10 Science Bulletin, July-August 2014
Under the Scope
Learning from Microscopes and Telescopes.
This graphic of six months of Martian movement, photographed and designed by Stephane Gonzales, showcases stunning detail and color. High Martian clouds and polar ice caps can be seen in bright white, while black and tan colors show the landscape of the red planet. The drastic apparent size difference shown during six months occurs due to the change of distance between Earth and Mars. Currently, Mars is very small through a telescope. Wait until March of 2015 to start to see stunning views of the planet.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
The Cassini Spacecraft recently took this stunning image of Saturn’s north pole and rings. At a distance of 1.4 million miles, each pixel on the image accounts for 81 miles. The large hexagonal storm seen in the photograph can fit two earths in diameter. Currently Saturn is getting apparently smaller, but is still visually amazing through a telescope.