Automatic Interplanetary explorers NASA, the European Space Agency and the other is currently gathering information about our solar system. Right now, the spacecraft are orbiting the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Saturn, while others fly to the small space objects. Due to the astronauts and all automatic mechanical intelligence in space, we have the opportunity to see the "family" pictures of our solar system. This Pan-STARRS - non-periodic comet near-Sun. In March 2013 it can be seen with the naked eye, while it was near perihelion. It was named in honor of the telescope Pan-STARRS, located on the island of Maui (Hawaii). This comet made ​​March 15, 2013 from the unit Stereo Behind, which is part of one of the most unusual projects to study the Sun. For example, one unit is moving in its orbit, located slightly closer to the Sun, the Earth, the other - a little further. As a result, Stereo Ahead and Stereo Behind send pictures taken from different angles at the same time. This allows you to create a three-dimensional picture of the observations. Ejection of matter from the solar corona - the outer atmosphere of the Sun, November 19, 2012. Mercury - the closest planet to the Sun, the solar system. By their physical characteristics Mercury resembles the Moon. It has no natural satellites, but there is a very thin atmosphere. The temperature on Mercury's surface ranges from -180 to +430 ° C. Photo taken with an American interplanetary probe Messenger to Mercury Research. Mercury - the smallest terrestrial planet. Its radius is only 2440 ± 1.0 km, which is less than the radius of Jupiter's moon Ganymede and Saturn's moon Titan. Relative sizes of the planets (left to right: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars): Kertesz crater on Mercury. It is named in honor of Andre Curtis (Andre Kertesz), the Hungarian-born American photographer. The diameter of the crater is 33 km away. This is Venus - the second planet in the solar system inside. Its relative sizes are shown in the 4th photo. Venus is classified as Earth-like planets, and is sometimes called "Earth's sister planet" because the two planets are similar in size, gravity and composition. On space standards Venus - a young planet, and the surface of Venus about 500 million years old. In ancient times Venus is believed to be warmed up so that these oceans of the earth, which is believed to possess it, is completely evaporated, leaving behind a barren landscape with many plitopodobnyh rocks. Pressure on the surface of Venus 92 times greater than the earth. Crater Gruytuyzen-Gamma on the Moon, October 28, 2012. Its diameter - 20 km. Photo of our Earth with EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite, January 29, 2013. Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoside left in open space with the ISS, November 1, 2012. Contrary to popular belief, space is not completely empty space - it has a very low density of some particles (mostly hydrogen) and electromagnetic radiation. Also, there is still no consensus on what constitutes a factor in the beginning of the cosmos, as the atmosphere is gradually diluted as the distance from the earth's surface. According to NASA scientists, contrary to popular belief, if it enters into space without a protective suit people will not freeze, do not explode immediately and did not lose consciousness, his blood boils. Instead, come quick death from lack of oxygen. Northern Lights in Alaska, March 17, 2013. 1000-1100 km - the maximum height of the aurora, the last visible from Earth's surface manifestation of the atmosphere. Crater Lake - this body of water formed by the volcanic crater filled with water. In this picture, the province of Quebec, made from a satellite, shows two circular crater lake is not covered with snow - Pingualuit and Couture. Both craters were formed millions of years ago by the impact of meteorites on Earth's surface. The plane on a background of the rising moon, February 25, 2013. Track from falling meteorite in Chelyabinsk, February 15, 2013. The test rocket launch "Antares", developed by U.S. company Orbital Sciences Corporation and is intended to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, April 21, 2013. On this run we have already talked in detail. December 7, 2012 was 40 years since the launch of "Apollo 17" - manned spacecraft, which was carried out in the sixth and final part of "Apollo program" landing men on the moon. This photo was taken in 1972 on board the ship "Apollo 17." It is seen as the Earth rises above the lunar horizon. Self-portrait rover Curiosity - agent seeking life on Mars, February 3, 2013. For the rover Curiosity watching spacecraft Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, located on the Martian orbit. In this picture there are traces of the tracks the rover on the surface of the Red Planet, January 2, 2013. Eolida or Mount Sharp - the central peak of Gale Crater on Mars, September 20, 2012. The main purpose of the scientific mission of the rover Curiosity is research area the foot of Mount Sharp. February 8, 2013 American Curiosity rover to Mars drilled hole (diameter 1.6 cm, depth 6.4 cm) and obtained a soil sample. Gullies on the asteroid Vesta. This is one of the largest asteroids in the main asteroid belt. Among asteroids ranked first by weight, and the second largest after the Pallas. Vesta was opened March 29, 1807 by Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers and at the suggestion of Carl Gauss was given the name of the Roman goddess of home and hearth Vesta. Dawn on Saturn. In the upper part of the picture you can see how the edge of the planet Venus appeared. White stripe - Saturn's ring G, consisting of ice and dust, width 8000 km. Photo was taken from the robotic Cassini spacecraft, which was created jointly by NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. Titan - the largest moon of Saturn, the second largest moon in the Solar System (after Jupiter's Ganymede), is the only one, other than Earth, the body in the solar system, for which we prove the existence of liquid on the surface. Photo taken with the Cassini spacecraft automatic 3 September 2012. What happens at the north pole of Saturn? Some strange clouds with a complex structure formed vortex. These clouds are the focus of an unusual hexagonal structure of the clouds surrounding the north pole of Saturn. The picture was taken with the Cassini spacecraft automatically November 27, 2012. Saturn, Dec. 18, 2012. It relates to a planetary type gas: it consists mainly of the gas and solid surface. The equatorial radius of the planet is 60,300 km, the mass of Saturn is 95 times the mass of our Earth. Plasma loops in the Sun, October 17, 2012. They are so huge that they could encircle several planets the size of Earth.