Solar System Exploration: Solar System 101: Homework Helper

HOMEWORK HELPER

King of the Planets
The most massive planet in our solar system -- with dozens of moons and an enormous magnetic field -- Jupiter forms a kind of miniature solar system. It resembles a star in composition, but did not grow big enough to ignite. The planet's swirling cloud stripes are punctuated by massive storms such as the Great Red Spot, which has raged for hundreds of years.

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Planets Aligning in the Sunset Sky
The sunset of May 26th will be extra special. On that date, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will gather in the fading twilight to form a bright triangle only three degrees wide.

Solar System Exploration @ 50: What the Experts Picked

Research... at a Glance

Solar System Exploration @ 50: What the Experts Picked
Here is what the experts had to say about their favorite moments last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

NASA Celebrates Four Decades of Plucky Pioneer 11
Forty years ago, on April 5, 1973, a small, ambitious spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, heading towards the third-brightest point of light in the night sky.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: David Kring, Senior Staff Scientist, Universities Space Research Association, Houston; Principal Investigator, LPI-JSC
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Julie Castillo-Rogez, Planetary Geophysicist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

State of the Solar System
As the president prepares to give his annual State of the Union Address, we offer our own update from the ongoing exploration of our cosmic neighborhood.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Neil Gehrels, Astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

Earth at Perihelion
In January, our planet made its annual closest approach to the sun. But don't expect things to warm up.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Claudia Alexander, Project Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Ashley Stroupe (Robotics Software Engineer / Mars Rover Driver at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Jim Kasting (Distinguished Professor of Geoscience at Penn State University)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Ralph Carruth (Manager, Materials and Processes Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Amanda Hendrix (Planetary Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Suzanne Dodd (Project Manager for the Voyager Interstellar Mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Dave Doody (Realtime Flight Operations Lead Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Steve Vance (Planetary Scientist/Astrobiologist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

How Deep Must Life Hide to Be Safe on Europa?
Jupiter's icy moon Europa is subject to constant and significant blasts of radiation. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are now attempting to determine how deep life must lay beneath the moon's crust in order to survive.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Michelle Thaller (Assistant Director of Science for Communications at the Goddard Space Flight Center)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Jeff Cuzzi (Research Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: David Grinspoon (Curator of Astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

An Alignment of Planets in the Sunset Sky
The brightest planets in the night sky are aligning for a must-see show in late February and March 2012. You can start looking tonight.

Radioisotope Power Systems: Power to Explore

Research... at a Glance

Radioisotope Power Systems: Power to Explore
For more than four decades, Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) have played a critical role in the exploration of space, enabling missions of scientific discovery to destinations across the solar system.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Fran Bagenal (Professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder and Co-Investigator for the New Horizons Mission)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

The Night After Christmas Sky Show
On Dec. 26th, Venus and the crescent Moon will gather together for a beautiful night-after-Christmas sky show.

50 Years of Robotic Planetary Exploration: Amy Simon-Miller (Astrophysicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center)
We asked them and here is what the experts had to say about the last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

Jupiter's "Grand Tack" Reshaped the Solar System
Jupiter, long settled in its position as the fifth planet from our sun, was a rolling stone in its youth.

What Lies Inside Jupiter?
The goal of the Juno mission is to answer the question: " What lies inside Jupiter?"

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Research... at a Glance

Solar System Exploration @ 50: What the Experts Picked
Here is what the experts had to say about their favorite moments last 50 years of planetary robotic exploration.

State of the Solar System
As the president prepares to give his annual State of the Union Address, we offer our own update from the ongoing exploration of our cosmic neighborhood.

Earth at Perihelion
In January, our planet made its annual closest approach to the sun. But don't expect things to warm up.

An Alignment of Planets in the Sunset Sky
The brightest planets in the night sky are aligning for a must-see show in late February and March 2012. You can start looking tonight.

Research... at a Glance

The Night After Christmas Sky Show
On Dec. 26th, Venus and the crescent Moon will gather together for a beautiful night-after-Christmas sky show.

Jupiter's "Grand Tack" Reshaped the Solar System
Jupiter, long settled in its position as the fifth planet from our sun, was a rolling stone in its youth.

What Lies Inside Jupiter?
The goal of the Juno mission is to answer the question: " What lies inside Jupiter?"

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