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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Exposing Io's true colors
Thanks to its active volcanic activity and sulfur-rich surface, Io is one of the most colorful worlds yet seen in the Solar System, save the Earth of course
Review: "The Complete Sky & Telescope: Seven Decade Collection"
Sky & Telescope has just issued a set of 10 DVDs that contain every issue of the magazine published from the premier issue in November 1941 through December 2009, chronicling seven decades of scientific discovery and, of course, the entirety of the Space Age.
The edge of "round": Three half-megameter moons
Part of the definition of a planet is a solar system body's roundness.
MESSENGER: A snapshot of home
MESSENGER is in a unique position in the solar system, orbiting the Sun well within the orbit of Venus. From there, it can gaze outward from the Sun to search for tiny objects that may possibly be traveling in the same region, called vulcanoids.
Decoding a Titan crater
In response to Emily's entry about finally getting her hands on a subscription to the planetary science journal Icarus, I thought I would report on an article from the most recent issue: Geology of the Selk crater region on Titan from Cassini VIMS observations, by Jason Soderblom and 11 other scientists.
Weekend treats from Cassini: Enceladus plumes plus bonus Tethys and Dione
Over the last couple of days Cassini flew past Enceladus, Tethys and Dione, so there are lots of treats to see on the raw images website! You should go check it out for yourself, but here are a couple of real favorites.
2008 LC15, the first Trojan asteroid discovered in Neptune's L5 point
Congratulations to Scott Sheppard and Chad Trujillo for identifying the first known L5 Trojan asteroid of Neptune!
New Pulsar Discovery Shows Power of Citizen Scientists and Planetary Society Members
Planetary Society members have reason to celebrate today, with the on-line publication in Science of the discovery of a new pulsar by three citizen-scientists working with Einstein@home, a descendant of the SETI@home project.
Molar Tooth Texture
Ok, so remember the weird rock I showed in my Galcier Park geology post?
Special note to scientists: Reach out through the DPS
This note was included in yesterday's newsletter to members of the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Sciences, and I wanted to make sure that you scientists reading this blog didn't miss it.
The Stardust Sample Catalog
It never ceases to amaze me how much science is being wrung out of the few grams of material that were returned to Earth by the Stardust mission.
How to Recognize Titan from Quite a Long Way Away
You know, I could fill this blog almost entirely with the amazing images that Gordan Ugarkovic locates, processes into prettiness, and uploads to his Flickr account.
Last chance to sign Ray Bradbury's birthday card, and other business
Today is the very last day to add your name to the great big birthday card that The Planetary Society is sending to Ray Bradbury on the occasion of his 90th birthday (which will be on August 22)!
The Geology of Glacier National Park: Part 1
Well, the field trip is over and I am happy to say that I was not eaten by any bears. They seemed much more interested in the huckleberries.
Bill Nye Cuts the Ribbon at New Headquarters
We brought in the big scissors to inaugurate our new Planetary Society headquarters. Incoming Executive Director, Bill Nye, cut the red ribbon at the Open House held August 5, 2010.
Cassini catches four little moons in motion
I've posted animations from Cassini before in which there are multiple moons moving around, but this is one of the coolest such sequences I've seen yet.
The enigmatic mounds of Acidalia Planitia
Acidalia Planitia is a large basin in Mars' northern lowlands, a dark splotch visible even from Earth telescopes.
Open House at our new headquarters with the rising Executive Director, Bill Nye
Tomorrow the Planetary Society is hosting an open house at our new headquarters, and that fact was front page news at our local newspaper, the Pasadena Star-News, this morning!
Some profiles of women in planetary science
It seems like a good time to feature the profiles of women space scientists that have been gracing the pages of Susan Niebur's Women in Planetary Science Blog.