Science Archives - Page 27 of 57

Rocket Roundup for July 28, 2021

Jul 29, 2021 | Artemis, Blue Origin, Daily Space, Jupiter, Random Space Fact, Space History, Space Policy, Spacecraft, SpaceX

For this week’s Rocket Roundup, we have exactly zero launches to cover. What’s up with that? In the meantime, we talk about Europa Clipper’s launch announcement, Blue Origin’s attempt to be a part of Artemis, what a NOTAM is, and how we use it. Plus, this week in rocket history, we look back at the launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Hubble Detects Water Vapor in Ganymede’s Atmosphere

Jul 28, 2021 | Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Galaxies, Jupiter, Planetary Nebulae, Spacecraft, Supernovae

Scientists analyzed archival data from the Hubble Space Telescope and found evidence of water vapor in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s moon Ganymede. The water vapor is present due to thermal escape from the icy surface of the moon. Plus, a “fizzled” gamma-ray burst and all the exoplanets!

InSight Lander Reveals Structure of Mars

Jul 26, 2021 | Active Galaxies, Climate Change, Comets, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Mars, Venus

In three new papers released this week, scientists analyzed data from NASA’s InSight lander to reveal the structure of Mars and its layers, revealing information about the planet’s crust, lithosphere, mantle, and core. Plus, isotopes in an exoplanet’s atmosphere, a potential exomoon being formed, the heart of a radio galaxy, and black holes impeding stellar birth.

Hubble Returns to Observations with Oddball Galaxies

Jul 23, 2021 | Conferences, Daily Space, Exoplanets, Galaxies, Globular Cluster, Jupiter, JWST, Perseverance, Sky Watching, Spacecraft, Spitzer, Stars, White Dwarfs

After several weeks of trying different methods, the operations team successfully revived the stalwart Hubble Space Telescope, which experienced a payload computer fault back on June 13. The first images taken were of several unusual galaxies. Plus, Jupiter’s moon Io triggers radio emissions from the giant planet, and this week, What’s Up returns with a look at the Summer Triangle.

Fossilized Remains of Hydrothermal Microbes Found

Jul 20, 2021 | Astrobiology, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Fast Radio Bursts

The fossilized remains of methane-cycling microbes have been found in exposed sedimentary seafloor rocks in South Africa. These microbes, dating back 3.42 billion years, could extend the fossil record back to when life first began on Earth. Plus, teenage exoplanets orbit sibling stars, and gamma-ray bursts happen on schedule.

Rogue Planets Found Near Milky Way’s Core

Jul 16, 2021 | Asteroids, Black Holes (Stellar), Conferences, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Globular Cluster, Jupiter, Kepler, Mercury, Our Solar System, Stars, Supernovae

Using data collected by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, scientists have found four free-floating, or rogue, planets near the core of the Milky Way. These planets formed in discs in other planetary systems and were thrown out by gravitational interactions with larger planets. Plus, the early solar system, including ancient Earth, Jupiter’s chemistry, and Mercury’s core.