Art school for scientists

JWST has captured auroras on Neptune. The near-infrared images from the space telescope show Neptune’s auroras (seen here as cyan splotches) more clearly than ever before. Unlike other planets where auroras appear at the northern and southern poles, Neptune’s tilted magnetic field makes its auroras appear around the mid-latitudes. Pictured: An enhanced-color image of Neptune from the Hubble Space Telescope (left) and that image combined with data from JWST (right). Image credit: NASA et al.

China has a new space exploration roadmap. China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory recently shared a long-term exploration roadmap focusing on planetary science and the search for life. The roadmap includes missions to return samples from Mars and Venus, research stations on the Moon and Mars, and a mission to the Neptune system.

Could lichens survive on Mars? Recent research exposed lichen to high doses of X-ray radiation similar to what would be expected on Mars and found that some species were able to continue carrying out metabolic processes and activating their defense mechanisms. This adds to our understanding of how life could exist in places beyond Earth.

The Fram2 private astronaut mission launched this week. The mission, which is expected to last between three and five days, sent four private astronauts in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule into orbit around Earth. This is the first time a crewed mission will follow a polar orbit, circling Earth at an inclination of 90 degrees and flying over the poles.

Take a deep dive into the state of U.S. space policy. This week’s Planetary Radio takes you to Washington, D.C., for a special live episode exploring the complex geopolitical landscape NASA is facing, with growing influence from commercial space companies, potential budget cuts, and changes in committee leadership. Pictured: Planetary Society Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier with Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), co-chair of the Congressional Planetary Science Caucus. Image credit: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center.

Help support our future in space! Since The Planetary Society's founding 45 years ago, supporters like you have been powerful and effective advocates for NASA’s greatest missions. Now, more than ever, we need your help! Without enough funding, NASA will be forced to delay or cancel more missions. Make a gift today to support The Planetary Society’s space advocacy efforts and your gift will also be matched up to $75,000 thanks to a generous Society member. As part of the world’s largest space advocacy organization, it is time to take action together… are you with us?

The Planetary Society’s social media work is up for two awards. We are proud to have been nominated for two Webby Awards, which celebrate the best of the Internet. Being nominated means our work is among the top 12% of over 13,000 entries worldwide. Cast your vote now to help us win in the General Social Media and Short Form Video categories!

Watch our latest virtual book club discussion. Nathalie Cabrol, the Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, joined Planetary Society book club members this week to discuss her book, "The Secret Life of the Universe: An Astrobiologist’s Search for the Origins and Frontiers of Life." The conversation explores how humans are attempting to answer two big questions: Where do we come from? And are we alone?

Next up in the book club: A Quantum Life by Hakeem Oluseyi. In April, Planetary Society book club members will be reading a memoir that follows Hakeem Oluseyi’s path from a childhood marked by poverty and turbulence to becoming a world-renowned astrophysicist. Hakeem will join the next book club meeting to discuss the memoir and answer your questions. The book club is exclusive to Planetary Society members. Not a member yet? Join today.