An artist’s impression of the rocky, habitable-zone exoplanet Kepler-168b. Credit: NASA Ames/NASA/JPL–Caltech/Tim Pyle (Caltech). The closest technological species to us in the Milky Way galaxy could be 33,000 light years…
Category: Planetary Science
Where did the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS come from?
The Gemini South Observatory captured this image of the interstellar comet 3L/ATLAS on August 27th. It shows the object’s fuzzy coma and tail, made of volatiles released by the sun’s…
Models explain mysterious feature controlling magnetic properties of the sun
The sun taken from the Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite, showing the quiet corona and magnetic structures like coronal loops, which trace the intricate patterns of magnetic field lines that emerge…
Volcanic emissions of reactive sulfur gases may have shaped early climate of Mars, making it more hospitable to life
Sulfur crystals found inside a rock after NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover happened to drive over it and crush it on May 30, 2024. This discovery supports new research led by…
‘Potential biosignatures’ found in ancient Mars lake
Jezero Crater on Mars where tantalising ‘biosignatures’ have been found. Credit: Imperial College London A new study suggests a habitable past and signs of ancient microbial processes on Mars. Led…
A hungry star is eating its cosmic twin at a rate never seen before
Double star V Sagittae—10,000 light years from Earth—is burning bright because greedy white dwarf is gorging on its larger twin. Credit: University of Southampton A greedy white dwarf star not…
50 years ago, NASA sent two spacecraft to search for life on Mars. The missions’ findings are still discussed today
NASA’s Viking landers were the first spacecraft to successfully touch down on the surface of Mars. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP Finding life beyond Earth would be a major scientific discovery…
‘Blood Moon’ rises during total lunar eclipse
Stargazers in Johannesburg were among those getting a clear view of the Blood Moon. Stargazers enjoyed a “Blood Moon” Sunday night during a total lunar eclipse visible across Asia and…
Mars has a solid core, resolving a longstanding planetary mystery, according to new study
Credit: NASA Scientists have discovered that Mars has an interior structure similar to Earth’s. Results from NASA’s InSight mission suggest that the red planet has a solid inner core surrounded…
Hubble spies galaxy with much to see
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features the galaxy NGC 7456. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, D. Thilker While it may appear as just another spiral galaxy among billions in the universe,…
