Mars

Curiosity climbs its steepest slope so far

23 March 2020 Keith Cooper

The intrepid Curiosity rover has scaled its greatest challenge so far, a steep slope inclined at 31 degrees to the horizontal, leading to a cliff-top region known as Greenheugh Pediment.

ESA, Roscosmos delay launch of ExoMars 2020 lander to late 2022

12 March 2020 Astronomy Now

ESA and Roscosmos have delayed launch of the ExoMars 2020 lander and rover from July to late 2022 to resolve technical issues.

See the old Moon join a dawn planetary parade, 18–19 March

11 March 2020 Ade Ashford

If you’re an early riser in the British Isles, let the waning crescent Moon be your guide to three naked-eye planets – Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – at dawn on 18 and 19 March 2020. This celestial conjunction occurs in the constellation of Sagittarius where you can see all four Solar System bodies within the span of a fist at arm’s length. Look for attractive binocular conjunctions too.

InSight lander will try robotic elbow grease to help stalled heat probe

22 February 2020 Astronomy Now

With few options remaining, engineers will use the InSight Mars lander’s robot arm to help push a stalled heat probe below the surface.

Mars 2020 rover moved to Cape Canaveral for July launch preparations

14 February 2020 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Mars 2020 rover, designed to collect soil samples for eventual return to Earth, is now in Cape Canaveral for final launch preparations.

Don’t miss the Quadrantid meteor shower peak at UK dawn on 4 January 2020

23 December 2019 Ade Ashford

For an early astronomical treat to usher in the New Year, seek out the natural pyrotechnics of the rich Quadrantid meteor shower. Peak shooting star activity occurs within a four-hour window centred on a prediction of 8am GMT on 4 January 2020 – a time that favours UK skywatchers at astronomical dawn, or North American observers around local midnight.

See Mercury at its best meet Mars in the dawn sky

18 November 2019 Ade Ashford

Innermost planet Mercury puts on its best morning display of the year for Northern Hemisphere observers from late November to early December. Skywatchers in the British Isles should find a location offering an unobstructed view of the southeast horizon about 45 minutes before sunrise to get the best views, with the Red Planet and star Spica – the brightest in Virgo – also nearby.