Exactly ten years on since Rosetta arrived at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, we dig into how the intrepid explorer has transformed our knowledge of comets, revealed some crucial pieces in the Solar System jigsaw puzzle, and shaped how we develop new missions.
Space News & Blog Articles
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Habitable Planet’s Orbiting Red Dwarf Suns Could at Risk from Far-Ultraviolet Radiation
The question of whether or not red dwarf stars can support habitable planets has been subject to debate for decades. With the explosion in exoplanet discoveries in the past two decades, the debate has become all the more significant. For starters, M-type (red dwarf) stars are the most common in the Universe, accounting for 75% of the stars in our galaxy. Additionally, exoplanet surveys indicate that red dwarfs are particularly good at forming Earth-like rocky planets that orbit within their circumsolar habitable zones (CHZs).
NASA: Cygnus on track for Tuesday morning arrival at the International Space Station
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft separates from a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage during the NG-21 mission on Aug. 4, 2024. Image: SpaceX
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is preparing to end a roughly 40-hour journey playing catchup with the International Space Station. After launching late Sunday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the spacecraft is targeting its arrival at the orbiting outpost Tuesday morning.
Starlink Direct-to-Cell Satellites are Coming. What Will Be Their Impact on Astronomy?
Mention the name Starlink among the astronomy community and you will often be greeted with a shudder. There are now thousands of Starlink satellites orbiting Earth providing internet connectivity to every corner of the Earth. Many believe they are making astronomy difficult but now, SpaceX is launching another service; ‘direct-to-cell’ technology that will allow mobile phones to use satellites to send text messages as early as this year. Voice and data services are likely to follow on quickly next year. With smaller antennae at a lower altitude what is their impact on astronomy?
Private Cygnus freighter arrives at the ISS with 4 tons of supplies (photos)
Northrop Grumman's robotic Cygnus freighter reached the ISS early Tuesday morning (Aug. 6), carrying about 4 tons of supplies to the orbiting lab.
Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut crew named, begins training in Houston
The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft is pictured docked to the space-facing port on the International Space Station’s Harmony module. Dragon Freedom carried four Axiom Mission-2 astronauts to the orbital lab on May 22, 2023, including Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot John Shoffner, and Mission Specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. Image: NASA
The full crew of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station was announced on Monday as they officially began training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
How satellite technology made it into 2024 Olympic swimsuits
The swimsuits worn at the 2024 Summer Olympics leverage a similar technology used to protect satellites in space.
Hurricane Debby makes landfall in Florida as satellites watch from space (video)
NOAA satellites in orbit have recorded nearly real-time views of Hurricane Debby as it makes landfall in Florida on Aug. 5, 2024.
10 new dead star 'monsters' discovered at the heart of the Milky Way
Ten neutron stars found lurking in the Milky Way include cosmic black widows killing stars with "webs" of viscous plasma and a speed demon that spins over 700 times per second.
The sun fires off 2 powerful X flares in less than 2 hours (video, photo)
Add another pair of strong solar flares to the sun's list this year, as two X-class flares erupted on Monday morning (Aug. 5).
Fast-Tracking the Search for Habitable Worlds
Modern astronomy would struggle without AI and machine learning (ML), which have become indispensable tools. They alone have the capability to manage and work with the vast amounts of data that modern telescopes generate. ML can sift through large datasets, seeking specified patterns that would take humans far longer to find.
New 'Terminator Zero' trailer depicts Judgment Day's nuclear nightmare (video)
A look at the new trailer for Netflix's "Terminator Zero" anime series.
Perseid meteor shower 2024 peaks this weekend. Here's how to see summer's best 'shooting stars'
The 2024 Perseid meteor shower should reach its peak during the overnight hours of Aug. 11 into early Aug. 12, when there is almost no moon.
Pennies to heaven: NASA launches 2 cents to space station
They say a penny doesn't go far these days, to which NASA has now added its two cents. Two pennies just lifted off for the International Space Station.
Everything we know about 'Transformers One'
A preview of Hasbro Entertainment and Paramount Animation's "Transformers One," which will be released on Sept. 20.
Astronomers See Planets Forming Around Binary Stars
Over 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered around distant star systems. Protoplanetary disks have been discovered too and it’s these, out of which all planetary systems form. Such disks have recently been found in two binary star systems. The stellar components in one have a separation of 14 astronomical units (the average distance between the Earth and Sun is one astronomical unit) and the other system has a separation of 22 astronomical units. Studying systems like these allow us to see how the stars of a binary system interact and how they can distort protoplanetary disks.
Astrophotographer captures stunning views of northern lights and STEVE during brief encounter (photos, video)
See the northern lights and elusive STEVE light up the skies above Manitoba, Canada in these stunning photos and footage captured by astrophotographer Justin Anderson.
The sun is a 'runaway world collector' that can trap passing rogue planets
The sun could collect rogue planets and hold them at the outskirts of the solar system for millions of years, occasionally trading them with neighboring star Alpha Centauri.
See brilliant Venus, exquisite Earthshine and the Perseid meteor shower peak this week
Here's how to see a dazzlingly bright Venus, an eerie view of Earthshine and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, this week.
Enroll in the School of Stars
Amateur astronomers are all life-long learners — and this "back to school" time of year provides just the right motivation.
