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Planet Mars: Shapes & Spots on a Polar Sand Dune | NASA MRO
This HiRISE image shows numerous dark shapes and bright spots on a sand dune in the Northern polar regions of Mars. The bright spots are carbon dioxide frost. On Mars, the main atmospheric component is carbon dioxide. This circulates seasonally between the atmosphere and the polar regions. One of the reasons that permit this process is the fact that temperatures on Mars are much colder than on Earth. This allows carbon dioxide frost to condense on the surface in winter.
When spring comes however, the surface heats up and the carbon dioxide frost eventually sublimates (turns directly from the solid to the vapor state), and forms jets of carbon dioxide mixed with dust, leading to the formation of the dark features we see in the image.
Such processes occur seasonally on Mars, and therefore are continuously being monitored by the HiRISE scientists to assess the differences from one year to the next.
This enhanced color images is 1 km across.
HiRISE, or the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, is a powerful camera that takes pictures covering vast areas of Martian terrain while being able to see features as small as a kitchen table.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a spacecraft designed to study the geology and climate of Mars, to provide reconnaissance of future landing sites, and to relay data from surface missions back to Earth. It was launched on August 12, 2005, and reached Mars on March 10, 2006.
The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE. It was built by BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
Chinese Scientists Discover "Space Chorus" Far from Planet Earth
An international research team led by Chinese scientists from Beihang University has discovered chorus waves more than 160,000 km away from Earth—a space phenomena previously believed to occur only near Earth's dipole magnetic field regions, according to a study paper recently published in the scientific journal Nature.
The scientists observed chorus waves with frequencies below 100 Hz. When they converted the chorus waves into audio output, they obtained a piece of "space chorus" that human can hear. The scientists described the sound like "the chirping of birds".
"The space chorus is a kind of low-frequency electromagnetic waves found in space, with frequencies ranging from 100 Hz to several thousand Hz. Its frequency spectrum resembles the chorus of bird vocalizations we usually hear on Earth, and that's why we call it chorus," said Cao Jinbin, dean of the School of Space and Environment, Beihang University.
The Earth's magnetic field extends into space. When charged particles in the cosmos pass the magnetic field, they can excite chorus waves, or the electromagnetic waves with frequency characteristic similar to birdsongs in the morning.
As one of the most intense electromagnetic fluctuations in space, chorus waves have been at the forefront of space physics research. It was widely believed that they only occur near Earth's dipole magnetic field regions.
"Over the past seven decades, it was widely accepted that the wave exists only in near-Earth space, in the Earth's dipole magnetic field regions near the geosynchronous orbit. No one had ever considered the possibility that the wave could exist at a greater distance," said Liu Chengming, associate professor of the School of Space and Environment.
The team, which consists of researchers from China, the United States and Sweden, has analyzed vast amounts of data collected by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, a solar-terrestrial probe mission.
Chorus waves play a crucial role in understanding fundamental questions in space and have wide practical implications. They are key to the acceleration of high-energy electrons in Earth's radiation belts and the generation of pulsating auroras in the polar regions. They can also influence space weather changes, endangering the stable operation of spacecraft and the health of astronauts.
These findings provide essential theoretical support for the precise modeling and forecasting of space weather, according to the study.
Planet Mars: Shapes & Spots on a Polar Sand Dune | NASA MRO
This HiRISE image shows numerous dark shapes and bright spots on a sand dune in the Northern polar regions of Mars. The bright spots are carbon dioxide frost. On Mars, the main atmospheric component is carbon dioxide. This circulates seasonally between the atmosphere and the polar regions. One of the reasons that permit this process is the fact that temperatures on Mars are much colder than on Earth. This allows carbon dioxide frost to condense on the surface in winter.
When spring comes however, the surface heats up and the carbon dioxide frost eventually sublimates (turns directly from the solid to the vapor state), and forms jets of carbon dioxide mixed with dust, leading to the formation of the dark features we see in the image.
Such processes occur seasonally on Mars, and therefore are continuously being monitored by the HiRISE scientists to assess the differences from one year to the next.
This enhanced color images is 1 km across.
HiRISE, or the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, is a powerful camera that takes pictures covering vast areas of Martian terrain while being able to see features as small as a kitchen table.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a spacecraft designed to study the geology and climate of Mars, to provide reconnaissance of future landing sites, and to relay data from surface missions back to Earth. It was launched on August 12, 2005, and reached Mars on March 10, 2006.
The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE. It was built by BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
Here are examples of skywatching highlights for the northern hemisphere in February 2025:
Venus blazes at its brightest in the early evening, despite being only a slim crescent through the telescope eyepiece. Mars and Jupiter to rule the night sky after Venus sets, amid the menagerie of bright winter stars in Orion, Taurus, and Gemini. And enhance your astronomy IQ by knowing the difference between a conjunction and an appulse.
0:00 Intro
0:13 Moon & planets
0:41 Appulses
1:39 Venus at maximum
2:51 February Moon phases
Appulse is the least apparent distance between one celestial object and another, as seen from a third body during a given period. Appulse is seen in the apparent motion typical of two planets together in the sky, or of the Moon to a star or planet while the Moon orbits Earth, as seen from Earth. An appulse is an apparent phenomenon caused by perspective only; the two objects involved are not near in physical space.
An appulse is related to a conjunction, but the definitions differ in detail. While an appulse occurs when the apparent separation between two bodies is at its minimum, a conjunction occurs at the moment when the two bodies have the same right ascension or ecliptic longitude. In general, the precise time of an appulse will be different from that of a conjunction. [Wikipedia]
Photographer Thomas Spence: "The aurora are giving us a nice little display tonight with some pillars and reds. It's a cold night in Superior National Forest near Tofte, Minnesota. 8 degrees and windy but clear and beautiful."
The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, occurs in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere, but they typically originate with activity on the Sun. Occasionally, during explosions called coronal mass ejections, the Sun releases charged particles that speed across the solar system.
Auroras are produced when the Earth's magnetosphere is sufficiently disturbed by the solar wind that the trajectories of charged particles in solar wind and magnetospheric plasma, mainly in the form of electrons and protons, precipitate them into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere) due to Earth's magnetic field, where their energy is lost. The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emits light of varying color and complexity. [Wikipedia]
Solid Colored Aurora
Green is common at the upper latitudes, while red is rare. On the other hand, aurora viewed from lower latitudes tend to be red.
Element Emission Colors
Oxygen: The big player in the aurora is oxygen. Oxygen is responsible for the vivid green (wavelength of 557.7 nm) and also for a deep brownish-red (wavelength of 630.0 nm). Pure green and greenish-yellow aurorae result from the excitation of oxygen.
Nitrogen: Nitrogen emits blue (multiple wavelengths) and red light.
Other Gases: Other gases in the atmosphere become excited and emit light, although the wavelengths may be outside of the range of human vision or else too faint to see. Hydrogen and helium, for example, emit blue and purple. Although our eyes cannot see all of these colors, photographic film and digital cameras often record a broader range of hues.
Firefly Aerospace: "I spy with my little lander, a Moon in the distance. Check out Blue Ghost's amazing view of Earth eclipsing the Moon as the lander travels on orbit. Our GhostRiders can't wait to share more postcard worthy moments as we continue on our roadtrip."
The Blue Ghost lander is currently on its 45-day journey to the Moon. Blue Ghost is seeking to land in Mare Crisium to deliver ten NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon. They will perform numerous science and technology demonstrations, including lunar subsurface drilling, sample collection, and X-ray imaging of Earth’s magnetic field to advance research for future human missions on the Moon and provide insights into how space weather impacts the planet. Mare Crisium is a lunar mare located in the Moon's Crisium basin, just northeast of Mare Tranquillitatis. It was formed by the flooding of basaltic lava that filled an ancient asteroid impact.
IC 2944, also known as the Lambda Centauri Nebula or the λ Centauri Nebula, is an open cluster with an associated emission nebula found in the constellation Centaurus, near the star λ Centauri.
Distance:6,500 light years
Astrophotgrapher Ian Inverarity: ". . . a 2 panel mosaic shot over 6 nights (some half ruined by clouds!). Takahashi FSQ106N telescope on a Warp Astron WD-20 EQ mount, PHD2 guiding, controlled by NINA, processing with APP and PS. Mostly hot and windy nights! Over 33 hours of data."
Image Credit: Ian Inverarity Release Date: Jan. 31, 2025
Williams & Wilmore on Spacewalk: EVA 274 | International Space Station
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams works outside the International Space Station during a five-hour and 26-minute spacewalk to remove and stow a radio frequency group antenna assembly. The orbital outpost was soaring 260 miles above Kazakhstan at the time of this photograph.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams works outside the International Space Station during a five-hour and 26-minute spacewalk to remove and stow a radio frequency group antenna assembly. In the left foreground, is the latching end effector of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The orbital outpost was soaring 258 miles above the Pacific Ocean near the coast of Mexico at the time of this photograph.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams seemingly hangs upside down while attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm's latching end effector during a five-hour and 26 minute spacewalk to remove and stow a radio frequency group antenna assembly. The orbital outpost was soaring 260 miles above Russia near the Sea of Azov at the time of this photograph.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams is attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm's latching end effector while being maneuvered to her worksite 264 miles above the South Pacific Ocean. Williams removed and stowed a radio frequency group antenna assembly during the five-hour and 26-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams works outside the International Space Station during a five-hour and 26-minute spacewalk to remove and stow a radio frequency group antenna assembly. In the left foreground, is the latching end effector of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The orbital outpost was soaring 267 miles above New Zealand at the time of this photograph.
Two spacewalkers, Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore (upper left) and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams (lower right), both NASA astronauts, work outside the International Space Station during a five-hour and 26-minute spacewalk to remove radio communciations hardware and swab for microorganisms.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore concluded their spacewalk at 1:09 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) Jan. 30, 2025. It was the ninth spacewalk for Williams and the fifth for Wilmore, and it was the 274th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. Williams surpassed former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson’s record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut. Williams now has 62 hours, 6 minutes of total spacewalk time, fourth on NASA’s all-time list.
Williams and Wilmore completed their primary objectives, including removing a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station’s truss and collecting samples of surface material for analysis from the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock.
Station Commander: Suni Williams Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Aleksandr Gorbunov NASA Flight Engineers: Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nick Hague
An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.
Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) Capture Date: Jan. 30, 2025
Shenzhou-19 Crew Commander Reflects on Mission Progress | China Space Station
Chinese astronaut and commander of the Shenzhou-19 space mission, Cai Xuzhe, shared his experience of returning to the Tiangong Space Station while delivering a mid-mission progress review.
China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft on October 30 last year, sending three astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze, to the orbiting space station for a six-month mission.
Cai first joined the journey into space as a crew member of the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022. He was honored with the title "Heroic Astronaut" for his service and accomplishments during that mission.
As the crew complete the first half of their space mission on Thursday, Cai said it has been heartwarming to return to the space home.
"After two years, I returned to the Chinese space station. It felt like returning to a familiar home, comforting and deeply heartwarming. In the past three months, we have executed the in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 astronauts, and carried out the scheduled maintenance, daily operations, and health management protocols of the space station platform as planned. In addition, we have completed two EVAs, and carried out multiple drills such as full-system stress emergency response simulations and medical rescue operations training. These exercises have significantly sharpened our ability to handle contingencies, enabling safer and more efficient mission execution," Cai said.
"During the in-orbit period, with the support of ground personnel, we completed medical cytology experiments represented by advanced research on human brain organoids, and launched a new round of material extravehicular exposure experiments. Our crew also routinely replaced related components to ensure the seamless progress of the experiments," Cai said.
"At present, the various space science experiments undertaken by our crew are progressing steadily. According to the plan, we will focus on space science research and technology experiments in the fields of space life sciences, basic physics of microgravity, space material science, aerospace medicine, and next-generation aerospace technologies. Both crew and ground teams will ensure close coordination and meticulous mission execution to guarantee the complete success of our endeavors," Cai said.
"Happy Anniversary!" Crawler-Transporters Reach 60 Years | NASA Kennedy
The crawler-transporters achieved first movement in 1965 and for the past six decades, they have moved rockets from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad. From Apollo to space shuttle to Artemis, these behemoth vehicles hold an important part in human spaceflight history.
The mobile launcher serves as the primary interface between the ground launch systems, SLS rocket, and Orion spacecraft that will launch the SLS Block 1B rocket, with its enhanced upper stage, to the Moon, allowing the agency to send astronauts and heavier cargo into lunar orbit than its predecessor, SLS Block 1.
"With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface and establish long-term exploration for scientific discovery and to prepare for human missions to Mars."
NASA's Space to Ground: "A Historic Spacewalk" | Week of Jan. 31, 2025
NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore concluded their spacewalk at 1:09 p.m. EST Jan. 30, 2025. It was the ninth spacewalk for Williams and the fifth for Wilmore, and it was the 274th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. Williams surpassed former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson’s record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut. Williams now has 62 hours, 6 minutes of total spacewalk time, fourth on NASA’s all-time list.
Williams and Wilmore completed their primary objectives, including removing a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station’s truss and collecting samples of surface material for analysis from the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock.
NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Solid Rocket Booster Stacking | NASA Kennedy
Engineers and technicians with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team lifted the left center segment, bearing NASA’s historic “worm” logo, of the Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket boosters (SRBs) for the Artemis II Moon Mission into High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This is the seventh of ten motor segments stacked on the Mobile Launcher 1 by the EGS team.
These boosters will help support the remaining rocket components and the Orion spacecraft during final assembly of the Artemis II Moon rocket. They will provide more than 75 percent of the total Space Launch System (SLS) thrust during liftoff from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B.
The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew under the Artemis campaign. It will launch no earlier than April 2026. NASA's Orion spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back for the Artemis II test flight.
Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost Moon Mission Update: "We're Still in Earth Orbit!"
This Week 2 mission update brings a "lesson" in orbital mechanics and thermal dynamics. Our Ghost Riders break down why the scenic route is beneficial as Blue Ghost travels to the Moon!
The Blue Ghost lander is seeking to land in Mare Crisium to deliver ten NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon. They will perform numerous science and technology demonstrations, including lunar subsurface drilling, sample collection, and X-ray imaging of Earth’s magnetic field to advance research for future human missions on the Moon and provide insights into how space weather impacts the planet. Mare Crisium is a lunar mare located in the Moon's Crisium basin, just northeast of Mare Tranquillitatis. It was formed by the flooding of basaltic lava that filled an ancient asteroid impact.
NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Rocket Stacking: SRBs | Kennedy Space Center
Engineers and technicians with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program prepare to lift the left center center booster segment shown with the iconic NASA “worm” insignia for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. The booster segment is shown attached to a lifting beam ahead of integration onto the mobile launcher.
Engineers and technicians with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program transfer the right center segment with the NASA worm insignia to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. The booster segment is shown attached to a lifting beam ahead of integration onto the mobile launcher.
Inside High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians with the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems use a crane to lower the left center center booster segment for the NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket onto the left aft center segment atop the mobile launcher on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. The NASA “worm” insignia can be seen on both the center center booster segments.
Engineers and technicians with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program work on stacking the two Artemis II Moon solid rocket boosters (SRBs), featuring the NASA worm insignia, at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) within NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. These boosters will help support the remaining rocket components and the Orion spacecraft during final assembly of the Artemis II Moon rocket. They will provide more than 75 percent of the total Space Launch System (SLS) thrust during liftoff from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B.
The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew under the Artemis campaign. It will launch no earlier than April 2026. NASA's Orion spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back for the Artemis II test flight.
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