April 2021 – Page 2 – Astronomy Now

Like a proud parent, Perseverance Mars rover snaps a selfie with Ingenuity drone

7 April 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover snapped a selfie showing the robot geologist and the diminutive Ingenuity helicopter on the surface of the red planet as engineers ready the drone for an initial 90 second test flight.

Ingenuity drone released from Perseverance Mars rover in preparation for test flight

2 April 2021 Astronomy Now

The Ingenuity Mars drone has been released from the belly of the Perseverance rover and is now standing alone on the surface in preparation for a long-awaited “Wright brothers moment” in the red planet’s ultra-thin atmosphere.

RAS warns of growing light pollution as satellite fleets expand

1 April 2021 Astronomy Now

Growing fleets of satellites in low-Earth orbit threaten to increase overall skyglow, a new study concludes, raising the prospect of light pollution across large areas.

InSight lander detects two more sizeable marsquakes

1 April 2021 Astronomy Now

An ultra-sensitive seismometer deployed by the Mars InSight lander has detected two more sizable marsquakes, data helping scientists map the planet’s interior.