Tag: Space Science
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HD 137010 b: A Potentially Habitable Exoplanet 146 Light-Years Away
Nearby but foreign: what we know about HD 137010 b In a significant stride for exoplanet research, astronomers have identified a candidate world called HD 137010 b that sits roughly 146 light-years from Earth. The planet is described as Earth-sized, slightly larger than our planet by about 6%, and orbits a sun-like star. What excites…
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Habitable Exoplanet HD 137010 b: Mars-like Candidate
Discovery and context Astronomers have identified a new exoplanet that excites both curiosity and cautious optimism. HD 137010 b, located roughly 146 light-years from Earth, is described as Earth-sized and Mars-like in its basic characteristics. Orbits around a sun-like star, placing it in a region of interest for studies of habitability beyond our solar system.…
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Growing Pains of Teenage Exoplanets: Collisions Shape Worlds
Introduction: The volatile adolescence of distant worlds When we think of adolescence, images of growing pains and dramatic changes come to mind. In the cosmos, a closely related phase occurs in the lives of young exoplanets as they settle into stable orbits around their stars. Recent observations and simulations are painting a picture of these…
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Milky Way Shines Over Gemini South Observatory: Photo of the Day (Jan. 26, 2025)
Overview: A Night Sky Spotlight on Gemini South On a still ridge in Chile, the Gemini South Observatory stands as a quiet sentinel for the cosmos. The photo of the day for January 26, 2025, captures a striking moment when the Milky Way arches across the southern sky, its starlight pouring over the giant silver…
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Mars Returns: NASA Reestablishes Contact After Solar Conjunction, Kicks Off Bold 2026 Mission Plan
Mars Reconnects with Earth After Solar Conjunction NASA confirmed that its Mars rovers are back in contact with Earth following a two-week solar conjunction blackout. During solar conjunctions, the Sun’s intense activity interferes with the radio signals traveling between Earth and Mars, effectively plunging missions into radio silence. The recent recovery is a critical milestone…
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Mystery Object Anchors 120 Million-Mile Metal Cloud
Overview: A colossal cloud defies expectations Astronomers have identified an extraordinary structure in a distant region of space: a cloud roughly 120 million miles in diameter composed of vaporized metals. The gas appears to swirl with complex winds and reveals evidence of a remarkable interaction with an unseen companion that seems to gravitationally bind the…
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NASA closes Goddard library as it dismantles astronomy infrastructure
Background: A turning point for NASA’s research ecosystem The announcement that the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, would permanently close its flagship library marks a significant shift in how NASA manages its research ecosystem. The Goddard library, historically one of the agency’s most comprehensive accumulating centers for astronomical data, technical reports, and historical…
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NASA launches Pandora telescope, advancing the search for habitable worlds beyond JWST
Overview: Pandora joins the hunt for habitable worlds On January 11, 2026, a Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying NASA’s newest exoplanet observatory, the Pandora telescope. Built to extend and refine the discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Pandora is designed to probe distant planetary systems with…
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Astronomers Capture a Twisted Dance of Two Supermassive Black Holes and Unseen Jet Behavior
Overview: A cosmic waltz at the edge of a galaxy In a landmark observation, scientists using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have captured evidence of a dramatic interaction between what appears to be two supermassive black holes at the center of a distant galaxy. The data reveal a violent, energy-packed dance — a gravitational ballet…
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Airglow, dwarf galaxy and the ISS: Photo of the Day captures a luminous frontier
Introduction: A luminous glimpse from space On January 13, 2026, the Photo of the Day from the International Space Station (ISS) offered a rare, luminous view: a vivid airglow painting the night over Earth while a distant dwarf galaxy glimmers in the background. This image, snapped by astronauts orbiting our planet, underscores how orbital vantage…