Featured Posts
Centauri Dreams
16 Oct 2018, 17:08 UTC
It was back in 2012 that Eric Mamajek (University of Rochester) and team discovered a possible ring system around the star J1407 in lightcurves originally taken in 2007, spawning subsequent work with Leiden Observatory’s Matthew Kenworthy. And what a ring system it would be if confirmed. The diameter, based on the lightcurve, would be nearly 120 million kilometers. This would be a ring system nearly 200 times larger than the rings of Saturn, one containing an Earth’s mass of dust particles, and in early studies, one housing over thirty separate rings.
J1407: A New Look at Old Images
16 Oct 2018, 17:08 UTC
It was back in 2012 that Eric Mamajek (University of Rochester) and team discovered a possible ring system around the star J1407 in lightcurves originally taken in 2007, spawning subsequent work with Leiden Observatory’s Matthew Kenworthy. And what a ring system it would be if confirmed. The diameter, based on the lightcurve, would be nearly 120 million kilometers. This would be a ring system nearly 200 times larger than the rings of Saturn, one containing an Earth’s mass of dust particles, and in early studies, one housing over thirty separate rings.
The Planetary Society Blog
16 Oct 2018, 11:00 UTC
When I was scrolling through the downlinked images of Hayabusa2’s approach of asteroid Ryugu, a familiar sight caught my attention (and the attention of those who share in my niche appreciation for scattering and optical effects). It wasn’t the spacecraft’s shadow resembling a Canadian flag (though I think we appreciated that as well), but rather, a brilliant heiligenschein.
Heiligenschein Throughout the Solar System
16 Oct 2018, 11:00 UTC
When I was scrolling through the downlinked images of Hayabusa2’s approach of asteroid Ryugu, a familiar sight caught my attention (and the attention of those who share in my niche appreciation for scattering and optical effects). It wasn’t the spacecraft’s shadow resembling a Canadian flag (though I think we appreciated that as well), but rather, a brilliant heiligenschein.
All About Space
16 Oct 2018, 09:15 UTC
Researchers have identified a young star with four Jupiter and Saturn-sized planets in orbit around it, the first time that so many massive planets have been detected in such a young system.
Four massive planets have been discovered orbiting a distant young star
16 Oct 2018, 09:15 UTC
Researchers have identified a young star with four Jupiter and Saturn-sized planets in orbit around it, the first time that so many massive planets have been detected in such a young system.
Planetaria
15 Oct 2018, 22:24 UTC
On October 4, 2018, the initial construction of one of the latest additions to the exoplanet-hunting family was announced – the European Space Agency’s Plato mission. The announcement was made at the 69th International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, where the new contract was signed.
Construction begins on ESA’s Plato planet-hunter
15 Oct 2018, 22:24 UTC
On October 4, 2018, the initial construction of one of the latest additions to the exoplanet-hunting family was announced – the European Space Agency’s Plato mission. The announcement was made at the 69th International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, where the new contract was signed.
Discover
14 Oct 2018, 04:41 UTC
I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the director of La La Land telling the story of Neil Armstrong’s historic landing on the Moon. (Would there be songs? A scowling J.K. Simmons?) It turns out to be a synergistic pairing of artist and material. First Man brushes aside the expected saga of space cowboys saddling up their steel horses, delivering instead a moving narrative of NASA’s glory days as seen through Armstrong’s eyes.
What "First Man" Gets Fabulously Right About NASA: An Interview with Apollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden
14 Oct 2018, 04:41 UTC
I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the director of La La Land telling the story of Neil Armstrong’s historic landing on the Moon. (Would there be songs? A scowling J.K. Simmons?) It turns out to be a synergistic pairing of artist and material. First Man brushes aside the expected saga of space cowboys saddling up their steel horses, delivering instead a moving narrative of NASA’s glory days as seen through Armstrong’s eyes.
SpaceFlight Insider
14 Oct 2018, 01:10 UTC
Roscosmos has announced the initial results of its investigation into the Soyuz MS-10 launch failure. According to the agency, the emergency abort was caused by a collision of elements during the separation of Soyuz-FG rocket’s first stage.
Collision of rocket components blamed for Soyuz MS-10 abort
14 Oct 2018, 01:10 UTC
Roscosmos has announced the initial results of its investigation into the Soyuz MS-10 launch failure. According to the agency, the emergency abort was caused by a collision of elements during the separation of Soyuz-FG rocket’s first stage.
SpaceFlight Insider
12 Oct 2018, 19:30 UTC
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory entered into safe mode, according to a statement from the U.S. space agency. This comes about a week after another telescope—Hubble—entered into safe mode because of a gyroscope issue.
NASA’s Chandra X-ray telescope enters safe mode
12 Oct 2018, 19:30 UTC
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory entered into safe mode, according to a statement from the U.S. space agency. This comes about a week after another telescope—Hubble—entered into safe mode because of a gyroscope issue.
Centauri Dreams
12 Oct 2018, 16:45 UTC
Can one properly represent humanity to the rest of the Milky Way galaxy with just two identical space vessels no bigger than a small school bus and two identical copies of a golden metallic long-playing (LP) record attached to the hulls of said vehicles which contain in their grooves sample images, sounds, languages, and music of their makers and their world? Our species can only hope so at this point, since the objects in question left Earth over four decades ago and are now tens of billions of miles into deep space heading in different directions through the galaxy. Although primarily planned and built to explore the planets, moons, and rings of the outer Sol system, these vessels were ultimately given another purpose and destiny preordained by their encounters with the places they were sent to. Ironically, this destiny relies on the existence of beings for whom there is as yet no evidence that they are actually out there among the stars.
