Terraforming Mars

From Martyn J. Fogg's Terraforming Website

Mars is currently a world gripped in a perpetual ice age. On the surface, Mars is a freeze-dried world of rocks, ice, and dust. At first glance it looks like the least likely place to plant a garden. But rocks and minerals found by the Mars rovers show it may have had a warmer and more clement environment conducive to life. 

Animation showing Mars' transformation while being Terraformed

Today on Far Future Horizons we take another exciting look at the possibility of transforming the planet Mars into a second planetary abode for humanity and the other life forms of our planet. What would it take to Terraform the red planet and bring life to Mars and Mars to life?

Violent Universe

Cygnus X-1 Copyright David A. Hardy


One of the first suspected examples of a black hole was Cygnus X-1. In 1972 a massive blue supergiant star in Cygnus was found to have an invisible companion which emitted X-rays.  This was calculated to be 14 times as massive as the Sun – too massive to be a neutron star, so a black hole is the most likely explanation. Here it is seen pulling material away from its companion and becoming strongly heated; hence the X-rays. Excess gas is ejected in two very active jets above and below the disc.  (Digital, from Futures.)

Today on Far Future Horizons we take a breathtaking journey into the future, five billion years from now, to see the ultimate fate of the Solar System and other violent and destructive events which shape our Universe.

The 'Satellite Planets' of the Solar System and Beyond

Satellite Planet© David A. Hardy 

Today on Far Future Horizons we present another installment of the awe inspiring documentary series “The Universe” and take a journey to the other natural satellites of our solar system and beyond.

The natural satellites of the major planets in our solar system come in many shapes and sizes. Each is a world unique and beautiful in its own right. Home to incredible natural phenomena like gigantic geysers and colossal volcanoes, moons also offer perhaps the best chance of finding alien life in the Universe – and they probably exist in the billions.

A Hypothetical Alien Moon Orbiting an Exosolar ringed planet

In fact a recent article on Discovery News asked the question: Should Large Moons Be Called 'Satellite Planets'? The term ‘Satellite Planet’ was coined by the principal investigator on NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto  Alan Stern.

The Universe ~ Total Eclipse

Copyright David A. Hardy

Today on Far Future Horizons we present episode seven of the fifth season of the History Channel’s outstanding documentary series – The Universe.

In this installment we examine an astronomical phenomenon that has inspired awe and wonder throughout the ages – The Total Solar Eclipse.