The Week in Space

May 24-30, 2010

THEMIS of Arabia In the eastern Arabia Terra region of Mars lies a 75-mile-wide unnamed crater, the floor of which contains a large exposure of rocky material, a field of dark sand dunes, and numerous patches of what is probably fine-grain sand. This false-color image, created by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) aboard NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter in 2006, shows the center of that crater’s floor. The image combines a daytime view at visible wavelengths with a nighttime view at infrared (heat-sensing) wavelengths, thus giving scientists clues to the physical nature of the surface. Areas in redder tints indicate hard sediments and outcrops of rock, while bluish tints indicate fine sand covering the surface. These sand dunes vary in height between 650 to 820 feet from peak to valley.

Image credit: NASA / JPL / Arizona State University

Weekly Calendar

May 24-30, 2010

Holidays - Sky Events - Space History

Monday 24

Victoria Day (Canada)

1962: Aurora 7 launched; Scott Carpenter is first American to eat food in space

Tuesday 25

Mercury at greatest elongation (25° W)

1961: JFK challenges nation to Moon landing before end of decade
1965: Saturn SA-8 launched
1966: Roll-out of first full-scale Saturn V
1973: Skylab 2 begins 28-day mission
2008: Phoenix lander lands on Mars

Wednesday 26

Thursday 27

Full Moon 7:07 PM ET

Friday 28

Saturday 29

1919: Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity tested during total solar eclipse

Sunday 30

Trinity Sunday

1966: Surveyor 1 launched
1971: Mariner 9 probe launched

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