Linux Mint + Stellarium = Mars

Now that I have the latest version (13.3) of Stellarium installed, I can show you Mars this morning as seen from its satellite Phobos, the closer one of the two.

And here it is as seen from Deimos, the satellite furthest from it. Today, we're lucky, because we can see it from both of its satellites. That's not always possible because of their differences in orbits, and the location of our vantage points.

Today, NASA is going to make a special announcement about Mars, and the speculation runs toward something about the presence of water. So let me start by reminding us that the climate of Mars, being on the outer fringe of our sun's habitable zone, is about like our own sub-arctic. Quite cool varying to downright cold and solidly frozen. Bearing that in mind, there isn't likely to be a lot of liquid water running around loose on the surface. But I'm going to revert here to my old theory, and come out with this statement: Mars once had oceans. It had to have oceans, because those rocks that Curiosity has been drilling and sampling are sedimentary rocks, and sedimentary rocks are formed as the name implies from sediments under water - lots of water, for quite a long time.

So this announcement later this morning will probably confirm the above, and I will be smiling and saying "Told ya!"

And this is this morning's full moon, after all the fuss last evening, still looking OK.

And this is how it looks from my balcony this morning.

Here's an update on that...