2014 NASA images that cost you < $5
by JakeLippert · 2 minutes ago
Solar Dynamics Observatory (Sun)
Several solar flares observable during a period of high solar activity.
MESSENGER (Mercury)
2014 mission year in review.
Hubble Space Telescope
A visible light image of the "Pillars of Creation"
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Taking a peek at the Chang'e 3 site (arrow).
Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity (Mars)
Let me take a selfie! Site "Mojave 2" in the background.
Mars Reconissance Orbiter (Mars)
HiRISE image of carbon dioxide frost on a mountain range of Mars
MAVEN (Mars)
Imaging of various gasses in the atmosphere and exosphere of Mars
Cassini (Saturn)
I know this isn't a picture of Saturn, but it's my favorite image from Cassini in 2014, showing the sun gleaming off the hydrocarbon lakes of Titan.
Dawn (Ceres)
Final calibration tests upon approach of the dwarf planet.
New Horizons (Pluto)
Pluto and Charon coming into view.
This is by no means all the planetary science of 2014, just my favorite images of the year. Also, I'm well aware that the $5 cost only applies to Americans and this is a global community, but I wanted to give a simple frame of reference. The 2016 budget calls for $18.5 billion overall for NASA — 0.46 percent of the federal budget. Of that, the allotment for planetary science has been cut to $1.36 billion. That's less than a single Starbucks Grande beverage for every American. Time to call your congressman.
by JakeLippert · 2 minutes ago
Solar Dynamics Observatory (Sun)
Several solar flares observable during a period of high solar activity.
MESSENGER (Mercury)
2014 mission year in review.
Hubble Space Telescope
A visible light image of the "Pillars of Creation"
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Taking a peek at the Chang'e 3 site (arrow).
Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity (Mars)
Let me take a selfie! Site "Mojave 2" in the background.
Mars Reconissance Orbiter (Mars)
HiRISE image of carbon dioxide frost on a mountain range of Mars
MAVEN (Mars)
Imaging of various gasses in the atmosphere and exosphere of Mars
Cassini (Saturn)
I know this isn't a picture of Saturn, but it's my favorite image from Cassini in 2014, showing the sun gleaming off the hydrocarbon lakes of Titan.
Dawn (Ceres)
Final calibration tests upon approach of the dwarf planet.
New Horizons (Pluto)
Pluto and Charon coming into view.
This is by no means all the planetary science of 2014, just my favorite images of the year. Also, I'm well aware that the $5 cost only applies to Americans and this is a global community, but I wanted to give a simple frame of reference. The 2016 budget calls for $18.5 billion overall for NASA — 0.46 percent of the federal budget. Of that, the allotment for planetary science has been cut to $1.36 billion. That's less than a single Starbucks Grande beverage for every American. Time to call your congressman.
