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The Planetary Report • January/February 1995
Europe Goes to the Moon
On the Cover: We indulge in a bit of whimsy with this photomontage of the Moon over Paris, symbolizing the European Space Agency's developing interest in mounting an ambitious program to explore Earth's satellite. The Moon was the first great goal of the United States and Russian space programs, but their exploratory interests drifted elsewhere in the solar system. Only the Japanese <i>Hiten</i> spacecraft and the <i>Clementine</i> technology demonstration project have investigated the Moon lately. ESA sees it as a target of opportunity that could establish the agency as a major space power.
Features
4 Back to the Future: SETI Before the Space Age: Steven Dick takes us on a historical tour of the hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence.
8 Taking the Next Step: The European Moon Program: R. M. Bonnet describes Europe's ambitious plans to explore the Moon.
12 The Mystery of Maxwell: Kari Magee asks where these massive mountains on Venus came from.
15 Veering Onto the Information Superhighway: Michael Haggerty tells you how to join us!
16 Assessing the Threat: Notes From the Chelyabinsk Asteroid Conference: Louis Friedman reports back on what transpired at this conference in the southern Urals.
Departments
3 Members' Dialogue Planetary protection, Goldin's vision for NASA, and Pluto.
17 World Watch Environmental impact of Cassini.
18 News & Reviews Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 at the AAS Meeting.
19 Society News Another upcoming rover test.
20 Q&A Why are the "great spots" on the gas giants all in their southern hemispheres?
The Planetary Report • January/February 1995
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