The widely studied metallic asteroid known as 16 Psyche was long thought to be the exposed iron core of a small planet that failed to form during the solar system’s earliest days. But new University of Arizona-led research suggests that the asteroid might not be as metallic or dense as once thought and hints at … Read more
Ryugu’s interaction with the sun changes what we know about asteroid history. In February and July of 2019, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft briefly touched down on the surface of near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. The readings it took with various instruments at those times have given researchers insight into the physical and chemical properties of the 1-kilometer-wide asteroid. These findings could help expla
The scientific interest in asteroids is largely due to their status as the remnant debris from the inner solar system formation process. Because some of these objects can collide with the Earth, asteroids are also important for having significantly modified the Earth’s biosphere in the past. They will continue to do so in the future. … Read more
In the year 2135, There is a chance that an asteroid the size of the Empire State Building nicknamed BENNU will crash into Earth. Well, the probability of happening that is 1 in 17000, which is very low, But even so, the near-earth objects like asteroids and comets are a real threat. Barringer Crater in … Read more
From a common person’s perspective it might seem like a stuff of science fiction, But in reality, that’s the future. All natural resources are limited, while recycling is a logical option but everything can’t be recycled. For most of the element found on Earth are rare, like Gold and Platinum. Mineral-like Gold and Platinum aren’t … Read more
We all know space rocks, but what about the rocks in space? Asteroids, Comets and Meteors are hurtling through the solar system. So how do you tell them apart and which rocks could hit our planet?Comets pass near Earth but they never make it to the surface. These cosmic snowballs from overtime in the outer reaches … Read more
A team of astronomers at the ARC Center of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) found that galaxies pollute the environment they exist in. Alex Cameron and Deanne Fisher lead researcher team used a new imaging system, at WM Keck Observatory in Hawaii to confirm that what flows into a galaxy … Read more
Comet ATLAS, also known as C/2019 Y4 ATLAS, was first discovered on December 28, 2019, by a reflecting telescope atop Mauna Loa in Hawaii as part of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). By May 2020 Comet ATLAS was visible to the naked eye as it grew brighter, the Long-period comet ATLAS disintegrated just … Read more
A supervolcano is capable of eruptions thousands of times larger than normal outpouring that has had an eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 8, the largest recorded value on the index.
It’s a radical idea, and it just might just work. Reducing the amount of light reaching our planet could cool the Earth quickly, even with rising carbon dioxide levels. While the asteroid which helped wipe out the dinosaurs blocked out 90% of the Sun’s rays, we would need to divert just 2-4%, it’s believed, to take the Earth back to its pre-industrial climate.
What are your chances of getting smacked and killed by a meteorite? One astronomer put the odds of death by space rock at 1 in 700,000 in a lifetime, while others say it’s more like 1 in 1,600,000.
This animation shows a rotating globe of the new Unified Geologic Map of the Moon with shaded topography from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). This geologic map is a synthesis of six Apollo-era regional geologic maps, updated based on data from recent satellite missions. It will serve as a reference for lunar science and future human missions to the Moon. Credit: NASA/GSFC/USGS.
A team of scientists believes they have discovered the first extraterrestrial protein known to humanity. Using a new analysis technique, the researchers claim to have found the out-of-this-world discovery inside a meteorite that fell to Earth some 30 years ago.
The Neptune-sized planet, which orbits an Earth-sized star, is being slowly evaporated by the white dwarf, causing the planet to lose some 260 million tons of material every day. For the first time, astronomers have discovered evidence for a giant planet orbiting a tiny, dead white dwarf star. And, surprisingly, the Neptune-sized planet is more … Read more
Despite the obvious doom and gloom associated with mass extinctions, they have a tendency to capture our imagination. After all, the sudden demise of the dinosaurs, presumably due to an asteroid strike, is quite an enthralling story. But not all mass extinctions are quite as dramatic and not all have an easily identified culprit. The … Read more