Jan 27, 2022 | Astrobiology, Crewed Space, Daily Space, Earth, Milky Way, Physics, Rockets, Space China, Space History, Spacecraft
For decades, scientists have been trying to work out just how the Earth got all its water, and the prevailing theory was that comets and asteroids brought it, and we have evidence for that mechanic; however, a new hypothesis has provided evidence that the water was already here, locked away in hydrous minerals in a very iron-poor core. Plus, magnetic fields, subatomic particles, life on the ocean floor, a geology mystery solved, and this week in rocket history covers a space shuttle mission with some really neat science.
Jan 26, 2022 | Brown Dwarf, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Guest Interview, JWST, Mars, Opportunity, Rockets, Spacecraft, SpaceX
A dynamical analysis of the 14 Herculis system has revealed the existence of two brown dwarf planets orbiting in completely misaligned, eccentric orbits. Plus, weird ice in Chicago, the ongoing debate about liquid water on Mars, one rocket goes up while a capsule comes down, and we interview Dr. Knicole Colon from the JWST mission.
Jan 21, 2022 | Asteroids, Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, Sky Watching
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in the Kingdom of Tonga erupted on January 15, and despite communications being cut off, government officials and scientists have gathered a wealth of information about the event and its outcome so far. Plus, urban heat islands, volcanic lightning, and What’s Up.
Jan 19, 2022 | Daily Space, Dark Matter, Earth, Globular Cluster, Guest Interview, Milky Way, Rockets, Space China
Recent observations of twelve different stellar streams around the Milky Way have revealed the effects of dark matter, similar to how lights on a Christmas tree reveal the shape of the tree in dark. Plus, globular clusters, volcanoes, and an interview with Dr. Cathy Olkin from the Southwest Research Institute’s Lucy mission.
Jan 7, 2022 | Cassini, Daily Space, Earth, Globular Cluster, JWST, Our Solar System, Physics, Saturn, Sky Watching, Stars, Supernovae
With the successful launch of the JWST, the focus turns to the complicated process of unfurling the sunshield and unfolding the mirror. We’ll look at just where NASA is in the process and how much farther we have to go before first light. Plus, Earth and supernovae, and in this week’s What’s Up, we look forward to 2022’s astronomy events.
Dec 17, 2021 | AGU, Climate Change, Curiosity, Daily Space, Earth, Mars, Our Solar System, Perseverance, Rovers, Sky Watching, Star Forming Region, The Sun, Venus
A team of scientists collected cores and modeled ice cliff failure and found that Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is melting more quickly than ever and could be at risk of collapse, threatening global coastlines with almost a meter of sea-level rise. Plus, new results from Percy, and this week’s What’s Up.