Stories - AZPM

Composed of images taken by the Galileo spacecraft in 1995 and 1998, this reprocessed image of the icy Jovian moon Europa shows cracks, ridges, “microchaos,” and more. We now believe that Europa, like several other moons in the solar system, is an ocean world. Due to heat caused by Jupiter’s gravitational push-and-pull, there is liquid salt water beneath the ice, water that may contain life.

"Beyond Earth's Edge: The Poetry of Spaceflight".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: "DUSTWUN", a film about life, death and trust on the U.S. / Mexico Border.

The TusCon Science Fiction Convention was begun in Tucson in 1974, long before the internet made communication between fans of fantastic fiction possible.

The TusCon Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention goes virtual.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: "Stories That Soar!" brings a 2nd grade writer's story to life; and author Benjamin Lorr talks about his book "The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket".

News roundup: Halloween parties raided at UA, spending big on Prop 208, trails reopen in Santa Catalinas

Recent coverage impacting Southern Arizona, Nov. 2

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft stows the TAGSAM collection head after gathering samples from the surface of the asteroid Bennu, Oct. 29, 2020

OSIRIS-REx stows its asteroid sample earlier than planned

The decision was made when the team determined they had plenty of material, which was leaking from the collection head.

Artist’s conception of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample from the asteroid Bennu.

OSIRIS-REx touches an asteroid

The UA-led project is a first for NASA.

Simulation of M87 black hole showing bright blue thin ring — the edge of the black hole shadow.

Black hole study narrows leeway for tweaks to Einstein's gravity theory

The theory of general relativity remains hugely successful, but it leaves open some enduring questions surrounding the origins of dark matter.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft hovers above the asteroid Bennu during a rehearsal on August 11, 2020, months ahead of a planned mission to collect a sample of the asteroid from its surface.

Successful OSIRIS-REx rehearsal boosts optimism

The rehearsal put the spacecraft within 40 meters of the asteroid Bennu's surface.

Image shows the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft approaching the asteroid Bennu in an April 14 rehearsal of the sample collection.

OSIRIS-REx passes milestone by rehearsing approach to asteroid

The first major rehearsal had the added challenge of COVID-19, which meant the mission's team could not be together for the test.

Two images captured approximately one year apart with the SPHERE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope show the apparent dimming of the star Betelgeuse.

Star Betelgeuse's mysterious dimming has the attention of UA astronomer

If the star goes “supernova,” Narsi Anugu says it will provide a boost the field of astronomy.

A true color image of moon of Jupiter Io.

NASA considering UA-backed trip to moon of Jupiter

Exploration of the volcanic moon Io is among four choices for the future mission.

A digital illustration of the asteroid Bennu.

OSIRIS-REx mission selects sample site on asteroid

The University of Arizona is leading the NASA mission.

Ann Hampton Callaway in luxurious black & white.

Ann Hampton Callaway sings "The Linda Ronstadt Songbook".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: The Tucson Handweavers & Spinners Guild; Arizona Theatre Company's "Silent Sky"; and Adiba Nelson on "The Trick That is Halloween".

UA graduate student in geosciences Becki Beadling on a research vessel in teh Southern Ocean, deploying robotic floats that gather information for the SOCCOM project.

Ocean & Space

Learn about UA scientists in the Southern Ocean measuring climate change; and celebrating the past and future of space exploration at Spacefest X.

This screen grab from a NASA video released Aug. 12, 2019 shows four potential locations on Bennu for the OSIRIS-REx probe to collect soil samples.

OSIRIS-REx team IDs targets among boulders of asteroid's rough terrain

Asteroid Bennu's tricky surface has pushed the mission to take a new approach to sample collection.

Astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr., lunar module pilot of the Apollo 16 lunar landing mission, is photographed collecting lunar samples at Station no. 1 during the first Apollo 16 extravehicular activity at the Descartes landing site. This picture, looking eastward, was taken by Astronaut John W. Young, commander. Duke is standing at the rim of Plum crater, which is 40 meters in diameter and 10 meters deep. The parked Lunar Roving Vehicle can be seen in the left background.

Geoff Notkin on the past - and future - of space exploration.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Mexican rock stars sing out about immigration; and a party to celebrate the "The Queen of the Night" at Tohono Chul.

Madonna Thunderhawk and her daughter, Marcy Gilbert, at Standing Rock 2017. The pair were featured in "Warrior Women," a film about the women of the American Indian Movement in the '60s and '70s.

Arizona Spotlight for July 18th, 2019

Flagstaff Red Screen Film Festival presents indigenous stories for all to see; Retired astronaut Mark Kelly reflects on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing; and a Spotlight Session from Heather Hardy & Alvin Blaine.

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