Robert Reeves, Author at Astronomy.com

Chang’e 6 shakes up our knowledge of the Moon’s farside

Robert Reeves — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:59:06 +0000

China’s lunar exploration program continues to rack up impressive scientific results. Their methodical progression of lunar orbiters, landers, and sample return missions display a consistent national effort to explore and understand the Moon in the 21st century. Unlike the early American and Russian lunar probes at the dawn of the Space Age that often endedContinue reading "Chang’e 6 shakes up our knowledge of the Moon’s farside"

The post Chang’e 6 shakes up our knowledge of the Moon’s farside appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Here are the nine sites where Artemis 3 might land on the Moon

Robert Reeves — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:26:36 +0000

It has been 52 years since Apollo 17 lifted off from the Taurus-Littrow Valley on the Moon. All the Apollo landing sites, starting with Tranquility Base on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, have been immortalized in print and film and are well known to space aficionados worldwide. But soon, another name will join the exclusiveContinue reading "Here are the nine sites where Artemis 3 might land on the Moon"

The post Here are the nine sites where Artemis 3 might land on the Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Volcanoes were erupting on the Moon while dinosaurs roamed Earth, Chang’e 5 samples suggest

Robert Reeves — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Chinese researchers have reported evidence that the Moon was volcanically active just 125 million years ago — a geologic blink of an eye — a finding that has the potential to rewrite lunar history. The results come from an analysis of lunar samples returned over three years ago by the Chang’e 5 mission, and upendContinue reading "Volcanoes were erupting on the Moon while dinosaurs roamed Earth, Chang’e 5 samples suggest"

The post Volcanoes were erupting on the Moon while dinosaurs roamed Earth, Chang’e 5 samples suggest appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

India’s lunar rover found remnants of the Moon’s ancient global magma ocean

Robert Reeves — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000

4.5 billion years ago, amid the chaos of the early solar system, the young Earth was rocked by a cataclysmic collision with another planet the size of Mars. The debris flung into space eventually formed a molten sphere of liquified rock — a world covered in a global ocean of magma that later cooled andContinue reading "India’s lunar rover found remnants of the Moon’s ancient global magma ocean"

The post India’s lunar rover found remnants of the Moon’s ancient global magma ocean appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

In Kosovo, a new public observatory opens eyes — and hearts

Robert Reeves — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

On June 15, I traveled to the Balkan country of Kosovo to install a 14-inch telescope donated by Celestron to that young country’s new national observatory and planetarium. The installation of this telescope was a historic occasion, marking the completion of Kosovo’s first national observatory. The facility has enormous potential to cultivate and harness theContinue reading "In Kosovo, a new public observatory opens eyes — and hearts"

The post In Kosovo, a new public observatory opens eyes — and hearts appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

NASA cancels fully built Moon rover, stunning scientists

Robert Reeves — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:59:08 +0000

To the shock of the lunar science community, on July 17, NASA cancelled the much-anticipated Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission, which was expected to prospect for water ice on the Moon — a critical resource for future explorers. VIPER was one of the highest profile missions in NASA’s ongoing Commercial Lunar Payload ServicesContinue reading "NASA cancels fully built Moon rover, stunning scientists"

The post NASA cancels fully built Moon rover, stunning scientists appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Lunar lava tube could shelter a future Moon base

Robert Reeves — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:10:18 +0000

The Moon’s surface presents an unforgivingly harsh environment. As it lacks a magnetic field, it is exposed to levels of hazardous radiation 150 times greater than that on Earth. Without an atmosphere, it is fully vulnerable to deadly coronal mass ejections from the Sun, as well as a perpetual rain of impacting meteorites. And itsContinue reading "Lunar lava tube could shelter a future Moon base"

The post Lunar lava tube could shelter a future Moon base appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

20 things to see on the Moon: An observer’s guide to lunar names

Robert Reeves — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

For over 400 years, legions of lunar cartographers have been surveying the surface of the Moon — first by telescope and then by spacecraft — charting and naming its features. The resulting lunar map is constantly evolving. Over time, new names are added while existing names are dropped or changed after research shows a featureContinue reading "20 things to see on the Moon: An observer’s guide to lunar names"

The post 20 things to see on the Moon: An observer’s guide to lunar names appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

A visit to the cutting-edge Southwest Research Institute

Robert Reeves — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:48:41 +0000

Nested on a peaceful 1,500-acre campus on the west side of San Antonio, the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been exploring the solar system for the past several decades. It has evolved into a major force in space science and robotics, responsible for some of NASA’s biggest success stories. San Antonio’s fame is often associatedContinue reading "A visit to the cutting-edge Southwest Research Institute"

The post A visit to the cutting-edge Southwest Research Institute appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

In pursuit of exoplanets

Robert Reeves — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Almost 50 years old, the 2.7-meter Harlan Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory in West Texas remains one of the premier instruments for recording stellar spectra. All images by Robert Reeves Michael Endl is on a mission: As a research scientist with the University of Texas at Austin, he hopes the sum of his astronomy careerContinue reading "In pursuit of exoplanets"

The post In pursuit of exoplanets appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.