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☆ Elon Musk has pledged to settle Mars. This book offers a reality check
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Initially enthusiastic about the prospect of humans living on Mars, the authors said their research turned them into space settlement skeptics. In "A City on Mars," authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith argue substantially more research is needed before humans can safely populate Mars. Particular BooksCNN: Can humans settle Mars in the near term? KW: Musk is saying that in the next 30 years, we’re going to have a million people on Mars. It’s about 40% gravity and we know that humans in microgravity have all sorts of major problems, and what happens at 40% we just don’t know.

Persons: Elon, Kelly, Zach Weinersmith, ”, Kelly Weinersmith, it’s, we’ll, you’ve, You’re Organizations: CNN, Society Trivedi, Rice University, NASA, JPL, Caltech, facie, Earth, United Nations Locations: “, Houston, Mars, United States, China

☆ NASA’s only visit to Uranus happened during a rare cosmic occurrence
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This week, researchers shared fascinating new findings on Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun, and the far side of the moon. Other worldsIllustrations depict how Uranus' magnetosphere, or protective bubble, was behaving before Voyager 2's arrival (left) and during the spacecraft's flyby (right). An unusual cosmic occurrence during the Voyager 2 spacecraft’s 1986 flyby might have skewed how scientists characterized the ice giant, new research suggests. In particular, the spacecraft’s observations of Uranus’ protective magnetosphere were wildly different from astronomers’ expectations. Fortunately, sending a dedicated mission to study Uranus in the future is a priority for NASA, according to a 2022 report.

Persons: Jamie Jasinski, paleoanthropologist Don Johanson, what’s, Lucy, Johanson, ”, afarensis, doesn’t, Bathydevius, Bruce Robison, —, Marvel, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt, Jackie Wattles Organizations: CNN, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Nature Reserve, WWF Tigers, Fund, Nature, Aquarium Research, CNN Space, Science Locations: Pasadena , California, Afar, Central Asia, Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Caspian, Netherlands, Kuma, Kazakhstan’s Ile, California, Mt, Everest, Monterey, what’s, Iraq

☆ Voyager 2’s defining Uranus flyby may have been skewed by a rare cosmic event
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Magnetospheres are the protective bubbles around planets like Earth that have magnetic cores and magnetic fields, and they are driven by the planet’s magnetic field. Voyager 2’s data showed that Uranus’ magnetosphere was home to unexpectedly powerful electron radiation belts. Voyager 2’s observations of Uranus’ magnetosphere defied the way astronomers understand how magnetic fields trap energetic particles and their radiation. The first panel (left) of this artist's concept depicts how Uranus' protective magnetosphere behaved prior to Voyager 2's flyby. Fortunately, sending a dedicated mission to study Uranus in the future has become a priority for NASA, according to a report released in 2022.

Persons: ”, Jamie Jasinski, ” Jasinski, It’s, Linda Spilker, Spilker, ” Spilker, James Webb Organizations: CNN, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Orbiter, Probe Locations: Pasadena , California

☆ NASA reestablishes contact with Voyager 1 using an old radio transmitter
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Voyager 1 is now using a radio transmitter it hasn’t relied on since 1981 to stay in contact with its team on Earth while engineers work to understand what went wrong. NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft is depicted in this artist's concept traveling through interstellar space, or the space between stars, which it entered in 2012. Voyager 1 has been using one of its two radio transmitters, called an X-band based on the frequency it utilizes, for decades. In the meantime, engineers sent a message to Voyager 1 on October 22 to check that the S-band transmitter was working and received confirmation on October 24. “The S-band signal is too weak to use long term,” Waggoner said.

Persons: Bruce Waggoner, hasn’t, Waggoner, it’s, ” Waggoner Organizations: CNN, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space, Network, Engineers, Space Network Locations: Pasadena , California

☆ Perseverance rover captures video of ‘googly eye’ feature on Mars
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Perseverance rover spotted a quick glimpse of a cosmic “googly eye” on Mars during a recent solar eclipse. The Perseverance rover, currently ascending the western wall of Jezero Crater, captured a video of the partial eclipse, which resembled a googly eye, on September 30. Previous images includes a video taken by the Curiosity rover in 2019 and photo that the Opportunity rover snapped in 2004. Astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Mars’ two moons, Phobos and Deimos, in 1877. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Martian Moons eXploration mission, or MMX, intends to solve some of those enduring riddles.

Persons: —, Asaph, Mars, MSSS, ”, Rick Welch, Perseverance’s, Hazel Hill Organizations: CNN, NASA, Opportunity, Japan Aerospace Exploration, JPL, Caltech, ASU, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Locations: Mars, Pasadena , California

☆ See the first piece of what promises to be the largest 3D map of the universe
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

One of Euclid’s primary goals is to observe dark matter and dark energy. While dark matter has never been detected, it is believed to make up 85% of the total matter in the universe. Meanwhile, dark energy is a mysterious force thought to play a role in the accelerating expansion of the universe. Rhodes is the US science lead for Euclid and principal investigator for NASA’s Euclid dark energy science team. “The images capture detail from clusters of stars near an individual galaxy to some of the largest structures in the universe.

Persons: ”, Valeria Pettorino, James Webb, Jason Rhodes, Rhodes, Euclid, Georges Lemaître, Edwin Hubble, Mike Seiffert Organizations: CNN, European Space Agency, Southern Hemisphere, ESA, International Astronautical, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, NASA Locations: Milan, Italy, Pasadena , California

☆ NASA launches a probe to find out if there really could be alien life on Jupiter's moon Europa
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NASA launched Europa Clipper to see if Jupiter's moon Europa could host alien life. NASA / Jet Propulsion Lab-Caltech / SETI InstituteThe NASA mission, called Europa Clipper, aims to figure out whether the Jupiter moon and its ocean could support life. The Europa Clipper spacecraft at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA/Kim Shiflett"We scientists have been dreaming about a mission like Europa Clipper for more than 20 years. An artist's concept of NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft.

Persons: —, Laurie Leshin, Kim Shiflett, We've, Gina DiBraccio, Jordan Evans, Evans Organizations: NASA, Europa Clipper, Service, SpaceX, Jet Propulsion, Caltech, SETI, Europa, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center, Clipper, JPL, Planetary Science Locations: Florida

☆ NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft will launch to find whether life could exist on an icy ocean world
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft — designed to explore its namesake, Jupiter’s moon Europa — is expected to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket Monday at 12:06 p.m. If Europa Clipper doesn’t take off Monday, there are launch opportunities through November 6. NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft carries a special message from humanity onboard. There was no harder year than this one to get Europa Clipper over the finish line, said Curt Niebur, Europa Clipper program scientist. That’s what’s waiting us at Europa.”The Europa Clipper spacecraft is seen atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on October 13.

Persons: Mike McAleenan, Tim Dunn, Hurricane Milton, ”, Robert Pappalardo, Ada Limón, Curt Niebur, ” Niebur, “ It’s, we’ve, That’s, Haje Korth, ” Korth, ” Pappalardo Organizations: CNN, Clipper, SpaceX, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, 45th Weather Squadron, US Space Force, NASA’s, Hurricane, Europa Clipper, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, US, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Kennedy Space Center, European Space Agency, Europa, Johns Hopkins, Physics Laboratory Locations: Florida, Pasadena , California, Europa

☆ Mini-moons like the one Earth just captured could be huge business opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The second moon that Earth has captured in its orbit this month is an asteroid called 2024 PT5. Mini-moons like this could be ideal targets for asteroid mining to send humans deeper into space. Space mining could be huge, since some asteroids are worth more than our entire global economy. Some startups are trying to figure out how to start mining space rocks, and do it in a cost-effective way. "Either if you are thinking about collecting mineral samples for research or starting a space mining venture, mini-moons are your best bet to get your business off the ground," he said.

Persons: —, it's, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, Elon, Marcos, Teddy Kareta, Mars, Richard Binzel, they're, Kareta Organizations: Service, NASA, Business, Lowell Observatory, JPL, Caltech, ASU, SpaceX, MIT Locations: Mars, Earth's

☆ Astronomers spot the most massive black hole jets ever observed
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Astronomers have observed a massive pair of jets releasing from a supermassive black hole 7.5 billion light-years from Earth. The megastructure spans 23 million light-years in length, making these black hole jets the largest ever seen, according to new research. Black hole jets can accelerate radiation and particles close to the speed of light, causing them to glow in wavelengths visible to radio telescopes. The massive black hole jets could help answer both. Martijn Oei (pictured), lead author of the new study, and his colleagues will continue their search for massive black hole jets.

Persons: Martijn Oei, ” Oei, Europe’s, Oei, “, Aivin Gast, Gast, LOFAR, “ Aivin, Porphyrion, NASA's, Powell, Nelson, Martin Hardcastle, Sasha Tchekhovskoy, ”, Tchekhovskoy Organizations: CNN —, California Institute of Technology, Astrophysics, University of Oxford, NASA, JPL, Caltech, CNN, Keck, NASA's Goddard, University of Hertfordshire, Northwestern University Locations: India, Hawaii, England

☆ Tiny lizard ‘scuba dives’ and hides out from predators
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Reptiles are astonishingly diverse, with extraordinary adaptations such as a tiny lizard in Costa Rica that has evolved a way to “scuba dive,” according to new research. Fantastic creaturesUsing the air bubble helps the anole to stay underwater longer, and the technique may help the tiny lizard hide from predators, researchers say. This ability allows the lizard to stay underwater for a prolonged period of time. Across the universeAn artist's concept depicts NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft entering interstellar space, or the space between stars. Along the way, Voyager 1 found a thin ring around Jupiter and two new Jovian moons as well as five new moons orbiting Saturn.

Persons: Lindsey Swierk, Kaspar Hauser, ”, Hauser, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Vincent van Gogh, ” Timothy A, Clary, Vincent van Gogh’s, It’s, King Ramses II, — Helga, Zohar, Artemis, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, NASA, JPL, Caltech, NASA’s, International, Getty, Orion, Artemis, CNN Space, Science Locations: Costa Rica, Costa Rica’s, Nuremberg, Germany, Bristol, England, AFP, China, France, Egypt

☆ Voyager 1 survives clogged thruster issue billions of miles away
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Engineers at NASA have successfully fired up a set of thrusters Voyager 1 hasn’t used in decades to solve an issue that could keep the 47-year-old spacecraft from communicating with Earth from billions of miles away. Currently the farthest spacecraft from Earth, Voyager 1 is about 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) away. Earlier this year, engineers spotted an issue when the fuel tube inside one of Voyager’s thrusters became clogged. Engineers switched again to the trajectory correction thruster set in 2018 when the second set also appeared clogged. Once the spacecraft has exhausted this thruster set, Voyager 1’s remaining option is the other already clogged set of attitude propulsion thrusters.

Persons: Calla, ”, It’s, Todd Barber, Suzanne Dodd, ” Barber Organizations: CNN — Engineers, NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, Caltech, Engineers Locations: Pasadena , California

☆ NASA’s Europa Clipper gets the green light to launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The approval was a relief to the Europa Clipper team after the discovery in May of a possible issue with transistors on the spacecraft. Europa Clipper carries 10 science instruments that could determine whether life is possible on another place in our solar system besides Earth. Now, Europa Clipper has been approved to launch, with no changes to the mission plan, goals or trajectory. Exploring an ocean worldWhen Curt Niebur, Europa Clipper program scientist, began working at NASA in 2003, he faced the task of pushing a Europa mission forward. Each year, the effort to get Europa Clipper designed and built has seemed more difficult, he said.

Persons: NASA’s, we’re, ”, Nicola Fox, Jupiter’s, Jordan Evans, Evans, “, ” Evans, Curt Niebur, ” Niebur, It’s, we’ve, That’s, Niebur, Laurie Leshin Organizations: CNN, Clipper, NASA, Europa Clipper, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight, Science, JPL, “, Juno Locations: Pasadena , California, Laurel , Maryland, Greenbelt , Maryland, flybys, Europa, gush

☆ Perseverance rover begins steep climb to study the oldest parts of Mars
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This ascent is something scientists have been looking forward to for years, long before Perseverance landed on Mars. Turning back Martian timeThe impact that created Jezero Crater also generated a lot of heat, partly from the energy of the object that slammed into Mars. The crater rim site of Pico Turquino, as the hydrothermal rocks are called, provides another, different possibility. A panorama shows the area Perseverance will climb in the coming months to crest Jezero Crater’s rim. “For now, we’re just going to pursue our crater rim investigation.

Persons: ”, Thompson, Perseverance, Pico, Hazel Hill, Briony Horgan, “, Horgan, Ken Farley, Pico Turquino, ” Farley, Farley, Steven Lee, ” Lee, ” Horgan, we’re Organizations: CNN, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, Purdue University, Mars, California Institute of Technology, ASU Locations: Pasadena , California, Mars, Dox, ”, West Lafayette , Indiana, Pico, Jezero

☆ ‘Zombie star’ of supernova that exploded in 1181 revealed by study
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But Zijlstra, who was not involved with the new study, was the first to make the connection to SN 1181. The report suggested that SN 1181 might belong to the elusive Type Iax category of supernova due to the presence of this “zombie” white dwarf. That energy causes the sudden brightness of the supernova.”That massive collision might explain another curious aspect of the SN 1181 zombie star. “We theorize that the star reignited because SN 1181 was a Type Iax supernova, which is an incomplete explosion. Schaefer added that SN 1181 represents one of the few reliable connections from supernova to supernova remnant.

Persons: ”, Takatoshi Ko, Albert Zijlstra, Dana Patchick, Zijlstra, ” Zijlstra, “, coauthors, NASA's Chandra, ” Ko, Chandra, Ko, Bradley Schaefer, Schaefer, ” Schaefer, astrophysicists Organizations: CNN, Astrophysical, University of Tokyo, University of Manchester, Survey, NASA, ESA, JPL, Caltech, Subaru, Louisiana State University Locations: China, Japan, England, New Mexico, Hawaii

☆ Oceans of water may be trapped deep beneath the Martian surface
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Data from a retired NASA mission has revealed evidence of an underground reservoir of water deep beneath the surface of Mars, according to new research. A team of scientists estimates that there may be enough water, trapped in tiny cracks and pores of rock in the middle of the Martian crust, to fill oceans on the planet’s surface. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took an image of InSight sitting on the Martian surface on February 2, 2019. “It’s certainly true on Earth — deep, deep mines host life, the bottom of the ocean hosts life. Windows into Martian historyThe findings add a new piece to the Martian water puzzle.

Persons: ”, Vashan Wright, ‘, Mars, orbiters, InSight’s seismometer, Wright, James Tuttle Keane, Aaron Rodriguez, Michael Manga, “ It’s, haven’t, Alberto Fairén, Fairén, Bruce Banerdt, we’re, Banerdt, al, ” Banerdt, “, ” Wright Organizations: CNN, NASA, National Academy of Sciences, Reconnaissance Orbiter, JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, University of California, Diego’s Scripps, of Oceanography, Mars, Interior Exploration, Transport, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of Maryland, Cornell University Locations: Mars, Berkeley

☆ Scientists digitally dissect ancient Egyptian ‘screaming’ mummy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Ancient Egypt’s pyramids, pharaohs and artifacts delight the imagination, reigniting wonder of the distant past in every generation. Experts are also using the latest techniques to spill secrets hidden within discoveries made decades ago, with new research this week “digitally dissecting” an unusual mummy found in 1935. The "screaming woman" whose mummified remains were discovered in 1935 may have died violently, a new study suggests. — To keep swimmers and beachgoers safe, scientists are using artificial intelligence to detect juvenile sharks, which like to hang out near the shore. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

Persons: Sahar Saleem, Saleem, Saleem couldn’t, Venus, Guillermo Legaria, Lonely Guy, —, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kasr Al, Cairo University, Mercury, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA, JPL, Caltech Venus, Lonely, —, CNN Space, Science Locations: ., Damietta, Egypt, Luxor, New York City, Kasr Al Ainy, Europe, Asia, Thailand, Southeast Asia

☆ Venus atmosphere shows potential signs of life — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“We’re a long way from saying this, but if there is life on Venus producing phosphine, we have no idea why it’s producing it. So finding them in the atmosphere of Venus is interesting on that basis as well. But further analysis of that data by Clements’ team revealed weak traces of the molecule, reinforcing the theory. “To date, our analyses remain unchallenged in the literature,” said Mogul, who was not involved in the research of Clements’ team. While detecting phosphine and ammonia in Venus’ clouds is exciting, it is just the beginning of a longer journey to unravel the mysteries of that planet’s atmosphere, he said.

Persons: James, Maxwell, “ There’s, ”, Dave Clements, “, we’ve, Clements, ” Clements, Venus, Clements ’, Rakesh Mogul, Jane Greaves, NASA's, ” Greaves, Greaves, Javier Martin, Torres, Martín, Kate Pattle, ” Pattle, Pattle Organizations: CNN, Astronomical Society, Imperial College London, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Saturn, Venus, Telescope, California State Polytechnic University, ” Mogul, Cardiff University, Green Bank, Royal Astronomical Society, European Space Agency, University of Aberdeen, University College London Locations: Hull, England, Hawaii, SOFIA, ALMA, Pomona, United Kingdom, West Virginia

☆ Surprising element traced back to Renaissance alchemist’s basement laboratory
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors produced the first maps of the stars and practiced alchemy, the precursor to chemistry. But ancient alchemists actually developed technology and discovered chemical elements that are still widely used today. Now, a new discovery links both astronomy and alchemy in one intriguing figure who lived during the Renaissance. Once the Starliner mission concludes, SpaceX will ferry a quartet of astronauts for NASA’s Crew-9 mission to the space station.

Persons: Sir Isaac Newton, Uraniborg, Tycho Brahe, Brahe, wasn’t, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Mark Nappi, Craig Smith, Diva Amon, Andrew Sweetman, Sweetman, ”, David Flannery, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Chemists, Lund University Danish, NASA, Boeing, Engineers, SpaceX, NASA’s, Marine, Scottish Association for Marine Science, JPL, Caltech, Perseverance, CNN Space, Science Locations: Ireland, Brazil, Mars

☆ NASA just scored a badly needed win: The best potential evidence of alien life yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewNASA has snagged a chunk of rock on Mars that could someday prove to be the first clear evidence of alien life. To confirm their suspicions, scientists would need to bring the rock sample to Earth and study it in more detail. Advertisement"We're not saying there's life on Mars, but we're seeing something that is compelling as a potential biosignature," Stack Morgan said. That was the plan that could've brought scientists the Cheyava Falls rock sample. There is a lot going on in this rock," Stack Morgan said.

Persons: —, it's, Katie Stack Morgan, Stack Morgan, Astrobotic, wasn't, could've, Aaron Gronstal, We're Organizations: Service, NASA, Business, JPL, Caltech, ASU, Space Station, Boeing Locations: Mars

☆ NASA Perseverance rover’s rock find may show microbial life existed on Mars
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The NASA Perseverance rover may have found a pivotal clue that’s central to its mission on Mars: geological evidence that could suggest life existed on the red planet billions of years ago. “These spots are a big surprise,” said David Flannery, member of the NASA Perseverance science team and an astrobiologist at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, in a statement. But the arrowhead-shaped specimen could help the Perseverance team unlock whether Mars was once a planet hospitable to life. Perseverance rover captured a 360-degree panorama of a region on Mars called “Bright Angel,” where a river flowed billions of years ago. Exploring Mars’ pastSince landing on Mars, Perseverance has crossed Jezero Crater and explored an ancient river delta in search of microfossils of past life.

Persons: ”, David Flannery, haven’t, Mars, “ We’re, Briony Horgan, we’ve, —, Morgan Cable, MSSS “ We’ve, Ken Farley, it’s, Perseverance, Nicola Fox, Bill Nelson, ” Horgan, ” Farley Organizations: CNN, NASA, Queensland University of Technology, Purdue University, Chemicals, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, Caltech, ASU, ” Cable, California Institute of Technology, MSSS Geologists, Science Locations: Australia, West Lafayette , Indiana, Mars, Pasadena , California, Cheyava, Pasadena, Neretva

☆ NASA’s Curiosity rover makes its ‘most unexpected’ find on Mars
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —The Curiosity rover has made its most unusual find to date on Mars: rocks made of pure sulfur. “I think it’s the strangest find of the whole mission and the most unexpected,” said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Previously, while exploring Mars, NASA’s Spirit rover broke one of its wheels and had to drag it along while using the other five to drive backward. And Vasavada says it’s what inspired the team to “look behind” the Curiosity rover — otherwise they wouldn’t have seen the crushed sulfur. To determine what process formed the sulfur rocks, the team considered nearby bedrock instead.

Persons: ”, Ashwin Vasavada, “, Sharp, White, Vasavada, ” Vasavada, Briony Horgan, Curiosity, Mount Sharp, Becky Williams, Gediz, “ It’s, we’re, ” Curiosity’s, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, NASA, Caltech, Mars, NASA SVS, Spirit, Purdue University, Planetary Science Institute, Curiosity’s Locations: Pasadena , California, ”, Mars, West Lafayette , Indiana, Mt, Gediz, Gale, Tucson , Arizona

☆ When a cruise liner-size asteroid zips by Earth, two spacecraft may follow it
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When a cruise liner-size asteroid comes within 19,883 miles (32,000 kilometers) of Earth on April 13, 2029, it won’t be alone. The European Space Agency has announced that its new Ramses spacecraft may accompany the asteroid Apophis before and after its safe, albeit rather close, pass of Earth. Astronomers think that an asteroid this large comes within such proximity to Earth only once every 5,000 to 10,000 years. In September 2022, NASA’s DART mission intentionally slammed a spacecraft into Dimorphos, a moonlet asteroid that orbits a larger parent asteroid known as Didymos. “The Ramses mission concept reuses much of the technology, expertise and industrial and science communities developed for the Hera mission,” said Paolo Martino, spacecraft manager for Hera who will also work on the Ramses mission, in a statement.

Persons: won’t, Ramses, Apophis, Apophis doesn’t, ”, Patrick Michel, ” Michel, Richard Moissl, NASA’s, OSIRIS, REx, “ Apophis, Hera, Paolo Martino, “ Hera Organizations: CNN, European Space Agency, NASA’s Center, Studies, ESA, NASA, System, National Centre for Scientific Research, NSF, JPL, Caltech, ESA’s Planetary Defence Office, APEX Locations: Europe, Africa, Asia, Apophis, France

☆ New images reveal tiny moon around asteroid as it flies by Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Spotting a tiny moonThe first space rock, asteroid 2011 UL21, passed by Earth on June 27 at a distance of 4.1 million miles (6.6 million kilometers), or 17 times the distance between Earth and the moon. The radar images showed the asteroid is roughly spherical and is one of a pair, called a binary system. NASA/JPL-CaltechThe Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, at Sutherland Observing Station in South Africa first spotted the space rock on June 16. Astronomers sent radio waves to the space rock and captured a detailed image of asteroid 2024 MK. As the space rock passed by our planet and encountered Earth’s gravity, its orbit changed.

Persons: ”, Lance Benner, don’t, ” Benner Organizations: CNN, NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space Network, Earth, Catalina Sky Survey, JPL, Caltech, Lucy, Asteroid, Astronomers Locations: Pasadena , California, Tucson , Arizona, Barstow , California, Sutherland, South Africa

☆ Mars gets hit by hundreds of basketball-size space rocks every year
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Hundreds of basketball-size space rocks slam into Mars each year, leaving behind impact craters and causing rumblings across the red planet, according to new research. During its time on Mars, InSight used its seismometer to detect more than 1,300 marsquakes, which take place when the Martian subsurface cracks due to pressure and heat. Meteoroids are space rocks that have broken away from larger rocky bodies and range in size from dust grains to small asteroids, according to NASA. “We’re interested in studying that on Mars because we can then compare and contrast what’s happening on Mars to what’s happening on the Earth. Between 280 and 360 meteoroids hit the red planet each year, and they form impact craters larger than 26 feet (8 meters) across, according to the study.

Persons: ”, Ingrid Daubar, ” Daubar, NASA’s, “ We’re, Géraldine Zenhäusern, ” Zenhäusern, Natalia Wojcicka Organizations: CNN, NASA, Reconnaissance, JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, Brown University, NASA’s Mars, Nature Communications, Switzerland’s ETH Zürich, Imperial College London’s Locations: Mars, Switzerland’s

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