Send Your Name to Mars

There are people I'd like to see living on Mars. The current US President, for example should lead the way to Mars. My vote is that the first person on Mars be Barack Obama. And some of you thought I didn't like him. 

A part of who you car can go to Mars. You can have your name taken to Mars onboard the Mars Science Laboratory. SEND YOUR NAME TO MARS In any case it might be something your children would enjoy doing.

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse...

Blue Moon

Scientist have discovered a new moon embedded in the "G-Ring" of the planet Saturn's distinctive ring structure (above). The Cassini orbiter took the photographs above of the 61st moon found to be orbiting Saturn. Nobody is quite sure how long the moon will survive continual impacts from dust and meteorites that comprise the ring.

The blue on Enceladus (right) is liquid water that out-gasses from the moon and creates the "E-Ring" around Saturn. The presence of liquid water indicates the possibility of subsurface life. Both Europa (Jovian Moon) and Enceladus (Saturn Moon) share the attention since both are icy moons with vast subterranean lakes of liquid water and iron cores that are heated due to tidal friction.

The next big mission of exploration of these unique worlds in our Solar System will be the Europa Jupiter System Mission currently under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The Green Comet

No, I'm not making this up - it comes from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory website. The comet's green color comes from ionized cyanogen and carbon gasses emit radiation in the green wavelengths - a green comet. JPL scientists believe this is the first time this comet entered the inner solar system. Tonight will be the best night to view the comet (through binoculars) when it's 38 million miles away. It will be visible in the southeast in late evening below the planet Saturn (see image above). A green comet? Who would have thought?

PS - I don't care what anyone says. Pluto is STILL a planet. -- I just thought I'd slip that in.