninth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this jumble of boulders and fissures?
Door 8 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the eighth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this nearly flat plain?
Door 7 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the seventh door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this icy bridge?
Akatsuki enters orbit at Venus today!
In just a few hours, Venus will have a second orbiter. Japan's Akatsuki is due to start firing its orbit insertion engines on December 7.
Door 6 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the sixth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system are these snowy slopes?
Door 5 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the fifth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this meandering river?
Door 4 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the fourth door in the advent calendar. Where in the solar system is this crater-specked mound?
Door 3 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the third door in the advent calendar. Until the New Year, I'll be opening a door onto a different landscape from somewhere in the solar system. Where in the solar system is this wispy terrain?
Best "Arsenic and Odd Life" coverage
Last night I asked via Twitter for recommendations for articles that did the best job explaining the significance of the work, by people who actually read the relevant paper in Science.
Arsenic and Deep Space?
If you or I ingest arsenic, well...it doesn't go so well. If you are, on the other hand, a certain species of bacterium from Mono Lake, California, ingesting this seemingly toxic metal is simple enough.
Door 2 in the 2010 advent calendar
Time to open the second door in the advent calendar. Until the New Year, I'll be opening a door onto a different landscape from somewhere in the solar system. Can you guess where this crater-scarred surface lies?
Door 1 in the Planetary Society Blog 2010 advent calendar
December really has arrived, and that means that the year is racing to a close. Continuing last year's tradition, I'm counting the days to the New Year with an advent calendar, where each
What's the significance of this unremarkable spot on the Moon?
This was a fun image released by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera science team. Take a look at it and see if you can figure out what the significance of the red arrow is.
A few Mars Express Phobos goodies
To celebrate Mars Express' recent mission extension to 2014, here are some cool pictures that it took of Mars' inner and larger moon Phobos.



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