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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Update on yesterday's post about Chang'E 2 going to Toutatis
I have a couple of updates on my post from yesterday: confirmation that Chang'E 2 is indeed gone from L2, and more specifics on encounter dates with Toutatis.
Chang'E 2 has departed Earth's neighborhood for...asteroid Toutatis!?
According to a Chinese spaceflight forum, Chang'E program chief scientist Ouyang Ziyuan recently announced that Chang'E 2 has departed the Sun-Earth L2 point and is now en route to asteroid 4179 Toutatis!
Comparing Chang'e 2 and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter maps of the Moon
How does the LRO lunar map compare with the new Chinese product from Chang'e 2?
Chang'E 2 is on its way to Sun-Earth L2
According to an article published a week ago by the Xinhua news service, Chang'E 2 departed the Moon on June 9 at 09:10 UTC. It's now headed toward a Lagrangian point in space, but not the one I thought it was headed for.
Chang'E 2 to depart for L2 on June 16
According to a story posted on xinmin.xn and run through Google Translate, there's now been an official announcement from China about Chang'e 2's extended mission: it will depart lunar orbit in mid-June and journey to L2.
365 Days of Astronomy Podcast: What's up in the second quarter of 2011
Regular readers of this blog will find the content of today's 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast familiar, because it's an update on what the solar system exploration spacecraft are up to, based on my monthly
Chang'E 2 update: primary mission successful
For months I've had no information about China's Chang'e 2 lunar orbiter for my monthly
What's up in the solar system in March 2011
I don't think there's any question what the big event of this month will be: MESSENGER is finally, finally entering orbit at Mercury on March 18 at 00:45 UTC (March 17 at 16:45 for me).
Five amazing engineering camera videos from Chang'E 2
I couldn't believe these videos when I first saw them: five views from engineering cameras of important events in the Chang'E 2 spacecraft's journey to the Moon.
First pictures from Chang'E 2 released
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced the success of Chang'E-2 lunar mission on Monday. Yong-Chun Zheng, an associate professor at the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, presents the mission's first released pictures.
Chang'E 2 launches in less than 24 hours, weather permitting
Here are a few photos of Chang'E 2 meeting its launch vehicle in Xichang. It's a beautiful view of the spacecraft.
China to launch Chang'E 2 on Friday, October 1
Via the Lunar Listserv this morning I learned of the impending launch of a new lunar orbiter, Chang'E 2, planned for this Friday, October 1, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan.
What's up in the solar system for the week of May 12
It's time to check in on what's going on with our trusty robots around the solar system.