Space

Space and science coverage including asteroids, galaxies, planets, NASA and SpaceX launches.

Stunning photo shows a massive plasma tree shooting out of the Sun

January 21st, 2022

An astrophotographer recently managed to capture a shot of a “plasma tree” on the surface of the Sun. The tree itself was clocked in at over 80,000 miles high. According to the astrophotographer, Andrew McCarthy, the tree was created by plasma pulled away from the sun by its magnetic field. This isn’t the first time …

Science

Scientists think they figured out when the Sun will explode and kill us all

January 19th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

Our Sun isn’t quite as old as other stars out there. However, scientists are already trying to pinpoint exactly when the Sun will die. Of course, it isn’t as simple as throwing out a date. After all, we’re working with a massive ball of energy that we’ve still barely managed to scratch the surface of …

Science

This is the most detailed 3D map of the universe ever made, and it’s mesmerizing

January 18th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (or DESI for short) has created the largest 3D map of the universe we’ve ever seen. DESI created the map over the course of seven months. Each month, DESI continues to build off of it. In fact, DESI is only 10 percent of the way through its proposed five-year mission. …

Science

Something bizarre is raining down on Uranus

January 17th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

Scientists believe that Neptune and Uranus could both be home to a constant stream of “diamond rain”. The two planets are considered “ice giants”. They’re mostly made of water, methane, and ammonia, which accounts for the icy-like titles we’ve given them. While they might not be as talked about as some of the other giants …

Science

Scientists watched a dying star explode for the first time ever

January 11th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

Dying stars can be quite a sight. In fact, they’re often considered some of the most dramatic and violent events to take place throughout space. Oftentimes, though, they happen so far away that we aren’t able to get a good look at them. That’s not the case with a recent dying star, though. In fact, …

Science

A giant asteroid that’s 3,500 feet wide is hurtling toward Earth right now

January 10th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

A giant asteroid over 3,500 feet wide is flying through space towards the Earth. Don’t worry, though, it isn’t going to hit us, but it will pass close by on January 18, 2022. Astronomers named it Asteroid 7498 (1994 PC1). The asteroid is roughly 2.5 times the height of New York’s Empire State Building. NASA …

Science

This video is the last time you’ll ever see the James Webb Space Telescope

January 6th, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

The James Webb Space Telescope mission officially started on December 25. Now, though, the telescope is finally saying goodbye to the Ariane 5 rocket that took it to space. In a new video of the Webb Space Telescope shared by the European Space Agency, we get a final look at the telescope as it heads …

Illustration of DART, from behind the NEXT–C ion engine

Science

This is the first photo from the spacecraft NASA will ram into an asteroid

January 3rd, 2022

Joshua Hawkins

NASA has shared the first photos taken by the DART’s built-in camera system. Launched in November, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test — or DART for short — is an asteroid-defense system. While the spacecraft’s primary mission is to slam into an asteroid later this year, NASA also equipped it with a camera called the DRACO. …

Science

Scientists discovered a massive new world and they have no idea how it formed

December 30th, 2021

Joshua Hawkins

The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope—yes, that’s actually the name—has discovered a brand-new world. The planet in question is located 325 light-years away from Earth, in the Centaurus constellation. The planet itself orbits b Centauri, a two-star system that you can often see with the naked eye. Scientists say that this star system is …

Science

Don’t miss this stunning photo of a black hole erupting

December 26th, 2021

Joshua Hawkins

Astronomers have captured a stunning photograph of a supermassive black hole erupting over 12 million light-years from the Earth. The photo is of the radio emissions caused by the active feeding of the black hole. According to astronomers, the image spans that of 16 full Moons side by side.