NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Finds Bennu Collision Risk Nearly Nonexistent

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Finds Bennu Collision Risk Nearly Nonexistent

Aug 13, 2021 | Asteroids, Daily Space, Earth, ESA, Exoplanets, OSIRIS-REx, Our Solar System, Sky Watching, Spacecraft, Stars, Venus

After careful analysis of orbital data, gravitational forces, and several other factors, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team calculated the risk of a collision with near-Earth asteroid Bennu to be 0.057% through 2300. Plus, magnetites in meteorites reveal solar system history, and the constellation Ophiuchus is What’s Up.

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Chandra X-ray Observatory Captures Light Echoes Around Black Hole

Chandra X-ray Observatory Captures Light Echoes Around Black Hole

Aug 11, 2021 | Asteroids, Black Holes (Stellar), Daily Space, Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mars 2020, Perseverance, Stars, The Sun

Based on X-ray detections from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, scientists used the Chandra X-ray Observatory and found rings called light echoes moving out from a black hole and its companion star, reflecting off the surrounding dust clouds. Plus, solving the puzzle of the Sun and using glassy nodules to find a meteorite impact.

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NASA’s TESS Maps Symphony of Pulsating Red Giant Stars

NASA’s TESS Maps Symphony of Pulsating Red Giant Stars

Aug 9, 2021 | Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Neutron Stars / Pulsars, Planetary Nebulae, Stars, Supernovae

NASA’s TESS spacecraft, which is primarily used to search for exoplanets, has now observed a veritable symphony of pulsating red giant stars, each with its own internal vibrations. This work was presented at this week’s TESS Science Conference. Plus, some more climate change news (bad) and superflares may be less harmful to exoplanets than thought (good).

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NASA Identifies Possible Lunar Mantle Rocks on Lunar Surface

NASA Identifies Possible Lunar Mantle Rocks on Lunar Surface

Aug 6, 2021 | Asteroids, Comets, Daily Space, Earth, Jupiter, Mercury, Moon, Sky Watching, Spacecraft, Stars, Supernovae, Venus, White Dwarfs

Two new studies have possibly identified regions on the Moon’s surface that could contain pieces of the lunar mantle, which would be possible sample targets for the Artemis mission. Plus, Venus gets a double flyby next week, and it’s all about asteroids and meteor showers in this week’s What’s Up.

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