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Planetary Sciences news
As Voyager 1's mission draws to a close, one planetary scientist reflects on its legacy
For nearly 50 years, NASA's Voyager 1 mission has competed for the title of deep space's little engine that could. Launched in 1977 along with its twin, Voyager 2, the spacecraft is now soaring more than 15 billion miles ...
Space Exploration
9 hours ago
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Unlocking clearer views of our world's water: A Landsat legacy
Satellite remote sensing is vital for monitoring marine and freshwater ecosystems, leveraging missions like SeaWiFS, MODIS, MERIS, Landsat, and Sentinel to track water parameters such as chlorophyll, sediment, and temperature. ...
Planetary Sciences
9 hours ago
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Could Earth life survive on a red dwarf planet?
Even though exoplanet science has advanced significantly in the last decade or two, we're still in an unfortunate situation. Scientists can only make educated guesses about which exoplanets may be habitable. Even the closest ...
Astrobiology
13 hours ago
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NASA volunteers find 15 rare 'active asteroids'
Some extraordinary asteroids have "activity"—comet-like tails or envelopes of gas and dust. NASA's Active Asteroids project announced the discovery of activity on 15 asteroids, challenging conventional wisdom about the ...
Astronomy
14 hours ago
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A holistic look at Earth's chemical cycling sheds light on how the planet stays habitable
We all know Earth is special, but we may not fully appreciate how good we have it on this planet. Unlike its planetary neighbors, Earth has remained habitable for billions of years thanks to a complicated, ever-changing dance ...
Planetary Sciences
15 hours ago
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The spring equinox is here. What does that mean?
Spring is almost here—officially, at least. The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere.
Planetary Sciences
21 hours ago
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Dune: What the climate of Arrakis can tell us about the hunt for habitable exoplanets
Frank Herbert's Dune is epic sci-fi storytelling with an environmental message at its heart. The novels and movies are set on the desert planet of Arrakis, which various characters dream of transforming into a greener world—much ...
Space Exploration
Mar 16, 2024
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Our survey of the sky is uncovering the secrets of how planets are born
When we look out to the stars, it is typically not a yearning for the distant depths of outer space that drives us. When we are looking out there, we are truly looking back at ourselves. We try to understand our place in ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 16, 2024
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Hubble tracks Jupiter's stormy weather
The largest and nearest of the giant outer planets, Jupiter's colorful clouds present an ever-changing kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. This is a planet where there is always stormy weather: cyclones, anticyclones, wind ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 14, 2024
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Study reveals ancient ice may still exist in distant space objects
A paper recently published in Icarus presents findings about the Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth, shedding new light on the preservation of volatile substances like carbon monoxide (CO) in such distant celestial bodies.
Astronomy
Mar 14, 2024
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Arctic Weather Satellite tested for life in orbit
ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite has passed its environmental test campaign with flying colors—meaning that the satellite has been declared fit for liftoff and its life in the harsh environment of space.
Planetary Sciences
Mar 14, 2024
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NASA Armstrong updates 1960s concept to study giant planets
NASA researchers are looking at the possibility of using a wingless, unpowered aircraft design from the 1960s to gather atmospheric data on other planets—doing the same work as small satellites but potentially better and ...
Space Exploration
Mar 14, 2024
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What can we learn flying through the plumes at Enceladus?
In the next decade, space agencies will expand the search for extraterrestrial life beyond Mars, where all of our astrobiology efforts are currently focused. This includes the ESA's JUpiter ICy moon's Explorer (JUICE) and ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 14, 2024
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A 790,000 year-old asteroid impact could explain seafloor spherules
Our solar system does not exist in isolation. It formed within a stellar nursery along with hundreds of sibling stars, and even today has the occasional interaction with interstellar objects such as 'Oumuamua and Borisov. ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 14, 2024
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Total solar eclipses provide an opportunity to engage with science, culture and history
On April 8, 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse in Canada. This is an opportunity to experience, learn from and participate in the excitement and wonder. And rather than hiding inside, researchers have been communicating ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 14, 2024
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Surprising insights about debris flows on Mars
The period that liquid water was present on the surface of Mars may have been shorter than previously thought. Channel landforms called gullies, previously thought to be formed exclusively by liquid water, can also be formed ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 14, 2024
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Warm Jupiter exoplanet orbiting distant star detected
Astronomers report the discovery of a new warm Jupiter exoplanet orbiting a distant star in the open cluster Messier 67. The newfound extrasolar world, designated S1429 b, is almost twice as massive as Jupiter. The finding ...
Giant volcano discovered on Mars
In a groundbreaking announcement at the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held in The Woodlands, Texas, scientists revealed the discovery of a giant volcano and possible sheet of buried glacier ice in the eastern ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 13, 2024
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NASA's search for life on Mars: A rocky road for rovers, a long slog for scientists, and a battle of the budget
Is or was there life on Mars? That profound question is so complex that it will not be fully answered by the two NASA rovers now exploring it.
Astrobiology
Mar 12, 2024
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Scientists propose new theory that explains sand ripples on Mars and on Earth
Sand ripples are fascinating. They are symmetrical, yet wind, which causes them, is very much not. Furthermore, they can be found on Mars and on Earth. It would be even more fascinating if the same effect found on Mars could ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 12, 2024
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