Astronomers have meticulously mapped nearly 400,000 galaxies in our cosmic vicinity, creating the Siena Galaxy Atlas using data gathered from the NSF’s NOIRLab telescopes. This digital galaxy atlas provides a valuable resource for researchers delving into various aspects of astronomy, including galaxy formation, evolution, dark matter, and gravitational waves. The data is available to the…
SpaceX continued its busy launch schedule with another Falcon 9 rocket launch, this time sending 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit as part of the Starlink Group 6-23 mission. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking SpaceX’s 74th launch of the year.…
Lunar Dust Could Be Transformed into Paved Roads and Landing Pads on the Moon Using Concentrated Sunlight. Lunar dust may one day be used to create roads and landing pads on the moon through an innovative process involving concentrated sunlight. Experiments conducted on Earth using lasers to blast simulated lunar soil have shown promise in…
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is en route to a metal-rich asteroid, which shares its name, offering insights into the formation of rocky planets. Launched successfully at 10:19 a.m. EDT on Friday, October 13, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission features NASA’s Deep Space…
In June, astronomers reported a disappointing discovery: The James Webb Space Telescope failed to find a thick atmosphere around the rocky planet TRAPPIST-1 C, an exoplanet in one of the most tantalizing planetary systems in the search for alien life. The finding follows similar news regarding neighboring planet TRAPPIST-1 B, another planet in the TRAPPIST-1…
After a challenging start to its six-year mission, the Euclid space telescope is concluding its commissioning phase on a positive note. The European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced that thanks to a clever software patch, the telescope’s Fine Guidance Sensor issues have been resolved, allowing it to enter the final testing phase in full science…
Space weather refers to the fluctuations in the environment between Earth and the Sun, driven by factors such as solar wind and the ionosphere, an electrified layer of the atmosphere affected by solar radiation. While birds rely on Earth’s magnetic field for navigation, it was uncertain whether space weather could impact their flight patterns. A…
Tonight, the Arianespace-operated Vega rocket is set to embark on its first mission of the year, launching 12 satellites into orbit. The event will be live-streamed, and you can tune in to witness the action. Scheduled for liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, the Vega launch is planned for 9:36 p.m. EDT on…