MARS - SKY NIGHTLY

Spacecraft snaps dramatic images of giant scar on the surface of Mars

Oct 10, 2013 (UPI)

Images from a European spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown in greater detail than ever before a giant chasm ripped open by tectonic forces, scientists say. The ...

Making Martian clouds on Earth

Oct 08, 2013 (SPX)

At first glance, Mars' clouds might easily be mistaken for those on Earth: Images of the Martian sky, taken by NASA's Opportunity rover, depict gauzy, high-alti...

NASA Mars mission escapes government shutdown, will launch

Oct 04, 2013 (UPI)

NASA says it next mission to Mars has been cleared for takeoff amid fears the U.S. government shutdown could cause it to miss its launch window. The Mars Atmosp...

European rover meant for Mars to undergo earthly desert test

Oct 04, 2013 (UPI)

A proposed Mars rover will undergo its most ambitious test to date in remotely guided explorations of a Mars-like desert in South America, scientists said. The ...

Taking Snapshots Galore at 'Solander Point'

Oct 03, 2013 (JPL)

Opportunity is at the northern edge of 'Solander Point' on the rim of Endeavour Crater. The rover is investigating the geologic contact at the base of Solander ...

A Seasonal Ozone Layer Over The Martian South Pole

Oct 03, 2013 (ESA)

For the past decade, ESA's Mars Express orbiter has been observing atmospheric structure on the Red Planet. Among its discoveries is the presence of three separ...

First ARCA flight in the ExoMars Program completed successfully

Oct 03, 2013 (SPX)

ARCA has successfully completed the validation test flight in the ExoMars Program High Altitude Drop Test (HADT), carried out in cooperation with the European S...

Suggestion of supervolcanoes on Mars ignites controversy

Oct 02, 2013 (UPI)

Some of Mars' deep craters were actually ancient supervolcanoes that may have changed the planet's climate, U.S. and British researchers suggest. Jacob Bleacher...

Researchers describe unusual Mars rock

Oct 01, 2013 (SPX)

The first rock that scientists analyzed on Mars with a pair of chemical instruments aboard the Curiosity rover turned out to be a doozy - a pyramid-shaped volca...

Martian chemical complicates hunt for life's clues

Oct 01, 2013 (SPX)

The quest for evidence of life on Mars could be more difficult than scientists previously thought. A scientific paper published today details the investigation ...

Water for future Mars astronauts

Oct 01, 2013 (SPX)

Within its first three months on Mars, NASA's Curiosity Rover saw a surprising diversity of soils and sediments along a half-kilometer route that tell a complex...

NASA Mars rover Curiosity finds water in first sample of planet surface

Oct 01, 2013 (SPX)

The first scoop of soil analyzed by the analytical suite in the belly of NASA's Curiosity rover reveals that fine materials on the surface of the planet contain...

Scientists find a martian igneous rock that is surprisingly Earth-like

Oct 01, 2013 (JPL)

During the nearly 14 months that it has spent on the red planet, Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, has scooped soil, drilled rocks, and analyz...

Science Benefits From Diverse Landing Area Of NASA Mars Rover

Sep 30, 2013 (JPL)

NASA's Curiosity rover is revealing a great deal about Mars, from long-ago processes in its interior to the current interaction between the Martian surface and ...

NASA Wants Investigations for a Mars 2020 Rover

Sep 30, 2013 (SPX)

NASA has released its announcement of an open competition for the planetary community to submit proposals for the science and exploration technology instruments...

First scoop of Mars soil contains 2 percent water: study

Sep 26, 2013 (AFP)

The first scoop of Martian soil analyzed by NASA's Curiosity rover held about two percent water, offering hope for hydrating humans who someday explore the Red ...

NASA Rover Inspects Pebbly Rocks at Martian Waypoint

Sep 25, 2013 (JPL)

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has resumed a trek of many months toward its mountain-slope destination, Mount Sharp. The rover used instruments on its arm last wee...

Robotic Arm Goes to Work on Rock Target

Sep 23, 2013 (JPL)

Opportunity is at the northern edge of 'Solander Point' on the rim of Endeavour Crater. The rover is investigating the geologic contact at the base of Solander ...

Communications Tests Go the Distance for MAVEN

Sep 23, 2013 (SPX)

It's not easy to simulate millions of miles electronically, but that's what engineers did recently as they tested the all-important communications system the MA...

Curiosity Rover Detects No Methane On Mars

Sep 23, 2013 (JPL)

Data from NASA's Curiosity rover has revealed the Martian environment lacks methane. This is a surprise to researchers because previous data reported by U.S. an...