ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISPATCH

A team of planetary scientists has found new evidence that suggests the moon's inner core is solid, like Earth's. The study, published in the journal Nature, was led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. The researchers used data from several space missions and from several lunar-based ranging experiments to study the moon's core. They found that the inner core has a radius of approximately 258 kilometers and a density of approximately 7,822 kilograms per cubic meter. This is consistent with the findings of previous studies, which suggested that the inner core is solid. The researchers also found that the outer core is a fluid layer covering the inner core with a radius of 362 kilometers. This is also consistent with previous findings. The new study provides further evidence that the moon's core is similar to Earth's. This suggests that the moon may have formed in a similar way to Earth, from a cloud of dust and gas that collapsed und...

NASA is inviting the public to sign their names to a poem that will fly aboard the Europa Clipper spacecraft. The poem, written by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, is titled “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa.” The poem will be etched onto a microchip and placed on the spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch in October 2024. Europa is a moon of Jupiter that is thought to have a vast ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface. Scientists believe that this ocean could potentially harbor life, making Europa one of the most important targets for future exploration. The Europa Clipper mission will conduct 34 flybys of Europa, during which it will use its instruments to study the moon’s surface, atmosphere, and ocean. The mission is expected to launch in October 2024 and arrive at Jupiter in 2027. The “Message in a Bottle” campaign is a way for the public to participate in the Europa Clipper mission and to show their support for space exploration. To sign the poem, visit t...