On Dec. 3, the OSIRIS-REx went into orbit around the asteroid Bennu, 241,000 to 209 million miles away from Earth (depending on its orbit). OSIRISREx is a spacecraft created to gather the largest sample of solid outer space material since the Apollo missions from 1969–1972, when the moon rocks were brought to Earth. For now, it will be scanning and mapping the entire surface of Bennu, which is 500 meters in diameter. The engineers’ planned method to make contact with the asteroid is called Tacsam.

What gathers 100,000 people to the streets of downtown Tucson to celebrate loss, life, and the meaning of it all? The All Souls Day Procession, a special night to celebrate those you have lost, is a long lasting tradition in Tucson. As masses of people begin to celebrate and walk down the streets of Tucson, you will see many different cultures and ages come together. It’s easily one of the most celebrated holidays in Tucson with this year’s celebration, Nov. 2-4, being the 29th annual event.

The Tucson Gem Mineral and Fossil Showcase is up and running!