Rover Report from Mars!

I've written an update on the rover Curiosity's third week at her new home, Gale Crater, Mars! Please be sure to visit the astronomy zine, Active Astronomy, to keep up with all that's going on at Mars, and really everywhere else in the universe!

The Data from Mars (and Bradbury Landing) Pours In...

by Active Astronomy writer Zantippy Skiphop, Florida, 27 August 2012


Curiosity has finished her prep work and is almost set for her Martian rovings! In the past week, Curiosity has analyzed rocks at two different spots, flexed her arm to get it ready for field geology in the desert, test drove her six wheels, shot neutrons into the ground, and gulped down Martian air.

 Curiosity's landing site has now been officially named Bradbury Landing by NASA after science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, who inspired so many Mars explorers...[Read more...]

New Article on Our Martian Robot!

Last night was just fantastic! I'm so relieved and happy that our robot, Curiosity, is safely on Mars now. Here is my latest article on Active Astronomy, about the time right before and after the landing. :) It was a very good time :)

Photo credit: NASA/JPL

This is a picture of the deployed parachute - it was one of the first signals that let everyone know that the landing sequence of events was happening well! :)