Universe Today (Page 447)

New Horizons Team Has a New Nickname for the Spacecraft's Next Target

By Matthew Williams - March 19, 2018 01:59 PM UTC | Missions

The first Kuiper Belt Object that the New Horizons mission will investigate - MU69 - just received the nickname "Ultima Thule"

Kepler's Almost Out of Fuel. It'll Make its Last Observation in a Few Months

By Matthew Williams - March 19, 2018 12:42 PM UTC | Exoplanets

The Kepler mission, which is responsible for the majority of exoplanet discoveries, is running out of fuel and will be making its final discoveries over the next few months.

The First SpaceX BFR Should Make Orbital Launches by 2020

By Matthew Williams - March 16, 2018 03:36 PM UTC | Space Exploration

According to a recent interview Musk made at the 2018 SXSW conference, the BFR will be ready to conduct test launches in the next two years

This Bizarre Image is a 3D Scan of a Cave Network in Spain. This Technology Could be Used to Map Out Lava Tubes on the Moon and Mars

By Matthew Williams - March 15, 2018 05:57 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A team that participated in the ESA's Pangaea-X program recently produced the largest 3D image of a cave system in Spain, and the technology could be used to map out lava tubes on the Moon and Mars too

Astronomy Cast now available via Amazon's Alexa!

By Susie Murph - March 15, 2018 02:35 PM UTC | Site News

If We Do Hear Signals From Aliens, They're Probably Long Gone

By Matthew Williams - March 15, 2018 01:22 PM UTC | Astrobiology

According to a new study that included the Frank Drake, any alien signals humanity detects will have likely come from a civilization that has since gone extinct

Weekly Space Hangout: March 14, 2018: Ethan Good, Visiting Vehicles Officer at JSC

By Fraser Cain - March 14, 2018 05:15 PM UTC | Site News

Stephen Hawking has passed away at age 76

By Matthew Williams - March 14, 2018 02:45 PM UTC | Physics

Stephen Hawking passed away on Wednesday morning, March 14th, at his home in Cambridge. He leaves behind a loving family, millions of admirers, and an unparalleled scientific legacy.

7% of Scott Kelly's Genes Changed After a Year in Space

By Matthew Williams - March 13, 2018 04:26 PM UTC | Space Exploration

The NASA Twin Study, which assessed how spending a year aboard the ISS affected Scott Kelly's health (compared to his twin brother, Mark), has just been released

Hard Not to Get a Little Teary Watching this Video from SpaceX About the Falcon Heavy Launch

By Matthew Williams - March 13, 2018 03:04 PM UTC | Space Exploration

In honor of the successful launch of the Falcon Heavy, SpaceX has released an inspiring video of the event that shows the highlights of the event

James Webb is Enduring its Final Stage of Testing Before it Ships off for Kourou, French Guiana

By Matthew Williams - March 13, 2018 01:54 PM UTC | Telescopes

The James Webb Space Telescope just entered the final phase of integration and testing before being shipped off to French Guiana, where it will launch in 2019

Scientists Propose An Asteroid Nuke Mission To Save Earth From Potential Destruction

By Evan Gough - March 12, 2018 05:50 PM UTC | Planetary Science

NASA's HAMMER (Hyper-velocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response) is a plan to protect us from asteroids, either with kinetic impactors, or with NUKES.

Carnival of Space #552

By Susie Murph - March 12, 2018 04:00 PM UTC | Site News

Messier 67 - the King Cobra Open Star Cluster

By tammy-plotner - March 12, 2018 03:00 PM UTC | Stars

Located between 2610 and 2930 light years from Earth is the King Cobra Cluster (aka. Messier 67), one of the oldest open star clusters

Could There be Alien Life Right Beneath the Surface of Icy Worlds Like Enceladus and Europa?

By Matthew Williams - March 12, 2018 02:57 PM UTC | Astrobiology

A new study conducted with the support of the NASA Astrobiology Institute has theorized that life may exist on the undersides of Europa's icy surface.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 482: Alternative Ways to Space

By Susie Murph - March 12, 2018 02:04 PM UTC | Space Exploration

Jupiter's Atmospheric Bands Go Surprisingly Deep

By Matthew Williams - March 10, 2018 04:45 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Three new studies have been released based on Juno data that have revealed new things about Jupiter's atmospheric bands and interior.

Air-Breathing Electric Thruster Could Keep Satellites in Low Earth Orbit for Years

By Matthew Williams - March 09, 2018 04:15 PM UTC | Space Exploration

For the first time, team of ESA scientists recently developed and tested an air-breathing electric thruster, which could open the way for an entirely new class of satellite

Gaze in Wonder at Jupiter's Mysterious Geometric Polar Storms

By Evan Gough - March 09, 2018 04:02 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Each of Jupiter's poles is a beautiful, geometric arrangement of Earth-sized cyclones. In the north, 8 storms surround one central storm, while on the south, 5 storms surround one in the center.

James Webb Telescope is Probably Going to be Delayed Again, and Could Exceed a Congress Spending Cap

By Matthew Williams - March 09, 2018 12:51 PM UTC | Telescopes

According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope is likely to be delayed again, and exceed its cost cap.