25 Years of Solar Cycles in One Incredible SOHO Mosaic

For a quarter of a century, the ESA-NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been essential in helping scientists understand the heart of our Solar System, the Sun. The SOHO mission launched 25 years ago this week, and to celebrate, ESA compiled a wonderful mosaic of images, and NASA put together a remarkable SOHO “greatest … Continue reading...

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An Astronomer Checked to see if There’s a Secret Message in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

One way to look for a message in the cosmic microwave background is to convert thermal fluctuations into a binary string. So what does it say? The post An Astronomer Checked to see if There’s a Secret Message in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation appeared first on Universe Today.

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Our Guide to This Month’s Total Solar Eclipse Over South America

2020 closes out with the final eclipse of the decade, as totality crosses the southern tip of South America on December 14th. The post Our Guide to This Month’s Total Solar Eclipse Over South America appeared first on Universe Today.

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Solid Phosphorus has been Found in Comets. This Means They Contain All the Raw Elements for Life

Did comets deliver the elements essential for life on Earth? It’s looking more and more like they could have. At least one comet might have, anyway: 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. A new study using data from the ESA’s Rosetta mission shows that the comet contains the life-critical element phosphorous. Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland...

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Weekly Space Hangout: December 2, 2020 – Dr. Ingrid Daubar, Planetary Scientist, Brown University

This week we are joined by Dr. Ingrid Daubar, Planetary Scientist from Brown University studying impact cratering within our solar system. Dr. Daubar is part of a team that has been using a new AI classification tool to identify geologic features on planetary surfaces, such as Mars. Ingrid has been involved in planetary science for … Continue reading...

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Now you can Watch Actual Video of Arecibo Collapsing … If You Dare

The National Science Foundation released two different videos today showing the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory, as it happened on December 1, 2020. Needless to say, the footage is heartbreaking. In a press briefing on December 3, representatives from the NSF described the two videos. One was taken from a stationary location in the observatory …...

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China’s Chang’e-5 Probe Blasts Off From the Moon, Bringing Back a Full Load of Samples

For the first time in more than 40 years, a robotic spacecraft has blasted off from the Moon – and for the first time ever, it’s a Chinese spacecraft, carrying precious lunar samples back to Earth. The ascent vehicle for the Chang’e-5 mission fired its engine and rose a region called Oceanus Procellarum at 1510 … Continue reading "China’s Chang’e-5...

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Australian Radio Telescopes Just Completed a map of the Universe

CSIRO has made a detailed radio survey of the southern hemisphere, and discovered a million new galaxies. The post Australian Radio Telescopes Just Completed a map of the Universe appeared first on Universe Today.

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Health Issues From Spaceflight Might Originate in the Mitochondria

An analysis of all the data we have on the effects of microgravity has indicated that the problem could have to do with mitochondria, which could lead to new medical treatments! The post Health Issues From Spaceflight Might Originate in the Mitochondria appeared first on Universe Today.

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Take a Look at What China’s Chang’e-5 Probe Is Seeing (and Doing) on the Moon

China’s Chang’e-5 robotic moon lander is due to spend only two days collecting samples of lunar rock and soil before it sends its shipment on its way back to Earth, but it’s making the most of the time. Just hours after landing on December 1st, the probe started using its robotic scoop and drill to … Continue reading "Take a Look at What China’s...

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