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☆ Returning samples from Mars will require a new plan, NASA says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —NASA is seeking innovative methods that could help retrieve samples collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars in the future. The original design for the Mars Sample Return program, a partnership between NASA and the European Space Agency, was a complex one. Reviews of the program have recommended that the Mars Sample return should not cost more than $5 billion to $7 billion, Nelson said. “Mars Sample Return will be one of the most complex missions NASA has ever undertaken. “We are operating from the premise that this is an important national objective that we return the samples,” Nelson said.

Persons: NASA's, Bill Nelson, Nicky Fox, Nelson, “, ” Nelson, ”, Noble, Emissivity, won’t, It’s, Fox, ” Fox Organizations: CNN, NASA, European Space Agency, JPL, Caltech, Budget, Science, VERITAS, Imaging, Radio Science, Fox, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mars Locations: Mars, Pasadena , California

☆ Families of the Columbia crew members keep their memories alive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Editor’s Note: The CNN Original Series “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” uncovers the events that ultimately led to disaster. After work, the crew members and their families would gather for cookouts and laser tag at one another’s homes. The STS-107 mission crew included five men and two women of diverse backgrounds, religions, interests and hobbies. They were the Columbia crew. Jonathan Clark met his future wife, Mission Specialist Laurel B. Clark, at US Navy diving school in 1989.

Persons: ”, Michael P, Anderson, David M, Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel B, Clark, Rick D, William C, Willie ” McCool, Ilan Ramon, Laura Husband, Rick Husband, “, ” Laura, Rick, Laurel, Rosalind Hobgood, Jonathan Clark, Jonathan, Jonathan said, ” Laurel, Iain Clark, ” Jonathan, “ It’s, ” Jonathan Clark, Iain, Jonathan Clark “, “ God, Evelyn, Matthew, Laura, Evelyn Husband, Faith, ” Evelyn, it’s, Evelyn Husband “, Tal Ramon, Tal Organizations: CNN, Shuttle Columbia, Sunday, Columbia, NASA, Israeli Space Agency, US Navy, Training, Johnson Space Center, Texas Tech University, Dallas Cowboys, ” Locations: Wyoming, Columbia, Texas, Panama City , Florida, Laurel, Houston, Amarillo , Texas

☆ See eclipse images captured across the path by CNN readers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The total solar eclipse that delighted spectators across Mexico, the United States and Canada on Monday was a celestial experience not to be missed. Millions were in the path of totality to watch as the moon moved between Earth and the sun. “After 20 years (of) not seeing an eclipse we got to experience it again,” he said via email. After launching the balloon, the quartet traveled to Burlington, Ontario, to be in the path of totality, where Goldstein snapped images of the eclipse with a Lumix FZ80 camera. “Ever since I was 1 years old I was very interested in space and space events.

Persons: Readers, Daniel McCartney, ”, McCartney, Mariel Williams, “, Williams, Juan M, Soto Peña, Fabiola, Luciana, Michael Goldstein, Goldstein, Ilan Kagedan, Brady Sonshine, Michael “ Misha ” Vishnever, ” Kagedan, Vishnever’s, Cynthia Gilmore, Joshua, Joshua Gilmore, ” Vishnever Organizations: CNN, Big, Galactic, Center, “ Locations: Mexico, United States, Canada, Big Moose, New York, Syracuse , New York, Dayton , Ohio, Royal Oak , Michigan, Tucson , Arizona, Mexican, Sonora, Toronto, Burlington , Ontario, Concord, Vaughan , Ontario, Green Hills, North Conway , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Center Conway , New Hampshire

☆ The next total solar eclipse: When and where to expect it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Monday’s total solar eclipse, one of the most highly anticipated events of 2024, has come and gone. But the next total solar eclipse won’t occur until August 12, 2026, said Amir Caspi, a principal scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. The next total eclipse in the USThe US won’t catch a glimpse of a total solar eclipse again until March 30, 2033, and even then the Russia-centric path includes only Alaska, with totality lasting 2 minutes and 37 seconds. A partial solar eclipse will shine over most of the country during that celestial event. The next total solar eclipse with a coast-to-coast path spanning the Lower 48 states will occur on August 12, 2045.

Persons: it’s, Amir Caspi, Caspi Organizations: CNN, NASA, Southwest Research, New Zealand, Democratic Locations: Chile, Argentina, South America, Boulder , Colorado, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, Portugal, Europe, Africa, North America, Alaska, North Dakota, Montana, California , Nevada , Utah , Colorado , Kansas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Australia, New, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, North, South Korea, Japan, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines

☆ How to tell if you have eye damage after viewing the eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The total solar eclipse has come and gone after creating a celestial spectacle Monday in the skies over Mexico, the US and Canada. But some people may be experiencing eye discomfort, rather than awe, in the aftermath. Looking at the sun without proper eye protection, such as certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers, can result in solar retinopathy, or retinal damage from exposure to solar radiation. During the 2017 total solar eclipse, a young woman was diagnosed with solar retinopathy in both eyes after viewing the eclipse with what doctors believed were eclipse glasses not held to the safety standard. Post-eclipse eye damage symptomsSymptoms of eye damage after viewing the eclipse without proper protection can take hours or days to manifest.

Persons: Ronald Benner, ”, Michelle Andreoli, ” Benner, “, Benner, isn’t, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, American Optometric Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology Locations: Mexico, Canada

Strange animal behaviors have been observed at the Fort Worth Zoo during totality, according to researchers stationed in Texas. One of the most bizarre animal observations reported during the 2017 total solar eclipse was of giraffes at other facilities gathering in a herd and beginning to gallop. The giraffes did not gallop this year at the Fort Worth Zoo, but they did huddle together and attempt to enter their nighttime enclosures. The most “dramatic reaction” at Fort Worth Zoo came from the primates. “Right at totality, all of the (gorillas) got up from all quarters of the exhibit and walked directly to where they're supposed to be let in (at night),” Hartstone-Rose told CNN.

Persons: Dr, Adam Hartstone, Rose, ” Hartstone Organizations: Fort Worth, Fort Worth Zoo, North Carolina State University, CNN Locations: Texas, Raleigh, Fort

Editor’s note: Follow along with CNN’s live updates of the total solar eclipse. Special eclipse momentsWhile totality is considered to be the most exciting part of a total solar eclipse, there are other special phases to watch for before the big moment arrives. Amateur astronomers prepare to watch a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico, on Monday. After the total solar eclipse ends, it’s a bit of a wait for the next such celestial sightings in the United States. Those living in Alaska will catch a glimpse of a total solar eclipse on March 30, 2033, and a partial solar eclipse will shine over most of the US during that event.

Persons: Ron Jenkins, Karen Siegel, ” Siegel, Michael Zeiler, Heinz, Peter Bader, Pons, Brooks, Fernando Llano, it’s, Don’t Organizations: CNN, NASA, Indianapolis, GPS, Reuters, JPL, Caltech, Amateur Locations: United States, North America, Texas, Maine, Kerrville , Texas, Cleveland, Newfoundland, Canada, Mazatlan, Coast, Fort Worth , Texas, Texas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Missouri , Illinois , Kentucky , Indiana , Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York , Vermont , New Hampshire, Vermont, Missouri, Indiana, Lincoln , New Hampshire, Newton , Massachusetts, Barton , Vermont, Mexico, Alaska, North Dakota, Montana, California , Nevada , Utah , Colorado , Kansas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Mississippi, Alabama, Florida

☆ Chasing the eclipse with sounding rockets and high-altitude planes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

NASA will launch sounding rockets and WB-57 high-altitude planes to conduct research on aspects of the sun and Earth that‘s only possible during an eclipse. During the 2017 eclipse that crossed the US, NASA and other space agencies conducted observations using 11 different spacecraft and two high-altitude planes. Three sounding rockets will launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on April 8 to study the eclipse. During the 2023 annular eclipse, instruments on the rockets measured sharp, immediate changes in the ionosphere. The jets have custom noses that can carry specialized scientific instruments.

Persons: Bill Stafford, Albert Einstein’s, Einstein, Sir Arthur Eddington, Allison Stancil, Barjatya, ” Barjatya, Peter Layshock, Amir Caspi, Layshock, ” Caspi Organizations: CNN, NASA, International Space, Embry, Riddle Aeronautical University, WB, NASA Airborne Science, Johnson Space Center, Southwest Research Locations: Mexico, United States, Canada, Brazil, West Africa, Virginia, Daytona Beach , Florida, Houston, Boulder , Colorado

☆ Special moments to watch for during the April 8 total eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —When the total solar eclipse traces a path across Mexico, the United States and Canada on April 8, spectators can anticipate a multitude of awe-inspiring moments. For those living outside of the path of totality, a crescent-shaped partial eclipse, rather than a total eclipse, will be the main event. A partial solar eclipse is seen between clouds from Socorro in Sao Paulo, Brazil on October 14, 2023. The diamond ring effect is seen during the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, in St. Louis, Missouri. And we’re living at the right time to truly enjoy the sight of a total eclipse on Earth, he said.

Persons: ”, John Mulchaey, Crawford H, Greenewalt, it’s, Robyn Beck, Igor, ” Mulchaey, “, It’s, you’re, Mulchaey, Francis Baily, Heinz, Peter Bader, X00316, Tim Spyers, Andrew Farnsworth Organizations: CNN, Carnegie Institution, Carnegie, NASA, Cornell, of Ornithology Locations: Mexico, United States, Canada, “, Prairie, AFP, Socorro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, St, Louis , Missouri

☆ ‘It’s a dolphin!’: Researchers uncover unusual ancient fossil in the Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The newly identified dolphin species lived in a freshwater lake in the Peruvian Amazon 16 million years ago. This composite image captures the phases of a total solar eclipse as they unfolded in El Molle, Chile, in July 2019. Stan HondaOn April 8, astrophotographer Stan Honda will be stationed in Fredericksburg, Texas, armed with four cameras to document the total solar eclipse. Mark your Apple iCal or Outlook, Google, or Office365 calendar with the date of the upcoming total solar eclipse, which CNN will be covering live. UnearthedThe remains of a decorative wall can be seen at the site of an ancient home renovation in Pompeii.

Persons: Dr, Austin Gallagher, Gallagher, Pebanista yacuruna, Jaime Bran, ”, Aldo Benites, Emperor Wu, couldn’t, Wu, Stan Honda, Honda, Apple, George Washington, Samuel, Washington, Francesca Giarelli, Everest, —, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, University of Zurich, Honda, Google, Italy Ministry of Culture, Red River Archaeology, CNN Space, Science Locations: Bahamas, Peruvian, Peru’s Loreto, Switzerland, China, Mongolia, El Molle, Chile, Fredericksburg , Texas, Mount Vernon , Virginia, Samuel’s Harewood, Charles Town, West Virginia, Harewood, Red, English, Oxfordshire, Cairo

☆ How to check if your solar eclipse glasses are real
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Otherwise, experts say it’s absolutely necessary to wear certified eclipse glasses or use handheld solar viewers that meet a specific safety standard, known as ISO 12312-2, when watching all other phases of a total or partial solar eclipse. And sunglasses won’t work in place of eclipse glasses or solar viewers. Counterfeit eclipse glasses with black lenses that have straight left and right edges from China (top) are printed with text copied from real eclipse glasses, but the counterfeit glasses are missing the company address. Meanwhile, real eclipse glasses from American Paper Optics (bottom) have reflective lenses with curved left and right edges. Never look through an unfiltered optical device of any kind in this situation, even while wearing eclipse glasses.

Persons: ”, Rick Fienberg, “, ” Fienberg, Ronald Benner, doesn’t, ” Benner, Benner, ‘ I’m, ’ Organizations: CNN, American Astronomical Society, NASA, Planetary Society, American Optometric Association, Astronomical Society, ‘, Optics, APO, Eclipse, Force, “, AAS Locations: Mexico, United States, Canada, China, U.S, Cangnan, Europe

☆ An ancient dinner still sits in a Bronze Age village 2,850 years later
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

First, one of the crew found a marble head of a Roman lady, and two weeks later its bust surfaced nearby, reuniting the pieces. Cambridge Archaeological UnitMust Farm was a thriving Bronze Age stilt village, perched above a river in eastern England, when it burned down 2,850 years ago — just nine months after its inhabitants had built it. The site, acclaimed by experts as “Britain’s Pompeii,” preserved rare information that reveals a new, less hierarchical portrait of Bronze Age society. Malhan/MPIAAstronomers have spied two streams of ancient stars that likely helped build the Milky Way galaxy billions of years ago. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

Persons: Earl of Exeter, ”, Chris Wakefield, Kermit the, Jim Henson’s, Payne, Shiva, Li Yibo, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Burghley, University of Cambridge, Smithsonian National Museum of, NASA, Force, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, CNN Space, Science Locations: United Kingdom, Peterborough, England, Cambridge, Africa, Ethiopia’s, China, Shaanxi, Iran

☆ Starship’s monumental third flight ends unexpectedly
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Instead, the company utilizes flight tests to gather crucial data and make improvements before the next vehicle rolls out for liftoff. Defying gravityThe SpaceX Starship spacecraft lifts off from the Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday. Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty ImagesStarship’s eventful third test flight achieved multiple milestones before ending prematurely and likely breaking apart. The spacecraft was expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean at the end of its hourlong flight, but SpaceX lost Starship’s signal shortly after the vehicle reentered Earth’s atmosphere. However, the third flight of Starship flew longer and higher than either of the previous tests.

Persons: Chandan Khanna, axolotls, Stephen Dalton, ”, Randal Voss, Jiji Press, James Webb, “, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, NASA, SpaceX, Getty, Starship, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, NASA’s, Golden Records, Clipper, Japan Monkey, Jiji, Gorillas, James Webb Space Telescope, CNN Space, Science Locations: South Texas, Texas, Boca Chica , Texas, Turkey, Xochimilco, Inuyama, United States, Columbia , South Carolina, Panama, —, Scarborough , England

☆ The burning acid behind ant stings was spotted around two stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected commonplace chemical ingredients found in vinegar, ant stings and even margaritas around two young stars, according to NASA. The complex organic molecules they observed using the space observatory’s Mid-Infrared Instrument included acetic acid, a component of vinegar, and ethanol — otherwise known as alcohol. The team also found simple molecules of formic acid, which causes the burning sensation associated with ant stings, as well as sulfur dioxide, methane and formaldehyde. Stars form from swirling clouds of gas and dust, and the leftover material from star formation gives rise to planets. Detecting complex organic molecules in space is helping astronomers to determine the molecules’ origins as well as those of other larger cosmic molecules.

Persons: James Webb, Carl Sagan, “, Webb, detections, ”, Will Rocha, Young, Ewine van Dishoeck, Harold Linnartz, Linnartz, “ Harold, ” van Dishoeck Organizations: CNN —, NASA, ESA, Hustak, Leiden University, Astrophysics, Leiden Laboratory Locations: astrochemistry, Netherlands, ices

☆ SpaceX’s Starship hits key milestones in test flight but is lost now
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jackie Wattles | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —A SpaceX Starship rocket launched on its third test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas and achieved multiple milestones Thursday morning before likely breaking apart. “But again, just it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”SpaceX also never intended to recover Starship after this flight test. The Super Heavy booster burned through most of its fuel and broke away from the Starship spacecraft, the upper stage that rides atop the Super Heavy. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the “mishap” involving both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft. The SpaceX Starship rocket system lifts off from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, for its third integrated test flight on Thursday.

Persons: TDRSS, ”, Dan Huot, Artemis, “, Bill Nelson, ” Huot, Elon Musk, Chandan Khanna, Huot, It’s, Kate Tice Organizations: CNN, SpaceX Starship, NASA, SpaceX, Twitter, Super, Federal Aviation Administration, Boca, FAA, “, Getty Locations: Boca Chica , Texas, Mars, of Mexico, Starbase, SpaceX’s

☆ Voyager 1 responds to ‘poke’ sent by NASA engineers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

A new signal recently received from the spacecraft suggests that the NASA mission team may be making progress in its quest to understand what Voyager 1 is experiencing. Voyager 1’s flight data system collects information from the spacecraft’s science instruments and bundles it with engineering data that reflects the current health status of Voyager 1. But since November, Voyager 1’s flight data system has been stuck in a loop. On March 3, the team noticed that activity from one part of the flight data system stood out from the rest of the garbled data. The decoded signal included a readout of the entire flight data system’s memory, according to an update NASA shared.

Persons: ”, Suzanne Dodd Organizations: CNN — Engineers, NASA, Voyager, Network, CNN

☆ NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will carry a poem and millions of names to ocean moon
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —When NASA’s Europa Clipper aims to launch on its highly anticipated mission to an icy moon in October, the spacecraft will carry a unique design etched with names, poetry and artwork symbolizing humanity. This latest mission is headed to Jupiter’s moon Europa, one of several lunar ocean worlds considered to be the best places to search for life beyond Earth. NASA/JPL-CaltechA planetary legacyEarly NASA probes such as Pioneer 10 and Voyager have continued to inspire the artwork that travels aboard other planetary science missions. “The content and design of Europa Clipper’s vault plate are swimming with meaning,” said Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, in a statement. “We’ve packed a lot of thought and inspiration into this plate design, as we have into this mission itself,” said Robert Pappalardo, project scientist at JPL, in a statement.

Persons: Ada Limón, Ron Greeley, Drake, Frank Drake, ”, Lori Glaze, Robert Pappalardo, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Clipper, Parker, Probe, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ”, US, Arizona State University, University of California, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Planetary Science, Europa Clipper Locations: Pasadena , California, Europa, University of California Santa Cruz

☆ Peculiar fossil reveals oldest toothless bird from 120 million years ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A peculiar fossil has helped scientists discover an unusual bird that lived among the dinosaurs 120 million years ago, and the find is changing the way researchers think about avian evolution. Enantiornithines are known as “opposite birds” because they had a shoulder joint feature that greatly differs from the ones modern birds have. “Before Imparavis, toothlessness in this group of birds was known to occur around 70 million years ago,” Clark said. When Jingmai O’Connor, the Field Museum’s associate curator of fossil reptiles, visited the Shandong museum’s collections a few years ago, the fossil caught her attention. While modern birds have fused forelimb digits, enantiornithines still had independent movement in the “little fingers” on their wings.

Persons: Sir David Attenborough, ”, Alex Clark, Imparavis, ” Clark, Jingmai O’Connor, O’Connor, Clark, “, enantiornithines, ” O’Connor, ” Attenborough Organizations: CNN, University of Chicago, Field Locations: China, China’s Toudaoyingzi, Shandong

☆ Webb space telescope spots oldest ‘dead’ galaxy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Astronomers have spotted the oldest “dead” galaxy ever observed while studying the cosmos with the James Webb Space Telescope, and it’s one of the deepest views into the distant universe made with the observatory to date. The galaxy existed when the universe was only about 700 million years into its current age of about 13.8 billion years. But something made the galaxy suddenly halt star formation almost as quickly as star birth had begun more than 13 billion years ago, and the researchers have yet to uncover the cause. Studying the galaxy could reveal new insights about the early universe and the factors that affect star formation within galaxies, according to the authors. “Until now, to understand the early universe, we’ve used models based on the modern universe.

Persons: James Webb, “, ”, Tobias, Francesco D’Eugenio, “ We’re, Webb, Roberto Maiolino, Maiolino, ” D’Eugenio, — Organizations: CNN —, Telescope, University of Cambridge’s Kavli, Cosmology, Kavli, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge

☆ April’s total solar eclipse will last longer than the 2017 eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

NASA estimates that 215 million adults across the US saw the 2017 eclipse directly or virtually. This composite image shows the progression of a partial solar eclipse over Ross Lake in Northern Cascades National Park in Washington on August 21, 2017. A whopping 99% of those living across the US, including parts of Hawaii and Alaska, will be able to glimpse at least a partial solar eclipse without having to travel. April’s eclipse will also have longer period of totality than 2017 because of the moon’s proximity to Earth. The 2017 eclipse occurred as the sun neared solar minimum, when the star experiences less activity.

Persons: ”, Nicola Fox, Ross, Bill Ingalls, skygazers, It’s Organizations: CNN, NASA, Science, Observers, Guinness, World Records, WB Locations: Mexico, North America, United States, America, Ross Lake, Northern, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Carbondale , Illinois, Torreón, Texas, Economy , Indiana, Canada, Philippines

☆ Fungi mystery: Amphibian found with mushroom growing from its body
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But a newly described mystery involving a mushroom and a frog suggests that fungi’s role in the environment is anything but black-and-white. Once upon a planetA golden-backed frog is seen with a small mushroom (right) growing out of its body. Elsewhere in our solar system, space scientists have spotted three faint and tiny moons orbiting the outermost planets in the Milky Way: Uranus and Neptune. — A dead star that feasted on a planet once in its orbit could foretell the eventual fate of our own solar system. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

Persons: Lohit, Dimorphos, ”, Dr, Sabina Raducan, it’s, Ralf Britz, Britz, Here’s, Odysseus, Odie, —, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, NASA, DART, University of Bern’s Physics, CNN Space, Science Locations: Indian, Karnataka, Dimorphos, Switzerland, Myanmar, Dresden, Germany, Roman Britain, United States

☆ Three new moons discovered orbiting Uranus and Neptune
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Astronomers have discovered three previously unknown moons around Uranus and Neptune, the most distant planets in our solar system. In the future, the tiny satellite will be named after a Shakespearean character, in keeping with the tradition of Uranus’ moons bearing literary names. He worked with Marina Brozovic and Bob Jacobson of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to determine the moon’s orbit. The outer moons orbiting all the giant planets across our solar system — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — share similar configurations. “Even Uranus, which is tipped on its side, has a similar moon population to the other giant planets orbiting our Sun,” Sheppard said.

Persons: ”, Scott S, Sheppard, Marina Brozovic, Bob Jacobson, Scott Sheppard, David Tholen, Chad Trujillo, Patryk Sofia Lykawka, ” Sheppard, Neptune Organizations: CNN —, Carnegie Institution for Science, Planet, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Carnegie Science, Subaru, University of Hawaii, Northern Arizona University, Kindai University Locations: Chile, Pasadena , California, Kea, Japan, Neptune

☆ NASA’s DART mission: Spacecraft impact reshaped Dimorphos asteroid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —When NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test spacecraft intentionally slammed into the asteroid Dimorphos in September 2022, the impact may have caused “global deformation” of the space rock, according to new research. Dimorphos is a moonlet asteroid that orbits a larger parent asteroid known as Didymos. The DART mission ended upon impact, but prior to colliding with Dimorphos, the spacecraft transmitted an incredibly detailed view of the little asteroid’s boulder-covered surface that is helping researchers learn more about how the space rock formed. Rather than forming a simple crater on Dimorphos, the DART impact reshaped the entire asteroid, the results have suggested. Recreating the DART impactA team of researchers modeled the impact using the Bern smoothed-particle hydrodynamics shock physics code to achieve their results.

Persons: Dimorphos, It’s, ”, Dr, Sabina Raducan, Japan’s, ” Raducan, Martin Jutzi, Hera, Raducan, Sir Brian May, Claudia Manzoni Organizations: CNN, DART, Dimorphos, University of Bern’s Physics Locations: Italian, Dimorphos, Bern, Switzerland

☆ White dwarf star has metal scar after gobbling planetary fragment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Astronomers have spotted an unusual sign that a dead star feasted on a fragment of a planet orbiting it: a metal scar on the star’s surface. The observation revealed a metallic feature on the star’s surface that the researchers determined was related to a change detected in the star’s magnetic field. The strength of the metal detection also synced with changes observed in the star’s magnetic field, which led the team to determine that the metal scar was located on one of the star’s magnetic poles. The star’s magnetic field pulled the metals toward the star, which led to the presence of the scar, the finding has suggested. But WD 0816-310 presents an entirely different scenario orchestrated by the star’s magnetic field.

Persons: ”, Dr, Stefano Bagnulo, Jay Farihi, John Landstreet, Landstreet Organizations: CNN —, Southern, Planetarium, University College London, Western University, NASA Locations: Chile, Armagh, Northern Ireland, Swiss, Canada

☆ Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ wakes up after long lunar night
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Japan’s “Moon Sniper” is the lunar mission that keeps coming back to life. This feat was unexpected given that the lunar lander wasn’t designed to survive the moon’s harsh temperatures. But the spacecraft’s waking hours were short, and on January 31, the Moon Sniper entered what JAXA called a “two week dormancy period during the long lunar night.” Temperatures during the lunar night can plunge to minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 133 degrees Celsius), according to NASA. The last scene of the moon from the lander’s perspective before lunar night was shared on X on February 1 once the mission team sent commands to the Moon Sniper and confirmed it was in a dormant state. This moody scene was the last image taken by the SLIM lander before entering lunar night in late January.

Persons: CNN —, Smart, SLIM, Odie ” Organizations: CNN, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, NASA, SLIM, Earth Locations: Japan, Houston

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