Scientists think they’ve found a window into the dawn of time on Earth, and it’s hidden beneath the Pacific Ocean. A team led by geophysicist Simon Lamb of the University of Wellington and scientist Cornel de Ronde of GNS Science said the key to our past lies in a remote corner of South Africa, far … Read more
We’ve enjoyed a number of celestial spectacles in recent years – from total solar eclipses to stunning auroras – and yet Earth will soon witness a space event that will trump them all. In the next five years we will be treated to a visit from asteroid 99942 Apophis and it will come close enough … Read more
What if it is likely that a newly discovered asteroid will hit Earth in fourteen years? But that is not everything. This menacing space rock, with a diameter of about 330 to 1,050 feet (or 100 to 320 meters), has just disappeared behind the sun, making crucial observations impossible for the next seven months. In … Read more
Astronomers typically deal with the very, very big: large telescopes, gigantic galaxies, and massive exploding stars. But one of the more revolutionary astronomical instruments of the decade is a mini satellite the size of a breadbox. The satellite will act as an artificial star that astronomers can observe from the ground, allowing them to more … Read more
A menacing asteroid could bring Earth’s often feuding nations together, at least for a while. Dealing with a large, dangerous asteroid that appears to have our planet in its crosshairs will require a healthy dose of international cooperation, experts say — and it’s best to think about that scenario now, while we have plenty of … Read more
Asteroid moon Dimorphos as seen by NASA’s DART spacecraft 11 seconds before the impact that shifted its path through space, during the first test of asteroid deflection. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/NASA hide caption change caption Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/NASA Imagine if scientists discovered a giant asteroid with a 72% chance of … Read more
NASA has issued a warning about a giant asteroid, comparable in size to a 200-foot yacht, that will pass by Earth on June 22, 2024, at a distance that has attracted a lot of attention from astronomers and scientists alike. Asteroid 2024 LJ: size and speed Asteroid 2024 LJ is a huge space rock that … Read more
Artist’s impression of the asteroid (99942) Apophis. The Planetary Society; CC BY NC 3.0 Friday the 13th may be considered an unlucky day, but at 5:45 AM EDT (11:45 AM CEST) on Friday, April 13, 2029, it will prove just the opposite when an asteroid the size of a “dinosaur killer” safely passes by Earth. … Read more
A star is dead? Keep your eyes on the sky, stargazers: NASA has predicted that the highly anticipated “once-in-a-life-time” star explosion – or nova – will be visible to the naked eye sometime this summer, according to a recent press release. “It’s incredibly exciting to have a front row seat,” said Dr. Rebekah Hounsell, assistant … Read more
Earth’s protective atmosphere has sheltered life for billions of years, creating a haven where evolution has produced complex life forms like us. The ozone layer plays a crucial role in protecting the biosphere from deadly UV radiation. It blocks 99% of the sun’s powerful UV rays. Earth’s magnetosphere also protects us. But the sun is … Read more