October 31, 2005
October 28, 2005
Large Dust Storm Close to Opportunity
A large new dust storm has emerged very close to the location of the Opportunity rover in Meridiani on Mars. I'm sure we will all be keeping our eyes on this one! The several "finger-like projections" are interesting. At the above link, select Mars for 'Object to Browse' and keep the date as 10/28/05.
More information here and here.
October 27, 2005
Canadian Weather Station Added to Phoenix Mars Mission
Canadian technology will be part of the Phoenix Mars Lander, scheduled to be launched in 2007!
October 25, 2005
Spelunking in the Solar System
Cave exploring on the moon and Mars may find suitable shelters for future human explorers or even evidence of extraterestrial life.
Ice Beneath Mars is Asking, 'Can You Hear Me Now?'
A previous routine communications test in 2003 for Mars Odyssey yields some other interesting, unexpected results.
Note: Thankfully, the communications team didn't ignore the "noise" from the original test (now thought to be genuine subsurface echoes) and the bi-static radar experiment is now looking for subsurface ice through this October, until just past Halloween.
October 24, 2005
Spitzer Finds More Organic Compounds in Deep Space
The Spitzer Space Telescope has found nitrogen-containing hydrocarbons, similar to those in chlorophyll, DNA and hemoglobin, and like other previously known organic compounds, they have been found to be abundant in deep space.
More information here.
MGS Images Opportunity at Erebus
As a good example of two different missions working in tandem, newly released images from Mars Global Surveyor show the Opportunity rover from orbit.
October 20, 2005
New Scientists Added to Mars Rover Team
With the continued longevity of both Martian rovers, NASA has added eight new researchers to the rover team. More great news for an already amazing mission!
October 19, 2005
'Mini-Craters' and 'Stains' in Meridiani
The Mars rovers have seen their share of odd and puzzling surface features since they landed nearly two years ago (!). Recently, Opportunity has come across "mini-craters" in some of the sand drifts / dunes in Meridiani Planum. This latest one was observed on sol 616 (October 18, 2005). A similar previous one was first seen here and a couple or so smaller ones also over the last few months as the rover made its way toward the large Erebus crater (where it currently is now).
In this shot, unusual circular "stains" can also be seen near some mini-craters; coincidental markings or are the two phenomena related? There is some debate as to whether the mini-craters are the result of recent meteoric debris impacts (would probably be very recent, at least geologically speaking, depending on the rate of current surface erosion) or some other process. Does their "fresh" appearance indicate that they are indeed very young features?
Image credit: NASA/JPL
October 17, 2005
Ringside with Dione
From Cassini, a beautiful view of Dione, with Saturn in the background.
Image credit: NASA/JPL
October 15, 2005
Dusty Comets
Observations of Comet Tempel 1 made by the Rosetta spacecraft after the Deep Impact collision indicate that comets may be "icy dirtballs," instead of "dirty snowballs" as previously believed.
Image credit: NASA/JPL
Mid-Latitude Glaciers on Mars?
A new report from the Geological Society of America provides evidence for mid-latitude glaciers on Mars far from the poles, indicating on-going climate shifts.
October 13, 2005
Plate Tectonics on Ancient Mars?
A new map of Mars' magnetic field from Mars Global Surveyor shows that the planet apparently had active plate tectonics similar to Earth's, earlier in it's history.
More information here.
October 12, 2005
Mars: Evidence for Water, Prospects for Life
Webcast on October 13, 2005. Should be a good one, so tune in!
Image credit: NASA/JPL
October 11, 2005
Titan's Odd Red Spot
A 300-mile wide "bright red spot" on Titan is apparently not a mountain, cloud or geologically active hot spot. So what is it?
October 3, 2005
Biggest Discoveries May Lie Ahead for Still-Ticking Mars Rovers
Long after their initial "90-day warranties," the two Martian rovers are still going strong almost two years later.
October 1, 2005
Welcome to The Meridiani Journal
My new blog on planetary exploration is now online. As this project is being started in October, 2005, please see the links listing for additional resources with information on news and updates prior to this date. With robotic probe missions currently active in both the inner and outer solar system (several in orbit around, and on, Mars), as well as the continuing discoveries of many new planets outside of our own solar system, this is an exciting time for planetary exploration!
Paul Anderson
