Schematic illustrating that Chang’e-6 norites document the 4.25 Ga lunar South Pole-Aitken impact event. Credit: Su Bin Scientists have long sought to determine the age of the moon’s South Pole–Aitken…
Category: Space
A simulated universe works better when dark energy changes over time
Supercomputer simulations tested the Standard Cosmological Model against a Dynamical Dark Energy Model to see which one better matched new DESI data. Credit: ALCF Visualization and Data Analytics Team and…
What happened to all the water on Mars? Here’s why the debate continues
Scientists are confident Mars was once abundant with water, as seen in massive flood-carved channels, ancient river valleys, and minerals that form only in liquid water. But how the Red…
A Dyson swarm made of solar panels would make Earth uninhabitable, suggests study
Artist’s illustration of a Dyson Swarm. Credit: Archibald Tuttle As civilizations become more and more advanced, their power needs also increase. It’s likely that an advanced civilization might need so…
Venus passes between the Earth and sun this weekend—but don’t try to look for it
This image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows Venus taken from NASA’s Mariner 10 spacecraft. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP Venus will pass between the Earth and sun on Saturday during what’s called…
Dark skies above world’s best astronomy sites could be ruined by new energy project
A green energy plant expected to be built in Chile’s Atacama Desert could increase night-time sky brightness at one of the world’s most valuable astronomical locations by up to 35%,…
Latest dark energy survey data suggest possible variations in dark energy over time
The U.S. National Science Foundation Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. The Blanco is home to the 570-megapixel…
Can any nearby supernova cause a mass extinction?
The Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant. Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team The most dangerous parts of a supernova explosion are the outputs like X-rays and gamma rays. Even though they only share…
Euclid space telescope’s 1st results reveal ‘a goldmine of data’ in search for dark matter and dark energy (images, video)
The day that astronomers have been waiting for is here. On Wednesday (March 19), the European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft Euclid released its first data to the public and to…
Wolf-Rayet 104 ‘pinwheel’ star reveals a surprise (and some relief)
An artist’s concept of the famous Wolf-Rayet 104 “pinwheel star,” previously nicknamed the “Death Star.” New research conducted from Maunakea, Hawaiʻi using three Keck Observatory instruments reveals the orbit of…
