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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Movie of Phobos and Deimos from Curiosity: super cool and scientifically useful
Yesterday, the Curiosity mission released the video whose potential I got so excited about a couple of weeks ago: the view, from Curiosity, of Phobos transiting Deimos in the Martian sky. In this post, Mark Lemmon answers a bunch of my questions about why they photograph Phobos and Deimos from rovers.
August Advocacy Update: Where We Stand
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.
Pretty picture: spectacular Saturn and Titan
A lovely view of the ringed planet and its hazy moon seen from nearly behind them just a few days ago.
Dream Chaser mini-shuttle prepares for free flight tests
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.
SMAP Under Construction: Field trip to the Spacecraft Assembly Facility
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
A pretty picture of the Perseid meteor shower from Mount Lemmon, Ariz.
Comet ISON lives on! (we think...)
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
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.
A Turn of the Kaleidoscope
New images from Mars.
Interplanetary eyes on the lookout for comet ISON
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.
The coolest video of an expanding supernova you'll see today
Professional astrophotographer Adam Block created a video showing the expansion of M1, the Crab Nebula, using two images taken more than a decade apart.
Want to learn how to process space images? Take my Cosmoquest Academy class!
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.
"Water on Mars" in Sky & Telescope
A shameless plug for my article on
Beautiful science by Elektro-L
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.
Curiosity's first year on Mars: Where's the science?
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?
Mysterious tides in the Martian atmosphere
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.
One Year on Mars: My Favorite Moments from Planetfest 2012
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.
Field Report From Mars: Sol 3385 - August 2, 2013
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.
The Ancient Snows of Mars on Planetary Radio
Kat Scanlon tells Planetary Radio that Hawaii and Mars have more in common than you might think.
Determining Near Earth Asteroids’ Properties from the California Desert
Shoemaker NEO Grant winner Bob Stephens specializes in lightcurves of near Earth asteroids to determine their physical properties. Here is an update on recent progress using his 2013 Planetary Society grant. This is the first in a series of updates on Shoemaker NEO Grant winners.



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