The science community is rallying to save VIPER.<\/strong> Following NASA\u2019s announcement of its intent to cancel the VIPER mission to the Moon\u2019s south pole, The Planetary Society helped circulate a letter signed by 1,000 individuals from the lunar and planetary science community to more than 200 key congressional staffers. The letter urges Congress to intervene, emphasizing the importance of VIPER for future lunar exploration and scientific discovery. Pictured: An artist\u2019s impression showing NASA\u2019s VIPER rover moving down a ramp of Astrobotic\u2019s Griffin lander. Image credit: Astrobotic.<\/i><\/p>\n Advocacy works, and VERITAS is proof of that.<\/strong> In late 2022, NASA\u2019s VERITAS mission to study Venus was defunded. Thanks to the help of space advocates \u2014 like Planetary Society members \u2014 the mission is now back on. Darby Dyar, the deputy principal investigator for VERITAS, joins this week\u2019s Planetary Radio to share the story.<\/p>\n Why does Jupiter spin so fast?<\/strong> The Solar System\u2019s largest planet rotates roughly once every nine hours and 50 minutes \u2014 extremely quickly for such a large object. Earth, in comparison, rotates at a relatively sedate 23 hours and 56 minutes. Why this is the case can tell us a lot about not only the Solar System but worlds around other stars, too.<\/p>\n Our online member community is gearing up for the August book club meeting.<\/strong> This month, members read \u201cStill As Bright: An Illuminating History of the Moon, from Antiquity to Tomorrow\u201d by Christopher Cokinos. The author will join members in a virtual Q&A on Aug. 1 at 6:00 p.m. PT to discuss the book, his personal immersion in all things lunar, and how our natural satellite is enmeshed throughout human culture and history. Not yet a Planetary Society member? Join today!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Planetary](\"https:\/\/planetary.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/email\/newsletter\/email-tps-logo-small.png\"){kind=logo}
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