Saturn’s Death Star-looking moon may have vast underground ocean

Astronomers have uncovered the most compelling evidence to date of a vast, youthful ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn’s mini-moon, resembling the Death Star. Led by a French team, the researchers examined alterations in Mimas’ orbit and rotation. They reported on Wednesday that a concealed ocean, situated 12 to 18 miles (20 to 30 kilometers) beneath the frozen shell, appeared more probable than an … Continue reading Saturn’s Death Star-looking moon may have vast underground ocean

NASA’s Webb Telescope Finds Unusual Galaxy ‘Not Really Expected To Exist’

The James Webb Space Telescope has identified an intriguing dwarf galaxy named PEARLSDG. Astronomers made this discovery while observing a cluster of galaxies, and PEARLSDG unexpectedly appeared in a region of space where no celestial presence was anticipated. In a recent paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists noted peculiarities in PEARLSDG’s behavior, particularly its lack of star formation activity. Unlike typical dwarf galaxies, … Continue reading NASA’s Webb Telescope Finds Unusual Galaxy ‘Not Really Expected To Exist’

NASA’s Juno mission makes closest flyby past Io

NASA’s Juno mission recently achieved its closest approach to Io, Jupiter’s innermost Galilean moon, passing within 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) of the moon’s surface on February 3rd. These encounters mark the closest Io passes that Juno will execute, although the record for closest approach still belongs to the Galileo mission, which came within 112 miles (181 kilometers) of Io in 2001. The mission has provided … Continue reading NASA’s Juno mission makes closest flyby past Io

NASA announces new ‘super-Earth’ exoplanet that orbits in habitable zone

Is there a possibility that the recently identified “super-Earth” possesses conditions conducive to sustaining life? This newly found exoplanet is located at a relatively short distance, merely 137 light-years away, and orbits within a “habitable zone,” as per NASA’s observations. Astronomers indicate that the planet, named TOI-715 b, is approximately one and a half times the diameter of Earth and revolves around a small, reddish … Continue reading NASA announces new ‘super-Earth’ exoplanet that orbits in habitable zone

First Space Force Guardian will launch into space this summer

On Wednesday, NASA announced that the U.S. Space Force is gearing up to launch its inaugural Guardian into space during the upcoming summer mission. Space Force Col. Tyler “Nick” Hague will be part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, scheduled for no earlier than August, with a destination set for the International Space Station (ISS). This mission aims to replace the current Crew-8 currently stationed at … Continue reading First Space Force Guardian will launch into space this summer

Skyscraper-size asteroid will buzz Earth on Friday

On Friday, an asteroid, comparable in size to a skyscraper, is set to approach within 1.7 million miles of Earth. There’s no need for concern, though, as it will be at a safe distance, seven times farther away than the moon. According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies, this space rock, named 2008 OS7, spans between 690 feet and 1,575 feet. To put … Continue reading Skyscraper-size asteroid will buzz Earth on Friday

James Webb Space Telescope captures ‘stunning’ images of 19 spiral galaxies

Recently unveiled images from outer space, released on Monday, showcase the astonishing detail of 19 spiral galaxies situated near our Milky Way. Captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, the photographs are a result of collaborative efforts from over 150 astronomers worldwide. These snapshots of spiral galaxies, resembling expansive and luminous pinwheels, provide an intricate exploration of star formations, as well as insights into galactic … Continue reading James Webb Space Telescope captures ‘stunning’ images of 19 spiral galaxies

SpaceX launches two rockets from two coasts

SpaceX executed doubleheader liftoffs from both U.S. coasts, launching two additional sets of Starlink internet satellites overnight (Jan. 28-29). The initial launch involved a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink spacecraft, taking off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on Sunday (Jan. 28) at 6:15 p.m. EST (2315 GMT). Subsequently, another Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying … Continue reading SpaceX launches two rockets from two coasts

5 asteroids expected to pass near Earth

This week, an asteroid the size of a sports stadium is hurtling toward Earth and will be accompanied by four other celestial near-misses, with the largest anticipated to pass within less than 2 million miles of our planet on Friday. NASA reports that Asteroid 2008 OS7 measures approximately 890 feet in diameter and is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Feb. 2. … Continue reading 5 asteroids expected to pass near Earth

Astronomers spot ‘old smokers’ and ‘squalling newborns’ among hidden stars

Astronomers have identified previously hidden celestial phenomena, including a novel class of elderly giants humorously termed “old smokers,” and even some nascent stars described as “squalling newborns.” These enigmatic objects reside at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, maintaining a silent existence for decades, nearly fading into invisibility. However, they can unpredictably release clouds of smoke, as per researchers. This groundbreaking discovery emerged from … Continue reading Astronomers spot ‘old smokers’ and ‘squalling newborns’ among hidden stars

Japan’s ‘moon sniper’ probe made accurate landing, but now is upside down

Over the weekend, a Japanese spacecraft achieved a groundbreaking and precise landing on the moon, according to the country’s space agency. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (Slim) successfully touched down, marking Japan as the fifth country, following the US, the Soviet Union, China, and India, to accomplish such a feat. Despite this achievement, there’s a minor issue: images sent back indicate that the probe … Continue reading Japan’s ‘moon sniper’ probe made accurate landing, but now is upside down

NASA’s little helicopter on Mars has logged its last flight

NASA’s diminutive Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, has completed its final flight, as announced by the space agency on Thursday. Due to rotor blade damage, the 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) helicopter is unable to continue flying. Despite maintaining an upright position and staying in contact with flight controllers, its $85 million mission has officially concluded. Initially designed as a short-term technological demonstration, Ingenuity surpassed expectations by completing 72 flights … Continue reading NASA’s little helicopter on Mars has logged its last flight

Scientists discover near-Earth asteroid hours before it exploded over Berlin

In the early hours of Sunday (Jan. 21), a small asteroid streaked through the sky and entered Earth’s atmosphere near Berlin, creating a luminous yet harmless fireball visible over a wide area. While such occurrences are common a few times each year, this event stood out as scientists detected the asteroid approximately three hours before it made impact—a rare feat that has only happened seven … Continue reading Scientists discover near-Earth asteroid hours before it exploded over Berlin

Japan hopes sunlight can save Slim Moon lander

Japan’s space agency, Jaxa, remains optimistic about rescuing its Moon lander, the Slim spacecraft. The historic lunar touchdown occurred on Saturday, but the spacecraft was powered down three hours later to conserve energy. Engineers discovered that the solar cells were facing west, away from the Sun, rendering them unable to generate electricity. The mission team is hopeful that the situation could improve as lighting conditions … Continue reading Japan hopes sunlight can save Slim Moon lander

NASA restores contact with Mars helicopter Ingenuity

After a brief period of concern, NASA announced on Saturday night that it successfully reestablished contact with the Ingenuity helicopter. The autonomous aircraft unexpectedly lost communication with the Perseverance rover, responsible for relaying transmissions between Ingenuity and Earth, during its 72nd flight on Mars. Prior to this incident, Ingenuity had exhibited anomalies, cutting short its previous flight without a known cause. NASA had planned a … Continue reading NASA restores contact with Mars helicopter Ingenuity

NASA Finally Opened the Asteroid Container

The aluminum canister housing fragments of an ancient space rock has been successfully opened, revealing the majority of the asteroid Bennu sample. Earlier this month, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team successfully unlocked the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head, overcoming challenges posed by two stuck fasteners. With the sampler head now open, NASA unveiled the previously unseen samples, showcasing a substantial portion of the asteroid’s content. This … Continue reading NASA Finally Opened the Asteroid Container

Solar storm to hit earth possibly causing GPS and radio disruption

The Earth is anticipated to experience the effects of a geomagnetic storm on Monday due to an incoming solar storm that erupted on the sun on Sunday. A magnetic filament ejected from the sun’s surface, resulting in a coronal mass ejection (CME) that is expected to collide with Earth’s atmosphere around 1 p.m. ET, according to NASA. When a CME interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere, it … Continue reading Solar storm to hit earth possibly causing GPS and radio disruption

Human remains set for moon memorial to instead burn in Earth’s atmosphere

A robotic spacecraft, carrying the remains of over 70 individuals, is anticipated to undergo incineration during its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere on Thursday. The Peregrine mission, originally intended for the moon’s surface, faced doom within seven hours of its launch on January 8. A propulsion system failure and subsequent fuel leakage sealed the fate of the mission, which aimed to be the first U.S. lunar … Continue reading Human remains set for moon memorial to instead burn in Earth’s atmosphere

SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on company’s 300th successful mission

SpaceX achieved another significant launch milestone as a Falcon 9 rocket successfully carried 23 Starlink spacecraft into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday (Jan. 14) at 8:52 p.m. EST (0152 GMT on Jan. 15). The entire mission unfolded smoothly, prompting SpaceX to celebrate the success in a post on X later that evening. The Falcon 9’s first stage completed a successful return … Continue reading SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on company’s 300th successful mission

Earth-Sized Planet Found Orbiting a Star in Our Cosmic Vicinity

Astronomers have identified an Earth-sized planet orbiting a sun-like star located just 73 light years away. Previous observations by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in 2020 had detected two larger planets around the same star. The recent discovery of the Earth-sized planet emerged from follow-up observations aimed at validating the earlier findings. While Earth-sized planets have been found around distant stars before, most were … Continue reading Earth-Sized Planet Found Orbiting a Star in Our Cosmic Vicinity

US company’s lunar lander will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere after failed moonshot

Following a failed moonshot, a U.S. company’s lunar lander, Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine, is set to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up soon. The lander, which departed from Cape Canaveral last Monday, encountered a fuel leak, compelling Astrobotic to abandon its mission to achieve the first U.S. lunar landing in over 50 years. Suspecting a stuck valve causing a tank rupture, the company, in collaboration with … Continue reading US company’s lunar lander will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere after failed moonshot

NASA finally unlocks asteroid sample trapped behind stuck fasteners

NASA announced on Thursday that two stubborn fasteners, initially impeding the release of invaluable material sampled from the asteroid Bennu, have finally been successfully opened after a months-long effort. In the OSIRIS-REx mission, NASA had already collected about 2.5 ounces (70 grams) of rocks and dust, having traveled nearly 4 billion miles to obtain this unprecedented sample from the near-Earth asteroid. However, in October, it … Continue reading NASA finally unlocks asteroid sample trapped behind stuck fasteners

NASA delays astronaut moon landing to at least 2026

NASA’s Artemis program, designed to return astronauts to the moon within this decade amidst a global resurgence in lunar exploration efforts, is experiencing significant delays, as disclosed by the space agency. The Artemis III mission, aiming to achieve the crucial milestone of landing humans on the moon for the first time since the Apollo program, has been rescheduled and is now expected to launch no … Continue reading NASA delays astronaut moon landing to at least 2026

First US moon launch in decades to include ‘space burials’

The United States is gearing up for its first moon launch in over 50 years, scheduled for early Monday morning, featuring a unique payload of space burials. The Astrobotic lunar lander Peregrine is set to lift off around 2:18 a.m. ET atop the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur Rocket. This mission is a part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, collaborating with American … Continue reading First US moon launch in decades to include ‘space burials’

Secret UFO meeting prompts speculation over what government is hiding

A clandestine meeting to delve into discussions about UFOs is set to occur in the core of the US government next week, prompting inquiries into what information intelligence officials might be withholding from the public. Scheduled for Friday, January 12, members of the House Oversight Committee will undergo a classified briefing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), the updated term for UFOs, within the confines of … Continue reading Secret UFO meeting prompts speculation over what government is hiding