Hey Map Collectors, Here’s a New Map of Pluto!  

Using data from the New Horizons spacecraft, the mission team has created some new maps of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. The post Hey Map Collectors, Here’s a New Map of Pluto! appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 13:59:12

Long After Humanity is Gone and the Sun Dies, the Water Bears Will be There  

A new study from the University of Oxford has shown that long after humanity is gone, the tardigrade (aka. the "water bear") will still be living. The post Long After Humanity is Gone and the Sun Dies, the Water Bears Will be There appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 10:28:13

Clean Room Tour with NASA's Next Gen Tracking Data Relay Satellite TDRS-M, Closeout Incident Under Review – Photos  

ASTROTECH SPACE OPERATIONS/KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The last of NASA's next generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TRDS) designed to relay critical science data and research observations gathered by the International Space Station (ISS), Hubble and dozens of Earth-orbiting Earth science missions is undergoing final prelaunch clean room preparations on the Florida Space Coast while targeting an early August launch - even as the agency reviews the scheduling impact of a weekend "close...

what do you think? 2017-07-20 09:35:58

Strange Radio Signals Detected from a Nearby Star  

A recent survey conducted by the Arecibo Observatory detected a strange radio signal coming from Ross 128, a star system just 11 light-year from Earth. The post Strange Radio Signals Detected from a Nearby Star appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 05:35:46

Carnival of Space #518  

It’s that time again! This week's Carnival of Space is hosted by Pamela Hoffman at the Everyday Spacer blog. Click here to read Carnival of Space #518. And if you're interested in looking back, here's an archive to the past Carnivals of Space. If you've got a space-related blog, you should really join the carnival. […] The post Carnival of Space #518 appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 03:03:38

Evidence Mounts for the Existence of Planet Nine  

The latest study that looks into the possible existence of Planet 9 offers a new technique, one which is free of the "observational bias" which the others were criticized for. The post Evidence Mounts for the Existence of Planet Nine appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 02:37:47

This is the One of the Largest Structures We Know of in the Universe  

Using data from the Sloan Digitial Sky Survey, an Indian team of astronomers has discovered one of the largest cosmic structures to date - the Saraswati Supercluster! The post This is the One of the Largest Structures We Know of in the Universe appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 02:21:21

Two Years Ago Today: It Was a Clear Day on Pluto When New Horizons Flew By  

It was two years ago this morning that we awoke to see the now iconic image of Pluto that the New Horizons spacecraft had sent to Earth during the night. You, of course, know the picture I'm talking about - the one with a clear view of the giant heart-shaped region on the distant, little […] The post Two Years Ago Today: It Was a Clear Day on Pluto When New Horizons Flew By appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 01:54:22

One. More. Month: Our Guide to the Total Solar Eclipse  

Get ready for the August 21st total solar eclipse, with facts, maps and more! The post One. More. Month: Our Guide to the Total Solar Eclipse appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 01:29:20

Ancient Impacts Shaped the Structure of the Milky Way  

According to a new study using data from the SDSS, ripples in the Milky Way's disk may be indications of "ancient impacts" with other galaxies. The post Ancient Impacts Shaped the Structure of the Milky Way appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-20 01:10:46

SpaceX Falcon 9 Dazzles Delivering 'Epic' Intelsat DTH TV Comsat to Orbit for America's  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The third time proved to be the charm as SpaceX kept up a torrid 2017 launch pace and successfully ignited another Falcon 9 rocket late Wednesday, July 5, from the Florida Space Coast and delivered a powerful and heavy weight commercial TV to orbit that will serve "tens of millions of customers globally," Intelsat VP for Sales Kurt Riegel, told Universe Today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center press site. The post SpaceX Falcon 9 Dazzles Delivering 'Epic' Intel...

what do you think? 2017-07-08 13:33:48

How Much Stuff is in a Light Year?  

Determining how much stuff is a single light year is daunting, considering how big the Milky Way is. But doing the math, we find that the answer is close to nothing The post How Much Stuff is in a Light Year? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 13:14:20

How Does Mercury Compare to Earth?  

Mercury and Earth are a study in contrasts, with serious differences in their orbits, atmospheres, surface temperatures, and annual/diurnal cycles. But they do have a few things in common. The post How Does Mercury Compare to Earth? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 12:35:10

I Wonder if it has Room Service? Here’s the Space Hotel that Won a Recent NASA Competition  

A team of MIT graduate students was recently honored by NASA's RASC-AL competition for their MARINA space habitat design The post I Wonder if it has Room Service? Here’s the Space Hotel that Won a Recent NASA Competition appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 11:19:11

Universe Today  

Space and astronomy news

what do you think? 2017-07-08 10:49:01

Titan’s Lakes are Nice and Calm. The Perfect Spot for a Landing  

A recent study has shown that Titan's methane lakes experience very low waves, which could make it an ideal landing spot for future missions The post Titan’s Lakes are Nice and Calm. The Perfect Spot for a Landing appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 09:09:43

VP Pence Vows Return to the Moon, Boots on Mars during KSC Visit  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Vice President Mike Pence, during a whirlwind visit to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, vowed that America would fortify our leadership in space under the Trump Administration with impressive goals by forcefully stating that "our nation will return to the moon, and we will put American boots on the face of Mars." The post VP Pence Vows Return to the Moon, Boots on Mars during KSC Visit appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 08:49:23

Gaia Finds Six Stars Zipping out of the Milky Way  

The ESA's Gaia mission made a startling discovery recently, detecting six stars that appear to have been kicked out of the Milky Way The post Gaia Finds Six Stars Zipping out of the Milky Way appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 06:03:53

Did you Know There are X-rays Coming from Pluto? That’s Strange, What’s Causing it?  

A new study by a team of astronomers has revealed that an unexpected amount of x-ray emissions coming from Pluto, which was highly unexpected. The post Did you Know There are X-rays Coming from Pluto? That’s Strange, What’s Causing it? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 05:19:33

The Corvus Constellation  

Located in the southern celestial hemisphere is the constellation Corvus (Latin for "the Raven"), one of the original 48 constellations of Ptolemy. The post The Corvus Constellation appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 05:06:23

New Horizons Team Already Finding Surprises on Next Flyby Target  

While the New Horizons spacecraft was heading to Pluto, scientists from the mission used Hubble and other telescopes to try and find out more about the environment their spacecraft would be flying through. No one wanted New Horizons to run into unexpected dust or debris. And now, as New Horizons prepares to fly past its […] The post New Horizons Team Already Finding Surprises on Next Flyby Target appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-07-08 03:39:47

Surprise: Comet E4 Lovejoy Brightens  

Had your fill of binocular comets yet? Thus far this year, we've had periodic comets 2P/Encke, 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušakova and 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak all reach binocular visibility above +10th magnitude as forecasted. Now, we'd like to point out a surprise interloper in the dawn sky that you're not watching, but should be: Comet C/2017 E4 Lovejoy. The post Surprise: Comet E4 Lovejoy Brightens appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-04-03 13:35:03

1st Reflown SpaceX Falcon 9 Soars to Orbit with SES-10 Revolutionizing Rocketry Forever – Photo/Video Gallery  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Billion dollar bet on rocket recycling paid off beautifully when the world's first ever reflown rocket booster - a SpaceX Falcon 9 - roared off NASA's historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center and successfully delivered the next generation SES-10 TV satellite to orbit and simultaneously shot revolutionary shock waves reverberating forever across the rocket industry worldwide. The post 1st Reflown SpaceX Falcon 9 Soars to Orbit with SES-1...

what do you think? 2017-04-03 01:15:11

Four Candidates For Planet 9 Located  

A concentrated three-day search for a mysterious, unseen planet in the far reaches of our own solar system has yielded four possible candidates. The search for the so-called Planet 9 was part of a real-time search with a Zooniverse citizen science project, in coordination with the BBC's Stargazing Live broadcast from the Australian National University’s […] The post Four Candidates For Planet 9 Located appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-31 20:57:57

Weekly Space Hangout – Mar 31, 2017: The IDATA Project and Afterglow Access  

Host: Fraser Cain (@fcain) Special Guest: This week’s special guests are Timothy Spuck, Kathryn Meredith, Dr. James Hammerman and Andreas Stefik of the Innovators Developing Accessible Tools for Astronomy (IDATA) Project Team. The IDATA project aims to design and develop Afterglow Access, a new software tool that will expand accessibility beyond touch, making the universe […] The post Weekly Space Hangout – Mar 31, 2017: The IDATA Project and Afterglow Access appeared first on

what do you think? 2017-03-31 20:51:25

Deepest X-ray Image Ever Made Contains Mysterious Explosion  

Using data from the Chandra observatory, a team of researchers witnessed the most distant X-ray explosion ever observed, and are not sure what caused it. The post Deepest X-ray Image Ever Made Contains Mysterious Explosion appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-31 17:25:43

ARCA Unveils the World’s first Single-Stage-to-Orbit Rocket  

The New Mexico-based aerospace company ARCA recently unveiled its Haas 2C rocket, the first single-state-to-orbit rocket in history. The post ARCA Unveils the World’s first Single-Stage-to-Orbit Rocket appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-31 11:59:27

Space Station Drama After Vital Micrometeorite Shielding Floats Away  

This week, astronauts conducting a spacewalk had to perform an impromptu patch-up job when one of the ISS' shields broke off and floated away. The post Space Station Drama After Vital Micrometeorite Shielding Floats Away appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-31 07:26:15

SpaceX Accomplishes American 'Science Triumph' with 'Mind Blowing' Historic 2nd Launch and Landing of Used Rocket  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - SpaceX accomplished an American 'Science Triumph' with today's "Mind Blowing" and history making second launch and landing of a previously flown Falcon 9 booster that successfully delivered a massive and powerful Hi Def TV satellite to orbit for telecom giant SES from the Kennedy Space Center. The post SpaceX Accomplishes American 'Science Triumph' with 'Mind Blowing' Historic 2nd Launch and Landing of Used Rocket appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-31 02:59:49

Solar Probe Plus Will ‘Touch’ The Sun  

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Draper are helping NASA to develop the Solar Probe Plus, the first spacecraft that will "touch"the face of the Sun. The post Solar Probe Plus Will ‘Touch’ The Sun appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-30 19:45:07

SpaceX Attempting Launch of 1st Orbit Class Recycled Rocket March 30 – Watch Live  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The moment of truth is rapidly approaching as SpaceX attempts the world's first reflight of an orbital class rocket later today, Thursday, March 30, with the firms Falcon 9 standing proudly at historic launch complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida - ready to deliver an advanced TV broadcast satellite to orbit for the America's for telecom giant SES. The post SpaceX Attempting Launch of 1st Orbit Class Recycled Rocket March 30 – Watch Live ap...

what do you think? 2017-03-30 10:17:16

How Long is a Year on Uranus?  

A year on Uranus lasts almost as long as a century on Earth. And because of its extreme tilt, its polar regions experience 42 years of light and dark during the course of it. The post How Long is a Year on Uranus? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-30 07:42:59

The Ever-Working Mars Orbiter Passes 50,000 Orbits  

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has completed 50,000 orbits. It has now imaged over 99% of the Martian surface. The post The Ever-Working Mars Orbiter Passes 50,000 Orbits appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-30 07:14:11

SES ComSat Boss Proclaims High 'Confidence' in SpaceX’s Bold 1st Rocket Launch – March 30  

CAPE CANAVERAL/KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - As the hours tick down to the history making liftoff of the world's first recycled rocket, the commercial customer SES is proclaiming high "confidence" in the flight worthiness of the "Flight-Proven" SpaceX Falcon 9 booster that will blastoff with a massive Hi-Def TV satellite for telecom giant SES this Thursday, Chief Technology Officer Martin Halliwell told Universe Today at a media briefing. The post SES ComSat Boss Proclaims High 'Confid...

what do you think? 2017-03-30 05:25:35

Take a Peek Inside Blue Origin’s New Shepard Crew Capsule  

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos provided a sneak peek today into the interior of the New Shepard crew capsule, the suborbital vehicle for space tourism. He released a few images which illustrate what the flight experience might be like on board. "Our New Shepard flight test program is focused on demonstrating the performance and robustness […] The post Take a Peek Inside Blue Origin’s New Shepard Crew Capsule appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-29 12:22:14

Watch Rotating Horns of Venus at Dawn  

An old friend greeted us on our morning run yesterday, as we spied Venus in the dawn, 3 days after inferior conjunction on March 25th. The post Watch Rotating Horns of Venus at Dawn appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-29 10:46:38

How Long is a Year on Pluto?  

Given its extreme distance from the Sun, Pluto has a very long orbital period. As such, a single year on Pluto lasts as long as 248 Earth years, or 90,560 Earth days! The post How Long is a Year on Pluto? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-29 02:46:35

Finite Light — Why We Always Look Back In Time  

Light's finite speed make all gazing a ride in a time machine. Only a photon truly lives in the moment. The post Finite Light — Why We Always Look Back In Time appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-29 01:19:34

What is an Astronomical Unit?  

When it comes to dealing with the cosmos, we humans like to couch things in familiar terms. When examining exoplanets, we classify them based on their similarities to the planets in our own Solar System – i.e. terrestrial, gas giant, Earth-size, Jupiter-sized, Neptune-sized, etc. And when measuring astronomical distances, we do much the same. For […] The post What is an Astronomical Unit? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-28 12:32:03

What is the Color of Pluto?  

Thanks to the New Horizons mission, which conducted the first detailed study of Pluto in 2014, we know that Pluto's color is rather diverse, with patches of white, yellow and reddish-brown. The post What is the Color of Pluto? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-28 09:24:41

Successful HotFire Test Sets SpaceX on Course for Historic Relaunch of 1st Rocket  

SPACE VIEW PARK/KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - This afternoons (Mar. 27) successful hotfire test of a recycled Falcon 9 booster at the Kennedy Space Center sets SpaceX on course for a rendezvous with history involving the first ever relaunch of a 'Flight-Proven' rocket later this week. The post Successful HotFire Test Sets SpaceX on Course for Historic Relaunch of 1st ‘Flight-Proven’ Rocket appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-28 01:53:06

Messier 38 – The Starfish Cluster  

Located in the direction of the northern Auriga constellation, some light 4,200 years from Earth, is the open star cluster known as the Starfish cluster (aka. Messier 38) The post Messier 38 – The Starfish Cluster appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-27 05:44:04

NASA Test Fires New Engine Controlling 'Brain' for First SLS MegaRocket Mission  

Engineers carried out a critical hot fire engine test firing with the first new engine controlling 'brain' that will command the shuttle-era liquid fueled engines powering the inaugural mission of NASA's new Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket. The post NASA Test Fires New Engine Controlling 'Brain' for First SLS MegaRocket Mission appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-27 05:21:08

Carnival of Space #502  

This week’s Carnival of Space is hosted by Allen Versfeld at his Urban Astronomer blog. Click here to read Carnival of Space #502. And if you're interested in looking back, here's an archive to the past Carnivals of Space. If you've got a space-related blog, you should really join the carnival. Just email an entry […] The post Carnival of Space #502 appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-27 03:22:31

See Mercury At Dusk, New Comet Lovejoy At Dawn  

There are so many cool astronomical sights to see in late March including Mercury and a brand new comet! The post See Mercury At Dusk, New Comet Lovejoy At Dawn appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-26 06:15:24

Juno’s Monday Jupiter Flyby Promises New Batch of Images & Science  

Juno will perform its 5th flyby of Jupiter, Monday, March 27, at 1:52 a.m. PDT. Prepare yourself for some fantastic images. The post Juno’s Monday Jupiter Flyby Promises New Batch of Images & Science appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-25 06:27:28

Nighttime Delta IV Blastoff Powers Military Comsat to Orbit for U.S. Allies: Photo/Video Gallery  

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL - The second round of March Launch Madness continued with the thunderous nighttime blastoff of a ULA Delta IV rocket powering a super swift military communications satellite to orbit in a collaborative effort of U.S. Allies from North America, Europe and Asia and the U.S. Air Force. The post Nighttime Delta IV Blastoff Powers Military Comsat to Orbit for U.S. Allies: Photo/Video Gallery appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-25 05:21:08

What About a Mission to Titan?  

Europa is fine and all, but where we really need to go is Saturn's moon Titan. Let's look at some cool ideas for probes to fully explore this world. The post What About a Mission to Titan? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-25 02:43:17

Process Behind Martian Streaks Continues To Puzzle  

A new study released by a team of international scientists has offered another explanation for Recurring Slope Lineae on Mars, one which doesn't rely on the existence of water. The post Process Behind Martian Streaks Continues To Puzzle appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-24 19:12:23

German ‘Largest Artificial Sun’ To Generate Climate Friendly Fuel  

Synlight, the world's largest artificial Sun, will help German researchers extract hydrogen fuel from water using solar energy. The post German ‘Largest Artificial Sun’ To Generate Climate Friendly Fuel appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-24 08:31:36

Watch Stars Orbit The Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole  

Watch several dozen stars in the center of our galaxy circle a massive, black "nothing." The post Watch Stars Orbit The Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-24 01:34:43

SpaceX Outbids ULA for Military GPS Contract Igniting Fierce Launch Competition  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The fierce competition for lucrative launch contracts from the U.S. Air Force just got more even intense with the announcement that SpaceX outbid arch rival United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch an advanced military Global Positioning System (GPS III) navigation satellite to orbit in approx. 2 years. The post SpaceX Outbids ULA for Military GPS Contract Igniting Fierce Launch Competition appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-23 14:42:33

New Study Wants To Rip T-Rex From Its Place On Dino Tree  

If the results in a new study are accepted, the dinosaur family tree will be getting overhauled. The post New Study Wants To Rip T-Rex From Its Place On Dino Tree appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-23 14:37:06

Curiosity Captures Gravity Wave Shaped Clouds On Mars  

Images presented at the 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference this week showed the first indication of gravity waves around the Martian equator. The post Curiosity Captures Gravity Wave Shaped Clouds On Mars appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-23 14:25:11

Astronauts Capture Great Views of Mount Etna Eruption  

Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano, and it’s been spouting off since late February 2017. It spewed lava and gas with a rather big eruption last week, where 10 people were actually injured. The Expedition 50 crew on board the International Space Station have been able to capture both day and nighttime views of […] The post Astronauts Capture Great Views of Mount Etna Eruption appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-23 03:25:30

Curiosity’s Battered Wheels Show First Breaks  

A routine check by the Curiosity science team revealed that breaks have formed in the rover's left middle wheel since they last checked in January of 2017. The post Curiosity’s Battered Wheels Show First Breaks appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-22 18:10:19

What’s the Difference Between a Rocket and Space Plane? Amazing Hand-Drawn Animations Explain It All  

You gotta love Earth’s atmosphere. It basically makes life (as we know it) possible on our planet by providing warmth and air to breathe, as well as protecting us from nasty space things like radiation and smaller asteroids. But for studying space (i.e., astronomy) or coming back to Earth from space, the atmosphere is a […] The post What’s the Difference Between a Rocket and Space Plane? Amazing Hand-Drawn Animations Explain It All appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-22 13:11:59

SpaceX & NASA Studying 2020 Landing Sites For Dragon  

SpaceX and NASA have identified 4 possible locations for the first Dragon journey to Mars in 2020. The post SpaceX & NASA Studying 2020 Landing Sites For Dragon appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-22 08:07:28

Why Doesn't Earth Have Rings?  

You'd think Saturn has all the luck, with its awesome rings. But it turns out, living on a planet with rings has consequences, like an impending global apocalypse. The post Why Doesn't Earth Have Rings? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-22 01:16:14

Carnival of Space #501  

This week’s Carnival of Space is hosted by Brad Rogers at The Evolving Planet blog. Click here to read Carnival of Space #501. And if you're interested in looking back, here's an archive to all the past Carnivals of Space. If you've got a space-related blog, you should really join the carnival. Just email an […] The post Carnival of Space #501 appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-21 11:02:41

Large Hadron Collider Discovers 5 New Gluelike Particles  

Researchers from the Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment (LHCb) have announced the discovery of five new particles, which could shed light on what holds atoms together. The post Large Hadron Collider Discovers 5 New Gluelike Particles appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-21 07:13:06

SpaceX Dragon Splashes Down in Pacific with Treasure Trove of Space Station Science  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - SpaceX's tenth contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station came to a safe conclusion with a splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean Sunday and successfully returned a treasure trove of more than two tons of precious science experiments and research samples from the space station. The post SpaceX Dragon Splashes Down in Pacific with Treasure Trove of Space Station Science appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-21 05:46:25

Stephen Hawking Is Going To The Edge Of Space  

Professor Stephen Hawking has been offered, and has accepted, a trip into sub-orbital space on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Spacecraft. The post Stephen Hawking Is Going To The Edge Of Space appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-21 05:44:37

Rosetta Images Show Comet’s Changing Surface Close Up  

Recently-released images from the Rosetta space probe show how the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko changes over time The post Rosetta Images Show Comet’s Changing Surface Close Up appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-21 03:14:48

Eye Opening Numbers On Space Debris  

The latest numbers released by the ESA's Space Debris Office indicate that the cloud of orbital debris is getting worse. The post Eye Opening Numbers On Space Debris appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-21 01:32:05

How Did Uranus Get its Name?  

The period known as the Scientific Revolution (ca. 16th to the 18th century) was a time of major scientific upheaval. In addition to advances made in mathematics, chemistry, and the natural sciences, several major discoveries were made in the field of astronomy. Because of this, our understanding of the size and structure of the Solar […] The post How Did Uranus Get its Name? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-20 11:09:11

Ever Wondered What Final Approach To Mars Might Feel Like?  

We've posted several 'flyover' videos of Mars that use data from spacecraft. But this video might be the most spectacular and realistic. Created by filmmaker Jan Fröjdman from Finland, “A Fictive Flight Above Real Mars” uses actual data from the venerable HiRISE camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and takes you on a 3-D […] The post Ever Wondered What Final Approach To Mars Might Feel Like? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-20 10:43:15

Catch Comet 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák At Its Best  

Miss out on comet 45P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušakova? Is Comet 2P Encke too low in the dawn sky for your current latitude? (links) Well the Universe is providing us northerners with another shot at a fine binocular comet, as 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak glides through Ursa Major this week. The post Catch Comet 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak At Its Best appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-20 02:42:15

Delta IV Delivers Daunting Display Powering International Military WGS-9 SatCom to Orbit  

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL - On the 70th anniversary year commemorating the United States Air Force, a ULA Delta IV rocket put on a daunting display of nighttime rocket fire power shortly after sunset Saturday, March 19 - powering a high speed military communications satellite to orbit that will significantly enhance the targeting firepower of forces in the field; and was funded in collaboration with America's strategic allies. The post Delta IV Delivers Daunting Display Powering In...

what do you think? 2017-03-19 07:09:08

Sunset Delta Set to Dazzle Cape with Mighty Air Force SatCom Launch March 18 – Watch Live  

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL - As sunset dawns on the venerable Delta rocket program, the sole Delta slated to launch from the Cape this year is set to dazzle at sunset tonight, Saturday, March 18. The post Sunset Delta Set to Dazzle Cape with Mighty Air Force SatCom Launch March 18 – Watch Live appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-18 12:18:52

A Family Of Stars Torn Apart  

The Hubble has looked inside the Orion Nebula to witness a family of stars breaking up. The post A Family Of Stars Torn Apart appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-18 06:40:37

Stunning Imagery Shows 1st Nighttime Falcon 9 Launch off Pad 39A; EchoStar XXIII Photo/Video Gallery  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – The opening volley of March Launch Madness started brilliantly as showcased by stunning imagery of the inaugural nighttime launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 off historic pad 39A under moonlit skies along the Florida Space Coast on Thursday, March 15. The 229 foot tall Falcon 9 rocket thundered to life […] The post Stunning Imagery Shows 1st Nighttime Falcon 9 Launch off Pad 39A; EchoStar XXIII Photo/Video Gallery appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-18 04:07:32

Get Ready For The >100 Planet Solar System  

If a new definition of planet is adopted by the International Astronomical Union, our Solar System could be home to more than 110 planets. The post Get Ready For The >100 Planet Solar System appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-18 03:41:08

TRAPPIST 1: An Evening With Fraser Cain  

Join Fraser Cain at Forbidden Brewing to talk about the TRAPPIST 1 system. The post TRAPPIST 1: An Evening With Fraser Cain appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-17 21:57:46

NASA Twins Study Researchers Take Genetic Data To Next Level  

NASA's ground breaking twins study is in the all-important integration phase. The post NASA Twins Study Researchers Take Genetic Data To Next Level appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-17 21:40:21

Weekly Space Hangout – Mar 17, 2017: Stuart McNeill of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum  

Host: Fraser Cain (@fcain) Special Guest: Stuart McNeill is the the Community Engagement specialist in charge of Family Programs and Demonstrations at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Check out their membership site here. Guests: Kimberly Cartier ( KimberlyCartier.org / @AstroKimCartier ) Paul M. Sutter (pmsutter.com / @PaulMattSutter) Their stories this week: The original […] The post Weekly Space Hangout – Mar 17, 2017: Stuart McNeill of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space

what do you think? 2017-03-17 17:46:33

Last Look At Mimas For A Long Time  

The Cassini probe recently snapped its last up-close imagines of Saturn's moon Mimas, which were used to create some impressive mosaic pictures of its pockmarked surface. The post Last Look At Mimas For A Long Time appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-17 03:07:18

Zero2Infinity Successfully Test Launches Its Bloostar Prototype  

The private aerospace company Zero2Infinity reached a milestone this month with the successful test of their Bloostar launch system. The post Zero2Infinity Successfully Test Launches Its Bloostar Prototype appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-16 16:48:45

Flawless SpaceX Falcon 9 Takes Rousing Night Flight Delivery of EchoStar TV Sat to Orbit  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Under stellar Florida skies, a private SpaceX Falcon 9 took flight overnight and flawlessly delivered the commercial EchoStar 23 television satellite to geosynchronous orbit after high winds delayed the rockets roar to orbit by two days from Tuesday. Breaking News: Check back for updates The post Flawless SpaceX Falcon 9 Takes Rousing Night Flight Delivery of EchoStar TV Sat to Orbit appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-16 11:03:43

Russia Recruiting For Its Moon Bound Cosmonauts  

The Russian federal space agency (Roscosmos) has announced that it is seeking new recruits to become the next-generation of cosmonauts. The post Russia Recruiting For Its Moon Bound Cosmonauts appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-15 18:32:09

How Far is Venus From the Sun?  

In addition to be the second closet planet to our Sun, Venus also has the most circular orbit - varying between 0.718 to 0728 AUs from the Sun. The post How Far is Venus From the Sun? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-15 09:40:25

NASA Brings Trappist-1 Into Focus… Kinda Sorta  

NASA recently announced the release of raw, uncalibrated data of the TRAPPIST-1 star system, which was collected by the Kepler K2 mission, The post NASA Brings Trappist-1 Into Focus… Kinda Sorta appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 17:12:45

What's on the Surface of Venus?  

With so much attention on Mars, it's easy to forget there's a whole other Earth-sized planet nearby, worthy of exploration: Venus. And the Soviets worked really hard to tell us what it's like down on the surface of Venus with their Venera program. The post What's on the Surface of Venus? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 14:15:27

Are You Ready For The NanoSWARM?  

Nanosatellites and CubeSats may change the face of space exploration. The post Are You Ready For The NanoSWARM? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 12:14:34

High Winds Scrub Legless Falcon 9 Liftoff Reset to March 16 – Live Webcast  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - High winds halted SpaceX's early morning attempt to launch a legless Falcon 9 rocket and the EchoStar XXIII commercial communications satellite soon after midnight Tuesday, Mar. 14, from the Florida Space Coast amidst on and off rain showers and heavy cloud cover crisscrossing central Florida all afternoon Monday, Mar. 13 and into the overnight hours. The post High Winds Scrub Legless Falcon 9 Liftoff Reset to March 16 – Live Webcast appeared first on Universe ...

what do you think? 2017-03-14 08:10:50

Canada To Get Its Own Spaceport  

Canada's spaceport will be built by Maritime Launch Services near Canso, Nova Scotia. The post Canada To Get Its Own Spaceport appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 05:17:46

Exploring the Universe For Magnetic Fields  

A recent presentation made at the NASA Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop outlined how the study of magnetic fields could play a pivotal role in the exploration of our Solar System and beyond. The post Exploring the Universe For Magnetic Fields appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 04:56:52

Warm Poles Suggest Enceladus’ Liquid Water Near Surface  

One of the biggest surprises from the Cassini mission to Saturn has been the discovery of active geysers at the south pole of the moon Enceladus. At only about 500 km (310 miles) in diameter, the bright and ice-covered moon should be too small and too far from the Sun to be active. Instead, this […] The post Warm Poles Suggest Enceladus’ Liquid Water Near Surface appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 04:28:55

Trump’s NASA Authorization Act In All Its Glory  

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 has set aside funding for NASA's proposed mission to Mars for the coming year. The post Trump’s NASA Authorization Act In All Its Glory appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-14 01:52:15

Messier 37 – the NGC 2099 Open Star Cluster  

Located in the Auriga constellation, roughly 4500 light years from Earth, is the open star cluster known as Messier 37. The post Messier 37 – the NGC 2099 Open Star Cluster appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-13 21:53:28

March Launch Madness: Triple Headed Space Spectacular Starts Overnight with SpaceX March 14 – Watch Live  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - It's March Madness for Space fans worldwide! A triple header of space spectaculars starts overnight with a SpaceX Falcon 9 launching in the wee hours of Tuesday, March 14 from the Florida Space Coast. The post March Launch Madness: Triple Headed Space Spectacular Starts Overnight with SpaceX March 14 – Watch Live appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-13 13:04:33

Strange Loner Planet Gets Astronomers’ Attention  

After examining the strange object known as CFBDSIR 2149-0403, a team has determined that it is either a solitary planetary-mass object or a high-metallicity brown dwarf. The post Strange Loner Planet Gets Astronomers’ Attention appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-13 12:08:56

Carnival of Space #500  

This week’s Carnival of Space is hosted by Stefan Lamoureux at the Links Through Space blog. Click here to read Carnival of Space #500. And if you're interested in looking back, here's an archive to all the past Carnivals of Space. If you've got a space-related blog, you should really join the carnival. Just email […] The post Carnival of Space #500 appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-13 10:20:31

Closest Star Around A Black Hole Discovered  

Imagine being caught in the clutches of a black hole, being whirled around at dizzying speeds and having your mass slowly but continually sucked away. That's the life of a white dwarf star that is doing an orbital dance with a black hole. And this dancing duo could be the first ultracompact black hole X-ray […] The post Closest Star Around A Black Hole Discovered appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-13 08:02:01

Next Cygnus Cargo Ship Christened the SS John Glenn to Honor First American in Orbit  

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – The next Cygnus cargo ship launching to the International Space Station (ISS) has been christened the 'S.S. John Glenn' to honor legendary NASA astronaut John Glenn – the first American to orbit the Earth back in February 1962. John Glenn was selected as one of NASA's original seven Mercury astronauts […] The post Next Cygnus Cargo Ship Christened the SS John Glenn to Honor First American in Orbit appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-12 01:09:36

Fried Egg? Flying Saucer? Nope. Just Cool New Closeups of Saturn’s Moon Pan  

See Saturn's "UFO moon" like you've never seen it before. The post Fried Egg? Flying Saucer? Nope. Just Cool New Closeups of Saturn’s Moon Pan appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-11 04:38:48

Exploring Titan with Aerial Platforms  

At NASA's Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop, presenters showed various concepts for exploring Saturn's moon Titan with aerial platforms. The post Exploring Titan with Aerial Platforms appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-11 04:21:46

Astronomy Cast Ep. 443: Destroy and Rebuild Pt. 7: Tsunamis  

Surf’s up! Today we’re going to be talking about one of the most devastating natural disasters out there: tsunamis. We’re talking huge waves that wreck the seashore. But it turns out, there many ways you can get a tsunami, and one of those has to do with space. Visit the Astronomy Cast Page to subscribe […] The post Astronomy Cast Ep. 443: Destroy and Rebuild Pt. 7: Tsunamis appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-10 11:21:14

Earth’s Twisted Sister: How Will We Reveal Venus’ Secrets?  

Venus doesn't attract as much attention as other worlds in our Solar System and beyond. But maybe it should. The post Earth’s Twisted Sister: How Will We Reveal Venus’ Secrets? appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-10 05:48:23

SpaceX Conducts Successful Static Fire Test Permitting Post Midnight Spectacle with EchoStar 23 Comsat on March 14  

SPACE VIEW PARK/KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - After a pair of back to back postponements presumably due to technical gremlins, the third time proved to be the charm at last as SpaceX engineers carried out a successful engine test of the Falcon 9 first stage this evening (Mar. 9) atop historic pad 39 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The post SpaceX Conducts Successful Static Fire Test Permitting Post Midnight Spectacle with EchoStar 23 Comsat on March 14 appeared first on Universe Today.

what do you think? 2017-03-10 04:54:33