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NASA Observes Rare Uranus Occultation, Unveiling New Atmospheric and Ring Details
NASA captured a rare stellar occultation of Uranus this month, providing fresh data about the ice giant’s atmosphere and rings. Scientists measured temperature changes and atmospheric composition, offering new insights since the last major occultation in 1996. The findings could help guide future exploration missions and deepen our understanding ...
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Hubble Captures Mars, Cosmic Nebulae, and Distant Galaxies in Spectacular 35th Anniversary Photos
To celebrate 35 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope has released breathtaking new images of Mars, a planetary nebula, and a distant spiral galaxy. Since its 1990 launch, Hubble has captured nearly 1.7 million observations and continues to awe scientists and stargazers alike with vivid cosmic scenes that reveal the ever-changing beauty of our...
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Water on Ancient Mars? New Study Challenges the Cold Planet Theory
Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that early Mars was surprisingly wet, featuring extensive networks of lakes and river basins shaped by rainfall and snowfall. This challenges long-held views of a predominantly cold and icy ancient Mars. Despite current climate models struggling to explain sustained liquid water on the Red Pl...
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NASA Shares Planetary Defense Strategy to Protect Earth From Potential Asteroid Strikes
NASA and international scientists closely tracked asteroid 2024 YR4, which initially showed a rare 3 percent collision probability with Earth. Although the threat has now diminished, the incident highlights the importance of asteroid surveillance, open data, and upcoming space missions like NEO Surveyor.
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Scientists Finally Discover How Long a Day Lasts on Uranus
Astronomers confirm Uranus’ rotation period using internal oscillation modeling for the first time. On Uranus, a day just lasts far longer. More precise rotational time observations of the gas giant should enable scientists to plan visits to investigate it. Unlike on Mars and Earth, savage windstorms make it far more difficult to identify the rot...
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James Webb Telescope Captures Neptune’s Auroras in Stunning Detail
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the first-ever direct images of Neptune’s auroras, revealing surprising details about the ice giant’s atmosphere. Unlike auroras on Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn, Neptune’s auroras appear across unexpected locations due to its tilted and offset magnetic field. Scientists also detected the presence of H...
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New Study Challenges Claims of Vast Underground Water on Mars
Mars’ water history remains a mystery as new research questions the claim that vast amounts of water are stored beneath its surface. A study led by Bruce Jakosky argues that previous estimates of Mars’ mid-crust being saturated with liquid water may be inaccurate. The findings challenge earlier interpretations of seismic data from NASA’s InSi...
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3D Mapping Reveals 52-Foot Megaripples from Chicxulub Asteroid in Louisiana
Massive megaripples, formed by the tsunami after the Chicxulub asteroid impact 66 million years ago, have been mapped deep beneath Louisiana using 3D seismic data. The formations, averaging 52 feet in height and spanning 900 square miles, offer new insights into the force of the ancient tsunami and its global impact. Scientists suggest these findin...
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Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research
A privately-led space mission is being developed to retrieve and analyse cloud samples from Venus. Scientists believe the planet’s sulfuric acid clouds might sustain organic molecules necessary for life. The mission, named Morning Star, involves deploying probes to collect mist from Venus' atmosphere. The collected samples would be returned to Ea...
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Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlights the Tarantula Nebula’s complex structure, featuring dense cosmic dust clouds and vibrant star-forming regions. This nebula, located 160,000 light-years away, plays a vital role in understanding stellar evolution. The captured details offer insights into how cosmic dust contributes to star and...
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Scientists Observe Rare Plastic Ice, A Hybrid Form of Ice and Water, Under Extreme Pressure and Heat
Researchers have observed plastic ice, a phase where water molecules rotate while staying in a solid structure. The discovery, made under extreme pressure and heat, could provide new insights into the composition of icy exoplanets and moons. The findings suggest plastic ice VII may have existed in Europa and Titan's interiors and could influence nu...
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China Recruiting For Planetary Defence Force Amid Asteroid Collision Fears
The recruitment ad posted on Chinese social media platforms invited applications from recent graduates aged under 35.
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Astronomers Spot a High-Speed Star That May Carry a Planet With It
Astronomers have identified a celestial object moving through the Milky Way at over 1.2 million mph. Believed to be a small star with a possible massive exoplanet, the discovery could mark the fastest-known planetary system. If its speed exceeds 1.3 million mph, it may eventually escape the galaxy. Scientists are still verifying whether it is the s...
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New Research Suggests Mars Experienced Warm and Cold Periods Affecting Liquid Water
New research from Harvard University suggests that Mars experienced alternating warm and cold periods billions of years ago, affecting its climate and ability to sustain liquid water. These fluctuations, which lasted up to 100,000 years, may have influenced the planet’s potential for life. The study highlights the role of hydrogen in trapping hea...
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New Study Finds Active Lunar Tectonics, Challenges Moon’s Dormancy
A recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal reveals that the moon is still experiencing tectonic activity. Scientists identified 266 small ridges on the far side of the moon, formed within the last 160 to 200 million years. The study suggests these ridges result from geological forces like lunar shrinking and orbital shifts. The findi...
-
NASA Observes Rare Uranus Occultation, Unveiling New Atmospheric and Ring Details
NASA captured a rare stellar occultation of Uranus this month, providing fresh data about the ice giant’s atmosphere and rings. Scientists measured temperature changes and atmospheric composition, offering new insights since the last major occultation in 1996. The findings could help guide future exploration missions and deepen our understanding ...
-
Hubble Captures Mars, Cosmic Nebulae, and Distant Galaxies in Spectacular 35th Anniversary Photos
To celebrate 35 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope has released breathtaking new images of Mars, a planetary nebula, and a distant spiral galaxy. Since its 1990 launch, Hubble has captured nearly 1.7 million observations and continues to awe scientists and stargazers alike with vivid cosmic scenes that reveal the ever-changing beauty of our...
-
Water on Ancient Mars? New Study Challenges the Cold Planet Theory
Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that early Mars was surprisingly wet, featuring extensive networks of lakes and river basins shaped by rainfall and snowfall. This challenges long-held views of a predominantly cold and icy ancient Mars. Despite current climate models struggling to explain sustained liquid water on the Red Pl...
-
NASA Shares Planetary Defense Strategy to Protect Earth From Potential Asteroid Strikes
NASA and international scientists closely tracked asteroid 2024 YR4, which initially showed a rare 3 percent collision probability with Earth. Although the threat has now diminished, the incident highlights the importance of asteroid surveillance, open data, and upcoming space missions like NEO Surveyor.
-
Scientists Finally Discover How Long a Day Lasts on Uranus
Astronomers confirm Uranus’ rotation period using internal oscillation modeling for the first time. On Uranus, a day just lasts far longer. More precise rotational time observations of the gas giant should enable scientists to plan visits to investigate it. Unlike on Mars and Earth, savage windstorms make it far more difficult to identify the rot...
-
James Webb Telescope Captures Neptune’s Auroras in Stunning Detail
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the first-ever direct images of Neptune’s auroras, revealing surprising details about the ice giant’s atmosphere. Unlike auroras on Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn, Neptune’s auroras appear across unexpected locations due to its tilted and offset magnetic field. Scientists also detected the presence of H...
-
New Study Challenges Claims of Vast Underground Water on Mars
Mars’ water history remains a mystery as new research questions the claim that vast amounts of water are stored beneath its surface. A study led by Bruce Jakosky argues that previous estimates of Mars’ mid-crust being saturated with liquid water may be inaccurate. The findings challenge earlier interpretations of seismic data from NASA’s InSi...
-
3D Mapping Reveals 52-Foot Megaripples from Chicxulub Asteroid in Louisiana
Massive megaripples, formed by the tsunami after the Chicxulub asteroid impact 66 million years ago, have been mapped deep beneath Louisiana using 3D seismic data. The formations, averaging 52 feet in height and spanning 900 square miles, offer new insights into the force of the ancient tsunami and its global impact. Scientists suggest these findin...
-
Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research
A privately-led space mission is being developed to retrieve and analyse cloud samples from Venus. Scientists believe the planet’s sulfuric acid clouds might sustain organic molecules necessary for life. The mission, named Morning Star, involves deploying probes to collect mist from Venus' atmosphere. The collected samples would be returned to Ea...
-
Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlights the Tarantula Nebula’s complex structure, featuring dense cosmic dust clouds and vibrant star-forming regions. This nebula, located 160,000 light-years away, plays a vital role in understanding stellar evolution. The captured details offer insights into how cosmic dust contributes to star and...
-
Scientists Observe Rare Plastic Ice, A Hybrid Form of Ice and Water, Under Extreme Pressure and Heat
Researchers have observed plastic ice, a phase where water molecules rotate while staying in a solid structure. The discovery, made under extreme pressure and heat, could provide new insights into the composition of icy exoplanets and moons. The findings suggest plastic ice VII may have existed in Europa and Titan's interiors and could influence nu...
-
China Recruiting For Planetary Defence Force Amid Asteroid Collision Fears
The recruitment ad posted on Chinese social media platforms invited applications from recent graduates aged under 35.
-
Astronomers Spot a High-Speed Star That May Carry a Planet With It
Astronomers have identified a celestial object moving through the Milky Way at over 1.2 million mph. Believed to be a small star with a possible massive exoplanet, the discovery could mark the fastest-known planetary system. If its speed exceeds 1.3 million mph, it may eventually escape the galaxy. Scientists are still verifying whether it is the s...
-
New Research Suggests Mars Experienced Warm and Cold Periods Affecting Liquid Water
New research from Harvard University suggests that Mars experienced alternating warm and cold periods billions of years ago, affecting its climate and ability to sustain liquid water. These fluctuations, which lasted up to 100,000 years, may have influenced the planet’s potential for life. The study highlights the role of hydrogen in trapping hea...
-
New Study Finds Active Lunar Tectonics, Challenges Moon’s Dormancy
A recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal reveals that the moon is still experiencing tectonic activity. Scientists identified 266 small ridges on the far side of the moon, formed within the last 160 to 200 million years. The study suggests these ridges result from geological forces like lunar shrinking and orbital shifts. The findi...
