Universe Today (Page 191)

SS John Glenn Arrives at Space Station with Science and Supplies

By ken-kremer - April 22, 2017 01:41 PM UTC | Missions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The SS John Glenn commercial Cygnus resupply vessel arrived at the International Space Station early this morning, April 22, carrying nearly four tons of science and supplies crammed inside for the five person multinational Expedition 51 crew.

Exciting New Views Of Opportunity's Remarkable Landing Site

By Evan Gough - April 22, 2017 12:17 PM UTC | Planetary Science

The HiRise camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured color images of the Opportunity's 2004 Hole In One landing site inside Eagle Crater.

First Detailed Image Of Accretion Disk Around A Young Star

By Matthew Williams - April 21, 2017 03:52 PM UTC | Stars

For the first time ever, an international team of astronomers - using the ALMA array - have taken a clear image of an accretion disk around a young protostar.

Are Drylanders The Minority On Habitable Worlds?

By Evan Gough - April 21, 2017 01:56 PM UTC | Exoplanets

We assume that habitable exoplanets will have significant land masses, because that's what we have on Earth. Are we wrong?

Weekly Space Hangout - April 21, 2017: Dr. David Grinspoon

By Fraser Cain - April 21, 2017 01:21 PM UTC | Site News

Earth Beams From Between Saturn's Rings in New Cassini Image

By bob-king - April 21, 2017 12:53 AM UTC | Planetary Science

Cassini took this rare photo of the Earth and moon on April 12 just before the start of its daring Grand Finale mission this weekend.

Is This The Exoplanet Where Life Will First Be Found?

By Matthew Williams - April 20, 2017 07:23 PM UTC | Astrobiology

An international team of scientists has found another rocky planet (LHS 1140b) orbiting a nearby red dwarf star. And it looks to be our best bet to date for finding a habitable exoplanet.

Opportunity Leaving 'Tribulation' Behind

By Evan Gough - April 20, 2017 05:01 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Mars Missions Need To Be Neat Freaks At Key Sites

By Matthew Williams - April 20, 2017 04:16 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A new study from the Finnish Meteorological Institute shows how jettisoned hardware and Martian weather could make a dangerous combination!

The Bubbly Streams Of Titan

By Evan Gough - April 20, 2017 02:09 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Titan's so-called "magic islands" are not islands at all, but nitrogen bubbles, according to researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Soyuz Launches and Fast Track Docks to ISS with Russian-American Duo

By ken-kremer - April 20, 2017 11:07 AM UTC | Missions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - A new Russian/American duo has arrived at the International Space Station this morning, April 20, after a six-hour flight following their successful launch aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule on a fast track trajectory to the orbiting outpost.

Here's a Plan to Send a Spacecraft to Venus, and Make Venus Pay for It

By Matthew Williams - April 19, 2017 10:48 PM UTC | Planetary Science

In the week's FISO Telecon Series, NASA engineer Michael Paul presented a novel concept for an in-situ miission to Venus.

2014 JO25 Flies By Earth — See It Tonight

By bob-king - April 19, 2017 10:01 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A relatively large potentially hazardous asteroid passed near Earth earlier today. Now, it's visible in small telescopes tonight.

Art History NASA Style

By Evan Gough - April 19, 2017 04:07 PM UTC | Site News

NASA's collaboration with artists goes back to the early days of the Agency, and has produced some fascinating and thought-provoking work.

CERN Declares War On The Standard Model

By Matthew Williams - April 19, 2017 01:49 PM UTC | Physics

Researchers at the LHC beauty experiment (part of CERN) announced new test results that hint at the existence of new physics.

Cygnus Soars to Space on Atlas Carrying SS John Glenn on Course to Space Station

By ken-kremer - April 18, 2017 11:08 PM UTC | Missions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Orbital ATK's Cygnus supply ship soared to space from the Florida Space Coast at lunchtime today, Tuesday, April 18, drenched in sunshine and carrying the 'SS John Glenn' loaded with over three and a half tons of precious cargo - bound for the multinational crew residing aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Ride Shotgun Through the Solar System with Chris Hadfield

By Nancy Atkinson - April 18, 2017 04:58 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Ceres Prank Lands Bart Simpson In Detention For Eternity

By Evan Gough - April 18, 2017 04:14 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Researchers studying landslide on the surface of Ceres have noticed one with a distinctly Bart Simpson-like appearance.

The Orbit of Neptune. How Long is a Year on Neptune?

By Matthew Williams - April 18, 2017 03:58 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Given its extreme distance from the Sun and slow orbital speed, a year on Neptune last as long as 164.5 years here on Earth.

Do I Believe in UFOs?

By Fraser Cain - April 18, 2017 03:05 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Everyone always wants to know if I believe in aliens. They really want to know if I believe in UFOs, which I don't. But do I believe there are no aliens in the whole Universe?

SS John Glenn Launching Science Stash to Space Station atop Atlas V April 18 - Watch Live and 360 Degree Video

By ken-kremer - April 17, 2017 11:10 PM UTC | Missions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The 'SS John Glenn' cargo freighter stands proudly poised for launch at pad 41 from the Florida Space Coast on Tuesday April 18, loaded with a stash of nearly 4 tons of science investigations and essential supplies atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket destined for the multinational crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The Orbit of Saturn. How Long is a Year on Saturn?

By Matthew Williams - April 17, 2017 09:00 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Given its considerable distance from the Sun, Saturn takes about 29.5 Earth years to complete a single orbit around the Sun.

Could Space Travelers Melt As They Accelerate Through Deep Space?

By Matthew Williams - April 17, 2017 04:38 PM UTC | Space Exploration

According to a new study by researchers from Brazil, objects accelerating through space could be subject to increased radiation exposure.

Carnival of Space #505

By susie - April 17, 2017 12:00 PM UTC | Site News

What is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

By Matthew Williams - April 17, 2017 09:00 AM UTC | Planetary Science

Beneath the Atlantic Ocean is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an geological feature that runs north-south and measures some 16,000 km (10,000 mi) in length.

Who Discovered Uranus?

By Matthew Williams - April 16, 2017 09:00 AM UTC | Planetary Science

Uranus was discovered by British astronomer Sir William Herschel on March 13th, 1781, though it had been observed several times before this

SS John Glenn to Debut as World's 1st Live 360 Degree Video of Rocket Launch April 18

By ken-kremer - April 15, 2017 11:59 PM UTC | Missions

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Imagine watching a real rocket launch in a 360 degree live video broadcast. Well NASA is about to make it happen for the first time and in a big way on a significant mission.

Dynamo At Moon's Heart Once Powered Magnetic Field Equal To Earth's

By Matthew Williams - April 15, 2017 07:51 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A new study produced by the ARES division provides an explanation for how the Moon was able to generate its own magnetic field.

NASA Releases Spellbinding Images Of Earth At Night

By Evan Gough - April 15, 2017 03:22 PM UTC | Planetary Science

New night-time images of Earth are more than just eye-candy. They can be a vital tool for scientists and governments.

Black Hole Imaged For First Time By Event Horizon Telescope

By Matthew Williams - April 15, 2017 03:01 PM UTC | Black Holes

Thanks to an international effort and multiple radio telescopes, astronomers have visualized an event horizon for the first time.

Weekly Space Hangout - April 14, 2017: Brad Peterson and LUVOIR

By Fraser Cain - April 14, 2017 01:19 PM UTC | Site News

Researchers Image Dark Matter Bridge Between Galaxies

By Evan Gough - April 13, 2017 05:24 PM UTC | Cosmology

Astronomers at the University of Waterloo have given us the first image of a dark matter filament bridge between two galaxies.

NASA Bombshell: Key Ingredient For Life Discovered On Enceladus

By Evan Gough - April 13, 2017 04:52 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Discovery of hydrogen at Enceladus raises hopes that life may exist in the icy moon's oceans.

NEO Asteroid 2014 JO25 Set to Buzz Earth on April 19th

By David Dickinson - April 13, 2017 01:29 PM UTC | Planetary Science

It's a shooting gallery out there. The spattered face of Earth's Moon and large impact sites such as Meteor Crater outside of Flagstaff Arizona remind us that we still inhabit a dangerous neighborhood. But despite the inevitable cries for the "End of the World of the Week," humanity can breathe a collective sigh of relief next Wednesday on April 19th, when asteroid 2014 JO25 passes safely by the Earth.

A Bored New Horizons Spacecraft Takes Part Time Job To Fill The Time

By Matthew Williams - April 12, 2017 07:28 PM UTC | Missions

As it makes its way towards its next destination in the Kuiper Belt, the New Horizons probe has been given a new task - measuring the Cosmic Optical Background.

Space Station Trio Touches Down on Earth as NASA's Next Cargo Ship Targets Apr. 18 Blastoff

By ken-kremer - April 11, 2017 11:52 PM UTC | Missions

Comings and goings continue apace on the International Space Station! After living and working fruitfully for six months in space aboard the ISS, an international trio of astronauts and cosmonauts including NASA's Shane Kimbrough departed the orbiting lab complex aboard their Soyuz capsule and plummeted back safely through the Earth's atmosphere to a soft touchdown in Kazahkstan on Monday- as NASA meanwhile targets liftoff of the next US resupply ship a week from today.

Juno Sees Overlapping Colliding Clouds on Jupiter

By Matthew Williams - April 11, 2017 06:14 PM UTC | Planetary Science

In its latest flyby of Jupiter (Perijove 5), the Juno probe managed to capture photographs of two colliding atmospheric conditions.

Carnival of Space #504

By susie - April 11, 2017 03:19 PM UTC | Site News

SpaceX Just Re-Used a Rocket. Why This Changes Everything

By Fraser Cain - April 11, 2017 02:59 PM UTC | Space Exploration

SpaceX just flew a rocket to space for the second time. It was a fairly normal launch, but this accomplishment opens up a whole new era in space flight. What are SpaceX's plans, and who else is working on reusable rockets?

Hubble Sees Intense Auroras on Uranus

By bob-king - April 11, 2017 10:17 AM UTC | Planetary Science

French astronomers discover the brightest auroras on Uranus ever seen, and they look ... weird.

What Constellation is the Sun in?

By Matthew Williams - April 10, 2017 07:35 PM UTC | Solar Astronomy

Since the constellations are based on their appearance from Earth, the Sun does not belong to any. But if you could go to another star system, it would certainly look that way!

Messier 39 - The NGC 7092 Open Star Cluster

By tammy-plotner - April 10, 2017 04:08 PM UTC | Observing

Astronomy Cast Ep. 445: Animals in Space Pt. 1: Insects and Arachnids

By Fraser Cain - April 10, 2017 01:28 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Hubble Takes Advantage Of Opposition To Snap Jupiter

By Matthew Williams - April 08, 2017 04:51 PM UTC | Planetary Science

During the month of April, 2017, Jupiter will make its closest approach to Earth, allowing for some prime viewing opportunities for the Hubble Space Telescope.