Rounding up the best from CoS #116

This week's Carnival of Space introduced me to a new site, Habitation Intention. As always, the collection of space-related stories from around the 'net is worth checking out, and I've got my top three picks for you.

1. Goodbye, Moon and Mars! What, you thought that my opinion was shared by many? That we'd find a way to resume manned spaceflight to other worlds? That's we'd head to Mars after maybe stopping off at the Moon first? It isn't going to happen, says Cumbrian Sky. They've got the heartbreaking tale of death due to lack of funding, with some nice anger to go along with it.

2. Opportunity still kicks ass. And here I thought it was so impressive that, more than five years after its slated mission end, Opportunity was still going and making incredible discoveries on Mars. Well, I've got nothing on what Mars HiRISE can see. Check out these images of where Opportunity is, where it's headed, and where it's been, courtesy of Universe Today.

3. Go and experience the planets! This art project about the Solar System really provides an outstanding visual look at our planetary system and nearest neighbors in space. Bad Astronomy has more of the story.

Check out the rest of this new Carnival, and my entry for it -- the 3-D flythrough of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field -- and enjoy all the space-y goodness we've got to offer!