The science group is rallying to save lots of VIPER. Following NASA’s announcement of its intent to cancel the VIPER mission to the Moon’s south pole, The Planetary Society helped flow into a letter signed by 1,000 individuals from the lunar and planetary science group to greater than 200 key congressional staffers. The letter urges Congress to intervene, emphasizing the significance of VIPER for future lunar exploration and scientific discovery. Pictured: An artist’s impression exhibiting NASA’s VIPER rover transferring down a ramp of Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Picture credit score: Astrobotic.
Advocacy works, and VERITAS is proof of that. In late 2022, NASA’s VERITAS mission to review Venus was defunded. Because of the assistance of house advocates — like Planetary Society members — the mission is now again on. Darby Dyar, the deputy principal investigator for VERITAS, joins this week’s Planetary Radio to share the story.
Why does Jupiter spin so quick? The Photo voltaic System’s largest planet rotates roughly as soon as each 9 hours and 50 minutes — extraordinarily rapidly for such a big object. Earth, compared, rotates at a comparatively sedate 23 hours and 56 minutes. Why that is the case can inform us rather a lot about not solely the Photo voltaic System however worlds round different stars, too.
Our on-line member group is gearing up for the August e-book membership assembly. This month, members learn “Nonetheless As Shiny: An Illuminating Historical past of the Moon, from Antiquity to Tomorrow” by Christopher Cokinos. The writer will join members in a virtual Q&A on Aug. 1 at 6:00 p.m. PT to debate the e-book, his private immersion in all issues lunar, and the way our pure satellite tv for pc is enmeshed all through human tradition and historical past. Not but a Planetary Society member? Join today!
