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New Discoveries on Mars and Habitability
by Nathalie Cabrol
Two NASA rovers have strengthened the case that ancient Mars may have supported life. While not evidence of life, these discoveries show that ancient Mars had complex organic chemistry, long-lasting water systems, and mineral environments capable of preserving potential signs of life—making the search more compelling and increasingly testable.
Learn more: https://www.seti.org/news/new-discoveries-on-mars-and-habitability/
#PPOD: Korea’s Kompsat-2 satellite captured this image over the sand seas of the Namib Desert on 7 January 2012. The blue-and-white area is the dry riverbed of the Tsauchab. Black dots of vegetation are concentrated close to the river’s main route, while salt deposits appear bright white. Running through the river valley, a road connects Sossusvlei to the Sesriem settlement. Credit: KARI/ESA
#PPOD: With Mars on the opposite side of the Sun at dawn, only six planets were visible in this year's planetary parade, unlike last year, when all seven were in view. The timing of this shot was critical for the fainter planets, and astrophotographer Josh Dury cross-referenced planispheres to confirm their location. Credit: Josh Dury
"With original plans having been fluked by torrential rains, I was able to capture this image from Stonehenge. Not an easy capture. With the change in light, it was possible to capture Venus for a short time before setting. What made it more special was the thin, crescent moon that joined the parade to make for a stunning sight and planetary gathering."
Our latest #SETILive #podcast examines a search for technosignatures in the galactic center that may have revealed the first pulsar to be found there. As Welch Postdoctoral Fellow Karen Perez explains, it's an exciting and possibly Nobel-worthy discovery, if confirmed! Listen to the full episode: https://feeds.libsyn.com/462636/rss
Early Tuesday morning, March 3, a total eclipse of the Moon will be visible from throughout North America. In a lunar eclipse, the Moon and the Sun are exactly opposite each other in our sky, and the Earth gets between them. This means the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon, darkening it.
Board of Trustees member Dr. Andrew Fraknoi has provided an information sheet to answer your most pressing questions!
Read more: https://www.seti.org/news/the-march-3-2026-total-eclipse-of-the-moon/
#PPOD: This Feb. 4, 2026, image from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captures a strong solar flare erupting. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy that, along with other types of solar eruptions, can impact radio communications, electric power grids, and navigation signals and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The flare pictured was classified as an X4.2 flare. X-class flares are the most intense. Credit: NASA/SDO
