Latest science news in Astronomy & Space

NASA: Change of heart on new rocket that would reuse shuttle parts?

13 years ago from Physorg

Dozens of Kennedy Space Center engineers and more at other NASA centers have been working quietly behind the scenes since August to design a new rocket made from parts of...

Halley's Comet Was Spotted By Ancient Greeks

13 years ago from Live Science

The ancient Greeks likely saw Halley's Comet streak past Earth in 466 B.C., pushing the earliest documented observation of the comet back by more than 200 years, a new study...

Mars Life Building Blocks Possibly Seen By Viking Probes

13 years ago from Live Science

NASA's Viking Mars landers may actually have detected carbon-based chemicals — the building blocks of life as we know it — in the 1970s.

Russian cargo vessel docks at International Space Station

13 years ago from Physorg

A Russian cargo vessel docked Sunday at the International Space Station with 2.5 tonnes of supplies and material, a spokesman for the Russian space flight control centre said.

Caught in the act: Fireballs light up Jupiter

13 years ago from Science Daily

Amateur astronomers working with professional astronomers have spotted two fireballs lighting up Jupiter's atmosphere this summer, marking the first time Earth-based telescopes have captured relatively small objects burning up in...

Tally-ho! Deep Impact spacecraft eyes comet target

13 years ago from Science Daily

On Sunday, Sept. 5, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft beamed down the first of more than 64,000 images it's expected to take of Comet Hartley 2. The spacecraft, now on an...

Supernova Shrapnel Discovered Inside Meteorite

13 years ago from Space.com

Microscopic shrapnel from a star that exploded around when our solar system was born was recently found in a meteorite that landed on Earth.

First James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror segment to achieve final step

13 years ago from Physorg

A bit of gold made its way into the Rocket City last week in the form of a gold-coated James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror segment. It is the first...

Rosette Nebula Sparkles In New Photo

13 years ago from Space.com

The Rosette Nebula, a hotbed of star formation, is photographed in a stunning new image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Opportunity Rover reaches halfway point of long trek to Mars crater

13 years ago from Science Daily

When NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity left Victoria Crater two years ago this month, the rover science team chose Endeavour Crater as the rover's next long-term destination. With a drive...

Satellite 'formation flying' simulated

13 years ago from UPI

PARIS, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Scientists getting ready for planned multi-satellite missions are getting in some "practice" thanks to sophisticated simulators, European space officials said. ...

Pictures: Hubble Spies Oddly "Perfect" Celestial Spiral

13 years ago from National Geographic

A new Hubble picture has revealed an oddly "perfect" cosmic spiral likely being created as a dying star orbits a stellar twin, astronomers say. ...

When Worlds Collide, Chances for Alien Life Dwindle

13 years ago from Live Science

Tight double-star systems may not be the best places to look for extraterrestrial life, a new study has found.

Soil Science Society of America Announces the Class of 2010 Fellows

13 years ago from Newswise - Scinews

The Soil Science Society of America will present the 2010 Fellows class at their Annual Meetings Oct. 31 to Nov 3, in Long Beach, CA.

Origin of magnetic fields may lie in special relativity's spacetime distortions

13 years ago from Physorg

(PhysOrg.com) -- Magnetic fields play an important role on scales ranging from the sub-atomic to the cosmic, from particle spins to galaxy clusters. Although scientists know how to create and...

First UK cameras to scan the night skies

13 years ago from Science Daily

An astronomy graduate has set up the first UK camera which can continuously scan the night sky and dictates the best conditions for surveys.

Extreme X-ray source supports new class of black hole

13 years ago from

A group of international astronomers in the UK, France and the USA, led by the University of Leicester, have found proof to confirm the distance and brightness of the most...

Abengoa Mojave Solar Project cleared for construction

13 years ago from LA Times - Science

State regulators unanimously approve the 250-megawatt project, to be set up in San Bernardino County. The go-ahead brings the state closer to approving 4,300 megawatts of solar power by the...

Turtle egg rescue at space center billed success

13 years ago from MSNBC: Science

The unprecedented turtle rescue effort at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is winding down. Kennedy Space Center - NASA - Space - Technology - Sea turtle

Student-built satellite scheduled for launch

13 years ago from Physorg

(PhysOrg.com) -- A 6.5-pound satellite is scheduled to become the first stand-alone spacecraft built by Michigan students to go into orbit and perform a science mission.

International Year of Astronomy Claims Record Numbers of Citizen Stargazers

13 years ago from Science NOW

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009 is the biggest public science outreach event...

Rockot Hauls Three Russian Satellites Into Space

13 years ago from Space.com

A Rockot launcher lifted off Tuesday from northern Russia carrying three small communications satellites into orbit.

To Go Where Compact Fluorescents Cannot

13 years ago from NY Times Science

The area in which LED's will best replace compact fluorescent bulbs, an executive suggests, is in directional lighting.

Stanford land-use expert brings satellite data down to Earth

13 years ago from Science Blog

By integrating remote satellite imagery with revelations from door-to-door interviews, Stanford University geographer Eric Lambin and his colleagues are exploring the complex conditions that give...

First Flight of European Soyuz Delayed Again

13 years ago from Space.com

The European version of Russia's Soyuz rocket will not make its inaugural flight until the spring of 2011.

2010 Kavli Prize Laureates Honored in Oslo

13 years ago from Newswise - Scinews

The 2010 Kavli Prize laureates were presented their awards Tuesday by His Majesty King Harald of Norway during a ceremony at the Oslo Concert Hall.

NASA panel weighs asteroid danger

13 years ago from News @ Nature

Telescopes in space could help pin down the risk of a deadly impact.

Samsung launches Galaxy S smartphone in China

13 years ago from Physorg

South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it has launched its Galaxy S smartphone in China to catch up with global leader Nokia in the world's biggest market.