All posts by Freddie Holding
Weather and sky at night
On Nov 26 NASA will try to safely set a new spacecraft on Mars.
This is an illustration showing a simulated view of NASA’s InSight lander about to land on the surface of Mars. This view shows the underside of the spacecraft. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Parker Solar Probe Becomes Closest Spacecraft to Sun
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/system/news_items/main_images/739_sunapproachshort2.gif
Parker Solar Probe, shown in this animation, became the closest-ever spacecraft to the Sun on Oct. 29, 2018, when it passed within 26.55 million miles of the Sun’s surface. Credit: NASA/JHUAPL
Ephemeris Shortlisted for Toy Awards!
Spectacular Jupiter images
Wonderful pictures of Jupiter from the BBC Horizon programme broadcast last night (August 7) taken by Juno spacecraft mission.
Spectacular patterns of cyclones at Jupiter’s poles
The Red Planet will challenge even the hardiest souls among us!
Mars is no place for the faint-hearted. Arid, rocky, cold and apparently lifeless, the Red Planet offers few hospitalities. Fans of extreme sports can rejoice, however, for the Red Planet will challenge even the hardiest souls among us. Home to the largest volcano in the solar system, the deepest canyon and crazy weather and temperature patterns, Mars looms as the ultimate lonely planet destination
https://www.ephemeris-game.uk/the-red-planet-will-challenge-even-the-hardiest-souls-among-us/
Beautiful NASA Images of the planets.
THE SUN AND THE PLANETS
Photo: Illustration of the Sun and eight planets (International Astronomical Union)
It is relatively easy to spot five of the planets in the Solar System. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible with the naked eye.
Under ideal conditions Uranus is just barely visible to unaided viewers, but it is best to use binoculars or a telescope. You will definitely need magnification to see the eighth planet, Neptune.
Pluto lost its planet status in 2006 and is now considered to be a dwarf planet.
The discovery of hundreds of exoplanets orbiting other stars means our eight planets have plently of company in the Universe.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun_and_planets
First images from Cassini’s final dives over Saturn’s north pole
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
On 6 December, the Cassini spacecraft sent back the first photos since starting its closest orbits yet to Saturn’s rings.
This penultimate phase of Cassini’s mission, called the Ring-Grazing Orbits, started on 30 November and will send Cassini on 20 week-long trips soaring above Saturn’s northern hemisphere before gliding back down just outside the planet’s main rings.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2115486-first-images-from-cassinis-final-dives-over-saturns-north-pole/