BepiColombo to Mercury with Mark McCaughrean, ESA - The Cosmic Companion 14 Dec. 2021
The third mission ever to Mercury prepares for its historic journey, finding Comet Leonard in the sky, and more!
Looking at the BepiColombo mission to Mercury with Mark McCaughrean of the European Space Agency. Plus, Comet Leonard, a “mystery hut” spotted on the Moon, and more!
This week on Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion, we welcome Mark McCaughrean, Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration at the European Space Agency, to the show. We'll talk about the European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission to Mercury.
We're also going to look at Comet Leonard as it makes its closest approach to Earth this week, and we'll tell you how to find it in the night sky. We're going to hear about an odd finding from a Chinese lunar rover on the far side of the Moon, and we look forward to the launch of the most advanced telescope ever sent into space – the James Webb Space Telescope.
Remember to take a look at our picks for the best books about space and astronomy of 2021. Read book reviews in 100 words or less, and watch an original interview with each author!
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Upcoming Guests on Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion
21 December (s5/e23): Season Finale: James Webb Special with Stefanie Milam, Webb Telescope Deputy Project Scientist for Planetary Science
28 December: Happy Holidays! (No show)
4 January 2022: Happy Holidays! (No show)
Season Six of Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion starts 11 January 2022!
11 January (s6/e1): How Space Exploration Benefits Humanity
18 January (s6/e2): TBA
25 January (s6/e3): Greg Brennecka, author, Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture, and Donkey Kong
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Happy holidays, everyone!
James