Astronomy
The study of the universe and space, including planets, the solar system and comets
Slopes, Streaks and Flows
Dark streaks occur on slopes on both the Moon and Mars, although interpretations about their origins may differ. The Moon offers us some insight into how these features can form on all of the terrestrial planets.
November 17, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
In the Museum: The People’s Observatory
Bringing telescopes where the people are.
November 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
A Universe Throttling Up
Astrophysicist Adam Riess talks about his Nobel-winning discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating.
November 01, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Ronald Greeley: A Gentleman and a Scholar
Some scientists are both great researchers and fine human beings. Ron Greeley was one of them.
October 29, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Replicators Have Arrived
Three-dimensional printing technology can be used in conjunction with the material and energy resources of the Moon to build new space faring capabilities.
October 24, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
The Art in Science
Oscar Wilde once noted that aestheticism is the search for the secret of life. So what better place to turn the lens of aestheticism than images of our universe?
October 11, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
It’s a gas, man!
Newly recognized "hollows" on the planet Mercury help to inform us about the origin, history and processes associated with some unusual landforms on the Moon.
October 08, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
“Smithsonian’s Stars” at the Museum
Volcanic activity on the moon, traveling to asteroids, and crashing galaxies are a few of the topics covered in free lectures at the National Air & Space Museum.
October 05, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Brave Archivist Rifles Through Clinton’s Stuff, Rewarded
Among the list of things one expects to find while sifting through former President Bill Clinton's stuff, a lost moon rock might be low on the list.
September 23, 2011 |
By Heather Goss
Let’s Argue About The Right Things
We seem to be in one of those periods in which basic reasons for doing what we do as a nation are called into question.
September 17, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Destination: Moon or Asteroid? Part III: Resource Utilization Considerations
Part III: Resource Utilization Considerations In Part I and Part II of this series, I examined some of the operational and scientific issues associated with a human mission to a near Earth asteroid (NEO) and contrasted them with the simpler operations and greater scientific return of a mission to the Moon. To continue the discussion [...]
September 02, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Destination: Moon or Asteroid? Part II: Scientific Considerations
Part II: Scientific Considerations In my last post, I examined some of the operational considerations associated with a human mission to a near Earth asteroid and how it contrasted with the simpler, easier operations of lunar return. Here, I want to consider what we might do at this destination by focusing on the scientific activities [...]
September 01, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Destination: Moon or Asteroid? Part I: Operational Considerations
Part I: Operational Considerations The current controversy over the direction of our national space program has many dimensions but most of the discourse has focused on the means (government vs. commercial launch vehicles) not the ends (destinations and activities). Near-Earth objects (NEO, i.e., asteroids) became the next destination for human exploration as an alternative to [...]
August 31, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Splat! Two Moons over Miami?
A recent paper suggests that early in the history of the Solar System, two sub-moons collided to create Earth’s present-day Moon. Several people have asked for my opinion on this new concept, so I will examine how this result was obtained, along with some general remarks on the nature of modern scientific research. Over 25 [...]
August 18, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Exotic volcanoes on the Moon
The flood of new data from the Moon continues to enlighten and puzzle lunar scientists. Members of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera team have noticed an unusual landform on the far side of the Moon that was as unexpected as it might be significant. We’ve known for many years that early in its history, the [...]
August 03, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
As the Asteroid Turns
Scientists unveiled the first full closeup of the asteroid Vesta today. The picture, stitched together from frames taken by the Dawn spacecraft from a distance of 3,200 miles on July 24, shows mysterious parallel grooves around the asteroid’s middle, which may have formed when Vesta contracted, then expanded after a giant impact early in its [...]
August 01, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Visions Don’t Pass Away – A Tribute to John Marburger
Recently deceased John H. Marburger, former Science Advisor to President George W. Bush and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, had a long and distinguished career as a scientist, an administrator and public servant. I knew him through his advocacy and involvement in the development of the Vision for Space [...]
July 30, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Destination: Asteroid
After four years of spiraling out from Earth, the Dawn spacecraft closes in on its first target.
July 2011 |
By Tom Jones
Closer
The Dawn spacecraft continues to close in on Vesta, one of the last unexplored objects of appreciable size between here and Pluto. Dawn is expected to go into orbit around the asteroid on July 16. This is how Vesta looked in the navigation camera view as of June 20, when Dawn was 117,000 miles away. [...]
June 24, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
