The skies are afire with wondrous things - it dawned on me recently that we (i.e. humanity) are making some serious headway in the exploration of our solar system.
Three years ago, I became aware of the Curiosity lander on Mars. I'd followed previous excursions - Opportunity, etcetera, but Curiosity had better PR, and presents some of the best quality images - and of course the Mars Orbiter (or mothership), like a benevolent watchful satellite continues to monitor from above... I must admit, I was stunned when Curiosity even successfully landed, given the previous track record of landings on Mars.
So far, so good - then I learned that Voyager is heading into deep space, mankinds first ever probe to go that far. Hurrah! -because I'd forgotten all about Voyager - didn't we all ?
Then, following a path that began with a launch in 1973, Rosetta, in a nail-biting moment sets a new record by placing a lander on a comet !
Now the Dawn explorer has entered orbit around distant mini - planet Ceres, and in July the New Horizons explorer does a flypast of outermost planet Pluto and its moon , Charon!
What a time to be a science nerd! My inner 'Sheldon' is truly amazed!
I vaguely remember the black and white moon landings (well they were black and white on our tv back then) , and then the slow building of the ISS, and the sad fate of the Beagle2 (Colin Pillingers ill-fated eccentric British Mars lander).
But now, it's an all - out space race! (without the Cold War posturings).
Heck, there are even people who've signed up for a one-way ticket to Mars! - in fairness, I don't feel so excited by this, infact, maybe I've seen too many dystopian sci - fi films, but I feel a bit queasy when I think of people on Mars.
Don't get me wrong, though - the future is now- we have robots exploring the outer solar system!
It's here and it's real!
(this burst of childish enthusiasm will only be understood by those who remember the old Look and Learn magazines)
Recent Mars findings indicate the former presence of a huge ocean which once covered most of the red planet. This is interesting, but what of the subsurface ocean of Jupiters moon Ganymede, as recently purported ?
What of the iced -over oceans of Enceladus with their geysers issuing plumes up to 500 kilometres into space, with minute particles of silica becoming part of Saturns rings?
It is astonishing, and it's information that's reaching us on an increasingly frequent, almost daily basis.
My tiny mind is well and truly boggled !
But -focus- this means that there are considerable bodies of water, with the potential for life, in our own solar system. Yes, this little solar system on the distant outer edge of the milky way.
Not some far flung and rubbish - named planet in the mythical 'goldilocks ' zone of a distant sun, but
right here.
On our doorstep.
Three years ago, I became aware of the Curiosity lander on Mars. I'd followed previous excursions - Opportunity, etcetera, but Curiosity had better PR, and presents some of the best quality images - and of course the Mars Orbiter (or mothership), like a benevolent watchful satellite continues to monitor from above... I must admit, I was stunned when Curiosity even successfully landed, given the previous track record of landings on Mars.
 |
| Curiosity 'selfie' on Mars |
Then, following a path that began with a launch in 1973, Rosetta, in a nail-biting moment sets a new record by placing a lander on a comet !
Now the Dawn explorer has entered orbit around distant mini - planet Ceres, and in July the New Horizons explorer does a flypast of outermost planet Pluto and its moon , Charon!
 |
| Ceres with the mysterious double-dot |
I vaguely remember the black and white moon landings (well they were black and white on our tv back then) , and then the slow building of the ISS, and the sad fate of the Beagle2 (Colin Pillingers ill-fated eccentric British Mars lander).
But now, it's an all - out space race! (without the Cold War posturings).
Heck, there are even people who've signed up for a one-way ticket to Mars! - in fairness, I don't feel so excited by this, infact, maybe I've seen too many dystopian sci - fi films, but I feel a bit queasy when I think of people on Mars.
Don't get me wrong, though - the future is now- we have robots exploring the outer solar system!
It's here and it's real!
(this burst of childish enthusiasm will only be understood by those who remember the old Look and Learn magazines)
 |
| Sunset on Mars taken by Spirit rover |
Recent Mars findings indicate the former presence of a huge ocean which once covered most of the red planet. This is interesting, but what of the subsurface ocean of Jupiters moon Ganymede, as recently purported ?
What of the iced -over oceans of Enceladus with their geysers issuing plumes up to 500 kilometres into space, with minute particles of silica becoming part of Saturns rings?
 |
| The geysers of Enceladus, up to 500 km high |
It is astonishing, and it's information that's reaching us on an increasingly frequent, almost daily basis.
My tiny mind is well and truly boggled !
But -focus- this means that there are considerable bodies of water, with the potential for life, in our own solar system. Yes, this little solar system on the distant outer edge of the milky way.
Not some far flung and rubbish - named planet in the mythical 'goldilocks ' zone of a distant sun, but
right here.
On our doorstep.
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