[FW] The Planetary Society Newsletter

Da: The Planetary Society <tps.mbl@planetary.org>     
Inviato: Venerd� 16/04/2004 10:51:12 -0700 
A: "Planetary Society" <planetarysociety@lists.planetary.org>  
Cc:   
Oggetto: Newsletter: Methane, EarthDials, Solar Sail - March 2004   


THE PLANETARY SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
March 2004
____________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Methane Found on Mars
- Live Earthdials from Around the World
- Solar Sail Progress Report
- News! Rovers, SETI, Sedna, Colin Pillinger
- You Make it Happen!
______________________________________

METHANE FOUND ON MARS
DOES THAT MEAN LIFE? NOT YET

In the past few weeks, three different teams of
researchers reported that there is methane in the
atmosphere of the Red Planet -- two from studies
conducted with ground-based telescopes, one with
an instrument on orbit.

Because methane is not stable in the Martian
atmosphere, it doesn't hang around forever, maybe
only a few hundred years therefore, something has
to be replenishing it. However the methane is finding
its way up from the ground, the discovery is
significant, if only because it means something on
Mars is pumping out the gas.

Learn more about Methane on Mars at:
http://planetary.org/news/2004/methane1.html

______________________________________


THE EARTHDIAL PROJECT
LIVE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

At the same time as two sundials are riding the rovers
Mars, an incredible network of sundials has been
developed by volunteers here on Earth. The EarthDial
Project is a network of sundials around the world
created to show the passage of time utilizing
this ancient manner.

Images of each EarthDial are posted on this website
every 5-10 minutes. Check back often to watch the
Sun's shadow mark time on our own world.

Track the passage of time on Earth at:
http://planetary.org/mars/earthdial/index.html

______________________________________

SOLAR SAIL UPDATE 
by Project Director Louis Friedman
March 26, 2004 

In February 2004, Louis Friedman presented a paper
on behalf of our solar sail project team about
Cosmos 1 at the American Astronautical Society (AAS)
Space Flight Mechanics Conference.

Download the paper presented at
the AAS meeting in Hawaii at:
http://planetary.org/solarsail/update_20040326.html

The work on the spacecraft is moving along, and
the project teams focusing now on completing the
electronics and testing the software for the on-board
computer. Operating a solar sail spacecraft in
Earth orbit involves an enormous number of operations
so the software is extremely complex.

Read the entire update at:
http://planetary.org/solarsail/update_20040326.html

____________________________________

THIS MONTH'S PLANETARY HEADLINES:
ROVERS, SETI, SEDNA, COLIN PILLINGER

Keep up with Planetary News at The Planetary Society website.

Mars Exploration Rovers Update:
Spirit Uncovers Hints of Water from Mazatzal;
Opportunity Finds Hints of Hematite in Bounce Rock
http://planetary.org/news/2004/mer-update_04-04-03.html

SETI: Searching for Dyson Spheres
http://planetary.org/news/2004/dyson_spheres.html

Beyond the Kuiper Belt:
Astronomers Announce Discovery of
Farthest Object Orbiting the Sun
http://planetary.org/news/2004/neo_debate.html

DIALOGUE - Colin Pillinger:
On Beagle 2 and the Search for Life on Mars
http://planetary.org/news/2004/dialogue_pillinger.html

____________________________________

YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!
TELL A FRIEND
Forward this newsletter on to your friends
who share our belief in exploration. Tell them
about The Planetary Society. Tell them we
are aiming for Mars - and beyond.

Help us continue to build the strongest, most
influential space-advocacy organization on Earth.

Thank you.

Check in regularly at our website,
http://planetary.org

_________________________

If you are interested in the future of planetary
exploration, please contact us at
comments@planetary.org with your thoughts,
questions, and concerns.



Clear skies from Italy, Sun, Carl Sagan's Galaxy! ;-)

Bruno Moretti IK2WQA
Cicognola Astronomical Observatory & IK2WQA Ham Radio Station
45�43'28"N 8�36'35"E QTH Locator: JN45HR
SETI ITALIA Team Giuseppe Cocconi