Mars, The Universe, &The Best Images of NASA

Robert Nemiroff

Mars - The Red Planet

• Rocky red planet next out from the Sun• Smaller, colder, dryer than Earth• Martians have not invaded Earth in modern times

– But perhaps in ancient times (controversial)

– Earthlings continue to invade Mars

• August 28th Mars closer than in nearly 60,000 yrs– ~1000 MTUers there to see it

– public awareness event (discovery-free zone)

Top 10 Mars Pictures of All

Time*

Name This Martian Robot

Pictured: An Ancient Martian?

Mars Engulfed

Unusual Gullies and Channels on Mars

Phobos: Doomed Moon of Mars

A Face On Mars

Close-up of the Face on Mars

Olympus Mons on Mars: The Largest Volcano

Slightly Above Mars Pathfinder

Valles Marineris: The Grand Canyon of Mars

Top 5 NASA Images*

*Yes, it’s subjective!

The Andromeda Deep Field

STS-1: First Shuttle Launch

Apollo 17 Lunarscape: A Magnificent Desolation

M16: Stars from Eagle's EGGs

Earth Rise

Top Five Space Images* **

** to appear on the Astronomy Picture of the Day website

WMAP Resolves the Universe

Earth at Night

M31: The Andromeda Galaxy

A Twisted Solar Eruptive Prominence

Inside the Eagle Nebula

Most of these images can be found here:

Image Credits

• Top Mars: All NASA

• Top NASA: All NASA (no joke!)

• Top APOD: – Earth at Night: DMSP Satellites– Microwave Background: WMAP, NASA– Sun: SOHO, NASA– Andromeda Galaxy: © Robert Gendler– Eagle Nebula: © AURA, NOAO, NSF

Postscripts

• The Astronomy Picture of the Day website is available online at http://apod.nasa.gov/.

• The Universe: 365 Days book is available at most bookstores including B. Dalton’s at the Copper Country Mall.

• Support the Van Pelt Library: Join the Friends of the Library!