Rings and dings

The oceans of Enceladus may contain the building blocks of life. Analysis of data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which studied the Saturn system from 2004 to 2017, has found signs of organic compounds in icy particles ejected from the moon Enceladus into the planet’s E ring. The compounds detected include phosphorus, one of the ingredients for amino acids that has never been found in extraterrestrial oceans until now. Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye spoke with CNN about what this discovery means for the search for life. Pictured: Enceladus within the E ring. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.

China’s lunar exploration project is moving along with new international partners. Russia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization have all signed agreements to participate in the International Lunar Research Station, a project that aims to build a permanent lunar base in the 2030s with a series of stepping stone missions before the end of this decade.

NASA has selected five experiments for the 2024 total solar eclipse. The eclipse, which will be visible from sites across North America on April 8, 2024, will be a great opportunity for millions of people to marvel at a celestial phenomenon — and for scientists to study the Sun. NASA has announced funding for five projects led by researchers at different academic institutions, that will study the Sun and its influence on Earth with a variety of instruments — including ham radios and cameras aboard high-altitude research planes — and with the help of volunteers.

We’re alive at a great time for seeing Saturn's rings. The iconic structures around Saturn haven’t been around forever, and won’t last forever either. Richard Durisen, a Professor Emeritus of Astronomy from Indiana University Bloomington, and Paul Estrada, a Research Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, join this week’s Planetary Radio to discuss their research on the surprisingly recent formation of Saturn's rings and why they are disappearing over time. Pictured: A stunning composite of images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft in 2007. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.

Do you dream of being an asteroid hunter? Three winners of The Planetary Society’s Shoemaker NEO Grants, all of whom have made important contributions to asteroid research and planetary defense, share their tips for getting started. Plus, stay tuned for an announcement next week about the newest group of Shoemaker NEO grant winners.

Meet our new Zed Factor fellow! Recent University of Pittsburgh graduate Ariel Barreiro is joining The Planetary Society for a summer fellowship through the Zed Factor Fellowship program. She spoke with us in a recent interview about her thoughts about space, careers, and working with The Planetary Society.