There are currently 26 active NASA spacecraft that have left low Earth orbit (LEO) to explore the solar system and beyond. This site lists 28, but it includes the Hubble Space Telescope which is in LEO, and the Opportunity Mars…
Category: Solar System
Upcoming Events
Far Encounter Remember the New Horizons spacecraft and its flyby of Pluto in July 2015? That previously little-known world presented us with what should now be expected—the unexpected, and new puzzles to solve. The spacecraft is still operating, sending back…
A New Target
The New Horizons spacecraft has a new target. Launched in 2006, its initial velocity was the fastest ever for an interplanetary probe, and a gravity assist maneuver at Jupiter gave it an additional boost. Even so, it did not arrive…
One-Faced Moon
One of the most charming things about very young children is their insatiable curiosity, their desire to learn all about the world around them. This is best captured in what can sometimes seem to a frustrated parent to be a…
Mars or Bust!
Ready to go to Mars? Elon Musk is. So is Robert Zubrin. And so is NASA. But I wouldn’t book my flight quite yet. There are some significant challenges to be overcome before any human footprints are left on the…
Jupiter and the Fourth of July
There are currently 24 active spacecraft exploring the solar system beyond low Earth orbit, ranging from the relatively nearby–Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is mapping our moon–to the far-flung. Voyager 1 has actually left the solar system and is currently 135 astronomical…
Pluto Is Still Not a Planet
Sorry, Pluto lovers. A recently published paper by Jean-Luc Margot of UCLA (as a Star Trek Next Generation fan, I had to give the author’s full name) proposes a mathematically rigorous way to define a planet. Pluto, for all its…
Tagged with: Pluto
What’s Up?
Two short-lived sky phenomena are on tap in the near future, one taking place only tens of miles above us, the other millions of miles away. Geminid meteor shower: Each December we are treated to one of the better meteor…
Planet Lineup
These beautifully clear fall mornings we’ve been experiencing have offered a rare opportunity to see four of the five naked-eye planets all lined up for our viewing pleasure. This morning at 6:45 am EDT, this was the view on Lynchburg’s…
New Horizons Update
If you’ve been wondering why you haven’t seen any more images from the Pluto flyby lately, here is the reason: But there is exciting news from the New Horizons team! They have selected a tentative target among Kuiper Belt Objects…
Top