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Planetary Sciences news
Two populations of dark comets in the solar system could tell researchers where the Earth got its oceans
The water that makes up the oceans acted as a key ingredient for the development of life on Earth. However, scientists still do not know where the water here on Earth came from in the first place.
Planetary Sciences
Dec 25, 2024
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Image: NASA's Terra satellite captures 2015 eclipse shadow
During the morning of March 20, 2015, a total solar eclipse was visible from parts of Europe, and a partial solar eclipse from northern Africa and northern Asia. NASA's Terra satellite passed over the Arctic Ocean on March ...
Space Exploration
Dec 25, 2024
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NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the sun
NASA's pioneering Parker Solar Probe made history Tuesday, flying closer to the sun than any other spacecraft, with its heat shield exposed to scorching temperatures topping 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (930 degrees Celsius).
Space Exploration
Dec 24, 2024
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NASA solar probe to make its closest ever pass of sun
NASA's pioneering Parker Solar Probe is poised to make its closest-ever approach of the sun on Christmas Eve, a record-setting 3.8 million miles (6.2 million kilometers) from the surface.
Space Exploration
Dec 23, 2024
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Two Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting nearby star detected
An international team of astronomers has reported the discovery of two exoplanets orbiting a nearby star known as HD 101581. The newfound alien worlds are slightly smaller than Earth and orbit its host very closely. The discovery ...
Where's the most promising place to find Martian life?
New research suggests that our best hopes for finding existing life on Mars isn't on the surface, but buried deep within the crust.
Astrobiology
Dec 23, 2024
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NASA is developing solutions for lunar housekeeping's biggest problem: Dust
Through the Artemis Program, NASA will send the first astronauts to the moon since the Apollo Era before 2030. They will be joined by multiple space agencies, such as the ESA and China, who plan to send astronauts (and "taikonauts") ...
Space Exploration
Dec 23, 2024
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NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before
A NASA spacecraft aims to fly closer to the sun than any object sent before.
Space Exploration
Dec 22, 2024
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NASA cameras to capture interaction between Blue Ghost lander, moon's surface
Say cheese again, moon. We're coming in for another close-up.
Space Exploration
Dec 21, 2024
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The moon might be older than scientists previously thought; a new study shines light on its history
A physicist, a chemist and a mathematician walk into a bar. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but in my case, it was the start of an idea that could reshape how scientists think about the history of the moon.
Planetary Sciences
Dec 21, 2024
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Lab work digs into gullies seen on giant asteroid Vesta by NASA's Dawn
Pocked with craters, the surfaces of many celestial bodies in our solar system provide clear evidence of a 4.6-billion-year battering by meteoroids and other space debris. But on some worlds, including the giant asteroid ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 21, 2024
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Avalanches, icy explosions and dunes: NASA is tracking New Year on Mars
Instead of a winter wonderland, the Red Planet's northern hemisphere goes through an active—even explosive—spring thaw. While New Year's Eve is around the corner here on Earth, Mars scientists are ahead of the game: The ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 20, 2024
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Chang'e-6 farside basalts reveal a reinforced lunar dynamo
The evolution of the lunar dynamo is crucial for understanding the moon's deep interior structure, thermal history, and surface environment. A study by Chinese scientists conducted paleomagnetic analyses on basalts returned ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 20, 2024
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Ancient Mars' thick crust could have supported hidden water reservoirs and rare magmas, new research suggests
A new study explores how variations in Mars' crustal thickness during its ancient history may have influenced the planet's magmatic evolution and hydrological systems. The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science ...
Astrobiology
Dec 19, 2024
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Apollo lunar mission samples reveal origins of lunar water and its connection to Earth's early history
A team of international scientists has unveiled groundbreaking research on the origins of lunar water, offering insights that could reshape our understanding of the Earth-moon system and the broader solar system. Published ...
Space Exploration
Dec 19, 2024
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Mars's radiant energy budget profile offers clues to its climate dynamics
Research by scientists at the University of Houston is changing our understanding of climate and weather on Mars and providing critical insights into Earth's atmospheric processes as well.
Planetary Sciences
Dec 19, 2024
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Cenotectic concept redefines search for life on icy worlds
As NASA's Europa Clipper embarks on its historic journey to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa, Dr. Matt Powell-Palm, a faculty member at Texas A&M University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, has unveiled research that could ...
Astrobiology
Dec 19, 2024
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NASA payload aims to probe moon's depths to study heat flow
Earth's nearest neighboring body in the solar system is its moon, yet to date, humans have physically explored just 5% of its surface. It wasn't until 2023—building on Apollo-era data and more detailed studies made in 2011–2012 ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 19, 2024
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Old moon, young crust: Violent volcanism may mean the moon is much older than previously thought
After its formation, the moon may have been the scene of such immense volcanic activity that its entire crust melted several times and was completely churned through. At that time, the moon orbited significantly closer to ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 18, 2024
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Researchers explore, sample and interpret lunar volatiles in polar cold traps
The moon has both a South and North Pole, but just how cold are they? For context, Antarctica's coastal temperatures average around 14°F (-10°C), while the interior drops to -76°F (-60°C), making Earth's South Pole one ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 18, 2024
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More news
New radar algorithm reveals hidden dance of ionospheric plasma
Young exoplanet's atmosphere unexpectedly differs from its birthplace
Citizen scientists help map geomagnetic superstorm's ionospheric impact
The winter solstice is almost here, the Northern Hemisphere's darkest day
Building concrete on Mars from local materials
Jovian vortex hunters contribute to storm study
Mars orbiter spots retired InSight lander to study dust movement
DAVINCI mission's many 'firsts' aim to unlock Venus's hidden secrets
Could planets orbiting two stars have moons?
No shallow magma ocean for Jupiter's moon Io, research suggests
Early Earth's oceans of magma may have accelerated the moon's departure
Other news
Fish-friendly dentistry: New method makes oral research non-lethal
Researchers reveal full-gray optical trap in structured light
Human settlement of Mars isn't as far off as you might think
Could the ESA's PLATO mission find Earth 2.0?
Warm Saturn-sized exoplanet discovered with TESS
NASA scientific balloon flights to lift off from Antarctica
NASA's solar eclipse experiments yield intriguing early data
Sentinel-1C captures first radar images of Earth
Astronomers discover more dark comets
Extremely rare baby mammoth found in Siberia
Biologists studying apples discover structural cell protein also directly regulates gene transcription
