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  • NAU planetary astronomer receives NASA grants for two new studies of Main Asteroid Belt

Mars

NAU planetary astronomer receives NASA grants for two new studies of Main Asteroid Belt

Posted by Heather Tate on September 2, 2020

Cristina Thomas sitting as a computer The majority of asteroids in our solar system are found in the Main Asteroid Belt, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Although millions of objects populate the belt, most are relatively small, and astronomers have not actually studied many of them in detail.

NAU assistant professor Cristina Thomas, whose research focuses on asteroids, recently received two grants from NASA to study two different… Read more

Filed Under: College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

Three NAU graduate students awarded NASA’s prestigious FINESST grants

Posted by Heather Tate on August 14, 2020

Ty Robinson at a computer in his office.Three Ph.D. students in Northern Arizona University’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science have been awarded grants through the Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) program. The funding—up to $135,000 total per student for up to three years—supports graduate student-designed research projects that help further NASA’s Science Mission Directorate interests in Earth sciences, heliophysics, planetary science and astrophysics.

Anthony Maue,… Read more

Filed Under: College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

NAU planetary scientist collaborates on first-ever Mars mission launched by Arab world

Posted by Heather Tate on July 15, 2020

Artist impression of the United Arab Emirates'
An artist’s impression of the United Arab Emirates’ Hope spacecraft in orbit around Mars, where it will arrive in February 2021 after launching from Japan. Credit: MBRSC

A veteran of multiple NASA missions to Mars, Northern Arizona University planetary scientist Christopher Edwards will closely watch the launch of a… Read more

Filed Under: College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

NAU planetary scientist captures new images of Martian moon Phobos to help determine its origins

Posted by Heather Tate on June 3, 2020

Image of Mars moon
Images capture the Mars moon Phobos during different phases—waxing, waning and full—including the three images recently processed by Edwards (credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/NAU)

Christopher Edwards, assistant professor in NAU’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, just processed new images of the Martian moon Phobos that give scientists insight into the physical properties of the moon… Read more

Filed Under: College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

One step closer to living on Mars: NAU scientists contribute to NASA’s “treasure map” of widespread water ice near planet’s surface

Posted by Heather Tate on December 10, 2019

Map of Mars
This image displays the depth to buried ice (left) and the relative dustiness/rockiness of the surface (right)

In anticipation of sending humans to Mars by 2033, NASA scientists are searching for suitable locations to land on the Red Planet. Ideally, these potential landing sites would have high scientific value for exploration while offering natural resources to sustain human life.… Read more

Filed Under: College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

Think twice before moving to Mars—NAU planetary scientist refutes terraforming in NASA study

Posted by Heather Tate on July 30, 2018

Terraforming the Martian Atmosphere illustration Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Colonizing Mars as a backup planet for Earth has been a theme in both science fiction and popular science for decades, and NASA plans to send human explorers to the Red Planet within the next 20 years.

But how feasible is it for humans to explore or colonize Mars? With an average daily… Read more

Filed Under: College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

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