Universe Today
Carnival of Space #514
Messier 47 - the NGC 2422 Open Star Cluster
Located in the Puppis constellation, approximately 1,600 light years from Earth, a bright open star cluster that is approximately 78 million years of age.
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The Aerospike Engine Was Considered for the Shuttle, But Never Flew. That's About to Change
This summer, New Mexico-based aerospace company will be testing the aerospike engine, a concept which almost became part of the Space Shuttle
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Gravitational Astronomy? How Detecting Gravitational Waves Changes Everything
We've now had multiple detections of gravitational waves, opening up a whole new field: gravitational astronomy. We talk about the detections made so far, and how we can see the Universe in a whole new way.
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Elon Musk Details His Vision for a Human Civilization on Mars
Musk has published an essay that outlines his vision for colonizing Mars, which he unveiled last year at the 67th annual meeting of the IAC,
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Opportunity Reaches 'Perseverance Valley' Precipice - Ancient Fluid Carved Gully on Mars
Now well into her 13th year roving the Red Planet, NASA's astoundingly resilient Opportunity rover has arrived at the precipice of "Perseverance Valley" - overlooking the upper end of an ancient fluid-carved valley on Mars "possibly water-cut" that flows down into the unimaginably vast eeriness of alien Endeavour crater.
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The Corona Borealis Constellation
Located in the northern hemisphere is the faint constellation of Corona Borealis, otherwise known as the "Northern Crown".
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Weekly Space Hangout - June 16, 2017: Dr. Natalie Batalha and NASA's NExSS
This is Kind of Sad. Astronomers Find a Failed Star Orbiting a Dead Star
A study by a team of international astronomers spotted something truly rare - a failed star orbiting a star near the end of its life
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The Sun Probably Lost a Binary Twin Billions of Years Ago
According to a new study by a research team from UC Berkeley and Harvard, our Sun may have had a binary twin that it lost billions of years ago.
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Carnival of Space #513
Time Machine Tales
What is the Drake Equation?
In 1961, astronomer Frank Drake proposed his now-famous equation for calculating the likelihood of extra-terrestrial intelligence in the Universe.
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Flying Into the Sun? NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission
NASA is planning a mission to get as close as possible as we can to the Sun and reveal its mysteries.
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The WOW Signal Probably Didn't Come from Aliens, or Comets as You Recently Heard
A new study has indicated that the famous Wow! signal may have been caused by a comet, though not all are convinced with its findings
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We'd Like One of These For Here on Earth. NASA's New Mobile Mars Laboratory Concept Rover
To kick of their Summer of Mars exhibit, NASA unveiled their Mars Rover Concept Vehicle - a mobile lab specially-designed for exploring Mars!
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Messier 46 - the NGC 2437 Open Star Cluster
Located in the southern skies, about 5,500 light years from Earth, is the bright and rich open star cluster known as Messier 46 (aka. NGC 2437)
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These 25 Billion Galaxies are Definitely Living in a Simulation
A team of astrophysicists from UZH has simulated the formation of the entire Universe, producing a catalog that will help unlock the secrets of the "Dark Universe".
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 452: Summer Observing Challenges
The Corona Australis Constellation
In the southern skies lies the faint constellation known a Corona Australis (aka. the "Southern Crown"), one of the 88 constellations recognized by the IAU.
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Weekly Space Hangout - June 9, 2017: Dr. Jeffrey Forshaw Presents "Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos"
What Made this Mysterious Pit on Mars? Impact Crater or Natural Collapse?
An unusual pit on the surface of Mars is a bit of a mystery to scientists: is it the result of an impact, or of the melting of carbon dioxide ice?
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Construction Tips from a Type 2 Engineer: Collaboration with Isaac Arthur
Fraser Cain and Isaac Arthur team up again to bring you another epic collaboration. This time, it's construction tips from an engineer from a Type 2 Civilization.
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Astronomers Measure the Mass of a White Dwarf, and Prove Einstein was Right... Again
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, a team of NASA astronomers has repeated an old experiment that was used to confirm General Relativity
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At the Largest Scales, Our Milky Way Galaxy is in the Middle of Nowhere
A presentation at the June 6th AAS meeting confirms that our galaxy is inside an enormous cosmic void, the largest one ever discovered.
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We're One Step Closer to Knowing Why There's More Matter Than Antimatter in the Universe
The T2K experiment just released its first batch of data, which could help answer why there is an apparent imbalance of matter and antimatter in the Universe.
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Amazing Video: Watch SpaceX's Dragon in Flight, as Seen From the Ground
Even Calm Red Dwarf Stars Blast Their Planets with Mini-Flares, Destroying their Habitability
A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society this week has dealt another blow to the case for finding habitable planets around red dwarf stars.
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Mars Had Way More Water on its Surface Than We Thought
A new study suggests that Mars had a much larger ocean than previously thought. However, we can't understand how the Martian climate was ever able to support such an ocean.
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Cancer Risk for a Human Mars Mission Just Got a Lot Worse
A new study by scientists from UNLV indicates that astronauts going to Mars will be at an increased risk of cancer caused by exposure to radiation.
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Summer Astronomy, Minimoon & Saturn Opposition 2017
There's one reason to stay up late this summer, as the planet Saturn reaches opposition this week on June 15th and crosses into the evening sky.
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How Do We Know the Universe is Flat? Discovering the Topology of the Universe
Cosmologists tell us that the Universe is flat. It sure feels like 3-dimensions. What does this even mean, and how do we know it's true?
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Reused SpaceX Dragon Supply Ship Arrives Space Station, Cygnus Departs, Falcon 9 Launch & Landing: Photos/Videos
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The first ever reused Dragon supply ship successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) two days after a thunderous liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, June 3. The first stage booster made a magnificent return to the Cape and erect ground landing some 8 minutes after liftoff.
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We Finally Know why the Boomerang Nebula is Colder than Space Itself
New observations conducted a team of astronomers using the ALMA telescope have explained why the coldest object is so frigid!
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Maybe the Aliens Aren't Hiding, they're Sleeping, Waiting for the Universe to Get Better
A new study by a team of researchers from the Future of Humanity Institute argues that the reason we haven't detected any aliens is because they are currently sleeping.
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How Big is Saturn?
Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar System, so big that you could fit Earth inside it 763 times and still have some room left over!
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Messier 45 - The Pleiades Cluster
Located in the Taurus Constellation, between 390 and 456 light years from Earth, is the famous and easily-visible Pleiades Constellation.
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 451: When Can I Buy My Ticket To Space?
Carnival of Space #512
NASA is Planning to Test Pulsars as Cosmic Navigation Beacons
The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) is being deployed to the ISS, and promises to yield some impressive scientific returns very soon.
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1st Recycled SpaceX Dragon Blasts Off for Space Station on 100th Flight from Pad 39A with Science Rich Cargo and Bonus Booster Landing: Gallery
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - After threatening stormy skies over the Florida Space Coast miraculously parted just in the nick of time, the first ever recycled SpaceX Dragon cargo freighter blasted off on the 100th flight from historic pad 39A on the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) - bound for the International Space Station (ISS) and loaded with a science rich cargo for the multinational crew late Saturday afternoon June 3.
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Weekly Space Hangout - June 2, 2017: Mike Simmons of Astronomers Without Borders
Monster Stratolaunch Aircraft Rolled Out, Getting Closer to First Flights
Stratolaunch just unveiled its new air-launch vehicle - the Stratolaunch Aircraft - which also happens to be the largest aircraft in the world
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Can We Own Space? Buying Your Own Piece of the High Frontier
Owning land here on Earth is nice and legal. But what about a plot of land on the Moon or Mars? When can I buy some ice on Europa?
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Third Gravitational Wave Event Detected
LIGO has detected a third instance of gravitational waves. Like the previous two, this one was caused by merging black holes.
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Are Aliens Communicating with Neutrino Beams?
In a new article, Dr. Morris Jones of METI International proposed expanding our search for evidence of intelligent life by examining more exotic forms of communication
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What Exactly Should We See When a Star Splashes into a Black Hole Event Horizon?
A team of researchers questions the existence of an event horizon around black holes and wonders what it would look like when a star collides with one.
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100th Blastoff from Historic Pad 39A Features SpaceX Resupply to Space Station and Land Landing June 1: Watch Live
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The 100th blastoff from NASA's historic pad 39A features a SpaceX Dragon resupply mission carrying three tons of science and crew supplies to the International Space Station as well as another unfathomable ground landing of the Falcon 9 rockets first stage. UPDATE: Stormy weather and lightning scrubs launch until Saturday, June 3 at 5:07 p.m.
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Best Jupiter Images From Juno ... So Far
Researchers Think They Know Why Venus Doesn't Have as Many Volcanoes as Earth
A new study by researchers from St. Andrews University and the University of Strasbourg has shed light on why Venus has so few volcanoes compared to Earth.
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