Do it yourself space exploration this week on planetary radio. Hi everyone, welcome to Public Radio's travel show that takes you to the

final frontier.

I'm Matt Kaplan.

It's the hobby that lets you do real science as you wonder at the beauty of the universe.

Amateur astronomy is our topic this week as we visit the Southern California Astronomy Expo. We'll talk with the two biggest

makers of telescopes and get their suggestions for getting started in this dark art.

Then we'll turn pro for another visit with Bruce Betts in our What's Up segment.

Our top news story this week is opportunity sitting on top of Husband Hill.

The Mars rover has finally reached the summit of the highest point in the Guoosev crater region.

Watch for a 360 degree color panorama to be released this week.

Ouse and Oz are encouraged.

As the world turns, it's so much more than your aunt's favorite soap.

Watch the Earth spin as the messenger spacecraft sped by our planet a few days ago on its way to

Mercury. You'll find the animation and a great

family portrait at planetary.org.

Finally, congrats to Bill Dana who got his astronaut's wings last week, about 40 years late.

Dana flew the world's first space plane, the X-15.

Look it up, kids, you'll be amazed.

Stick around as Emily answers another of your great questions.

I'll be back in a moment from Oceanside, California. Hi, I'm Emily Loch Duwala with questions and answers.

A listener asked, why do craters on some planets have central peaks and others don't?

Impact craters in the solar system show a bewildering array of forms.

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