New Views of Two-Lobed “Ultima Thule”
Images and other observations taken by the New Horizons spacecraft early on New Year's Day reveal a remarkable (but not unexpected) two-lobed object. The post New Views of Two-Lobed “Ultima Thule”...
View ArticleChina’s Chang’e 4 Lands on the Lunar Farside
China's Chang'e 4 performed a historic first on January 3rd with a soft landing on the farside of the Moon. The post China’s Chang’e 4 Lands on the Lunar Farside appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View ArticleHow to “See” Interstellar Space Probes
So far, humans have sent five probes into space that are or will go far beyond the solar system: the Pioneers, the Voyagers, and New Horizons. As an exercise in fun, here's how you can find those...
View ArticleSaturn Hasn’t Always Had Rings
Analyses of data from Cassini’s final days suggest the rings are a late addition and use them to solve a Saturnian mystery. The post Saturn Hasn’t Always Had Rings appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View ArticleSpeeding Up Plutonium Production for Space Exploration
Automation of a key process may yield an eightfold boost to U.S. plutonium production, a promising development for deep-space exploration. The post Speeding Up Plutonium Production for Space...
View ArticleOpportunity Reaches the End of Its Long Road
Despite months of listening, NASA has failed to pick up any signals from the stalwart Opportunity rover. The post Opportunity Reaches the End of Its Long Road appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View ArticleNASA to Explore Early Universe, Origins of Life with SPHEREX
The SPHEREX mission will create multiple surveys of the near-infrared sky that will reveal the origins of life and perhaps the universe itself. The post NASA to Explore Early Universe, Origins of Life...
View ArticleIsraeli Lunar Lander Heads to the Moon
Israel's Beresheet lunar lander was carried to space today on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, headed for a soft landing on the Moon in April. The post Israeli Lunar Lander Heads to the Moon appeared first on...
View ArticleMars Insight’s “Mole” Hits a Snag
Drilling operations for NASA's Mars Insight Lander have been put on hold as the "mole" has hit unexpected obstacles. The post Mars Insight’s “Mole” Hits a Snag appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View ArticleNew Results Probe the Origin of “Ultima Thule”
As observations trickle in from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, mission scientists have new insights on how their two-lobed target formed in the Kuiper Belt. The post New Results Probe the Origin of...
View ArticleHayabusa 2 Finds Asteroid Ryugu Is Young, Dark & Dry
Hayabusa 2’s asteroid Ryugu has some unexpected characteristics. In particular, its dry surface could spell trouble for current theories about how Earth obtained its water. The post Hayabusa 2 Finds...
View ArticleQuaking Aspen Leaves Inspire Potential Power Source For Mars Rovers
A unique concept could serve as an emergency power backup for future missions. The post Quaking Aspen Leaves Inspire Potential Power Source For Mars Rovers appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View ArticleWhat India’s Anti-Satellite Test Means for Space Debris
A recent anti-satellite missile test by India added hundreds of pieces of debris to an already cluttered low-Earth orbit. The post What India’s Anti-Satellite Test Means for Space Debris appeared first...
View ArticleIsrael’s Beresheet Mission Crashes on the Moon
SpaceIL attempted, but missed, a historic first for private spaceflight and Israel — a soft landing on the Moon. The post Israel’s Beresheet Mission Crashes on the Moon appeared first on Sky &...
View ArticleSounding Rockets Spark Dramatic Arctic “Aurora”
The spectacular AZURE experiment is the latest of several missions probing the interface of Earth and space over the Arctic. The post Sounding Rockets Spark Dramatic Arctic “Aurora” appeared first on...
View ArticleDoes Starlink Pose a Space Debris Threat? An Expert Answers
SpaceX's Starlink satellites have come under heavy criticism for their potential to clutter the sky. Here's what a space debris expert has to say about it. The post Does Starlink Pose a Space Debris...
View ArticleNICER Maps the X-ray Sky
NASA's NICER instrument aboard the International Space Station is giving us a unique view of much of the X-ray sky. The post NICER Maps the X-ray Sky appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View ArticleAstronomers Might Have Found Apollo 10’s “Snoopy” Module
A small near-Earth object might be a historic piece of space hardware: the Apollo 10 lunar module, dubbed "Snoopy." The post Astronomers Might Have Found Apollo 10’s “Snoopy” Module appeared first on...
View ArticleWhat Have We Learned from 20 Years of X-rays?
On the eve of the 20th anniversaries for both the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observatories, we celebrate with a look back at seven of their most incredible discoveries. The post What Have We Learned...
View ArticleExploring the Solar System: Mission Updates
Space agencies have selected two solar missions and a “comet interceptor” for development and launch. The post Exploring the Solar System: Mission Updates appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
View Article