Author Archives: rburnham

Curiosity update: Until we meet again

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

Sols 2506-08, August 23, 2019, update by MSL scientist Michelle Minitti: Today was the final opportunity to actively command Curiosity before the Sun comes between us and Mars. Most of the instruments are safely stored for the solar conjunction break, … Continue reading →

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What’s solar conjunction and why does it matter?

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

The daily chatter between antennas here on Earth and those on NASA spacecraft at Mars is about to get much quieter for a few weeks. That’s because Mars and Earth will be on opposite sides of the Sun, a period … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Lava ridge on flank of Pavonis Mons

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 26, 2019. Today’s VIS image shows lava flows near the flank of Pavonis Mons. Pavonis Mons is one of the three large aligned Tharsis region volcanoes. At top is a fine example of a … Continue reading →

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Australian Outback as testbed for Mars

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

This week, scientists from NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 mission joined their counterparts from the joint European-Russian ExoMars mission in an expedition to the Australian Outback, one of the most remote, arid regions on the planet. Both teams came to hone … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Narrow troughs

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

Narrow troughs. What exactly are the nature of these thin, narrow troughs? They might may be part of a system of dikes that came from the same magma source that fed the whole area in Thaumasia Planum, just south of … Continue reading →

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InSight: ‘Rolling Stones Rock’ on Mars

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

For decades, the music of The Rolling Stones has had a global reach here on Earth. Now, the band’s influence extends all the way to Mars. The team behind NASA’s InSight lander has named a Martian rock after the band: … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Arsia Mons lava flows

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 23, 2019. Arsia Mons is the southernost of the large aligned Tharsis volcanoes. Flows originating at Arsia Mons cover a vast region. The flows in this VIS image are part of the SW flow … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Packing up for our journey behind the Sun

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

Sols 2504-05, August 22, 2019, update by MSL scientist Mariah Baker: The days leading up to a big trip can be hectic. There are preparations to be made, belongings to be packed, extra work to do in anticipation of being … Continue reading →

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Latest weather at Gale Crater and Elysium Planitia

Posted on August 22, 2019 by rburnham

Daily Elysium charts and data (temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure) here.

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HiRISE: Wonderful world of Arabia Terra

Posted on August 22, 2019 by rburnham

The wonderful world of Arabia Terra. It’s one of our favorite regions, not the least because of the incredible layered sedimentary rock but also for the composition of the bedrock. Arabia Terra might be one of the oldest regions on … Continue reading →

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