Category: Clear Skies – astronomy

Posted on

Colonizing Mars

Dear Alexander,

You’ve drawn such a powerful graphic – a white rocket against a red planet, and a flag that features one of my favourite farmyard animals. So intriguing!

I agree with you about the challenges of colonizing Mars. We would have to bring everything we need with us. Still, NASA is taking the next steps by putting a new generation of astronauts on the Moon with the goal of setting up a space station that would serve as a resting point on a much longer journey to Mars. Maybe one of my readers will be on that future spaceship. Wouldn’t that be out of this world!

Happy reading,

Jessica

Posted on

Earth seen from the Moon

Child's drawing of the Earth as seen from the Moon

Dear Emilio,

I think you should write your astronaut cat story. It is sure to be a bestseller, especially for readers who like cats and outer space. You’ve done a wonderful job showing what the view would look like from the Moon. Earth is wonderfully drawn as is our cat hero.

I did read that astronauts wouldn’t be able to see stars from the Moon because the Sun would block out their light. So that’s a bit sad to think about, because I love to see stars on clear nights. Still, your craters, the flag, the rocks and the lunar car are all fantastic. Well done, you!

Happy reading and writing,

Jessica

Posted on

Helicopter on Mars

Child's self-portrait as an astronaut on Mars

Dear Vikesh,

I so enjoyed your self-portrait of you as an astronaut on Mars. The classic moon-with-craters and the fiery sun in the sky are nice details, especially with the very creative size-scale you’ve chosen.

Have you been keeping up with the latest developments on Mars? I was thrilled to watch the recent helicopter flight. It must be very lonely on Mars, especially after such a long flight to get there, so I’m glad Perseverance now has a little buddy to help explore the red terrain.

Happy reading,

Jessica

Posted on

Mars with rocket

Child's drawing of a rocket blasting across Mars

Dear Irene,

I absolutely love your drawing. The design is so bold, the lines so clean, the movement so dynamic! This would make an excellent T-shirt design, or the cover for a sci-fi novel, or the mission badge for the first-ever team going to Mars. I hope you are considering a career as a graphic designer when you grow up.

As to your question, which of my books do I like the best, I would have to say it is the one I am working on right now, which isn’t even published. I’m still working on the last two chapters, and it is only the first draft, but I’m having a blast writing it.

Happy reading,
Jessica

Posted on

The Moon has water

Child's drawing of Earth and the Moon with an astronaut

Dear Evan,

I really appreciate the wonderful details you’ve added to your drawing, including Neil Armstrong’s footprints on the Moon’s dusty surface. Isn’t it fun to know that those footprints are still there, undisturbed, even though it has been fifty years since the first astronauts landed.

I just learned that water has been discovered on the Moon. Imagine that. I wondered if it would taste exactly the same as here. So I googled it. Turns out that the water on Mars is predicted to be very salty. No word yet on the Moon, but chances are it wouldn’t be pure enough to drink. Chemicals from the Moon’s surface along with meteoroids are likely mixed in with lunar H2O.

All that to say, there’s no place like home. Stay well, and happy reading.

Jessica

Posted on

Extra bright Mars

Child's drawing of the planet Mars with a Canadian flag and a rocket.

Dear Henrik,

Thank you so much for your gorgeous drawing of Mars. I’m thinking about Mars today because tonight, Earth will move in its orbit to line up with Mars and the Sun, forming a straight line, with Earth in the middle.

As a result, Mars will look bigger, brighter and redder from Earth. Also, Mars won’t get this close to Earth again until 2035! Pretty special!

If it is a clear night where you live, and you happen to have a telescope, you might even see Mars’ polar icecaps. Mars will be rising from the east as the Sun sets.

Alas, it is pouring today where I live, which means that clouds will block my view. The only red I’m going to see are the sodden leaves clinging to the maple tree in my backyard.

There’s always next year.

Stay well, and happy reading,

Jessica