Mars

Mars rover data indicates ancient megafloods across Gale Crater

24 November 2020 Astronomy Now

Stratigraphy in Gale Crater on Mars indicates the effects of megafloods in the distant past, most likely caused by the heat released in a major impact.

Japan’s MMX Mars probe will carry 8K “Super Hi-Vision Camera”

11 September 2020 Astronomy Now

Japan’s planned Martian Moons eXploration mission will carry an ultra-high resolution 8K camera system to the red planet.

As three probes head for Mars, Curiosity nears eighth anniversary on red planet

4 August 2020 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Curiosity rover, nearing its eighth anniversary on Mars, will welcome U.S. and Chinese rovers next February, along with an orbiter from the United Arab Emirates. They will have their work cut out for them matching Curiosity’s achievements.

Sub-glacial melting, not flowing rivers, may explain martian channels

3 August 2020 Astronomy Now

Channels seen as evidence for flowing rivers on ancient Mars may have been carved by subglacial meltwater, new research concludes.

Watch live as NASA launches the Perseverance Mars rover

30 July 2020 Stephen Clark

Watch live as the countdown ticks toward the launch of an Atlas 5 rocket Thursday from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The two-hour launch window opens at 12:50 p.m. BST (1150 GMT).

Two Mars missions launched, one more – Perseverance – to go

24 July 2020 Astronomy Now

With UAE and Chinese Mars probes now on their way to the red planet, all eyes are on NASA’s Perseverance.

China launches robotic mission to orbit, land, and drive on Mars

23 July 2020 Stephen Clark

A heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket propelled China’s first Mars landing mission toward the Red Planet on Thursday after launching from a seaside spaceport on Hainan Island, the second of three international Mars probes expected to depart planet Earth this month.