Does Earth have more than one moon? Researchers propose ‘mini-moon’ theory
We’ve all been taught from a very young age that the Earth has just one natural satellite. The Moon is there, it’s easy to see …
astronomy
Scientists finally have a suitable explanation for Jupiter’s weirdly colorful bands
Of all the planets in our Solar System, Jupiter is probably the most interesting to look at. It’s just a big ball of fast-moving gasses …
This meteorite was hiding a mineral that has never been found on Earth
Humans have been on Earth for long enough that we have a pretty darn good idea of what our planet is made of. Scientists have …
NASA’s planet-hunting TESS satellite spies comet cruising through space
NASA’s new TESS spacecraft — which stands for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, in case you were wondering — is all ready to get its scientific …
NASA’s historic mission to ‘Touch the Sun’ will begin on Saturday
It’s been a long time coming, but NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is finally just days away from its historic launch towards the star that hosts …
Jupiter’s moons create invisible ‘killer’ waves that could destroy spacecraft
Here on Earth, electromagnetic waves around the planet are typically pretty calm. When the Sun fires a burst of charged particles at the Earth we …
Astronomers discover bizarre rogue planet glowing with auroras
When astronomers are searching the depths of space for new objects it’s typically easier to find undiscovered planets if they’re orbiting a star. That’s because …
Elon Musk claims scientists are wrong about Mars terraforming, says we can definitely do it
Elon Musk has long had his sights set on an eventual goal of making Mars a more habitable planet. His dreams of manned SpaceX flights …
Canada’s new radio telescope just picked up a strange signal from deep space
Canada’s shiny new radio telescope is up and running, and it just heard something very, very odd coming from deep space. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity …
Mars looks so weird right now
NASA’s Hubble might be aging rapidly but it’s still capable of taking some really, really fantastic photos. Scientists recently pointed the telescope at both Mars …
If there’s life on Europa, we probably won’t have to dig deep to find it
Exoplanets orbiting distant stars might be our best chance of finding advanced, complex life forms, but there’s still a handful of places in our own …
Scientists claim that Earth’s Moon may have once supported life
In the never-ending search for life beyond Earth, astronomers tend to look far, far away, but it seems our closest neighbor may have once been …
Saturn’s moon Titan looks absolutely incredible in new infrared images
NASA’s Cassini orbiter is dead. It’s been dead since late last year, having completed an extended mission and a series of daring dives through Saturn’s …
Astronomers accidentally discover a dozen new moons around Jupiter
Astronomers oftentimes have to look very, very carefully for something that they believe exists in a certain spot in space. Whether that be an exoplanet …
Venus photobombed the Moon last night, and everyone loved it
If you’re staring at the sky on a clear night it’s usually pretty easy to spot the Moon, but we often forget that it’s sometimes …
Jupiter’s moon Io is covered in volcanos, and astronomers may have just spotted another one
Jupiter might be the largest, most eye-catching planet in our Solar System, but the planet itself isn’t the only interesting thing in its neighborhood. Jupiter’s …
Astronomers just discovered something incredible about what they thought was a run-of-the-mill asteroid
Spotting asteroids has become pretty routine for astronomers working with some of the most powerful telescopes on the planet, but every once in a while …
Oops! NASA might have destroyed proof of life on Mars on accident decades ago
Finding proof that life once existed on Mars would be one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in the history of mankind, which is why NASA …
NASA wants to train the James Webb Space Telescope on gas giants before searching for habitable worlds
When NASA finally sends its mega-powerful James Webb Space Telescope it will be the end of a long and troubled road, but it will also …
Nearby exoplanet Ross 128 b is looking more and more like Earth’s bigger cousin
Exoplanet discoveries have been coming fast and furious for several years now, thanks in large part to increasingly power telescope technology that allows us to …
Earth’s days used to be just 18 hours long, but the Moon changed that
If you’ve ever felt like there just aren’t enough hours in the day just be glad that you didn’t live on Earth 1.4 billion years …
Yes, there might actually be a ‘Planet Nine,’ and the evidence is mounting
Lots of us grew up learning that there were nine planets in the Solar System. In the early 2000s we were told a different story, …
Astronomers spot the most distant star ever observed
Spotting objects in space has gotten easier and easier thanks to technological advances, but sometimes mother nature gives astronomers a bit of help as well. …
Astronomer discovers incredible never-before-seen object… which turns out to just be Mars
It’s not easy being an astronomer. Making observations of distant objects is challenging in many ways, not least of which is making sure that the …
The big fake ‘star’ that Rocket Lab sent into orbit is falling back down to Earth
You might not realize it, but new satellites are sent into orbit on an incredibly regular basis. Scientists, universities, space agencies, and communications companies are …
Amateur astronomer witnesses something scientists have been waiting decades for
Victor Buso is a locksmith. He spends his days fiddling with locks and keys, and in his spare time he stares into the heavens in …
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot may be dying, and could disappear within our lifetimes
With the exception of Saturn and its iconic rings, Jupiter is probably the most recognizable planet in our Solar System. Its long, thick stripes are …
First ‘exomoon’ may have just been spotted by the Kepler Space Telescope
Astronomers around the world continue to spot new planets outside of our Solar System on a regular basis, and some of those worlds look like …
