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Today, a trip to a most excellently named location on Mars, courtesy of the European Space Agency’s Mars Express satellite program.

Fly across Mars’s ‘labyrinth of night’ with Mars Express

The video begins on a rotating full-globe of Mars, with white polar caps and mottled tan surface visible. It then zooms in on the westernmost part of the large Valles Marineris canyon system, a region highlighted by a white box, and swaps to a new Mars Express visualisation of Noctis Labyrinthus. The camera then flies slowly across a landscape that is broken apart by deep intersecting valleys and canyons.

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Photo by Shihao Mei on Unsplash

I’m a little stuck on a project idea, but I remain optimistic…

“If life ever seems too complicated, if you think no one can help, sometimes the right person to turn to is an eight-year-old.”

― Richard Osman, The Bullet That Missed

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Photo by Patricia Prudente on Unsplash

My day job requires a good deal of time immersed in the news, and while I’m ok with that, some days it can be a lot. I find that writing helps.

Today, that means a haiku.

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Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Applies to Everything

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

— Thomas Edison

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Photo by Sebastian Knoll on Unsplash

Brought to You By

Today’s post is brought to you by the cat.

Chewbacca: “I’m trying to sleep. Please stop muttering about how you have nothing good to post today. Silly human.”

Me: “Fine, you think you can do better?”

Chewie: “Obviously.”

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Photo by serjan midili on Unsplash

What’s Needed

If you pay any attention to the news, you don’t need to be told that the world is a sometimes dark and dangerous place, or that humans have the potential for hatred and violence.

But perhaps you also appreciate a reminder that life is not just fearsome, and that humanity has the potential to do an astonishing amount of good.

I know I do.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

— His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

NASA and the Heavens would like to invite you to a commitment ceremony between the Sun and the Moon!

Join us today for a Ring of Fire ceremony, otherwise known as an annular eclipse, to be celebrated starting at 9:13 PDT today! 

Here’s how you can see Saturday’s ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse – NPR

The “ring of fire” effect happens when the moon, which appears smaller in the sky because it’s further away from us, passes directly in front of the sun.

For more details, including maps with viewing times and locations, visit 2023 Annular Eclipse: Where & When.

We’ll only have about 20% totality here, but I’m still excited for the happy couple. And remember, safety first!

How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely | Solar Eclipse Across America

The solar eclipse can burn your eyes. Here’s what you need to know | CBC Kids News

Astronomers want you to watch the Oct. 14 ‘ring of fire’ eclipse with a disco ball. No, seriously.

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Photo by Bryan Goff on Unsplash

Space News!

In less than an hour, NASA is set to launch Psyche, a mission to an asteroid with lots and lots of bling, arrival date in 2029.

Set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Psyche will travel across the solar system to an asteroid of the same name, which has unusually high metal content. Scientists hope understand why this is so, and to help answer fundamental questions about Earth’s own metal core and the formation of our solar system.

— Psyche – NASA

All of those important fundamental questions, yes. But you know they are also going to look for the shiny shiny. 

For more on the mission:

6 Things to Know About NASA’s Asteroid-Exploring Psyche Mission – NASA

Can’t wait until 2029 to get into all things Psyche? Get Involved Opportunities | NASA Psyche Mission

(I particularly like the examples of #PsycheSpaceCRAFTY.)

Watch the launch live:

(Good news from the future: New mission to metal-rich asteroid Psyche successfully blasts off!)

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Peter Rubin/NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU (PIA25138): NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft en Route to the Asteroid Belt (Artist’s Concept) 

A little reassurance about AI, from the great Margaret Atwood.

Margaret Atwood Reviews a “Margaret Atwood” Story by AI | The Walrus

Take heart! Not all is gloom! So far, generative AI chatbots don’t seem able to reflect on what they’re saying, though that in itself wouldn’t differentiate them from some actual human beings. Also, they’re bad at verbal texture, and they have a poor grasp of metaphor and sometimes even of punctuation. Well, they’re learning from us, so why wouldn’t that be true?

You’re still worried, young author? You doubt my word? Here are a couple of recent literary attempts by AI chatbots that ought to reassure you.

So we can all sleep well. For now, anyway;)

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Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash

Designing the Future

Had a great chat this morning about AI and creativity with Technology Revolution’s Bonnie D., plus Jason PalmatierGene Williams and Glenda Benevides. If you’re interested in a discussion ranging from AI clones to democratized design, check it out.

Technology Revolution: “The Future of Human Creativity and AI: Emotion vs Logic? Part 2

LISTEN Later: On-Demand
WATCH Later: LinkedIn On-Demand and Facebook On-Demand

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Photo by Sharan Pagadala on Unsplash