A Big Week for Space Science at the AGU and Beyond

The annual fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union revealed lots of science, some of it astounding.  Emily Lakdawalla was there with Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator Casey Dreier, whose news was not quite as good.  Bill Nye congratulates the Chinese space agency on its successful landing of a rover on the moon.   Bruce Betts finds lots to talk about in a star-filled sky on What’s Up, as he and Mat give away another Year in Space Calendar.

Related Links

• Emily Lakdawalla: Amazing Chang 'e Descent Video
• Emily Lakdawalla: Curiosity Results at AGU: Gale Craters Rocks are Old
• Europa Beckons-Society Calls for a New Mission of Exploration
• Casey Dreier: Top NASA Scientists Grapple With Budget Cuts
• Video: "Hi" to Juno in Morse Code

Trivia Contest

This week's prize is the 2014 Year In Space Wall Calendar!

This week's question:
What is the only planet in the solar system besides Earth to have had a successful soft lander before it had a successful orbiter?

To submit your answer:
Complete the contest entry form at http:planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Monday, December 23, at 2pm Pacific Time.  Be sure to include your name, mailing address and shirt size.

Last week's question:
What mass of lunar regolith did Apollo 17 return to Earth?

Answer:
The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:
What does ISON, as in Comet ISON, stand for?

Answer:
The Russian-led International Scientific Optical Network