What A Nerd

Solar System: Things to Know This Week

Our solar system is huge, let us break it down for you. Here are a few things to know this week:

1. The New New Horizons

Seven months after the  Pluto flyby, information and discoveries continue to flow from the New Horizons mission, as the spacecraft transmits more and more data to scientists on Earth.

2. A Longlasting Dawn

The Dawn orbiter is in good health as it carries out the ongoing reconnaissance of the dwarf planet Ceres, which is revealing some spectacular and mysterious landscapes.

3. Storm Watch: Saturn

This week the Cassini spacecraft will be watching for storms in Saturn’s turbulent atmosphere. On March 6, it will spend about 14 hours acquiring a movie of the narrow, braided F ring. Check out some past photos of Saturnian storms HERE.

4. The Next Flight to Mars Departs Soon

The ExoMars 2016 mission, a joint endeavor between the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, is set to lift off in March. The 2016 mission consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module. We’re supplying some of the technology that will fly aboard the orbiter. In 2018, the ExoMars rover is slated to follow.

5. Early Encounter with a Comet

As we continue to marvel at the latest images from Rosetta, this week is a good time to remember the 30th anniversary of the Vega 1 Comet Halley flyby. This Russian spacecraft dropped off a balloon probe at Venus before continuing on to the comet, which is photographed and examined at close range by flying through its coma.

Want to learn more? Read our full list of the 10 things to know this week about the solar system HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

BLACK VELVET NEBULA CAKE

it will be okay. the stars will still shine

northern downpour // panic! at the disco

Callisto pushed their glasses back up. Frankly, this monster both looked and smelled absolutely disgusting. But he had a kind smile, and he was offering food. Their stomach growled audibly, and they felt their face heat up with embarrassment. They kept their journal clutched close to their chest, and shifted uncomfortably on their feet.

“Food sounds nice,” They tried a sheepish smile. “I mean, I don’t really know what you have, but... Anything sounds good to me.” Three Crab Apples a day for the last couple of days hadn’t been the most pleasant decision Callisto had made on their journey, but rationing food so they could get further was what was most important. Going a day without eating wouldn’t be good for their body or their morale.

The kid took comfort in the fact that Burgerpants looked just as nervous as they felt.

Continued from here: X

@curiositics

Burgerpant’s already drooping eyes squinted, and he inhaled a heavy puff of smoke before exhaling in the direction opposite of the child. He smelled absolutely rank, and looked as disheveled as anyone could guess with just one whiff of the guy. 

Sympathy unfurled on his expression; Callisto looked to be in an even worse state than him, if possible. Hell, it was an almost impressive feat, but it only increased his pity for the poor kid. Which he really didn’t want to bother with while on his break. Or ever.

“Damnit…” His conscious won over and after a muttered curse Burgerpants crouched down to eye level with them. “You look horrible. And that’s something comin’ from a guy like me.” In an attempt to be friendly he flashed an awkward smile, revealing his yellowed teeth. “Uh…”

He stood, scratching the back of his neck. His dingy orange fur bristled and he sighed. Damn his conscious; someday he was going to be fired for trying to be a nice guy, he just knew it. 

“If you really need some grub, little buddy, I might be able to um…sneak you some food. Gotta be careful so my boss doesn’t catch me, but you look like you could use some burgers or something. Yeah. Um…So you want anything?”

Callisto had quietly tried to reply several times, but the cheery monster hadn’t seemed to notice. They were quickly becoming overwhelmed, fearful, even, their heart pounded in their chest. He was so interested in their soul, everything about them. They wrung their hands and let out a breathy laugh.

“I didn’t even know what color it was before I fell,” They managed to stutter out finally. “Funny, huh? Everyone down here is so nice, I--” They didn’t know what to say. They didn’t really deserve the kindness. Not when their soul meant... Not when their soul meant so much.

“I’m sad that I have to go. It’s very... Interesting down here. The echo flowers in particular are really amazing! See, I tried,” they bent to pick up their journal, “to study them, to figure out what makes them echo, but... I didn’t really get anywhere with it. There’s just so much to learn down here.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Callisto. You must be far from home, hm?” Gaster chuckled lightly, a  sympathetic note in the sound. “I’ve head rumors of a child making their way through Waterfall. A temmie informed me though, so it wasn’t exactly a reliable source. But,” He exclaimed, “it seems they were correct!”

Well and truly the scientist seemed delighted at Callisto’s presence. If they were anxious or anything of the sort he hardly noticed past his genuine intrigue. 

“It’s been some time alright since we’ve had a newcomer. The Underground must provide a host of entertainment for a surface dweller such as yourself! Not as much as the surface, surely, but it’s interesting regardless.”

A pang of sorrow, or yearning even crossed Gaster’s glee at the mention of the surface. He soon brightened again, hardly giving Callisto a chance to speak themself. 

“And my, your soul! Purple! I’ve never seen that colour before.” The twinkle in his dual black-and-white eyes only gleamed brighter. He marveled at all the quirks he’d noticed right off the bat but remained in place; Gaster had no intention of invading their personal space, no more than he intended to overwhelm them.

Really, he was only succeeding in one of those.

10, 11, & 28~!

askthetic; accepting

10. if you could choose one person to protect with your life, who would it be?

“Only one?” There was a pause.

“I guess… I guess I’d protect Gaster. He’s one of the closest I have to family now. Since, you know… The rest of my family’s gone.”

11. if you had to choose one person to be protected by, who would they be?

“My dad.”

28. would you rather be the moon or the sun?

“I’d rather be the moon. I think being the sun would be exhausting.”

surround yourself with happy scents; lemongrass, lavender, freshly baked bread, and bedsheets clean as cloud. let foreign fragrances steal your worries away with spiced breezes; cinnamon, pear, pepper, cloves, chamomile and mulberry wine. be enhanced by the sweet potency of popcorn, peach water, and soft winds churning cherry blossom into pointed noses. smell is an underrated sense. it can lift your mood more than you could ever imagine.

My muse is dead. Tell me how yours is dealing with it.

Jupiter’s Moon - Callisto