Those of us up here in the northern part of the U.S. (and the world) are no doubt rubbing our hands together to keep them warm now that the New Years’ cold temps are here for a while. At my place it got up to -8.3C (17F) today and we could feel every bit of it when we went out to shovel the snow.
However, that -8.3 C is positively balmy compared to what the now-silent Mars Phoenix Lander is experiencing at its perch in Mars’s frigid north polar region right now. The HIRISE blog posted the image below today, showing the Phoenix Lander sitting lonely and cold amid the frozen wastes as seen by the HIRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. It’s mapping the surface of Mars from orbit and the team still takes a look at the Phoenix lander every chance it gets. The temperatures Phoenix is experiencing are much, much colder than anywhere here on Earth right now — probably hovering around -140 C or thereabouts (-220 F). I don’t know about you, but just looking at that scene makes me feel toasty and warm at -8.3 C!
Happy New Year, folks! I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the year’s astronomy and space science news. Lots of good things are going to happen in 2009, including the long-awaited “final” refurbishing mission for Hubble Space Telescope, the continued building and expansion of ground-based facilities such as the MWA, ALMA, and others.
And, of course, it’s the International Year of Astronomy. There are a huge number of activities going on around the world, all designed to get YOU and your friends and family OUT there and involved in one of the world’s oldest sciences. I’m participating in the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast project, and my first one (of twelve podcasts that I’m producing) will be “airing” on January 6 (next week!). I’m also posting additional material about each of my podcasts here on TheSpacewriter.com. Just visit the tab that says “365 Days of Astronomy” up there under the Horsehead.
Surf on over to the IYA web site and check out some of the great activities that are planned in more than 130 countries by astronomy lovers from every walk of life. It’s truly a year to “look up!”
