I just wanted to give people a quick digest of some interesting developments of the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. First the rovers: Opportunity is continuing its trek towards Victoria Crater, and is currently observing Beagle Crater. You can track their progress here. From that you can get an idea of just how big Victoria will be once Opportunity gets there!
Here is a winter report of both rovers that has one of the most captivating images I have ever seen. The first image in the report is one of last year’s pictures. The indefatigable Spirit took this picture of a Martian sunset at Gusev Crater.
Seeing that makes me marvel at the universe. It reminds me that even alien worlds are not necessarily unlike our own. But, simultaneously, it impresses on me just how distant and different other places still are. It’s thrilling to think of the prospect of people someday travelling to to far away places, but then I am in awe of how impossible it seems.
Who knows what the future will hold…
And about the Cassini Mission. I reported here that there were potential lakes on Titan. It appears that has been confirmed! The remarkable resemblances to our own homeworld continue to be discovered. We now know it rains on Titan, too! Well, drizzles, but that still makes it only the second place confirmed in the solar system that does that. The Huygens probe that landed on Titan last January has provided the evidence of that. Here is a link to a movie (10MB) of the landing! This is like watching Star Wars, but it’s real. Lastly, for the geology fans, here is an item that links to a movie (6MB) about Titan’s topography. It details potential rivers, lakes, craters, and mountains.
August 15, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Thanks for the updates. I love thinking that we were supposed to be out there exploring the worlds…not just in the solar system but out there StarTrek like. Then I think that they never left our galaxy! And how many galaxys do we know about besides our own? (I don’t know the answer to that, but I am sure it is a large number) It blows my mind.
August 16, 2006 at 9:39 am
I think we just need to find the stargates on these planets, much easier to get around.
August 16, 2006 at 5:08 pm
Yes, I agree with Deely, but even more so what yxdlpvzhjte said. I really agree with that!
August 17, 2006 at 8:12 am
I think what yxdlpvzhjte is trying to get across is Man’s incomprehensible place in the universe.
I am inclined to agree as well.
Vzntvangvba qbrf abg oerrq vafnavgl. Rknpgyl jung qbrf oerrq vafnavgl vf ernfba. Cbrgf qb abg tb znq; ohg purff-cynlref qb. Zngurzngvpvnaf tb znq, naq pnfuvref; ohg perngvir negvfgf irel fryqbz. V nz abg, nf jvyy or frra, va nal frafr nggnpxvat ybtvp: V bayl fnl gung guvf qnatre qbrf yvr va ybtvp, abg va vzntvangvba.
August 17, 2006 at 11:44 am
I think I broke my wookie.
August 17, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Actually I think rctmwhateverthe$#^* is a first. My first spammer! Hooray! Time to use my godlike admin powers…
ZAP!
August 17, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Well now we just look silly referencing a non existant post. I’ve never understood the “Random character spam” It’s not like he put rot13 for “BuY ViAGRA NOW” in there. I checked.
So frood, are we headed toward that fateful day when registration will be required?
August 17, 2006 at 8:42 pm
Nah… I hope not. I’m thinking if it gets out of hand I’ll turn on those visible letter code things you have to verify.
Man, I’m some kind of admin. I can use ’em and I don’t know what they’re called! Talk about lazy…
August 19, 2006 at 6:39 am
I recently heard an good way to remember the names of the planets in order…
My Vodka Entered My Jeweled … oh I forgot the rest.