European Association for Astronomy Education

Source: ESA

Mars500 crewmembers testing the Russian Orlan suits
before their mission started in early June 2010.
Credits: IBMP/ Oleg Voloshin

The first full-duration simulation of a manned voyage to Mars has reached a major milestone: the 'spacecraft' yesterday 'arrived' at Mars after 244 days of virtual interplanetary flight. Three crewmembers will 'land' on Mars on 12 February and make three sorties onto simulated martian terrain. (read more)

Source: NASA Kepler

Kepler's planet candidates by size.
Image credit: NASA/Wendy Stenzel

NASA's Kepler mission has discovered its first Earth-size planet candidates and its first candidates in the habitable zone, a region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Five of the potential planets are near Earth-size and orbit in the habitable zone of smaller, cooler stars than our sun.(read more)