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Solar System: Things to Know This Week

Our solar system is huge, let us break it down for you. Here are a few things to know this week:

1. The New New Horizons

Seven months after the  Pluto flyby, information and discoveries continue to flow from the New Horizons mission, as the spacecraft transmits more and more data to scientists on Earth.

2. A Longlasting Dawn

The Dawn orbiter is in good health as it carries out the ongoing reconnaissance of the dwarf planet Ceres, which is revealing some spectacular and mysterious landscapes.

3. Storm Watch: Saturn

This week the Cassini spacecraft will be watching for storms in Saturn’s turbulent atmosphere. On March 6, it will spend about 14 hours acquiring a movie of the narrow, braided F ring. Check out some past photos of Saturnian storms HERE.

4. The Next Flight to Mars Departs Soon

The ExoMars 2016 mission, a joint endeavor between the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, is set to lift off in March. The 2016 mission consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module. We’re supplying some of the technology that will fly aboard the orbiter. In 2018, the ExoMars rover is slated to follow.

5. Early Encounter with a Comet

As we continue to marvel at the latest images from Rosetta, this week is a good time to remember the 30th anniversary of the Vega 1 Comet Halley flyby. This Russian spacecraft dropped off a balloon probe at Venus before continuing on to the comet, which is photographed and examined at close range by flying through its coma.

Want to learn more? Read our full list of the 10 things to know this week about the solar system HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

By popular demand (one request), here is last night’s gif of Ganymede entering and exiting an eclipse, without the pause in the middle.  Photographed by Voyager 1, 26 Febuary 1979.  (It’s a pity that Voyager didn’t keep taking photographs for all of the eclipse entry.)

Send me the emoticon and my muse will react to your muse:

(or the other way around - tell me!)

✘ = hugging them . Δ = playing with their hair . ❤ = kissing them . ₪ = asking them out for dinner . ☀ = giving them a gift of ___ ( asker’s choice ) . ♘ = stabbing them . ♕ = bowing down before them . ♒ = lying to them . ✿ = buying them flowers . ☾ = being found shirtless . ♢ = reading them a story . ☂ = giving them their jumper to keep warm . ✎ = speaking in a different language . ✏ = teaching them a different language . ▄ = telling them a joke . ♬ = singing to them . ☹ = insulting a loved one . ஐ = slapping them . ✂ = threatening them . ❃ = dancing with them . ▤ = falling asleep on them . ☮ = waking them up after a nightmare . ♣ = discovering them crying . 回 = patching a wound . ✮ = stargazing . ▓ = caught stealing their belongings . ☽ = wandering alone at night . ♡ = complimenting them . ≡ = offering a place to stay overnight .

Jupiter’s Moon - Callisto

Stargazing isn’t the same alone.

Callisto was grinning, albeit a bit shakily.

“Thank you so much! It took me almost three weeks to come up with all that.” They took the journal back gratefully, hugging it to their chest. Clearly, it was the child’s most prized possession.

“I don’t meet many scientists either.” They laughed a bit. “On the Surface, there’s a lot of them, but most of them are of a very high status, so... They aren’t exactly people who would give a kid a second glance. Or anyone other than their colleagues, actually.” Callisto was still smiling, but their voice held a slight tinge of disappointment. They rocked back on their heels, looking down at their feet for a moment.

“I’d really like to hear about what actually makes echo flowers tick, though.” When they looked up again, they looked a bit more hopeful. Gaster was much friendlier than any of their heroes from the Surface had been--at least, the few Callisto had the opportunity to meet.

A pair of hands popped into existence, taking ahold of Callisto’s notebook with care. They were similar to the monster’s, only fur-less and with slender, tapering fingers that delicately turned the pages. His own paws were clasped close to his chest. Indifferent to this sudden appearance Gaster scanned over the contents with vivid interest.

“I see. Your theories are impressive - incorrect, but very thoughtful.” He settled down as he continued to read through, attention wholly enveloped by the child’s notes and entries. “You’re very intelligent, Callisto. It’s no wonder you’ve progressed so far through the Underground.”

Once he’d read through a considerable chunk of information Gaster offered their journal back. “It’s absolutely fascinating to read about another’s science! I don’t hear it as much as I’d like since there’s not too many scientists here. Well, none that I meet with often.”

Ganymede May Harbor ‘Club Sandwich’ of Oceans and Ice

The largest moon in our solar system, a companion to Jupiter named Ganymede, might have ice and oceans stacked up in several layers like a club sandwich, according to new NASA-funded research that models the moon’s makeup.

Previously, the moon was thought to harbor a thick ocean sandwiched between just two layers of ice, one on top and one on bottom.

“Ganymede’s ocean might be organized like a Dagwood sandwich,” said Steve Vance of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., explaining the moon’s resemblance to the “Blondie” cartoon character’s multi-tiered sandwiches. The study, led by Vance, provides new theoretical evidence for the team’s “club sandwich” model, first proposed last year. The research appears in the journal Planetary and Space Science.

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Callisto pushed their glasses back up. Frankly, this monster both looked and smelled absolutely disgusting. But he had a kind smile, and he was offering food. Their stomach growled audibly, and they felt their face heat up with embarrassment. They kept their journal clutched close to their chest, and shifted uncomfortably on their feet.

“Food sounds nice,” They tried a sheepish smile. “I mean, I don’t really know what you have, but... Anything sounds good to me.” Three Crab Apples a day for the last couple of days hadn’t been the most pleasant decision Callisto had made on their journey, but rationing food so they could get further was what was most important. Going a day without eating wouldn’t be good for their body or their morale.

The kid took comfort in the fact that Burgerpants looked just as nervous as they felt.

Continued from here: X

@curiositics

Burgerpant’s already drooping eyes squinted, and he inhaled a heavy puff of smoke before exhaling in the direction opposite of the child. He smelled absolutely rank, and looked as disheveled as anyone could guess with just one whiff of the guy. 

Sympathy unfurled on his expression; Callisto looked to be in an even worse state than him, if possible. Hell, it was an almost impressive feat, but it only increased his pity for the poor kid. Which he really didn’t want to bother with while on his break. Or ever.

“Damnit…” His conscious won over and after a muttered curse Burgerpants crouched down to eye level with them. “You look horrible. And that’s something comin’ from a guy like me.” In an attempt to be friendly he flashed an awkward smile, revealing his yellowed teeth. “Uh…”

He stood, scratching the back of his neck. His dingy orange fur bristled and he sighed. Damn his conscious; someday he was going to be fired for trying to be a nice guy, he just knew it. 

“If you really need some grub, little buddy, I might be able to um…sneak you some food. Gotta be careful so my boss doesn’t catch me, but you look like you could use some burgers or something. Yeah. Um…So you want anything?”

WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR ART WAS FFLIPPED THE WRONG WAY WHEN U LINED IT AND NOW ITS FUCKED UP AND YOU HAVE TO REDO IT

Writing Room in the Tower at Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, England

where the personal books of Vita Sackville-West are stored

by John Hammond