Universe Today (Page 179)

Maybe Mars and Earth Didn't Form Close to Each Other

By Matthew Williams - December 21, 2017 05:23 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A new study by an international team of researchers has suggested that Mars formed farther from the Sun than previously thought.

Red Dwarf Star, Planet Orbiting at Right Angles. Mayhem.

By Matthew Williams - December 20, 2017 11:16 PM UTC | Exoplanets

A new study of a well-known exoplanet has revealed something very strange. Apparently, the planet orbits its star from pole to pole.

Weekly Space Hangout - Dec 20, 2017: The Year in Review

By Fraser Cain - December 20, 2017 03:19 PM UTC | Site News

Updates on 'Oumuamua. Maybe it's a Comet, Actually. Oh, and no Word From Aliens.

By Matthew Williams - December 19, 2017 05:26 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Kilonova Neutron Star Collision Probably Left Behind a Black Hole

By Matthew Williams - December 19, 2017 03:06 PM UTC | Black Holes

According to a new study, the recent merger of two neutron stars (which was detected thanks to the gravitational waves it created) most likely led to the creation of a black hole.

Astronomers Find Another Solar System with 8 Planets. Uh, Pluto, About that Deplaneting...

By Matthew Williams - December 18, 2017 05:03 PM UTC | Exoplanets

A research team recently applied a Google "neural net" to Kepler data, which conformed the existence of a star system with eight planets.

Carnival of Space #540

By susie - December 18, 2017 02:56 PM UTC | Site News

Astronomy Cast Ep. 470: Best Modern Sci Fi for the Science Lover - Part 2: 3D Printing

By susie - December 18, 2017 12:12 PM UTC | Space Policy

How Long Can a Rocky World Withstand the Blasts From a Red Dwarf Star?

By Matthew Williams - December 15, 2017 06:47 PM UTC | Exoplanets

In a presentation at the Fall Meeting of the American Geological Union, a team of researchers showed how MAVEN data could help determine the habitability of rocky planets around red dwarf stars.

Gaia Looks Beyond our Galaxy to Other Islands of Stars

By Matthew Williams - December 15, 2017 01:44 PM UTC | Stars

The latest scientific finds made from the first release of Gaia data include illuminating images of the Milky Way galaxy's neighbors.

Are Little Blue Dots in the Hubble Frontier Fields Precursors to Globular Clusters?

By Matthew Williams - December 15, 2017 12:46 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Using data from the Hubble Frontier Fields program, a team of astronomers has produced a study that indicates how globular clusters could be the remnants of dwarf galaxies from the early Universe.

NASA's Opportunity Rover Withstands Another Harsh Winter on Mars

By Matthew Williams - December 13, 2017 05:50 PM UTC | Missions

Having survived its eight winter in a row, the Opportunity rover continues to operate long past its original, anticipated lifespan.

Meteors Explode from the Inside When They Reach the Atmosphere

By Matthew Williams - December 13, 2017 02:20 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A new study from Purdue University indicates that Earth's atmosphere will break up small meteoroids, which is good news for planetary protection

86 Stars Just got Official Names from the IAU

By Matthew Williams - December 12, 2017 10:31 PM UTC | Stars

The IAU just approved the names of 86 new stars, the majority of which are derived from Chinese, Hindu, Aboriginal, South African, Coptic, Mayan, and Polynesian traditions.

What is the Perfect Gift for Every Space Enthusiast? The Year in Space Calendar 2018!

By Nancy Atkinson - December 12, 2017 06:13 PM UTC | Site News

Carnival of Space #539

By susie - December 12, 2017 04:55 PM UTC | Site News

Weekly Space Hangout - Dec 13, 2017: Emilio Enriquez and SETI's Breakthrough Listen Initiative

By Fraser Cain - December 12, 2017 04:51 PM UTC | Astrobiology

New Map Shows the Motion of all the Galaxies in Our Supercluster

By Matthew Williams - December 12, 2017 03:24 PM UTC | Extragalactic

An international team of astronomers has created the largest map of the movements of galaxies within our Supercluster to date.

Breakthrough Listen is Going to Scan 'Oumuamua, You Know, Just to be Sure it's Just an Asteroid and Not a Spaceship.

By Matthew Williams - December 11, 2017 06:55 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Using the Greenbank Radio Telescope, Breakthrough Listen plans to "listen" to 'Oumuamua to see if there are any signs of alien transmissions.

Messier 63 - the Sunflower Galaxy

By tammy-plotner - December 11, 2017 01:22 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Located in the Canes Venatici constellation, roughly 37 million light-years from Earth, is the spiral galaxy know as Messier 63 (aka. the Sunflower Galaxy).

Astronomy Cast Ep. 469: Best Modern Sci Fi for the Science Lover - Part 1 Space Exploration

By susie - December 11, 2017 12:12 PM UTC | Space Exploration

Too Big, Too Soon. Monster Black Hole Seen Shortly After the Big Bang

By Matthew Williams - December 08, 2017 03:10 PM UTC | Black Holes

An international team of astronomers, using multiple observatories, have found the youngest and most distant quasar to date.

The Dorado Constellation

By tammy-plotner - December 08, 2017 02:00 PM UTC | Stars

Located in the southern skies is the constellation of Dorado, one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the IAU

Earth and Venus are the Same Size, so Why Doesn't Venus Have a Magnetosphere? Maybe it Didn't Get Smashed Hard Enough

By Matthew Williams - December 08, 2017 01:27 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A new study lays out why Venus doiesn't have a magnetic field like Earth's. Basically, it may come down to the impact that formed the Moon.

Astronauts in Trouble Will be Able to Press the "Take Me Home" Button

By Matthew Williams - December 07, 2017 04:32 PM UTC | Space Exploration

Massachusetts-based engineering company Draper recently filed a patent for a navigation system that will be able to bring astronauts home if they get in trouble

The Space Station is Getting a New Gadget to Detect Space Debris

By Matthew Williams - December 06, 2017 10:51 PM UTC | Space Exploration

The Space Debris Sensor (SDS) aboard the International Space Station is allowing scientists to characterize the orbital debris environment

Weekly Space Hangout - Dec. 6, 2017: Brian Koberlein and "Big Science"

By Fraser Cain - December 06, 2017 01:50 PM UTC | Site News

Two new Super-Earths Discovered Around a Red Dwarf Star

By Matthew Williams - December 05, 2017 10:43 PM UTC | Exoplanets

While examining a previously-discovered exoplanet, an international team of astronomers discovered a second Super-Earth around the star.

What is the Transit Method?

By Matthew Williams - December 05, 2017 01:58 AM UTC | Exoplanets

Of the many methods used to detect extra-solar planets, the most widely-used and effective is the Transit Photometry

Astronomy Cast Ep. 468: Simulations for Science and Fun

By susie - December 04, 2017 02:27 PM UTC | Physics

Messier 62 - the NGC 6266 Globular Cluster

By tammy-plotner - December 04, 2017 01:00 PM UTC | Milky Way

Located in the southern constellation of Ophiuchus, approximately 22,200 light-years from Earth, is the global cluster known as Messier 62.

A New Survey Takes the Hubble Deep Field to the Next Level, Analyzing Distance and Properties of 1,600 Galaxies

By Matthew Williams - December 03, 2017 06:37 PM UTC | Extragalactic

A new survey using the ESO's Very Large Telescope found 72 never-before-seen galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field data.

There Could be Hundreds More Icy Worlds with Life Than on Rocky Planets Out There in the Galaxy

By Matthew Williams - December 03, 2017 03:32 PM UTC | Astrobiology

According to a new study by members of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, there could be

Juno Isn't Exactly Where it's Supposed To Be. The Flyby Anomaly is Back, But Why Does it Happen?

By Matthew Williams - December 01, 2017 03:43 PM UTC | Missions

Using the Juno mission's orbit of Jupiter, a team of scientists has developed a possible explanation for the long-standing "flyby anomaly"

Here Comes Comet Heinze for the Holidays

By David Dickinson - December 01, 2017 11:38 AM UTC | Planetary Science

Yeah, we're still all waiting for that next great "Comet of the Century" to make its presence known. In the meantime, we've had a steady stream of good binocular comets over the past year both expected and new, including Comet C/2017 O1 ASASSN1 (name and link), 45/P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková and Comet 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák (links). Now, another newcomer Comet Heinze is set to bring 2017 in over the finish line.

Oops, low energy LEDs are increasing light pollution

By Matthew Williams - November 30, 2017 05:45 PM UTC | Observing

According to a new study by an international team of scientists, the widespread use of LED lights could be bad for the environment.

The Genesis Project: Using Robotic Gene Factories to Seed the Galaxy with Life

By Matthew Williams - November 30, 2017 01:29 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Dr. Claudius Gros explains the purpose, intent, and technology behind Project Genesis, which seeks to seed "transiently habitable" exoplanets with life to jumpstart the evolutionary process.

Weekly Space Hangout - Nov. 29, 2017: Dean Regas' "100 Things to See in the Night Sky"

By Fraser Cain - November 29, 2017 01:25 PM UTC | Observing

Astronomers Think They Know Why Hot Jupiters Get So Enormous

By Matthew Williams - November 28, 2017 07:09 PM UTC | Exoplanets

A study team led from the University of Hawaii recently studied two inflated gas giants, and revealed a possible explanation as to why they are so "puffy".

Carnival of Space #537

By susie - November 28, 2017 02:02 PM UTC | Site News

Every Time Lightning Strikes, Matter-Antimatter Annihilation Happens too

By Matthew Williams - November 27, 2017 06:36 PM UTC | Physics

A new study from a team of Japanese researchers has shown that matter-antimatter annihilations happen as a result of lightning strikes.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 467: Resonance

By susie - November 27, 2017 02:28 PM UTC | Physics

Messier 61- the NGC 4303 Barred Spiral Galaxy

By tammy-plotner - November 27, 2017 02:00 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Located in the Virgo cluster, roughly 52.5 million light-years from Earth, is the intermediate spiral galaxy known as Messier 61

The Earth Does Stop the Occasional Neutrino

By Matthew Williams - November 27, 2017 01:41 PM UTC | Physics

A new study by the IceCube collaboration has shown that Earth stops the occasional neutrino, thus confirming a prediction made by the Standard Model.

The Next Mars Rover's Wheels Won't Get Torn Apart by the Red Planet

By Matthew Williams - November 24, 2017 03:55 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Scientists and engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center have prepared a next-generation tire which will fare much better on Mars and other harsh environments.

Project Lyra, a Mission to Chase Down that Interstellar Asteroid

By Matthew Williams - November 23, 2017 04:16 PM UTC | Missions

Members of Project Lyra recently published a study advocating a mission to `Oumuamua, the first interstellar asteroid discovered to date.

These Streaks on Mars Could be Flowing Sand, not Water

By Matthew Williams - November 22, 2017 02:26 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey has revealed that recurring slope lineae on Mars could be the result of granular flows and not flowing water.

Galactic Panspermia: Interstellar Dust Could Transport Life from Star to Star

By Matthew Williams - November 22, 2017 12:56 PM UTC | Astrobiology

A new study by Arjun Berera, of the University of Edinburgh, has indicated that space dust may be a possible mechanism for panspermia

Weekly Space Hangout - Nov. 22, 2017: Andy Weir and ARTEMIS

By Fraser Cain - November 22, 2017 12:50 PM UTC | Space Exploration

SpaceX Resuming Launches from Damaged Pad 40 on Dec. 4 with Station Resupply Flight for NASA; Covert Zuma Remains on Hold

By ken-kremer - November 21, 2017 02:48 PM UTC | Missions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – After postponing last week's liftoff of the covert 'Zuma' spy satellite due to last minute concerns about the reliability of the payload fairing encapsulating it while poised for liftoff at KSC pad 39, SpaceX is set to at last resume launches from their previously damaged and now repaired Cape Canaveral pad 40 with a cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS) on Dec 4.