Projects: Space Information
The Planetary Report
Volume XXVI, Number 6, November/December 2006
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona |
On the Cover
On October 3, 2006, two subjects on another world -- nature's awesome beauty
and the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity -- came together for this portrait.
Here the power of space exploration to awe and inspire has been captured in
a single image. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on
the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this close-up view of Opportunity perched
on the rim of Mars' Victoria crater from an altitude of 275 kilometers (170
miles). Victoria, the rover's long-term destination for the past 21 Earth months,
is an impact crater about 800 meters (half a mile) wide and 60 meters deep
in Meridiani Planum, near the Red Planet's equator. Because Victoria is much
deeper than any crater explored by Opportunity so far, its sedimentary layers
will give the rover a chance to see further into Mars' ancient history. This
is an enhanced-color view generated from images acquired by the HiRISE camera
using its red and blue-green filters.
From The Editor
A few days ago, I took from the shelf a book I hadn't read in 10 years. Glancing
though its pages, I was startled again by the power of its words to move me,
emotionally and intellectually. I also was saddened that the man who presented
this Cosmos to the world, who profoundly shared his spiritual and scientific
wonder of the universe, has been gone for so long.
This December marks the 10th year since Carl Sagan's death. With his passing,
science -- particularly its planetary and astronomic branches -- lost its most
effective spokesman and defender. The Planetary Society lost not only a founder
and figurehead but, more vitally, an involved and energetic leader. His fingerprints
are on every aspect of our program, from our research projects to our political
advocacy.
Most of all, his influence is felt in the pages of this magazine. The
Planetary Report is, in many ways, his creation. Carl took special responsibility for
it, and, until a few weeks before his death, he read every word before we published
it.
We continue The Planetary Society's work in his long shadow. When we hear
of discoveries on other worlds, encounter new policies that advance or impede
our explorations, struggle with disappointments, or celebrate our successes,
we often ask, "What would Carl have said?" There is no answer to
that question.
--Charlene M. Anderson
Features
Where Would We Be With Carl?
It has been 10 years since Planetary Society cofounder Carl Sagan died -- 10
years without his rigorous mind and gifted storytelling, helping to share the
grandeur of our universe with all those willing to take a moment to listen.
We at The Planetary Society join countless others who have greatly missed his
leadership and his unparalleled role as an educator and advocate for space
exploration. In these pages, Carl's widow and longtime collaborator, Ann
Druyan,
looks at some of the great achievements as well as some of the disappointments
of the last decade and ponders where we might be today if Carl were still here
as a global voice for science, exploration, and reason.
Photographing Mars
After nearly three Earth years roaming the Red Planet, the plucky Mars rovers,
Spirit and Opportunity, have sent back an astounding amount of data. The tireless
team of scientists and engineers who control the rovers and the science instruments
on board have some of the coolest jobs on our planet, and the team commanding
the rovers' cameras has the added benefit of being able to call themselves
the first "photographers" on Mars. Jim Bell, lead scientist for the
Pancam color imaging system on the rovers, is dedicated to sharing this data
with everyone interested in seeing and learning more about the rovers' activities
on Mars. Here, Jim shares some of his favorite images so far.
Departments
Members’ Dialogue
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World Watch
Society News
Questions and Answers
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