I have a new story published on my Across the Universe blog over at The Guardian.

"Curiosity's science mission is under way. After watching Mars' moon Phobos pass the Sun, the rover is now eyeing up its first rock (called Jake) for analysis

The first data from Nasa's Curiosity is in. At the weekend, as expected, the rover took a video of Phobos slipping across the face of the Sun.

The first images of the event show the rocky moon taking a small bite out of the fiery disc. These alignments, known as transits, occur twice every Martian year (which is about twice as long as an Earth year) and last for just 30 seconds.

Images of the event pinpoint Phobos in its orbit, allowing astronomers to precisely define its path around Mars. This information could eventually allow Phobos to be used as a probe of Mars' internal structure. ..."

Read the full story here.

It is with great pleasure that I announce the publication of the Finnish edition of The Sky's Dark Labyrinth. Taivaan Labyrintti is published today by Moreeni. Click here for more details. 

The Italian edition, L'oscuro labirinto del cielo, is coming in November.

I have a new story published on my Across the Universe blog over at The Guardian.

"Let the science begin! Curiosity begins its quest to determine whether Mars was once habitable, metre by metre, rock by rock

This is the moment the scientists have been waiting for. Nasa's Mars Curiosity rover will begin driving today in search of the first rock to analyse with its robot arm. After five and a half weeks of instrument checks, software updates and test drives, today the scientists take over from the engineers. ..."

Read the full story here.

From time to time, I intend to feature posts by other writers on my Across The Universe blog over at The Guardian. They will either complement or balance my own views. This is the first one. Today, NASA celebrates its past with a memorial for Neil Armstrong. Here, Google's Zahaan Bharmal informs us of something amazing, also happening today, on the International Space Station that points to the future.

"There comes a day in a man's life, a sad day, when he realises he will never fulfil his childhood ambition of becoming an astronaut.  For me, that day was August 6th this year, as I watched in awe as Curiosity touched down on Mars.

Curiosity will, I hope, not be the last rocket to travel to Mars. It will lead to another rocket, and another, that will eventually lead to the first manned mission to Mars. The first human footprint on another planet.

The sad truth, that struck me watching Curiosity land, is that these footprints will never be mine. I am too old.  The first man or woman to one day walk on Mars is, today, a child. They are a young boy or girl, most likely a teenager sitting in a classroom somewhere in the world. ..."

Read the full story here.

I have a new story published on my Across the Universe blog over at The Guardian.

"The Dawn spacecraft leaves asteroid Vesta today and Nasa is throwing a farewell party online on Saturday. Everyone is invited but how many will attend?

Nasa is saying Hasta La Vista, Vesta (its joke, not mine). After almost 14 months in orbit around that particular space rock, this morning the Dawn spacecraft slipped Vesta's gravitational bonds and began its two-and-a-half year voyage to the largest of the asteroids, Ceres.

To celebrate, Nasa is hosting a Google+ Hangout on Saturday 8 September at 12 noon (Pacific)/8pm (UK). Mission scientists and engineers have promised to participate in a virtual face-to-face with members of the public. Questions can be submitted by email, Facebook or Twitter. ... "

Read the full story here.