Astronomers have nicknamed the stars “old smokers” Nearing the end of their life, they sit quietly for long periods of time, barely noticeable, before suddenly puffing out a cloud of…
Category: Planetary Science
NASA collaborating on European-led gravitational wave observatory in space
The LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, led by ESA (European Space Agency) with NASA contributions, will detect gravitational waves in space using three spacecraft, separated by more than a…
Astronomers analyze masses, orbital properties and atmospheric features of six exoplanets
A team of researchers led by astronomers at UCI has obtained highly precise information about six confirmed exoplanets orbiting TOI-1136, a dwarf star about 270 light years from Earth. Credit:…
‘Old smokers’ and ‘squalling newborns’ among hidden stars spotted for first time
Artist’s impression of a cloud of smoke and dust being thrown out by a red giant star. Seen from the left the star remains bright but if viewed from the…
Japan’s precision moon lander has hit its target, but it appears to be upside-down
This image provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/Takara Tomy/Sony Group Corporation/Doshisha University shows an image taken by a Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) of a robotic moon rover…
How NASA chases and investigates bright cosmic blips
Astronomers think a long GRB (gamma-ray burst) arises from a massive, rapidly rotating star when its core runs out of fuel and collapses, forming a black hole in the star’s…
Now we know why Starship’s second flight test failed
The moment of separation between Superheavy and Starship. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX is often in the headlines; unfortunately, it is not always good news. On 18 November we saw the second…
New US Postal Service stamps feature iconic NASA Webb images
The U.S. Postal Service issued a Priority Mail Express stamp Jan. 22, 2024, highlighting an image of the Carina Nebula from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Greg Breeding, an art…
Finally, the edge of the universe and beyond
Deep field. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STSCI Launched in 2021 on Christmas Day, the James Webb Space Telescope is the most complex, precise and powerful space observatory ever built. The…
US space company upbeat on next Moon mission despite lander’s demise
NASA has an experimental new partnership with private industry intended to reduce costs for American taxpayers and seed a lunar economy . The head of the American space company whose lunar…
