• MY BLOG
  • BOOKS & ARTICLES
    • Books by Andrew Fraknoi
    • Articles for the Public
    • Articles for Educators
    • Classroom Activities on Astronomy
  • RESOURCE GUIDES
  • CONSULTING
    • Non-technical Talks on Astronomy
    • Developing Resource Guides
    • Writing Web-based Articles
    • Giving Talks on Astronomy Education
  • CLASSES & LECTURES
    • Classes I Teach
    • Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series
    • Public Lectures I Give
  • GALLERIES
    • Solar System Images
    • Nebula and Galaxy Images
    • Bumper Stickers for Astronomy
    • Pictures with Astronomers
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • Radio Programs & Podcasts with Andrew Fraknoi
    • Videos of Talks and Interviews
  • SCIENCE FICTION
Type and hit ENTER

Be Yourself. Be Happy.

Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.

Stay Positive. Always.

Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.

  • MY BLOG
  • BOOKS & ARTICLES
    • Books by Andrew Fraknoi
    • Articles for the Public
    • Articles for Educators
    • Classroom Activities on Astronomy
  • RESOURCE GUIDES
  • CONSULTING
    • Non-technical Talks on Astronomy
    • Developing Resource Guides
    • Writing Web-based Articles
    • Giving Talks on Astronomy Education
  • CLASSES & LECTURES
    • Classes I Teach
    • Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series
    • Public Lectures I Give
  • GALLERY
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • Radio Programs & Podcasts with Andrew Fraknoi
    • Videos of Talks and Interviews
  • SCIENCE FICTION
GET CONNECTED
  • MY BLOG
  • BOOKS & ARTICLES
    • Books by Andrew Fraknoi
    • Articles for the Public
    • Articles for Educators
    • Interdisciplinary Articles (Astronomy & the Humanities)
    • Classroom Activities on Astronomy
  • RESOURCE GUIDES
  • CONSULTING
    • Non-technical Talks on Astronomy
    • Developing Resource Guides
    • Writing Web-based Articles
    • Giving Talks on Astronomy Education
    • Organizing Conferences or Workshops
  • CLASSES & LECTURES
    • Classes I Teach
    • Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series
    • Public Lectures I Give
  • GALLERIES
    • Solar System Images
    • Nebula and Galaxy Images
    • Bumper Stickers for Astronomy
    • Pictures with Astronomers
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • Radio Programs & Podcasts with Andrew Fraknoi
    • Videos of Talks and Interviews
  • SCIENCE FICTION
Mars Insight Lander Takes First Selfie
Share
Mars, Solar System, Space Science

Mars Insight Lander Takes First Selfie

December 20, 2018
-
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi

NASA's InSight Lander Takes First Selfie

NASA’s InSight lander on Mars has sent back its first “selfie” — a great mosaic of 11 images, taken by the color camera on the “elbow” of its robotic arm. You can clearly see the round solar panels (7 feet wide) which collect power for the lander, and, between them, the instrument deck for measuring weather, marsquakes, and other conditions on Mars. Eventually, the instrument package nicknamed the mole will try to dig a hole 16 feet deep and see how heat flows inside the red planet. It’s terrific to see InSight’s systems slowly being tried out and working so well.

December 20, 2018

Related Posts

Other posts that you should not miss.
The Pleiades by David Lane
Astronomy, Classes, Space Science

I’m Teaching an Astronomy Course for Beginners

September 14, 2021
-
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi

Explore the Universe in a Fun, Non-credit Class On-line for People Over 50 Come explore such cosmic …

Read More
September 14, 2021
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi
Astronomy, Pluto, Solar System

Celebrating Pluto Day on the Radio

February 19, 2022
-
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi

February 18 was the anniversary of the discovery of Pluto (in 1930), and thanks to the efforts …

Read More
February 19, 2022
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi
A new Hubble image of a giant cluster of stars
Astronomy, Galaxy, Space Science, Star Clusters

Beautiful Image of a Hidden Cluster

June 4, 2022
-
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi

The Hubble Space Telescope has taken a wonderful new image of a huge cluster of stars in …

Read More
June 4, 2022
Posted by Andrew Fraknoi
← PREVIOUS POST
Total Eclipse of the Moon Coming Sunday January 20, 2019
NEXT POST →
Total Eclipse of a Blue Supermoon on January 31

"*" indicates required fields

Subscribe to my blog!

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

RECENT POSTS
  • Virgo Cluster (part) from the Rubin Observatory
    New Telescope to Take Movie of Entire Sky
    June 24, 2025

    Astronomers unveiled first pictures from the amazing Rubin Observatory, which is getting ready to take the deepest, widest movie of the entire sky.

  • The leaning Earth in its orbit around the Sun each year.
    Friday is the Summer Solstice — Caused by Earth’s Ancient Accident
    June 16, 2025

    Friday is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. We explain why.

  • Two of My Science-Fiction Stories Published in May
    June 1, 2025

    View this email in your browser A Change of Pace from Astronomy News  …

  • We see the 128 new moons of Saturn with their orbits drwan in
    128 New Moons Found Around Saturn
    April 8, 2025

    An international team of astronomers announced recently that they had discovered 128 new, small …

  • Three images of the Moon during an eclipse
    Total Eclipse of the Moon Coming Mar. 13-14
    February 13, 2025

    There will be a total eclipse of the Moon visible in the Americas the night of March 13-14

Archives
  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME
  • FAVORITE LINKS

© Copyright 2025 | All Rights Reserved

Mars Insight Lander Takes First Selfie - Andrew Fraknoi - Astronomy Lectures - Astronomy Education Resources