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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Downloading the "First Voyage into the PDS" class
Here's how to watch the class on how to access Voyager data through the Planetary Data System, which I conducted to a small audience this morning.
Mimas' cold region: another new mystery for Cassini to explore
This new map of Saturn's moon Mimas -- representing data captured by the CIRS thermal infrared spectrometer during Cassini's February 13, 2010 flyby -- is just baffling.
Space Imaging 3: First Voyage into the PDS
I've finally caught my breath enough to contemplate starting up my imaging classes again.
Opportunity's at the twin craters
Just a little update here to post a Navcam panorama from Opportunity showing that the rover successfully arrived yesterday at the doublet crater she's been aiming for since she left Concepcion a couple of weeks ago.
Happy, happy day: We may see the right MastCam on MSL after all
I heard some absolutely terrific news about the MSL mission yesterday.
Hayabusa update: Traverse to night-side approach successful
Hayabusa's mission team has successfully shifted the little spacecraft's approach trajectory from the day side to the night side of Earth, a critical maneuver for the survival of the sample return capsule.
In which I dip my toes into an ocean of Hubble data
I am just drowning in data right now, and I couldn't be happier.
Opportunity at Concepción from orbit
I saw this image at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference so am happy they released it: a view of Opportunity sitting on the north rim of the little, fresh Concepción crater, taken on sol 2153 (February 13, 2010).
Carnival of Space #146
Wander on over to Simostronomy for the 146th Carnival of Space!
Hayabusa update: Last modifications to Earth return trajectory
An update on Hayabusa posted to the JAXA website by project manager Junichiro Kawaguchi.
What planet is THIS?
Check out this watery world! It's clearly a computer simulation of something, but of what? Can you guess?
Where neon falls like rain
As if Titan's methane rain weren't weird enough, Jupiter's now thought to have helium-neon rain.
A new view of Callisto
Here's a lovely amateur-produced color image of Jupiter's moon Callisto, or, as its artist Daniel Macháček calls it,
LROC spots Russian "monument" to International Women's Day
There was a piece of the Lunar-Reconnaissance-Orbiter-spots-the-Lunokhods story that I was intrigued by but just didn't have the time this week to investigate properly.
Akatsuki arrives at Tanegashima Space Center
The Akatsuki spacecraft (also known as PLANET-C or Venus Climate Orbiter) arrived this evening, Japanese time, at the Tanegashima Space Center.
A trio of pretty Cassini pics
It's been a little while since I posted any Cassini pictures just because they were pretty, so here's a few recent ones, produced by amateurs from the images available on the Cassini raw images website.
Making a difference through the Shoemaker NEO Grants
Amir Alexander has just posted an update on the activities of the most recent winners of the Shoemaker NEO Grants.
And now for Luna 17 and Lunokhod 1
I am delighted to report that within a day of the first view of Luna 21 and Lunokhod 2 since the end of that mission in 1973, the sister mission, Luna 17 and Lunokhod 1, has also been found.
Propose for a Shoemaker Near Earth Object Grant
Are you a serious amateur astronomer who enjoys the challenge of following up on the discoveries of faint near-Earth objects?
Lunokhod found on the Moon -- and on Earth, too
Yesterday I posted a bit of a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera image showing the tracks of the Russian Lunokhod 2 rover. Today, I can post for you an image showing the rover's final resting place