Certain exoplanets pique scientists’ interest more than others. Some of the most interesting are those that lie in the habitable zone of their stars. However, not all of those planets would be similar to Earth – in fact, finding a planet about the size of Earth is already stretching the limits of most exoplanet-hunting telescopes. So the scientific community rejoiced when researchers at the Université de Montréal announced they found an exoplanet in the size range of the Earth. However, it appears to be almost entirely covered in water, making it more similar to a giant version of Europa, the ice-covered moon of Jupiter.
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The Moon Occults Spica This Weekend For North America
The ‘Great North American Occultation’ sees the Moon blot out Spica Saturday night.
Hera in the doghouse
Image: Hera in the doghouse
New study shows mysterious solar particle blasts can devastate the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years
The remarkable aurora in early May this year demonstrated the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but occasionally the sun does something far more destructive.
Solar maximum is in sight but when will it arrive (and when will we know)?
We explore the latest solar maximum predictions and look into why it could be a couple of years before we can confidently state when solar maximum occurred.
Hear the real stories behind the private space race in new documentary 'Wild Wild Space' (video)
HBO released a new trailer and poster for its new original documentary, "Wild Wild Space," which explores how private companies are jockeying for the lead in low Earth orbit.
SpaceX launching direct-to-cell Starlink satellites from California on July 11 after delay
SpaceX will launch 20 more of its Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, from California on Thursday night (July 11).
'Star Wars: The Acolyte' episode 7: What's a vergence in the Force?
"The Acolyte" seventh episode 'Choice' reveals the truth about what happened on Brendok and cuts even deeper into Star Wars lore.
Hubble Space Telescope finds closest massive black hole to Earth — a cosmic clue frozen in time
The Hubble Telescope has discovered a black hole "frozen in time" that's also the closest massive black hole to Earth.
Hubble finds evidence for rare black hole in Omega Centauri
An international team of astronomers has used more than 500 images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope spanning two decades to detect seven fast-moving stars in the innermost region of Omega Centauri, the largest and brightest globular cluster in the sky. These stars provide compelling new evidence for the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole.
A Black Hole for Omega Centauri
The motions of individual stars in the core of Omega Centauri, a massive globular cluster, confirm the existence of a black hole at its core.
3D printer successfully makes little space shuttle models in microgravity
SpaceCAL is a 3D printer that can create objects in microgravity conditions; a recent test of the device was successful.
SpaceX rolls Starship Super Heavy booster to launch pad ahead of 5th test flight (video, photos)
SpaceX moved its fifth Starship Super Heavy booster to the launch pad in preparation for a coming test flight, which could occur in the next few weeks.
Europe's Mars sample return orbiter moving ahead despite NASA budget uncertainty
The European Space Agency's Earth Return Orbiter has passed its design review, which validates its technical details and moves the project onto manufacturing and testing.
Webb Detects the Smell of Rotten Eggs in an Exoplanet’s Atmosphere
Studying the atmospheres of exoplanets is helpful for several reasons. Sometimes, it helps in understanding their formation. Sometimes, it helps define whether the planet might be habitable. And sometimes, you allow a press officer to write the headline “Stench of a gas giant? Nearby exoplanet reeks of rotten eggs.” That headline was released by John Hopkins University’s (JHU) press department after a study describing the atmosphere of one of the nearest known “hot Jupiters” was recently published in Nature.
Ariane 6 first flight highlights
Video: 00:02:06
Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 powered into space on 9 July 2024 from a newly built dedicated launch pad in French Guiana. Liftoff occurred at 16:00 local time (20:00 BST, 21:00 CEST).
Ariane 6 inaugural flight press conference
Video: 00:32:50
Replay of the press conference held in Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana with ESA, ArianeGroup, CNES and Arianespace representatives providing updates on the first mission of Ariane 6.
'Futurama' Season 12 trailer teases fresh new interplanetary antics (video)
A new trailer and poster has been released for "Futurama" Season 12 on Hulu, returning on July 29.
Ariane 6 first launch
Video: 03:33:02
Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 powered Europe into space taking with it a varied selection of experiments, satellites, payload deployers and reentry demonstrations that represent thousands across Europe, from students to industry and experienced space actors.
Saharan dust outbreak lingers across some US states this week
A large plume of Saharan dust settled across the Gulf states this week after an epic journey from Africa.
