Category Archives: Mars

Chinas Mars rover, Zhurong, has captured new images of the Red Planet.

The images, released by the China National Space Administration, show the rovers parachute and partially burnt but still intact protective shell on the ground, with the rover in one corner.

Zhurong was 30m away from the shell and 350m away from the landing site when the pictures were taken, according to the CNSA.

Chinas Mars probe was launched in July last year and touched down on Mars on May 14 this year, making China the second country after the United States to land and operate a rover on Mars.

Since landing it has covered about 450m of Martian territory.

Zhurong has been working on the red planet for 60 Martian days over 61 Earth days - with plans to explore the planet for a total of 90 Martian days.

The six-wheeled rover is surveying an area known as Utopia Planitia, especially searching for signs of water or ice that could lend clues as to whether Mars ever sustained life.

The rover is equipped with instruments that can analyse Mars surface elements and minerals, a climate station, and a ground-penetrating radar, Space News reports.

But at 1.85m in height, Zhurong is significantly smaller than the USs Perseverance rover, which is exploring the planet with a tiny helicopter called Ingenuity.

NASAs Perseverance landed on Mars on February 18.

- with AAP

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Space news: Chinas Mars rover Zhurong releases new pictures of parachute from the Red Planet - 7NEWS.com.au

Skywatchers are in for an (inter)stellar treat this week. Look up and you can gaze upon a dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon Monday and Tuesday nights, according to EarthSky.Venus and Mars have been moving toward one another all weekend, culminating in their closest meeting during the early hours of Tuesday, July 13, around 3 a.m. ET. As seen from Earth, the planets will appear only half a degree or only a finger's width apart, according to NASA. This meeting of planets in the sky is referred to as a planetary conjunction.This is just an illusion, of course, because the two planets are extremely far apart in reality."Even during this conjunction, they will still be many millions of miles apart," said Giada Arney in a video on NASA's website. "But from our point of view here on Earth, they will appear to be close together." Arney is a research space scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a deputy principal investigator of the upcoming DAVINCI+ mission to Venus. DAVINCI+ stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus.Since this timing coincides with the young moon's return to the night sky, the conjunction of Venus and Mars will appear alongside a slim crescent moon that is only 10% illuminated.Most observers will be able to see the three celestial bodies both Monday and Tuesday evenings, according to NASA. Viewers can look west about 45 minutes after sunset to spot the event these nights, but it can be viewed through July 14 if there are clear skies. Venus, the closest to Earth and the brightest planet in the night sky, will appear very slightly above the red planet. Mars, planet of war, mythologically speaking, will be much smaller and dimmer in comparison to the glowing Venus, planet of love. First look for gleaming Venus, then shift your eyes slightly below for the smaller speck that is Mars.Venus and Mars are both in the night sky in July, slowly approaching and eventually passing one another. Venus started the month below Mars and is moving up and away from the setting sun as the red planet drops and approaches the setting sun.The red planet is most visible at the start of July and becomes more difficult to spot as the month comes and goes, according to EarthSky. You likely won't see it at all come August. Venus, however, will remain in the evening sky for the rest of the year, reaching its greatest brightness on Dec. 4 along with the new moon.The conjunction is just one of the spectacular events you can catch in the night sky this year. Here is what else you can look forward to in 2021. Meteor showersThe Delta Aquariids meteor shower is best seen from the southern tropics and will peak between July 28 and 29, when the moon is 74% full.Interestingly, another meteor shower peaks on the same night the Alpha Capricornids. Although this is a much weaker shower, it has been known to produce some bright fireballs during its peak. It will be visible for everyone, regardless of which side of the equator you are on.The Perseid meteor shower, the most popular of the year, will peak between Aug. 11 and 12 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the moon is only 13% full.Here is the meteor shower schedule for the rest of the year, according to EarthSky's meteor shower outlook. Oct. 8: Draconids Oct. 21: Orionids Nov. 4 to 5: South Taurids Nov. 11 to 12: North Taurids Nov. 17: Leonids Dec. 13 to 14: Geminids Dec. 22: Ursids Visible planets It's possible to see most of these with the naked eye, with the exception of distant Neptune, but binoculars or a telescope will provide the best view.Mercury will look like a bright star in the morning sky from June 27 to July 16 and Oct. 18 to Nov. 1. It will shine in the night sky from Aug. 31 to Sept. 21, and Nov. 29 to Dec. 31.Venus, our closest neighbor in the solar system, will appear in the western sky at dusk in the evenings through Dec. 31. It's the second-brightest object in our sky, after the moon.Mars makes its reddish appearance in the morning sky between Nov. 24 and Dec. 31, and it will be visible in the evening sky through Aug. 22.Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is the third-brightest object in our sky. It will be on display in the morning sky through Aug. 19. Look for it in the evenings Aug. 20 to Dec. 31 but it will be at its brightest from Aug. 8 to Sept. 2.Saturn's rings are only visible through a telescope, but the planet itself can still be seen with the naked eye in the mornings through Aug. 1 and in the evenings from Aug. 2 to Dec. 31. It will be at its brightest during the first four days of August.Binoculars or a telescope will help you spot the greenish glow of Uranus in the mornings through Nov. 3 and in the evenings from Nov. 4 to Dec. 31. It will be at its brightest between Aug. 28 and Dec. 31.And our most distant neighbor in the solar system, Neptune, will be visible through a telescope in the mornings through Sept. 13 and during the evenings Sept. 14 to Dec. 31. It will be at its brightest between July 19 and Nov. 8.

Skywatchers are in for an (inter)stellar treat this week. Look up and you can gaze upon a dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon Monday and Tuesday nights, according to EarthSky.

Venus and Mars have been moving toward one another all weekend, culminating in their closest meeting during the early hours of Tuesday, July 13, around 3 a.m. ET. As seen from Earth, the planets will appear only half a degree or only a finger's width apart, according to NASA. This meeting of planets in the sky is referred to as a planetary conjunction.

This is just an illusion, of course, because the two planets are extremely far apart in reality.

"Even during this conjunction, they will still be many millions of miles apart," said Giada Arney in a video on NASA's website. "But from our point of view here on Earth, they will appear to be close together." Arney is a research space scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a deputy principal investigator of the upcoming DAVINCI+ mission to Venus. DAVINCI+ stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus.

Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Since this timing coincides with the young moon's return to the night sky, the conjunction of Venus and Mars will appear alongside a slim crescent moon that is only 10% illuminated.

Most observers will be able to see the three celestial bodies both Monday and Tuesday evenings, according to NASA. Viewers can look west about 45 minutes after sunset to spot the event these nights, but it can be viewed through July 14 if there are clear skies.

Venus, the closest to Earth and the brightest planet in the night sky, will appear very slightly above the red planet. Mars, planet of war, mythologically speaking, will be much smaller and dimmer in comparison to the glowing Venus, planet of love. First look for gleaming Venus, then shift your eyes slightly below for the smaller speck that is Mars.

Venus and Mars are both in the night sky in July, slowly approaching and eventually passing one another. Venus started the month below Mars and is moving up and away from the setting sun as the red planet drops and approaches the setting sun.

The red planet is most visible at the start of July and becomes more difficult to spot as the month comes and goes, according to EarthSky. You likely won't see it at all come August. Venus, however, will remain in the evening sky for the rest of the year, reaching its greatest brightness on Dec. 4 along with the new moon.

The conjunction is just one of the spectacular events you can catch in the night sky this year. Here is what else you can look forward to in 2021.

The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is best seen from the southern tropics and will peak between July 28 and 29, when the moon is 74% full.

Interestingly, another meteor shower peaks on the same night the Alpha Capricornids. Although this is a much weaker shower, it has been known to produce some bright fireballs during its peak. It will be visible for everyone, regardless of which side of the equator you are on.

The Perseid meteor shower, the most popular of the year, will peak between Aug. 11 and 12 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the moon is only 13% full.

Here is the meteor shower schedule for the rest of the year, according to EarthSky's meteor shower outlook.

Oct. 8: Draconids

Oct. 21: Orionids

Nov. 4 to 5: South Taurids

Nov. 11 to 12: North Taurids

Nov. 17: Leonids

Dec. 13 to 14: Geminids

Dec. 22: Ursids

It's possible to see most of these with the naked eye, with the exception of distant Neptune, but binoculars or a telescope will provide the best view.

Mercury will look like a bright star in the morning sky from June 27 to July 16 and Oct. 18 to Nov. 1. It will shine in the night sky from Aug. 31 to Sept. 21, and Nov. 29 to Dec. 31.

Venus, our closest neighbor in the solar system, will appear in the western sky at dusk in the evenings through Dec. 31. It's the second-brightest object in our sky, after the moon.

Mars makes its reddish appearance in the morning sky between Nov. 24 and Dec. 31, and it will be visible in the evening sky through Aug. 22.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is the third-brightest object in our sky. It will be on display in the morning sky through Aug. 19. Look for it in the evenings Aug. 20 to Dec. 31 but it will be at its brightest from Aug. 8 to Sept. 2.

Saturn's rings are only visible through a telescope, but the planet itself can still be seen with the naked eye in the mornings through Aug. 1 and in the evenings from Aug. 2 to Dec. 31. It will be at its brightest during the first four days of August.

Binoculars or a telescope will help you spot the greenish glow of Uranus in the mornings through Nov. 3 and in the evenings from Nov. 4 to Dec. 31. It will be at its brightest between Aug. 28 and Dec. 31.

And our most distant neighbor in the solar system, Neptune, will be visible through a telescope in the mornings through Sept. 13 and during the evenings Sept. 14 to Dec. 31. It will be at its brightest between July 19 and Nov. 8.

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Check out Venus, Mars and the moon close together in the night sky - KCCI Des Moines

It seems incredibly appropriate that Bruno Mars first appearance in front of the soon-to-be-adoring public was in the beloved 1992 movie Honeymoon in Vegas, which featured Nicolas Cage and a bunch of skydiving Elvis impersonators:

1. Mars, who began his career as an Elvis impersonator, had many drawing comparisons with the King himself after his 2016 Park MGM residency absolutely killed, selling out and practically guaranteeing Mars continued involvement with Sin City.

2. Elvis impersonators pay homage to the music of the past, and so does Mars, drawing on musical roots from Michael Jackson and Prince to the Browns (James and Bobby).

3. Much like Elvis and, subsequently, Cage, Mars is well on his way to becoming synonymous with Las Vegas and all its over-the-top history, glamour and glitz.

Dont believe that last part? Well, believe this: Mars, who returns to Las Vegas this week, had to add additional shows to meet demand; his first shows sold out almost immediately. (If youre thinking of just sauntering up to the box office and getting a ticket the night of one of his shows, you probably also believe in unicorns and that strippers really like you.)

Its just the latest chapter in the career of a man whose influence expands daily, both from three solo albums to numerous collaborations (including the 2019 singles Please Me with Cardi B and Blow with Chris Stapleton and Ed Sheeran).

Its been more or less a whirlwind ever since Mars exploded on the scene with 2010 album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, quickly becoming one of the few artists in music history to have two singles sell in excess of 10 million copies (Grenade and Just the Way You Are). In 2015, he became the only artist to have three, thanks to the song that catapulted him into the mainstream like no other: Uptown Funk, a collaboration with Mark Ronson that is so ubiquitous even people who have never heard of Bruno Mars can practically sing it by note by note.

But its one thing to listen to Mars on Pandora; its another entirely to witness one of his shows. Hes a consummate showman, not just singing and playing instruments, but dancing and engaging with the audience. Theres a reason Mars audiences are so diverse. Not only is he an of-the-moment performer for the younger fans out there, hes a true throwback to those who remember the performances by Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and, of course, Elvis.

Those older influences are apparent on his third album, 24K Magic, but never do they feel like imitations; Mars makes each take feel fresh and exciting, and his legion of fans anxiously awaits his fourth album, currently in the works. Whatever direction Mars chooses, its a lock that his base will follow him.

Park Theater at Park MGM, 8 p.m. July 23-24, starting at $99.50 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster

Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, youll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.

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Bruno Mars brings the finesse back to Las Vegas - Lasvegasmagazine

GREENVILLE, Miss., July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Mars Food, The MolinaCares Accord ("MolinaCares"), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Mississippi ("Molina"), and Kroger Delta Division announced a new partnership to expand the Delta Region's supply and accessibility of healthy foods and to educate residents on forming healthy eating habits.Collectively, the coalition will donate approximately 70,000 healthy meals* (including produce and protein) per year. The companies seekto create a larger coalition by inviting more like-minded area-businesses to join them in their ambition.

Over the next five years, Mars Food will invest $2.5 million to improve access to healthy foods and education for the region's underserved. MolinaCares will add another $1.25 million to further bolster food access efforts. Kroger Delta Division will support with additional sponsorships and investments of local and state food pantry programs. Specifically, over the next two years, the cumulative effort will focus on several core areas to:

Mars and MolinaCares are also evaluating additional area partnerships and projects to further improve access to healthy foods for residents.

"I am thrilled to see Molina and Kroger team up with Mars to make an even greater impact in Greenville," said City of Greenville Mayor, Errick D. Simmons. "Molina, Kroger and Mars' investment choices will definitely help our community to have better access to healthy food and begin to improve food education for our childrenand their parents. I look forward to a long-term partnership with both companies and encourage other Greenville companies to join them in this great coalition."

"For more than 40 years, we've been producing Ben's Original rice in Greenville, Mississippi. During that time, Greenville has become our home. So, Mars Food and Ben's Original are going to do all we can to make sure everyone has a chance to sit at a healthier table, especially in Greenville," said Denis Yarotskiy, regional president at Mars Food North America. "I'm incredibly proud to team up with MolinaCares and Kroeger to make an even deeper impact by helping community not-for-profits solve these issues which have been problematic in the Mississippi Delta region for generations."

"Residents of the Mississippi Delta, including many Molina members, statistically experience poorer health outcomes than other Mississippians," said Carolyn Ingram, executive director of The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation. "MolinaCares is proud to invest in programs and services addressing critical social determinants of health, including food security, transportation, and health-related education critically needed in this region."

"Kroger Delta Division and The Kroger Company's Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation is committed to ending hunger in the communities we serve and waste in our stores by 2025," said Victor Smith, president, Kroger Delta Division. "I am so proud of this partnership because it is a great example of our community leaders working together to provide food for families in need."

Mars Food is a fast-growing dinnertime food business, making tastier, healthier, easier meals that bring the world to the dinner table. With North American headquarters in Chicago, Ill. and global headquarters in London, Mars Food US's portfolio of leading brands includes: Ben's Original, Seeds of Change, and Tasty Bite. Our purpose Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow. drives our business to be a leader in health & wellbeing and sustainability. Mars Food is a segment of Mars, Incorporated. For more information about the Ben's Original Brand and its purpose initiatives, visit https://www.bensoriginal.com/or https://www.mars.com/.

About The MolinaCares Accord

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of Mississippi

Molina Healthcare of Mississippi has been providing government-funded, quality health care since 2018. The Company serves members through Medicaid (Mississippi Coordinated Access Network/MississippiCAN and Children's Health Insurance Plan/CHIP) and Marketplace. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 4.6 million members as of March 31, 2021. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

*According to the USDA, 1.2 pounds is equivalent to one meal.

SOURCE Mars Food North America

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Mars Food, The MolinaCares Accord, and Kroger Delta Division Partner to Improve Access to Healthy Foods in Mississippi Delta - Northeast Mississippi...

Since 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover has been exploring Gale crater on Mars and investigating whether the Red Planet ever had the environmental conditions to support microbial life. Gale crater, which formed about 3.7 billion years ago, is likely the site of an ancient lake. Gale crater is 96 miles in diameter, but the mountain at its center, Aeolis Mons, is 18,000 ft. high.

One of the instruments onboard Curiosity is called CheMin (Chemistry and Mineralogy). CheMin uses X-ray diffraction to analyze rock and soil samples collected by Curiosity and determine the types of minerals present in the samples.

A recent study of clay minerals identified by Curiosity at Gale crater discovered something new about the form of the phyllosilicates in a section of the rock analyzed by CheMin. Phyllosilicates are a group of minerals with a layered structure that include micas, chlorite and smectites (also called swelling clays).

Phyllosilicates form under various conditions and can often be used as markers to retrace history in geochemical detective work. Glauconitic clays, mainly found on Earth in both marine and lacustrine environments, were identified in this study from specific types of disorder in the mineral structure. These disorders include stacking faults and layer rotation caused by intergrown smectite and glauconite minerals that each have a distinct structure and produce an unusual pattern when they grow together.

Different from many other types of phyllosilicates, these glauconitic clays are excellent indicators of calm lake conditions. They only form when lake sediments reside for thousands of years at the interface between oxidizing and reducing environments, said lead author Elisabeth Losa-Adams of the Departamento de Geociencias Marinas, Universidade de Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, Vigo, Spain.

The findings of this study help explain differences between clay minerals investigated by Curiosity along its trek through different types of rock in Gale crater. Smectite clays are common on Mars and are observed across much of the planet from orbital studies, but glauconitic clays are more unusual, said co-author Janice Bishop of the SETI Institute.

Glauconitization has been found in multiple lake settings on Earth, including saline lakes with elevated salt levels formed through evaporation and precipitation and in Precambrian lakes through inorganic processes before life arose. While the presence of glauconitic clays does not mean that life was present on Mars, the neutral pH, moderate temperature, and long-lasting calm waters could have provided a perfect niche for microbes to flourish if they were present at Gale crater.

This research was published in Nature June 28, 2021:Long-lasting habitable periods in Gale crater constrained by glauconitic clays.The full paper is available athttps://rdcu.be/cnlxZ.

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Could Clays Found in Ancient Gale Crater Lake on Mars Once Have Harbored Life? - SETI Institute

Canaveral Port Authority CEO Capt. John Murray on cruise ships returns and the urgency to get crew members vaccinated.

Vikings newest cruise ship just touched the sea for the very first time.

The Swiss cruise line announced its Viking Mars vessel was finally lowered into the Adriatic Sea in Italy from the Fincantieri Ancona shipyard.

A Viking representative confirmed to FOX Business cord-cutting ceremony took place at around 11 a.m. local time, which allowed the Viking Mars to let water flow into its building dock.

VIKING CRUISES IS CHANGING ITS NAME

The 745-foot Viking Mars will be able to accommodate 930 guests but its construction isnt quite done yet. Vikings new ship will soon be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for the finishing touches and customers can expect to board it in early 2022, according to a press release.

Vikings newest cruise ship, Viking Mars, just touched the sea for the very first time on July 15, 2021. (Viking)

When operational, the ship will have a "maiden season" sailing through the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.

At later undisclosed dates, the ship will sail through Asia and Australia.

NEW VIKING CRUISE SHIP SCHEDULED TO VISIT GREAT LAKES IN 2022

The ships "ceremonial godmother" is Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the 8th Countess of Carnarvon, who will be giving the ship its name, according to Viking.

"The day that a new ship meets water for the first time is always a special moment in time," said Vikings Executive Vice President Karine Hagen. "And today is especially meaningful because for the second time, my dear friend Lady Carnarvon will honor us by serving as godmother to a new Viking ship."

VIKING TO RESUME EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES FOR VACCINATED PASSENGERS ONLY

The Viking Mars will be able to accommodate 930 guests and will begin sailing in early 2022. (Viking)

Viking Mars makes its "major construction milestone" two months after its parent company restarted river cruises in the U.K.

Americans were welcomed back onto ships in Bermuda and Iceland in June, roughly 15 months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Viking Mars was designed by Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company. It weighs roughly 47,800 tons and has 465 cabins onboard. The interiors will be put together by SMC Design and Rottet Studios.

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Amenities will include all-veranda staterooms, a spa and fitness center, two pools, a theater and cinema as well as multiple bars and restaurants.

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Viking's latest ship 'Viking Mars' is set afloat for the first time in Italy - Fox Business

From left: Noah Paoa Kannegiesser, Chiara Ferrari-Wong and Eleni Ravanis.

Sea-level rise computer modeling, Mars exploration and chemical compounds found on the Moon are the topics of winning videos from the University of Hawaii at Mnoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) first-annual video contest. Graduate students in the Department of Earth Sciences and Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, celebrated their research through the medium of video.

The videos arose from a graduate course on giving professional presentations, said Department of Earth Sciences Chair Garrett Apuzen-Ito. The instructor, Professor Eric Gaidos, initiated this annual contest, recognizing the diverse ways in which science is being communicated. We were really pleased to see the degree of interest and outstanding talent in multimedia presentations displayed by these young professionals!

The participants videos showcase the cutting-edge research they are conducting as they pursue degreesshared in accessible language for anyone interested in science or the natural world.

This year there were three winning videos by three UH Mnoa graduate students.

Through his research, Noah Paoa Kannegiesser hopes to raise awareness about energy use, plastic use and other climate change related issues. Probabilistic sea level rise modeling using ROMS analysis summarizes his project to create computer models of sea-level rise around Oahu and maps of areas that are likely to flood in Honolulu.

What is most exciting about my research is that I attempt to look into the future and see how climate change and sea-level rise can change the coastline, said Paoa Kannegiesser, who is from Rapa Nui. I hope to do similar research in my home island and other Polynesian islands to see how sea-level rise might affect coastal communities and ancient cultural sites along the coast.

In How we see Mars, Eleni Ravanis shared the thrill of being a team member on the Mars rover Perseverance. The rover landed on the surface of Mars in February 2021 to study Martian geology, search for signs of ancient life, collect samples for future return to Earth and prepare for future human explorers on Mars. Ravanis works on the Mastcam-Z team which assesses and interprets images from a sophisticated camera system.

I find it really exciting to work on the Mars 2020 mission, and to look at new photographs from another world each day! said Ravanis.

Chiara Ferrari-Wong describes the hunt for an elusive class of compounds on the Moon in Searching for hydro-carbon compounds on the Moon. Previous studies have predicted the presence of hydrogen-carbon compounds on the Moon but they have not yet been detected on the lunar surface. Ferrari-Wong shares the process by which micrometeorites that strike the Moons surface can melt the surrounding soilcreating glass and trapping compounds. These glass particles may provide a vault that preserves these cryptic volatile compounds.

When asked what impact she hopes to make, Ferrari-Wong replied, I hope to share my love of planetary science with the community and inspire young students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

This effort is an example of UH Mnoas goal of Enhancing Student Success (PDF) and Excellence in Research: Advancing the Research and Creative Work Enterprise (PDF), two of four goals identified in the 201525 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

For more information see SOESTs website.

By Marcie Grabowski

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Winning student videos span the Earth's oceans to Mars | University of Hawaii System News - UH System Current News

Will Bednar will give his older brother, David, this much:

When asked which of the two former Mars pitchers will be the first to reach 100 mph on the radar gun, Will said, Probably him. Hes been closer.

Indeed, David has thrown a 99.6 mph fastball this season as a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Will said hes topped out at 98 after two seasons and a College World Series championship at Mississippi State.

Then, he added with a smile, Ill beat him to 101.

If thats so, Will Bednar likely will do it for the San Francisco Giants, the team that selected him with the 14th overall choice Sunday night in the MLB Draft. Bednar, the seventh pitcher selected, was drafted four hours after David was the winning pitcher in the Pirates 6-5 victory against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

David arrived at the familys Valencia home five minutes before his younger brother was drafted. He was paying attention in his truck, driving home (from the airport), Will said.

Will said the family caught the end of the Pirates game on TV when David pitched a scoreless eighth inning before the game-winning rally in the ninth.

Impressed? Yeah, but Will still likes to jab his older brother.

His win was kind of in the shadow of getting drafted, said Will, with a smile because David was in the car with him at the time.

Andy Bednar, their dad who coached both of his sons at Mars, was a bit more excited about the meshing of both big events.

Unbelievable he said. It all started when (David) was dealt (to the Pirates). Its been one thing after another.

Will said the familys Sunday started like it does for most. We went to church at 10, he said. We definitely needed that.

With a large group of famliy and friends expected Sunday night to help celebrate, their next stop was the grocery store. Then, home, where Will had to set up the camera for his expected interview with the MLB Network.

Bednars selection gives the WPIAL a first-round selection in five of the past seven years. West Alleghenys Austin Hendrick went to the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 as the 12th overall choice.

But two years ago, Bednars baseball career took a wrong turn when he missed his entire senior season at Mars with tendonitis. Still, he received five scholarship offers, first making a verbal commitment to Ohio State before flipping to Mississippi State.

Two different ends of the spectrum, he said. Going from being really upset that you missed your senior year and the next thing you know, you win the College World Series.

Bednars stock rose when he threw six no-hit innings in the deciding game of the CWS and was named its most outstanding player. Three years before that, he was a Trib 10 All-Star selection after leading Mars to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game, where his fastball was clocked at 95 mph.

His velocity shouldnt be a surprise. He was hitting 91 mph before his sophomore season at Mars.

Bednar, 21, compiled a 9-1 record and 3.12 ERA for Mississippi State this season, striking out 139 batters and allowing only 72 hits in 9213 innings. Hitters managed only a .214 batting average against him.

A 2019 Mars graduate, Bednar never redshirted at Mississippi State while developing his two best pitches an elevated four-seam fastball and a slider.

He appeared in four games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but he made them count. In 1513 innings, he struck out 23, with a 1.76 ERA. Opponents hit him at a mere .161 rate.

Before the draft, several teams called, mostly making small talk, but also asking some pertinent questions, trying to gauge Bednars character.

They ask if I know what it takes to play at the next level and what I think I need to continue to work on, he said.

He had a ready answer.

To be able to keep a level head, I think, is the biggest part through the ups and down of a long professional season, he said.

Playing for his dad provided the type of hurdles that can make a player better.

A lot of people thought because he was my dad, hed be easy on me. But its the exact opposite, Will said. He was a lot harder on me than anyone else. It was good. He definitely pushed me.

He pushed so hard, Andys youngest son soon will become the second member of the family to cash an MLB paycheck.

Next up for the Bednars, perhaps, is a trip to San Francisco for the Pirates three-game series July 23-25. It will be the Giants first home games since drafting Will. Then, Andy might have a hard time choosing sides.

Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry by email at jdipaola@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Giants select Mars' Will Bednar 14th overall in 1st round - TribLIVE

Ive been listening, as many of you have, toThe Rise and Fall of Mars Hillpodcast from Mike Cosper and Christianity Today. If you havent listened yet, I would highly recommend it. Its a fascinating story with some important lessons for young and old leaders alike.

Cosper raises some thought-provoking questions that have led me to think about leadershipspecifically how young leaders can avoid many of the mistakes Mark Driscoll and others like him have made.Dan Darlings excellent pieceon the perils of being a young phenom is a great resource on this topic.

Im not writing this as someone with years of experience and wisdom. Instead, I am hoping that some of the things Ive learned (and am actively learning) will be useful to someone. With that said, here are three lessons for young leaders from the rise and fall of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill:

1. Surround yourself with people who will be honest with you

In the early days of your career, it is easy to find people who will give you honest feedback. Editors will tell you that your writing isnt good enough to publish. Interviewers will tell you that you arent qualified for jobs. Even your friends will likely be happy to give you constructive criticism when asked.

That all changes when you find a certain level of success. Those around you will often turn into yes men who will not hesitate to praise you and will never criticize anything you do. Your friends and colleagues will often choose to pad your ego in hopes of riding your coattails to their own success or simply just being accepted as part of your inner circle.

Its human nature to seek acceptance, and that temptation goes both ways. Just as those around us will often silence their honesty in exchange for acceptance, fame and power bring with them the temptation to screen out those who threaten our insecurities or tell us painful truths.

It is incredibly important to surround yourself with people who will consistently be honest with you. Choose people who will encourage you and lift you up when you need it, but who will also call you out and hold you accountable even when you dont want to hear it.

2. Dont let your drive for results overtake your passion for the gospel

One of the things that often sets young leaders apart from their peers is their drive to succeed. Were taught from an early age that ambition is good, and in many ways it is. We need drive and motivation and dedication to succeed. But if we let that drive for results overtake our passion for the gospel, we are wasting our time. When we become more focused on success than on advancing the gospel, we leave ourselves vulnerable to becoming a toxic leader who sacrifices relationships for results. Mark Driscolls pattern of spiritual abuse is an excellent example of this.

I work in marketing, which is an incredibly results-driven field. Amidst the email open rates and distribution scores and unique pageviews, its easy to lose sight of the souls that are opening those emails, reading those social posts, or visiting our websites. We have to remember why we do what we doand if that why isnt advancing the kingdom of God, we should stop and reevaluate our priorities.

3. Be patient enough to let your character catch up with your charisma

In the first episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, Ed Stetzer talked about how many young leaders fail because their character never catches up with their charisma. That line has stuck with me, perhaps more than anything else from the podcast.

Its an excellent word of advice for Christians and even our culture at large. We consistently elevate young leaders and make celebrities out of people who arent ready for the spotlight and then wonder why they melt under the bright lights.

But its also a cautionary word for young leaders in a culture that drives us to constantly seek the next level. That often means that we sacrifice patience and experience at the altar of ambition. We seek platforms we arent ready to stand on. We ask for power we arent ready to hold.

Are we willing to be patient enough to let our character catch up with our charisma? That often means being willing to work and listen and learn in the shadows instead of leading in the spotlight. It might mean turning down opportunities we arent ready to navigate. Mostly, it means trusting that God has a plan to use the gifts he has given us and being willing to work on his timetable instead of ours.

Dan Darlingsthoughtson this are well worth reading:

Youth doesnt always equal immaturity. Sometimes young men and women can demonstrate extraordinary maturity at a young age. But early fame is so toxic to the soul. The yes men and the green rooms and the demands arrive before a young phenom has had time to breathe. There is a reason many of the leaders in Scripture were forced to wait: David waited 14 years between his anointing and assuming leadership of all of Israel. Joseph had to endure hardship and suffering before becoming prime minister in Egypt. Paul had to labor in the desert in Arabia before leading missionary journeys.

There is something about experience that only experience can teach. We often confuse platform giftedness with leadership ability. We confuse the ability to move a room with the ability to shepherd people. In doing so, we set ourselves and young leaders up for failure.

As young leaders, we have a responsibility to steward the platforms and positions God has given us well. Its important to learn from those who have gone before us, especially those who have failed. But its also important to recognize that but for the grace of God, we would all follow in their footsteps.We arent any more prepared for fame or less vulnerable to the temptations that brought down Driscoll, MacDonald, Hybels, or others.

Our day in the spotlight may never come. Some of the greatest saints never experienced fame or success in their time on earth. But their influence for the Kingdom has been felt for decades or even centuries after their death.

If God has called you to a position of leadership, be thankful for the opportunity. But dont rush onto a platform you arent ready to stand on. Be patient and trust Gods timing. Seek out honesty and accountability. Guard your heart and stay humble.

Thats the only way youll be ready to stand on Mars Hill.

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Three Lessons for Young Leaders from The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill NRB - NRB

PORT FOURCHON, La. (KLFY) A salvageteam has raised the bow section of the SEACOR Power to the surface of the water and transported it by barge to a facility in Houma.

According to the Coast Guard, once the pieces of the ship are cut, they will be brought to a secure sight for inspection.

The bow part was transported Saturday to the Modern American Recycling Services, Inc.facility.

Additional pieces will be forwarded in the coming days.

With the bow section removed, salvage work continues at the site, where crews are conducting a more acoustic survey of the stern and accommodation sections, the Coast Guard announced.

The updated surveys will then be used to complete the rigging configuration to prepare the stern section for removal andonce the stern section is raised, the crews will continue the preparation and removal of the accommodations section, according to CG officials.

Safety remains paramount. The unified commander is closely monitoring the weather and adjusting operations as needed to ensure the safety of salvage crews, a statement from the Coast Guard read.

A temporary flight restriction has been placed around the M.A.R.S., Inc. facility to ensure the safety of salvage crews working at thewreckagesiteand the M.A.R.S., Inc. facility as well as boaters who could place themselves in danger by transiting through an active work site where debris and other underwater obstructions such as anchor wires, mooring ropes and navigational buoys may be present, the Coast Guard announced.

The incident remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard.

Questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the NTSB at202-314-6133.

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Coast Guard: SEACOR Power bow section lifted to surface, taken to M.A.R.S. facility - KLFY