When a rocky planet half the size of Venus, an ocean world, and perhaps a planet that could host liquid water on its surface all show up orbiting the same star, astronomers take notice.
Space News & Blog Articles
Geminid Meteor Shower: Dust From an Asteroid
The Geminids come from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, but scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how it sheds enough debris to produce the bright meteor shower.
Curiosity rover finds cute little rock 'lizard' on Mars
A small rock arch in Gale Crater is a whimsical example of the textures of Mars.
9 years on Mars! Curiosity rover marks another anniversary
Since touching down on Aug. 5, 2012, Curiosity has been helping scientists better understand Mars' past habitability and how the planet has changed over time.
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover nabs 8th rock sample on the Red Planet
Scientists can make some pretty accurate forecasts about the future.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2022
On Wednesday (Aug. 4), SpaceX lifted the 29-engine Super Heavy known as Booster 4 onto the launch stand to start prepping for a coming orbital test flight.
The rise and fall of the riskiest asteroid in a decade
Forests are not only key to moderating our climate by sequestering atmospheric carbon, but they also create a cooling effect by increasing low-level cloud. A first global assessment using satellite observations has shown that for two-thirds of the world, afforestation increases low-level cloud cover, with the effect being strongest over evergreen needleleaf forest.
What was the Star of Bethlehem?
The first all-civilian mission on a SpaceX Crew Dragon is getting the star treatment.
Severe heatwaves putting lakes in hot water
NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity is getting set for its 11th off-Earth flight, which could happen early Thursday morning (Aug. 5).
China sends classified satellite into space during first launch of 2022
Real estate mogul Donald Bren's donation could help seed an energy revolution.
'The Book of Boba Fett' episode 3 offers colorful new additions to Tatooine culture
With no interference from the Moon, this year's Perseid meteor shower should be excellent. Find a dark location and enjoy every flash.
What does the edge of the solar system look like?
Far-flung spacecraft are helping us learn about the solar system's edge.
Astronomers Find a Huge Planet Orbiting its Star at 6,000 Times the Earth-Sun Distance
Tracking exoplanets is hard – especially when that exoplanet is so far away from its parent star that the normally used “transit” method of watching it dim the light of the star itself is ineffectual. But it really helps if the planet is huge, and has its own infrared glow, no matter how far away from its star it might be. At least those properties allowed a team of scientists from the University of Hawai’i to track a particular exoplanet called (and we’re not kidding) Coconuts-2b.
'Star Trek: Discovery' actor Doug Jones on conquering fear and stepping up screentime
The acclaimed creature performer reveals Captain Saru's inner workings on the Paramount Plus sci-fi series.
Scientists Figure out how the Asteroid Belt Attacked the Dinosaurs
How do you track an asteroid that hit the Earth over 60 million years ago? By using a combination of geology and computer simulations, at least according to a team of scientists from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). Those methods might have let them solve a long-standing mystery of both archeology and astronomy – where did the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs come from?
The best sci-fi movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix in August
A veritable treasure trove of sci-fi is available at your fingertips.
Where to see the northern lights: 2021 aurora borealis guide
Where should you go to get the best look at the dancing, dazzling display known as the aurora borealis?
The Sturm strike back in John Birmingham's brash sci-fi sequel, 'The Shattered Skies' (exclusive)
From his perch on the International Space Station, a French astronaut watched a long-running Russian space module break into pieces in a shower of fireworks.
Perseid meteor shower peak this month! New moon bodes well for skywatchers.
Perseid meteors are already beginning to fall in a display that promises to dazzle skywatchers this month.
Happy birthday, Fermi! Top 5 highlights from 13 years of the gamma-ray telescope
On Aug. 4, 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope began full science operations, scanning the entire sky through the highest-energy form of light.
Russia’s forests store more carbon than previously thought
Russia has the largest area of forest on the planet, with more than a fifth of the world's trees. A new study, led by Russian scientists using data from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative, has produced new estimates of biomass contained in Russian forests, and confirms that the vast forested area is storing more carbon than previously estimated.