Photo and article: NASA
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission launced last week (18 June) from Cape Canaveral and is expected to reach the Moon on 23 June. The LRO is to go into orbit, while the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft (LCROSS) will first watch a used rocket upper stage crash into a crater, before doing so itself.

This SAASTA sponsored event drew a crowd of over 1700 this year and included guest speakers from as far afield as the European Space Agency Astronomy Centre in Spain, had delightful exhibits such as the Camera Obscura and attracted ATMers and astronomy enthusiasts alike. Read more in the upcoming edition of Canopus (July 2009).

Mr & Mrs Lincoln and Claire Partridge were awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Centre at the monthly meeting on Wednesday, 10 June 2009, after donating a fully working 12-inch Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with GOTO function. This telescope is envisioned to assist greatly with outreach activities held by the Centre from time to time, and may be housed semi-permanently at the SAASTA Science Centre on the Observatory grounds in Johannesburg. Claire and Lincoln Partridge pose for the camera on the left with Dr. Robert Groess, current Chairman, at right. Photo: Chris Curry

Image: APOD, NASA, JPL, MER Mission

Martian rover Spirit has become stuck in soft soil while en-route to a geographical feature called Home Plate. Engineers are working on a strategy to free the rover. The rover Opportunity meanwhile is still on a two-year journey towards Endeavour crater. Visit NASA's Mars rover pages for the latest info.