Crescents in the Sky

© Iván Éder

The two faint crescents in this unique photograph from Budapest, Hungary are Venus and the Moon, just a few minutes before the closer and larger appearing Moon eclipsed the more distant Venus.

Dark Streaks on El Dorado

The Spirit rover has photographed interesting dark streaks appearing on the El Dorado sand dunes at the base of Husband Hill on Mars. Comparison of images from sols (days) 961 and 980 (Spirit is currently at sol 1003 of its still-continuing mission):


Sol 961
© NASA/JPL


Sol 980
© NASA/JPL

There is also an animated view, from sols 924-980, showing the development of the streaks.

Former Planet-Wide Ocean on Mars

Studies of the Martian soil by the two rovers on opposite sides of the planet have provided new evidence for a former planet-wide ocean or large lakes on Mars, although the water, as previously suggested from other studies, was probably quite acidic. Although life is known to exist and even thrive in similar places on Earth, whether it ever did in the Martian ocean is still unknown.

More information:

Scientific American

3-D Animation of 'Face on Mars'

© ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum), MOC (Malin Space Science Systems)

Following the new Cydonia images last month taken by Mars Express, a new animated version of the 3-D "face on Mars" has been released by ESA. As with the previous 3-D image however, the vertical relief is exaggerated, producing "peaks" or "horns" on the formation which in reality are much subtler in relief, if they are even there at all (not seen in any of the higher-resolution overhead photos taken previously by Mars Global Surveyor). In this sense, the image is again misleading, as it does not show the face exactly as it would look if flying over it, but rather a vertically-distorted view. While often done in 3-D image productions to enhance some features, the vertical exaggeration technique is not mentioned on the ESA web site, so most of the public and media will not be aware of it (who these articles and press releases are intended for, not scientists or imaging experts).

Spirit Rover's 1000th Day on Mars

© NASA/JPL/Cornell

The Spirit rover has now passed its 1,000th sol (Martian day) on Mars, and NASA has released the largest panoramic image yet taken to celebrate!

More information:

The Planetary Society
NewScientistSpace
MarsDaily
Space.com
Sky & Telescope

Active Volcano on Titan?

© NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

A brightening and growing bright spot on Titan may be evidence of an active volcano; if so, it would be the first found on this enigmatic moon.

It is also interesting to note that apparent collapsed slush volcanoes (with underground reservoirs of liquid water/ammonia welling up to the surface) found by Cassini may be warmer niches for possible microbes on this otherwise very cold world...

Decoding Mars's Cryptic Region

What are the "spots, spiders and fans" found by Mars Global Surveyor? Mars Express is helping to explain these features in the "cryptic region" of the Martian south pole.

Mars' Watery Past

New evidence from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey and Mars Express continues to indicate that water was once abundant on ancient Mars, both underground and on the surface. Just how much and how long it lasted are the still-unanswered questions.

Did Viking Landers Miss Finding Life on Mars?

A new study suggests that tests done by the Viking landers in the 1970s were not sensitive enough to detect smaller trace amounts of organics in the soil, or even microbes themselves, if they were there. When the same tests were repeated in the most arid Mars-like regions on Earth, they failed to find any sign of the organics or microbes that were already known to exist in those soils, even though they were teeming with life.

I remember when it was reported years ago the other studies which also found that Viking could easily have missed smaller trace amounts of organics in the soil (with some people assuming then that there are none at all). They could also have easily missed life itself it seems. Gilbert Levin has said for a long time that the tests were flawed, and few listened...

More information:

Space.com
NewScientistSpace
ScienceNOW
National Geographic
Discovery.com
PhysOrg.com
Cosmos

First MARCI and CTX Images from MRO

© NASA/JPL

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken the first images with the Mars Color Imager and Context Camera. Although not as high resolution as the HiRISE images previously posted, these cameras will work with HiRISE to provide a better global understanding of the planet.

In Saturn's Shadow

© NASA/JPL

A dramatic new view of Saturn from the Cassini spacecraft, backlit by the sun and revealing additional fainter rings.

Clouds Over Meridiani

© NASA/JPL

A stunning vista of wispy clouds over the flat desert plains of Meridiani on Mars, as photographed by the Opportunity rover after it arrived at Victoria Crater (looking in the opposite direction here). Beautiful desolation!

MRO Reveals 'Young and Old' Mars

© NASA/JPL

After having just started its studies, The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is already providing new insights into Mars' recent and ancient complex history involving water, clays and alternating climates, according to early results from its various science instruments. Those findings should be multiplied many times over after the primary science mission begins in early November.

More information:

NewScientistSpace
Space.com
Astrobiology Magazine

Bloated Planets

© Michael Carroll

It seems that three of the newest extrasolar planets found so far are "bloated" - large and bulging like other typical gas giant type planets (which these are), yet with much lower density than any other known planets, even lighter than cork.

More information:

www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4555
www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn10075-puffedup-planet-puzzles-astronomers.html

'Linear Pits' in Candor Chasma Wallrock

An interesting feature in the new image of Candor Chasma Wallrock from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (TRA_000862_1710), released October 5, 2006. Long straight line of small "pits" stretching diagonally across the slope. I've posted two cropped images from the original largest 47MB image (the wider view image, not the sub-image). The first one of the entire feature, the second a closer zoom of the left portion (click on images for full-size versions):


© NASA/JPL


© NASA/JPL

A lot of the pits seem to be roughly in pairs. Crater chain? Volcanic vents? Other? They must be very small as they are near the limits of resolution (26 cm/pixel with objects ~78 cm resolved). Perhaps a rolling or bouncing boulder, although the pits seemingly go diagonally across the slope, instead of straight down the slope.

Original images here. Alternatively, you can also zoom in to see the feature. Near top centre of image, just left of central "ridge" below the black border.

Hubble Confirms Nearest Known Extrasolar Planet

© NASA/ESA/G. Gacon

The nearest known extrasolar planet has been confirmed by the Hubble space telescope. The planet is a Jupiter-sized world orbiting the star Epsilon Eridani, only 10.5 light-years from Earth.

More information:

hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/32/text
www.spacedaily.com/reports/Hubble_Zeroes_In_On_Nearest_Known_Exoplanet_999.html
space.com/scienceastronomy/061009_nearest_exoplanet.html
skytonight.com/news/4313892.html
www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/749

MRO Photographs Opportunity from Orbit

© NASA/JPL

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken stunning new images of both Victoria Crater and the Opportunity rover which is currently examining the crater on the ground. Dwarfed by the 750 metre (2,600 foot) wide crater it is sitting beside, the rover is just a tiny speck. Yet, as with the other MRO images released so far, the level of detail seen is unprecedented, with even the shadow from the rover's camera mast and the wheel tracks behind the rover visible.


© NASA/JPL

More information:

hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/TRA/TRA_000873_1780
hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/TRA/TRA_000873_1780/opportunity.html
hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog/?p=43
marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20061006a.html
www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct06/mars.briefing.html
space.com/missionlaunches/061006_mro_opportunity_victoria.html

First 'Targeted Image' from CRISM

© NASA/JPL

The CRISM mineral-mapper on the Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter has taken its first "targeted image" of the Martian surface in Ius Chasma (part of the Valles Marineris canyon system).

Hubble Finds Extrasolar Planets Far Across the Galaxy

The Hubble space telescope has found 16 more extrasolar planets orbiting a variety of stars in the central region of the Milky Way. This is in addition to the 208 already found closer to home...

More information:

news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061004-new-planets.html
www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-38-06.html
www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn10227-hubble-spots-planets-whose-years-hurtle-by.html
www.space.com/scienceastronomy/061004_fast_planets.html
www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4568

NASA News Briefing: Opportunity at Victoria Crater

A NASA news briefing on October 6 at 8:00 am PT (11:00 am ET) will present stunning images from the Opportunity rover at Victoria Crater and discuss the future of both still-active rovers. The briefing will be carried live on NASA TV (cable channel and internet), so tune in!

Colour Panorama of Victoria Crater

© NASA/JPL

A wonderful colour panorama of Victoria Crater, as currently seen by the Opportunity rover, has been posted on Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). Steve Squyres has also referred to the view as "just breathtaking"...

First High-Resolution Photos from MRO

Ius Chasma, Valles Marineris.
© NASA/JPL

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft has returned the first images from its low-altitude orbit, the highest-resolution photos ever taken from Martian orbit, showing objects as small as 0.9 metres (3 feet) in size. As of October 2, eleven images have been released so far, covering a wide variety of terrain in various locations.


North polar layered deposits.
© NASA/JPL


Cerberus Fossae.
© NASA/JPL

More information:

hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog
space.com/missionlaunches/060929_mars_upclose.html
uanews.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/9/wa/SRStoryDetails?ArticleID=13175
www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn10206-mars-probe-returns-first-detailed-images.html