Mars – Page 11 – Astronomy Now

Hubble captures new views of Mars and Saturn near opposition

26 July 2018 Astronomy Now

The Hubble Space Telescope captured stunning new views of Mars and Saturn as the planets neared opposition, lined up with Earth and the Sun. Mars remains obscured by a global dust storm.

Mars Express finds evidence of liquid water under Martian pole

25 July 2018 Astronomy Now

ESA’s Mars Express satellite, using ground-penetrating radar, has detected what appears to be a pool of liquid water below the red planet’s south polar region, a potentially habitable environment.

Now you see it, now you don’t; before and after a global dust storm

20 July 2018 William Harwood

Images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter provide dramatic before-and-after shots of Mars showing the impact of a global dust storm that has obscured the surface.

See the Moon join a midnight planetary parade from 21–28 July

19 July 2018 Ade Ashford

If clear skies persist, observers in the UK can view four naked-eye planets between now and the end of the month. Brightest planet Venus is visible low in the west some 45 minutes after sunset, while the waxing Moon is your celestial pointer to Jupiter, Saturn and Mars between 21 and 28 July at midnight.

View the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century on 27 July

12 July 2018 Ade Ashford

Friday, 27 July sees the second total lunar eclipse of 2018, which also happens to be the longest of the 21st century. Observers in Antarctica, Australasia, Russia, Asia, Africa, Scandanavia, Europe, Central and Eastern South America will see the event. The Moon rises at mid-eclipse as seen from the British Isles, some 6 degrees north of Mars at opposition.

Martian dust storm makes presence known in Gale Crater

22 June 2018 Astronomy Now

The global dust storm now blanketing Mars that has at least temporarily sidelined the solar-powered Opportunity rover also is dimming the sky above Gale Crater where the Curiosity rover is hard at work

Explosive volcanoes on Mars explain mysterious rock formation

20 June 2018 Astronomy Now

A huge deposit of porous rock straddling the Martian equator likely formed as a result of explosive volcanoes erupting three billion years ago that were powered by climate-changing volatile gases trapped in the red planet’s interior

NASA managers hopeful Opportunity will survive its trial by dust

13 June 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA managers are optimistic the agency’s Opportunity Mars rover will survive a huge dust storm that is preventing sunlight from recharging the robot’s solar arrays, knocking it out of contact with Earth.

A meteoroid impact on Mars triggers a dusty avalanche

12 June 2018 Astronomy Now

A bang and a whoosh – how researchers describe the recent impact of a small meteoroid on the side of a martian hill and a long avalanche of dark, dry dust that stretches more than a kilometre (0.6 mile) down the slope.

Curiosity rover finds more evidence of Martian habitability

8 June 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has detected a wide range of organic compounds on the red planet along with signs of seasonal variations in background methane levels, a possible indicator of biological activity.