Early Morning, July 9, 2099—Heading To Mars
This morning we were gently nudged awake by the ignition of rockets blasting us to Mars. CosmicSea is now speeding out of Earth’s orbit toward a rendezvous with the Red Planet. As we pass by the Moon, Earth becomes a constantly shrinking blue dot in the deepening distance.
This leg of our journey will take five months, so we might as well sit back and enjoy the ride.
Because Earth and Mars are in two different orbits around the Sun, we are aiming for a point in space where Mars will be by the time we get there. It’s like throwing a dart at a moving dartboard. We have to hit our target with absolute certainty. If we travel past the grip of Martian gravity, CosmicSea and all of us on board will be slingshot far beyond our destination.
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The easily recognizable asterisms known as The Big Dipper and The Little Dipper can help you find the North Star.
Know the North Star
Know the North Star and discover a sense of direction in your life. Whether you’re lost in the woods or lost in the city, knowing where “North” is can help you find your way home.
You can find the North Star by locating the Big Dipper and looking for the two stars on the far side of the dipper’s cup. The line these two stars make points upward to the North Star. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be looking for the Southern Cross instead of the North Star.