A Vacuum Cleaner on Mars

It’s called PlanetVac, and it’s an amazingly simple way to collect a soil sample on Mars.  Or on the moon.  Or on an asteroid.  We’ll learn about it from Kris Zacny of Honeybee Robotics.  You can also catch the video tour Bruce Betts got at Honeybee.  Later, Bruce and I will tell you about two new contests, each with a very cool prize.  Bill Nye is traveling, but we’ve got Emily Lakdawalla with a new angle on the search for near earth asteroids.

Help us celebrate Planetary Radio's 10th anniversary in November!  Call 626-793-5100, extension 226 to leave your anniversary message, or send an audio file with your tribute, musical or otherwise, to [email protected] . Someone will win Bill Nye's voice on their answering machine!

Related Links

• PlanetVac video at Honeybee Robotics
• Learn more about PlanetVac
• Support PlanetVac!
• DPS 2012: Future impact risks

Trivia Contest

This week's 10th anniversary prize is a Celestron FirstScope Telescope with Accessory Kit!

This week's question:
What is the orbital period of Ceres?

To submit your answer:
Send an email no later than Monday, November 5, at 2 pm Pacific time to [email protected] containing:

Last week's question:
About how many times brighter is the Sun than the full moon as seen from Earth?

Answer:
The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:
What PLANETS did Cassini fly by on its way to Saturn?

Answer:
Venus (twice), Earth and Jupiter