A planet is in opposition when it is on one side of Earth directly opposite the Sun on the other side. As a result, it appears fully illuminated by the Sun. Opposition brings Saturn a mere 1,215 million kilometers (755 million miles) from Earth.
January through June are the best months to view Saturn this year. In late January, if you wait a few hours after sunset you'll be rewarded with better views through the telescope. Even the smallest telescope will reveal a golden orb surrounded by Saturn's amazing rings. You may even spot one or more of Saturn's moons orbiting the planet."
< p >
< a h r e f = " h t t p : / / c i c l o p s . o r g " > C a s s i n i I m a g i n g T e a m < / a >
< p >
F o r t h e l a t e s t m i s s i o n s t a t u s r e p o r t s , v i s i t
< a h r e f = " h t t p : / / s a t u r n . j p l . n a s a . g o v / h o m e / i n d e x . c f m " > C a s s i n i M i s s i o n S t a t u s < / a > w e b p a g e .
T h e s p e e d a n d l o c a t i o n o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t a l o n g i t s f l i g h t p a t h c a n b e v i e w e d o n t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / c a s s i n i / t o d a y / " > " W h e r e i s C a s s i n i N o w ? " < / a > w e b p a g e . < / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / d i m p a c t . j p g " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > D < / f o n t > < b > e e p I m p a c t - N o n e w n e w s s i n c e N o v e m b e r 2 8 , 2 0 0 5 -
S c i e n c e T e a m C o n t i n u e s D a t a A n a l y s i s < / b >
< p >
" I n t h e p a s t m o n t h , t h e s c i e n c e t e a m h a s c o n t i n u e d w i t h i t s d a t a a n a l y s i s o f D e e p I m p a c t ' s e n c o u n t e r w i t h c o m e t T e m p e l 1 . D e t a i l e d c o m p u t a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o c o n v e r t a p i c t u r e m a d e u p o f r a w d a t a n u m b e r s r e t u r n e d f r o m s p a c e i n t o a n i m a g e c o n t a i n i n g n u m b e r s o f p h y s i c a l m e a n i n g . T h i s p r o c e s s i s c a l l e d c a l i b r a t i o n . < p >
I t i s c a r r i e d o u t b y o b s e r v i n g s t a r s o f k n o w n l i g h t o u t p u t , o r r a d i a n c e , a n d s c a l i n g t h e v a l u e o f t h a t o u t p u t t o t h e k n o w n q u a n t i t y o f r a d i a t i o n p r o d u c e d b y t h e s t a r . T h i s i s l i k e s y n c h r o n i z i n g y o u r w a t c h , s o t h a t e v e r y o n e h a s t h e s a m e t i m e r e f e r e n c e . I n t h i s c a s e t h e r e f e r e n c e i s t o a s c a l e o f e n e r g y o u t p u t . W e h a v e u p d a t e d o u r c a l i b r a t i o n n u m b e r s u s i n g t h e m o s t r e c e n t d a t a t a k e n j u s t b e f o r e a n d a f t e r i m p a c t . W e h a v e m a d e i m p r o v e m e n t s i n s u b t r a c t i o n o f t h e b a c k g r o u n d s i g n a l t h a t e x i s t s i n e v e r y e l e c t r o n i c d e t e c t o r s o t h a t w e c a n a n a l y z e t h e s i g n a l f r o m t h e c o m e t a n d n o t t h e n o i s e f r o m t h e c a m e r a ' s d e t e c t o r . W i t h t h e k n o w n v a l u e o f t h e s t a r e x p r e s s e d i n u n i t s o f e n e r g y , w e t h e n d e t e r m i n e t h e e n e r g y r e l e a s e d f r o m t h e c o m e t . K e n K l a a s e n a n d o t h e r t e a m m e m b e r s h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g h a r d o n t h i s . "
< p >
F o r t h e l a t e s t m i s s i o n s t a t u s r e p o r t s , v i s i t < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . n a s a . g o v / d e e p i m p a c t " > h t t p : / / w w w . n a s a . g o v / d e e p i m p a c t < / a > a n d < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / d e e p i m p a c t . j p l . n a s a . g o v / " > h t t p : / / d e e p i m p a c t . j p l . n a s a . g o v / < / a > . < / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / NH_pluto_m.jpg " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > N< / f o n t > < b > ew Horizons - January 30, 2006 -
New Horizons Successfully Performs First Post-Launch Maneuvers < / b >
< p >
"NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has successfully carried out its first post-launch maneuvers, conducting two small thruster firings that slightly adjusted its path toward the outer solar system and the first close-up study of distant planet Pluto.
< p >
Carried out today and Jan. 28 by mission operators at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., the maneuvers refined the spacecraft's trajectory toward a gravity assist-flyby of Jupiter in February 2007. The gravity boost from Jupiter will put New Horizons on course for a close flyby of Pluto and its moons on July 14, 2015.
< p >
"Everything performed as planned," says New Horizons Project Manager Glen Fountain, of APL. "New Horizons has to fly through a precise aim point near Jupiter to get to Pluto on time and on target, and these maneuvers are putting us on the right path."
< p >
Conducted with a pair of hydrazine-fueled thrusters on the spacecraft's lower deck, the maneuvers Saturday and today lasted about five and 12 minutes, respectively, providing a total change in velocity of just under 18 meters per second (about 40 miles per hour). The spacecraft was nearly 11.9 million kilometers (7.4 million miles) from Earth when it completed today's maneuver at 2:12 p.m. EST.
< p >
New Horizons was launched Jan. 19 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. The powerful Atlas V, combined with a STAR 48 solid-fuel kick motor, sent the piano-sized 1,054-pound probe speeding from Earth at more than 36,000 miles per hour - the fastest spacecraft ever launched."
< p >
For more information on the New Horizons mission - the first mission to the ninth planet - visit the New Horizons home page: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ for more information about the mission. < / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / s t a r d u s t . j p g " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < b > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > S < / f o n t > t a r d u s t < / b > - January 25, 2006 -
Stardust Status Report< / b >
Dr. Peter Tsou
Stardust Deputy Principal Investigator
< p >
"Since the Sample Canister has been delivered to the STARDUST cleanroom at Johnson Space Center (JSC) on January 17th, the Preliminary Examination Team (PET) along with JSC Curatorial staff have been making good progress toward processing the returned samples. Everything has proceeded smoothly; in fact, we are ahead of our planned schedule on several fronts. The Principal Investigator, Deputy Principal Investigator and several subteam leads have worked 8:00 am until near midnight for the last two days. We have removed many aerogel fragments and found many particles in them; removed 7 pieces of aluminum foil and found very many small craters in them; removed several particles from the fragments and examined them by IR; microtomed several particles; removed two Wild 2 aerogel cells from the tray; and sliced one of the removed aerogel cell with the harmonic saw."
< p >
S t a r d u s t L P S C 2 0 0 4 A b s t r a c t s < b r >
" A b s t r a c t s o f t h e S t a r d u s t s c i e n c e r e s u l t s f r o m t h e C o m e t W i l d 2 e n c o u n t e r a r e n o w a v a i l a b l e h e r e ( A d o b e A c r o b a t r e a d e r r e q u i r e d ) : < A h r e f = " f t p : / / w w w . l p i . u s r a . e d u / p u b / o u t g o i n g / l p s c 2 0 0 4 / f u l l 0 7 . p d f " > f t p : / / w w w . l p i . u s r a . e d u / p u b / o u t g o i n g / l p s c 2 0 0 4 / f u l l 0 7 . p d f < / a > "
< p >
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e S t a r d u s t m i s s i o n - t h e f i r s t e v e r c o m e t s a m p l e r e t u r n m i s s i o n - p l e a s e v i s i t t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / s t a r d u s t . j p l . n a s a . g o v " > S t a r d u s t < / a > h o m e p a g e .
< / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / n a s a . j p g " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > P < / f o n t > < b > a s t , P r e s e n t , F u t u r e a n d P r o p o s e d J P L M i s s i o n s < / b > - < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / m i s s i o n s " > h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / m i s s i o n s < / a > < p >
V i s i t < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / m i s s i o n s / " > J P L ' s m i s s i o n
p a g e s < / a > f o r c u r r e n t s t a t u s . < / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< / t a b l e >
< p >
< a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a >
< h r >
< h 1 >
< i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / m a r s x . g i f " >
& n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ;
< a n a m e = " m a r s - m i s s i o n s " > M a r s M i s s i o n s < / a >
< / h 1 >
< t a b l e b o r d e r = 0 c e l l p a d d i n g = 2 0 c e l l s p a c i n g = 8 >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / m a r s g l o b a l s u r v e y o r . j p g " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < b > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > M < / f o n t > a r s G l o b a l S u r v e y o r - January 03, 2006 - MGS locates Spirit< / b >
< p >
"Shortly before Spirit's Martian anniversary, the Mars Orbiter Camera acquired an image centered on the rover's location at that time in the "Columbia Hills."
< p >
< b > M a r s G l o b a l S u r v e y o r I m a g e s < / b > - January 12-25, 2006
< p >
" T h e f o l l o w i n g n e w i m a g e s t a k e n b y t h e M a r s O r b i t e r C a m e r a ( M O C ) o n t h e M a r s G l o b a l S u r v e y o r s p a c e c r a f t a r e n o w a v a i l a b l e :
< u l >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/12/">Aeolis Yardangs (Released 12 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/13/">North Polar Layers (Released 13 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/14/">Becquerel's Layers (Released 14 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/15/">South Polar Terrain (Released 15 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/16/">Impact Crater (Released 16 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/17/">Mars at Ls 357 Degrees (Released 17 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/18/">Work of the Wind (Released 18 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/19/">South Polar Scene (Released 19 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/20/">Devil in Mendel (Released 20 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/21/">Cratered Surface (Released 21 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/22/">Southern Terrain (Released 22 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/23/">North Polar Dunes (Released 23 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/24/">Meridiani Planum Features Investigated by the Rover, Opportunity (Released 24 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/25/">Mars at Ls 357 Degrees (Released 25 January 2006)
< l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . m s s s . c o m / m a r s _ i m a g e s / m o c / i n d e x . h t m l " > A l l o f t h e M a r s G l o b a l S u r v e y o r i m a g e s a r e a r c h i v e d h e r e . < / a >
< p >
< / u l >
E v e r y s i x m o n t h s , a n e w s u i t e o f M G S M O C d a t a a r e a r c h i v e d w i t h t h e N A S A P l a n e t a r y D a t a S y s t e m ( < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / p d s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / " > P D S < / a > ) .
< p >
I n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t h o w t o s u b m i t r e q u e s t s i s o n l i n e a t t h e n e w M a r s O r b i t e r C a m e r a T a r g e t R e q u e s t S i t e , a t < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . m s s s . c o m / p l a n / i n t r o " > h t t p : / / w w w . m s s s . c o m / p l a n / i n t r o < / a > "
< p >
N e w l y - r e l e a s e d M O C i m a g e s c a n b e s e e n i n t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . m s s s . c o m / m o c _ g a l l e r y / " > M O C G a l l e r y < / a > , a w e b s i t e m a i n t a i n e d b y M a l i n S p a c e S c i e n c e S y s t e m s , t h e c o m p a n y t h a t b u i l t a n d o p e r a t e s M O C f o r t h e J e t P r o p u l s i o n L a b o r a t o r y a n d N A S A . < p >
M a r s G l o b a l S u r v e y o r c o m p l e t e d i t s e i g h t h y e a r o r b i t i n g t h e r e d p l a n e t . M G S r e a c h e d M a r s o n 1 2 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 7 . T h e f i r s t M O C i m a g e s w e r e o b t a i n e d o n 1 5 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 7 . < p >
V i s i t t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / a s t r o l e x . h t m l # M G S " > < i > M G S < / i > < / a > p a g e s a t
< a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / m g s / i n d e x . h t m l " > h t t p : / / m a r s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / m g s / i n d e x . h t m l < / a > .
T h e r e a r e o v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 i m a g e s o f M a r s f r o m t h e M G S , c h e c k o u t t h e n e w e s t
< a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / m g s / m s s s / c a m e r a / i m a g e s / " > M G S i m a g e s < / a >
o f t h e s u r f a c e o f M a r s .
< / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / m a r s - o d y s s e y . j p g " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < b > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > M < / f o n t > a r s O d y s s e y O r b i t e r - N o n e w n e w s s i n c e N o v e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 0 5 -
O d y s s e y C e l e b r a t e s T w o M a r s Y e a r s I n O r b i t A r o u n d t h e R e d P l a n e t ! < / b >
< p >
I c e B e n e a t h M a r s I s A s k i n g , " C a n Y o u H e a r M e N o w ? " - O c t 2 4 , 2 0 0 5 < p >
" W h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n d i s m i s s e d a s " j u s t s t a t i c " i n a r a d i o s i g n a l i s a c t u a l l y a n e c h o f r o m M a r s t h a t m i g h t r e f l e c t t h e s h a p e o f h i d d e n i c e a n d r o c k s t r u c t u r e s b e n e a t h t h e m a r t i a n s u r f a c e . "
< p > < b > M a r s O d y s s e y T H E M I S I m a g e s < / b > < b r >
T h e r m a l E m i s s i o n I m a g i n g S y s t e m ( T H E M I S ) w e b s i t e : < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / t h e m i s . a s u . e d u / " > h t t p : / / t h e m i s . a s u . e d u / < / a > < p >
January 16-27, 2006
< p >
T h e f o l l o w i n g n e w i m a g e s f r o m t h e M a r s O d y s s e y s p a c e c r a f t a r e n o w a v a i l a b l e :
< u l >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060116a">Becquerel Crater (Released 16 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060117a">Dust Slides (Released 17 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060118a">Ganges Landslide (Released 18 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060119a">Canyon Dust (Released 19 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060120a">Layered Fan (Released 20 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060123a">Channel (Released 23 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060124a">Holden Crater Delta (Released 24 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060125a">Blowouts (Released 25 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060126a">Crater Clouds (Released 26 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = "http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20060127a">Crater Landslide (Released 27 January 2006)< b r >
< l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / t h e m i s . l a . a s u . e d u / l a t e s t . h t m l " > A l l o f t h e T H E M I S i m a g e s a r e a r c h i v e d h e r e . < / a >
< / u l >
< p >
T h e O d y s s e y d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e t h r o u g h a n e w o n l i n e a c c e s s s y s t e m e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e P l a n e t a r y D a t a S y s t e m a t :
< a h r e f = " h t t p : / / s t a r b r i t e . j p l . n a s a . g o v / p d s / " >
h t t p : / / s t a r b r i t e . j p l . n a s a . g o v / p d s / < / a > "
< p >
V i s i t t h e
< a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / o d y s s e y / i n d e x . h t m l " > M a r s O d y s s e y M i s s i o n < / a > p a g e .
< / f o n t > < / t d >
< / t r >
< t r >
< t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / m e r - l o w - a n g l e . j p g " > < / t d >
< t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < b > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > M < / f o n t > a r s E x p l o r a t i o n R o v e r M i s s i o n ( S p i r i t a n d O p p o r t u n i t y ) < / b > - January 27, 2006 < / b > -
< p >
< b > S p i r i t S t a t u s : Spirit Nears 'Home Plate' < / b > - < i >sol 730-735, Jan 27, 2006< / i >
< p >
"Spirit continues to make progress toward "Home Plate," a conspicuous circular feature scientists hope to investigate before the Martian winter, in search of layered rock outcrops that may provide additional information about the geology of the "Columbia Hills." During the past week, the rover has driven nearly 100 meters (328 feet), and has still had time to do some targeted remote sensing. Spirit is currently just less than 170 meters (560 feet) from Home Plate.
During the past week, engineers noticed some anomalies in dynamic braking on two of the steering motors, similar to previous events on Spirit. Based on analysis and testing, they were able to continue the drive without incident." < p > < b > O p p o r t u n i t y S t a t u s : Opportunity Takes Microscopic Images, Collaborates with European Mars Mission< / b > - < i >sol 708-714, Jan 27, 2006< / i > < p > "Opportunity remains healthy following another busy week. The main activity of the week was taking microscopic images of a feature nicknamed "Lower Overgaard." The science team identified individual, high-priority targets of interest, nicknamed "Scotch," "Bourbon," and "Branchwater." After the microscopic imager successfully acquired images of "Scotch," one of the actuator motors on Opportunity's robotic arm (Joint 2, which controls elevation) stalled less than 1 milliradian from its final position. Engineers performed diagnostic activities on Joint 2 over the weekend and determined that the actuator appeared to function properly. Opportunity resumed work with the microscopic imager but was unsuccessful because of a stall on the Joint 1 actuator. Engineers increased the electrical resistance and Opportunity again began acquiring microscopic images.
This past week, Opportunity also supported coordinated observations with the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft, using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera, and also took images of a transit across the sun by Phobos. Science team members next plan to adjust the rover's position slightly to conduct microscopic analysis of another target area, nicknamed "Upper Overgaard." < p > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s o w e b . n a s . n a s a . g o v / l a n d i n g s i t e s / " > L a n d i n g s i t e s < / a > < p > V i s i t t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s r o v e r s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / h o m e / i n d e x . h t m l " > M a r s E x p l o r a t i o n R o v e r < a / > p a g e . < / f o n t > < / t d > < / t r > < t r > < t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / m r o - s p a c e . j p g " > < / t d > < t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < b > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > M < / f o n t > a r s R e c o n n a i s s a n c e O r b i t e r < / b > - N o n e w n e w s s i n c e N o v e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 0 5 - M a r s - B o u n d N A S A C r a f t T w e a k s C o u r s e , P a s s e s H a l f w a y P o i n t < / b > < p > " N A S A ' s M a r s R e c o n n a i s s a n c e O r b i t e r s u c c e s s f u l l y f i r e d s i x e n g i n e s f o r a b o u t 2 0 s e c o n d s t o d a y t o a d j u s t i t s f l i g h t p a t h i n a d v a n c e o f i t s M a r c h 1 0 , 2 0 0 6 , a r r i v a l a t t h e r e d p l a n e t . < p > S i n c e i t s A u g . 1 2 l a u n c h , t h e m u l t i p u r p o s e s p a c e c r a f t h a s c o v e r e d a b o u t 6 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e d i s t a n c e f o r i t s t r i p f r o m E a r t h t o M a r s . I t w i l l f l y a b o u t 4 0 - m i l l i o n k i l o m e t e r s ( 2 5 - m i l l i o n m i l e s ) f a r t h e r b e f o r e i t e n t e r s o r b i t a r o u n d M a r s . I t w i l l s p e n d h a l f a y e a r g r a d u a l l y a d j u s t i n g t h e s h a p e o f i t s o r b i t , t h e n b e g i n i t s s c i e n c e p h a s e . D u r i n g t h a t p h a s e , i t w i l l r e t u r n m o r e d a t a a b o u t M a r s t h a n a l l p r e v i o u s m i s s i o n s c o m b i n e d . T h e s p a c e c r a f t h a s a l r e a d y s e t a r e c o r d t r a n s m i s s i o n r a t e f o r a n i n t e r p l a n e t a r y m i s s i o n , s u c c e s s f u l l y r e t u r n i n g d a t a a t 6 m e g a b i t s p e r s e c o n d , f a s t e n o u g h t o f i l l a C D - R O M e v e r y 1 6 m i n u t e s . " < p > M o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e m i s s i o n i s a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e a t < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . n a s a . g o v / m r o " > h t t p : / / w w w . n a s a . g o v / m r o < / a > . < / f o n t > < / t d > < / t r > < t r > < t d v a l i g n = t o p a l i g n = c e n t e r w i d t h = 1 5 % > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / m a r s - 4 . j p g " > < / t d > < t d > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > < b > < f o n t s i z e = + 2 > M < / f o n t > a r s M i s s i o n s S t a t u s < / b > < p > N e w M a r s m i s s i o n s a r e b e i n g p l a n n e d t o i n c l u d e s e v e r a l n e w r o v e r a n d s a m p l e c o l l e c t i o n m i s s i o n s . C h e c k o u t t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s . j p l . n a s a . g o v / " > M a r s M i s s i o n s < / a > w e b p a g e a n d t h e < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m a r s p r o g r a m . j p l . n a s a . g o v / " > M a r s E x p l o r a t i o n < / a > p a g e . < / f o n t > < / t d > < / t r > < / t a b l e > < p > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < h 2 > < a n a m e = " s l i n k s " > L i n k s a n d O t h e r S p a c e N e w s < / a > < / h 2 > < h 5 > < i > ( I f y o u h a v e a l i n k y o u w o u l d l i k e t o r e c o m m e n d t o o u r r e a d e r s , p l e a s e f e e l f r e e t o s u b m i t i t . ) < / i > < / h 5 > < u l > < l i > < f o n t c o l o r = r e d > < b > * * N E W * * < / b > < / f o n t > & n b s p ; & n b s p ; < a h r e f = "http://www.distantsuns.com/ " > Distant Suns < / a > - Desktop Astronomy package for PCs .< b r > < l i > " < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . b i s q u e . c o m " > T h e S k y < / a > " A s t r o n o m y S o f t w a r e b y S o f t w a r e B i s q u e . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / h o m e . t - o n l i n e . d e / h o m e / h . u m l a n d / " > A S h o r t G u i d e t o C e l e s t i a l N a v i g a t i o n < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / a n t w r p . g s f c . n a s a . g o v / a p o d / a s t r o p i x . h t m l " > A s t r o n o m y P i c t u r e o f t h e D a y < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . c l o u d b a i t . c o m " > C l o u d b a i t O b s e r v a t o r y , G u f f e y C o l o r a d o < / a > - S u b m i t y o u r f i r e b a l l r e p o r t s h e r e . I n t e r e s t i n g , k n o w l e d g e a b l e s i t e . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / e n c k e . j p l . n a s a . g o v / " > C o m e t O b s e r v a t i o n H o m e P a g e < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . a s t r o . w i s c . e d u / ~ d o l a n / c o n s t e l l a t i o n s / c o n s t e l l a t i o n s . h t m l " > T h e C o n s t e l l a t i o n s a n d T h e i r S t a r s < / a > - G o o d s i t e f o r f i n d i n g o u t m o r e a b o u t t h e 8 8 c o n s t e l l a t i o n s a n d t h e i r a s s o c i a t e d s t a r s . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . d e n v e r a s t r o s o c i e t y . o r g " > D e n v e r A s t r o n o m i c a l S o c i e t y < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . e r i c s b l a c k s u n e c l i p s e . c o m " > E r i c ' s B l a c k S u n E c l i p s e w e b s i t e < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . g r o o v y a d v e n t u r e s . c o m " > G r o o v y A d v e n t u r e s < / a > - U n i q u e a d v e n t u r e s a n d v a c a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g a s t r o n o m y r e l a t e d v a c a t i o n s . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / a m b a s s a d o r / f r o n t . h t m l " > J P L S o l a r S y s t e m A m b a s s a d o r P r o g r a m < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / s o l a r - s y s t e m - e x p e r i e n c e / " > J P L S o l a r S y s t e m E x p e r i e n c e < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . m y s t a r s l i v e . c o m / " > M y S t a r s L i v e < / a > - I n t e r a c t i v e S t a r C h a r t < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / s c i e n c e . n a s a . g o v / " > N A S A S c i e n c e N e w s < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / n c a s t r o . o r g / " > N o r t h e r n C o l o r a d o A s t r o n o m i c a l S o c i e t y < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / p a u l d u n n . d y n i p . c o m / s o l a r s y s t e m / " > O u r S o l a r S y s t e m < / a > - E x c e l l e n t s i t e t o l e a r n a b o u t o u r s o l a r s y s t e m . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . s k y a n d s p a c e . c o m . a u / p u b l i c / h o m e . e h t m l " > S k y a n d S p a c e < / a > A s t r o n o m y f r o m D o w n U n d e r - T h e S o u t h e r n H e m i s p h e r e ' s f i r s t a s t r o n o m y a n d s p a c e m a g a z i n e . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / s p a c e . c o m " > S p a c e . c o m < / a > - I n t e r e s t i n g s p a c e a n d a s t r o n o m y a r t i c l e s . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . s p a c e . c o m / s p a c e w a t c h / s k y _ c a l e n d a r . h t m l " > S k y W a t c h C a l e n d a r < / a > a t S p a c e . c o m < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . s p a c e l i n k s . c o m / S p a c e C a r e e r s / ? m a i l " > S p a c e C a r e e r s < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / s p a c e f l i g h t n o w . c o m / " > S p a c e f l i g h t N o w < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . s p a c e w e a t h e r . c o m " > S p a c e W e a t h e r < / a > - C h e c k o u t w h a t t h e s u n i s d o i n g a s s e e n f r o m s p a c e . < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . i d c o m m . c o m / p e r s o n a l / n 0 v s e / " > T h e C o l o r a d o A M S A T N e t < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . n e w s - j o u r n a l o n l i n e . c o m / S p a c e . h t m " > T h e D a y t o n a B e a c h N e w s - J o u r n a l - S p a c e N e w s P a g e < / a > < b r > < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . t h e - s o l a r - s y s t e m . n e t " > T h e S o l a r S y s t e m i n P i c t u r e s < / a > a n d a < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . m o o n - p h a s e s . c o m / " > m a p o f t h e m o o n < / a > . I n t e r e s t i n g s i t e w i t h l o t s o f i m a g e s a n d e v e n q u i z z e s . G o o d e d u c a t i o n a l t o o l . < l i > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . u n i v e r s e t o d a y . c o m " > U n i v e r s e T o d a y < / a > < b r > < / u l > < p > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < h 2 > < a n a m e = " l e x " > A s t r o n o m i c a l L e x i c o n < / a > < / h 2 > < f o n t s i z e = + 1 > D e f i n i t i o n s o f < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / a s t r o l e x . h t m l " > a s t r o n o m i c a l t e r m s . < / a > M a n y o f t h e a s t r o n o m i c a l t e r m s u s e d i n t h i s n e w s l e t t e r a r e d e f i n e d h e r e . < p > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < h 2 > < a n a m e = " u t " > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / h o m e . a t t . n e t / ~ b f a 3 / G r a p h i c s / u t r o c k e t l o g o . j p g " > < / a > < / h 2 > < s c r i p t l a n g u a g e = " J a v a S c r i p t " s r c = " h t t p : / / w w w . u n i v e r s e t o d a y . c o m / h t m l / s y n d i c a t e / u t . j s ? 4 8 8 9 " > < / s c r i p t > < p > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < h 2 > < a n a m e = " r e f s " > A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s a n d R e f e r e n c e s < / a > < / h 2 > M u c h o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h i s n e w s l e t t e r i s f r o m < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . a s t r o n o m y . c o m / " > A s t r o n o m y & r e g ; M a g a z i n e < / a > ( K a l m b a c h P u b l i s h i n g ) , J P L m i s s i o n s t a t u s r e p o r t s , t h e I n t e r n e t , " M e t e o r S h o w e r s - A d e s c r i p t i v e C a t a l o g " b y G a r y W . K r o n k , S k y & T e l e s c o p e w e b p a g e s ( S & T ) , a n d o t h e r a s t r o n o m i c a l s o u r c e s t h a t I h a v e s t a s h e d o n m y b o o k s h e l v e s . < p > T h e a u t h o r w i l l a c c e p t a n y s u g g e s t i o n s , c o n s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m s , a n d c o r r e c t i o n s . P l e a s e f e e l f r e e t o s e n d m e a n y n e w l i n k s o r a r t i c l e s t o s h a r e a s w e l l . I w i l l t r y t o a c c o m m o d a t e a n y r e a s o n a b l e r e q u e s t s . P l e a s e f e e l f r e e t o s e n d q u e s t i o n s , c o m m e n t s , c r i t i c i s m s , o r d o n a t i o n s t o t h e e m a i l a d d r e s s l i s t e d b e l o w . E n j o y ! < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < h 2 > < a n a m e = " s u b s " > S u b s c r i p t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n < / a > < / h 2 > < u l > < l i > - U s e r s m a y s u b s c r i b e t o t h e A s t r o n o m y N e w s l e t t e r E m a i l l i s t b y s e n d i n g e m a i l t o < a h r e f = " m a i l t o : a s t r o n e w s - r e q u e s t @ f r e e l i s t s . o r g ? s u b j e c t = s u b s c r i b e " > a s t r o n e w s - r e q u e s t @ f r e e l i s t s . o r g < / a > w i t h ' s u b s c r i b e ' i n t h e S u b j e c t f i e l d O R b y l o g g i n g i n t o t h e W e b i n t e r f a c e . < b r > < f o n t c o l o r = f f 0 0 0 0 > P l e a s e u s e a n e m a i l a d d r e s s t h a t w i l l a c c e p t e m a i l s f r o m t h e f r e e l i s t s s i t e . I f y o u d o n o t r e c e i v e y o u r c o n f i r m a t i o n a f t e r y o u h a v e s u b s c r i b e d , y o u r e m a i l p r o v i d e r m a y n o t a c c e p t e m a i l s f r o m f r e e l i s t s . I t i s b e s t t o s u b s c r i b e u s i n g a h o m e e m a i l a d d r e s s a s o p p o s e d t o a w o r k e m a i l a d d r e s s . < / f o n t > < p > < l i > - U s e r s c a n u n s u b s c r i b e f r o m t h e l i s t b y s e n d i n g e m a i l t o < a h r e f = " m a i l t o : a s t r o n e w s - r e q u e s t @ f r e e l i s t s . o r g ? s u b j e c t = u n s u b s c r i b e " > a s t r o n e w s - r e q u e s t @ f r e e l i s t s . o r g < / a > w i t h ' u n s u b s c r i b e ' i n t h e S u b j e c t f i e l d O R b y l o g g i n g i n t o t h e W e b i n t e r f a c e . < p > - E m a i l N e w s l e t t e r a r c h i v e s - < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . f r e e l i s t s . o r g / a r c h i v e s / a s t r o n e w s / " > h t t p : / / w w w . f r e e l i s t s . o r g / a r c h i v e s / a s t r o n e w s / < / a > < p > < l i > - F u l l d o c u m e n t a t i o n o f t h e o n l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s y s t e m i s a v a i l a b l e a t < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . f r e e l i s t s . o r g / h e l p / " > h t t p : / / w w w . f r e e l i s t s . o r g / h e l p / < / a > . W e e n c o u r a g e y o u t o g e t t h e m o s t o u t o f t h e w e b i n t e r f a c e s , a n d w e e n c o u r a g e s u b s c r i b e r s t o d o t h e s a m e . P l e a s e l e t y o u r l i s t m e m b e r s k n o w a b o u t t h e a d v a n t a g e s o f e x p l o r i n g t h e F r e e L i s t s W e b L o g i n . < / u l > < p > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < p > < ! - - B a r n e s a n d N o b l e b o o k s e a r c h - - > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / b a r n e s a n d n o b l e . b f a s t . c o m / b o o k l i n k / c l i c k ? s o u r c e i d = 2 2 6 8 0 8 & c a t e g o r y i d = s c i e n c e n " > < I M G A L T = " S c i e n c e a n d N a t u r e " S R C = " b n g r a p h i c s / b o o k s _ o n _ t o p i c . g i f " a l i g n = l e f t > < / A > < ! - - B a r n e s a n d N o b l e H o m e P a g e - - > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / b a r n e s a n d n o b l e . b f a s t . c o m / b o o k l i n k / c l i c k ? s o u r c e i d = 2 2 6 8 0 8 & c a t e g o r y i d = h o m e p a g e " > < i m g a l t = " B a r n e s a n d N o b l e . c o m H o m e P a g e " s r c = " b n g r a p h i c s / b n s e a r c h 3 . g i f " a l i g n = r i g h t > < / a > < b r c l e a r = a l l > < p > < h 4 > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < / h 4 > < h r > < ! - - S i g n O f f - - > < h 4 > K e e p l o o k i n g U P ! < b r > 7 3 f r o m K I & O s l a s h ; A R < b r > < / h 4 > < p > < a h r e f = " # n e w s l e t t e r " > R e t u r n t o < i > T o p < / i > < / a > < h r > < ! - - B E G I N L I N K E X C H A N G E C O D E - - > < c e n t e r > < i f r a m e s r c = " h t t p : / / l e a d e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / 1 4 / X 9 0 9 4 5 4 / s h o w i f r a m e ? " w i d t h = 4 6 8 h e i g h t = 6 0 m a r g i n w i d t h = 0 m a r g i n h e i g h t = 0 h s p a c e = 0 v s p a c e = 0 f r a m e b o r d e r = 0 s c r o l l i n g = n o > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / l e a d e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / 1 4 / X 9 0 9 4 5 4 / c l i c k l e " t a r g e t = " _ t o p " > < i m g w i d t h = 4 6 8 h e i g h t = 6 0 b o r d e r = 0 i s m a p i m g a l t = " " s r c = " h t t p : / / l e a d e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / 1 4 / X 9 0 9 4 5 4 / s h o w l e ? " > < / a > < / i f r a m e > < b r > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / l e a d e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / 1 4 / X 9 0 9 4 5 4 / c l i c k l o g o " t a r g e t = " _ t o p " > < i m g s r c = " h t t p : / / l e a d e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / 1 4 / X 9 0 9 4 5 4 / s h o w l o g o ? " w i d t h = 4 6 8 h e i g h t = 1 6 b o r d e r = 0 i s m a p i m g a l t = " " > < / a > < b r > < / c e n t e r > < ! - - E N D L I N K E X C H A N G E C O D E - - > < h r > < ! - - B E G I N F A S T C O U N T E R C O D E - - > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / m e m b e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / c g i - b i n / f c / f a s t c o u n t e r - l o g i n ? 7 7 6 6 9 5 " t a r g e t = " _ t o p " > < i m g b o r d e r = " 0 " s r c = " h t t p : / / f a s t c o u n t e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / f a s t c o u n t e r ? 7 7 6 6 9 5 + 1 5 5 3 3 9 7 " > < / a > < ! - - E N D F A S T C O U N T E R C O D E - - > < b r > < ! - - B E G I N F A S T C O U N T E R L I N K - - > < f o n t f a c e = " a r i a l " s i z e = " 1 " > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / f a s t c o u n t e r . l i n k e x c h a n g e . c o m / f c - j o i n " t a r g e t = " _ t o p " > F a s t C o u n t e r b y L i n k E x c h a n g e < / a > < / f o n t > < b r > < ! - - E N D F A S T C O U N T E R L I N K - - > < a d d r e s s > < b > H o m e o f K I & O s l a s h ; A R < / b > < b r > c r e a t e d b y B u r n e s s F . A n s e l l , I I I , < b r > < a h r e f = " m a i l t o : k i 0 a r @ y a h o o . c o m ? s u b j e c t = A s t r o n o m y N e w s l e t t e r C o m m e n t s " > E m a i l m e < / a > < b r > < A h r e f = " h t t p : / / i a a s . h o m e . a t t . n e t " > I A A S < / a > - C O O , D i r e c t o r o f A e r o s p a c e T e c h n o l o g i e s < b r > < a h r e f = " h t t p : / / w w w . j p l . n a s a . g o v / a m b a s s a d o r / f r o n t . h t m l " > J P L S o l a r S y s t e m A m b a s s a d o r < / a > , C o l o r a d o < b r > < t t > l a s t m o d i f i e d : January 3 1 , 2006 < / t t > < / a d d r e s s > < P > < t t > U R L : h t t p : / / b f a 3 . h o m e . a t t . n e t / a s t r o . h t m l < / t t > < / f o n t > < / b o d y > < / h t m l >