February 2021 – Astronomy Now

First panorama from Perseverance Mars rover wows scientists

26 February 2021 Astronomy Now

The Perseverance Mars rover, getting a major post-landing software update, beams back a spectacular panorama of its Jezero Crater landing site.

Juno mission extended, will now study Jupiter’s moons and rings

26 February 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA”s Juno mission to Jupiter has been extended for multiple flybys of three Galilean moons and the giant planet’s faint rings.

Video provides thrilling bird’s eye view of Mars landing

22 February 2021 Astronomy Now

The Perseverance Mars rover’s thrilling descent to the floor of Jezero Crater was captured in stunning first-of-its-kind video.

Perseverance beams back first colour picture from the surface of Mars

19 February 2021 William Harwood

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover came through its nail-biting descent to the surface of Mars in excellent condition, beaming back dramatic photos that provide a taste of things to come.

Perseverance Mars rover lands on Mars, beams back dramatic photos

19 February 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars, the first step in a joint U.S.-European mission to bring samples back to Earth.

The case for, and against, the still-unseen Planet 9

16 February 2021 Astronomy Now

New research questions the need for a “Planet 9” to explain clustered outer solar system orbits; proponents beg to differ.

‘Farfarout’ confirmed to be really, seriously far out

12 February 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers confirm a dwarf planet nicknamed ‘Farfarout’ is, in fact, the most distant solar system body yet detected.

Imagining Perseverance rover’s destination as it once appeared

11 February 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Perseverance rover is on course to land on Mars next week. An artist’s impression shows its target – Jezero Crater – as it might have appeared in the distant past.

A surprising swarm of black holes found in nearby globular cluster

11 February 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers find signs of multiple stellar-mass black holes at the heart of a nearby globular cluster.

China’s Tianwen-1 joins the party at Mars with Perseverance on the way

10 February 2021 Astronomy Now

China’s Tianwen-1 joins UAE’s Hope probe in orbit around Mars while NASA’s Perseverance rover closes in for landing