PASADENA, Calif. NASAs Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar
region of Mars
today to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its
likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the landers robotic
arm. It also sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making
the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars.
The images from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of
the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within
reach of the lander's robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile
journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use
instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site's soil and ice.
"We see the lack of rocks that we expected, we see the polygons that we
saw from space, we don't see ice on the surface, but we think we will
see it beneath the surface. It looks great to me," said Peter Smith of
the University of Arizona , Tucson , principal investigator for the
Phoenix mission.
Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m.
Eastern Time) confirmed
the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and
touchdown 15 minutes
earlier. The signals took that long to travel from Mars to Earth at the
speed of light.
The signal confirming that Phoenix had survived touchdown was relayed
via MarsOdyssey
and received on Earth at the Goldstone, Calif., antenna station of NASAs
Deep Space
Network.
You can read more, see first images, follow the blogs and more on the JPL
website:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
Next press conference - the post-landing briefing, occurs on NASA TV 11
a.m. Monday morning:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
I know you all join me in congratulating the Phoenix team on a
successful soft landing on Mars! It was great fun to be at JPL today and
tonight supporting the landing!
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov>
-
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Hello local stargazers and space enthusiasts!
NASA's Mars Phoenix touches down on the Red Planet's north polar plain
tomorrow, Sunday May 25th a little before 5 p.m. If you'd like to
follow the landing, on the internet or television here's a one stop
link: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm. From here you can click on
NASA TV, view the landing schedule and news briefing schedule, blogs and
more.
Here is a list of museums with Mars Phoenix programming in case you'd
like to participate in a group event.
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/events/Mars_Events.html
Follow Phoenix on Twitter and Facebook
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/release.php?ArticleID=1700
If the clouds clear tonight or Sunday night, why not step outside and
look up! Mars is easy to see in the early evening sky right now. With
binoculars or telescopes on Sunday night, you'll spot Mars near the edge
of the Beehive cluster, Messier 44. Tonight, Mars will appear to be a
red star against the fainter stars of the cluster. Here's a little
Mars-gazing feature I wrote yesterday:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2109
Jane - who will be supporting the Phoenix landing tomorrow at JPL -
let's all send Phoenix a big good luck for a soft landing tomorrow!
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Jane and I find ourselves being out of town this weekend, so we're
canceling the Friday night telescope viewing on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.
But our gang will be in Monrovia Saturday, if the May Gray fog clears,
to see the first quarter moon and Saturn, 7:00 - 9:30 or so at the
corner of Myrtle & Lime.
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
1. Attend JPL Open House. Information and directions
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-067. I will be in
the Solar System exhibit, located in Building 303, way down Mariner
Road. But our exhibit will be inside, where it is nice and cool. :-)
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will welcome
members of the public to its Open House on Saturday, May 3, and
Sunday, May 4. Children will be able to participate in many hands-on
activities.
JPL's Open House begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on both days.
JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, Calif. Parking is
free.
Please note that all vehicles entering NASA/JPL property are subject
to inspection. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes -- no buses
will be provided from JPL parking lots to the lab. JPL will provide
vans for mobility-challenged guests.
Please note that the following items are banned from entering
NASA/JPL property: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous
instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, all types of skates
including skateboards, Segways and bicycles. No bags, backpacks or
ice chests are allowed, except small purses and diaper bags.
2. Attend Joshua Tree's Turtle Days Festival Saturday May 3:
http://www.joshuatreechamber.org/
Saturday May 3rd is the Turtle Days Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. at the Joshua Tree Community Center. There will be food, drinks,
pet parade and much more!
3. Attend the Andromeda Society's monthly Star Party in Joshua Tree
National Park (after the Turtle Festival)
http://www.andromedasociety.org/
May 3, 8:00 PM Star Party at Hidden Valley Picnic Area, Joshua Tree
National Park. Next one is May 31 same place 8:15 starting time.
We'd probably be there except I am working at JPL Open House all
weekend.
4. Thank a firefighter! Here's one way to donate:
http://cityofsierramadre.com/ or ask at City Hall
City of Sierra Madre
City Hall
232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
T: 626.355.7135
Next weekend will be our sidewalk astronomy weekend - Friday in
Pasadena and Saturday in Monrovia. Information for May is on our
website now. Check it out! Jane and Mojo
--
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov
Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html
