The Mars Reconnisance Orbiter arrived at Mars recently and sent back its first image.

This image is at a resolution of 2.5 meters per pixel, and the platform should take much higher resolution imagery once its in the correct orbit. Its going to require six months of careful aerobraking to achieve that orbit but once there we should be able to get pictures of Martian terrain down to one meter resolution.

This fantastic imaging capability will be put to use looking for more evidence of water, checking out terrain to validate theories of climate and geology, and scouting out possible landing sites for new machines and eventually people.

In addition to the camera work this platform will act as a radio relay for existing and future ground exploration vehicles.

Two things to report: (1) yet another change in Eileen’s book; and (2) after nearly twelve years at Creo (and later Kodak) I’m leaving.

Eileen’s book will now be titled In the Stars and will be published in February 2007. I think I liked the last title (Predicting Mr. Right) better but I’m definitely not the target audience. On the other hand the publisher’s marketing department are paid professionals and likely know what they are doing, so they get many more votes than me.

The second bit of news pales by comparison but is still significant enough to report. Way back in December 1994 Eileen and I moved to Vancouver so that I could join a 200 person company named Creo Inc. The company grew (eventually to 4000 people worldwide before being acquired by Kodak) and I was always able to find new challenges; however the last year or so has not been quite as exciting or challenging or rewarding as I’d hoped.

Last week I accepted an offer from Sophos Inc. here in Vancouver. I start at the beginning of April. I’m really looking forward to the change; it’s an entirely new market and new company with a family of new products to learn and work with. I’ll be writing software again, I find that part very exciting too. I’m nervous in a very excited way!

Eileen’s first book Predicting Mr. Right will be published March 2007 by Penguin Publishing. Yippe! Visit her website and tell her how much you are going to love buying her book as gifts for everyone you know!

Today was the last day of the 28th annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. This fundraising event is held every spring and this year featured 1,320 wines from 186 different wineries in 15 countries. We went to three events this year: an evening of French wine and French food at Pastis last Tuesday, a tasting of twelve Pinot Noirs from around the world last Thursday, and finally the traditional Flavors of the Festival brunch earlier today.

The event at Pastis was amazing; as usual the food was outstanding and also perfectly paired with wines from six different wine-making regions. Each wine was introduced by a member from the winery, and it was a fun-filled evening. We went home absolutely stuffed and slept very well that night. Best wine was a 2000 Chateau Kirwan Margaux, closely followed by a 2001 Pfaffenheim Gewurztraminer.

Thursday night was a traditional tasting event dedicated to Pinot Noir. We had twelve different wines from here in British Columbia, France, California, Oregon, and New Zealand. A person from each winery (usually the wine-maker) gave a ten minute overview of the wine, their terroir, their process, etc. We learned that irrigation and planting density are hotly contested topics among these cordial competitors. Best wine was from Domaine de la Vougeraie although every wine and every wine-maker was delightful.

Today’s event was a brunch where twelve restaurants from around Vancouver (a couple were actually from out of town) make a small dish representing their cuisine, paired with a wine featured by the festival. Discovered a new Zinfandel from Ironstone Vineyards that was absolutely delightful. Definitely will pick up a few bottles to have around the house, as it really was a treat. It was paired with lamb and risotto from Papi’s Ristorante in Richmond that was very tasty. We don’t get down to Richmond much but visiting Papi’s might be just the incentive needed.

Oh the sacrifices we make for charity. If only every week could be so decadent!

The NASA probe to the Saturn system continues to send back amazing imagery. This one shows Titan with its hazy atmosphere showing through the edges of Saturn’s rings. Here is what the Cassini science team has to say about this image:

Titan’s smoggy atmosphere glows brilliantly in scattered sunlight, creating a thin, gleaming crescent beyond Saturn’s rings. At this slight angle above the ringplane, the thin F ring shines brightly. Light from Titan’s eastern and western limbs (edges) penetrates the Cassini Division, which looks like a thin gap from this angle.

I am continuously amazed as how wonderful and beautiful the natural universe can be. Check out more sights from Saturn at the NASA Cassini website. There are three and a half more years of science to do out there, and plenty of more lovely pictures to see too.

The budget announced by NASA yesterday cuts back on these sorts of science missions, instead putting more money into human space flight especially preparing for a Moon landing in 2018. I definitely look forward to seeing people walking on the surface of our closest celestial neighbor but I find it sad that science flights suffer. I find it hard to rationalize the concept that we must choose between pushing human exploration or expanding human knowledge about the universe around us, but not both.