Space Archives - Page 4 of 10

Dec62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

ISRO Successfully Launches PROBA-3 Satellite for European Space Agency

In a significant achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 satellite aboard its trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C59) on its 61st commercial mission. The launch signifies another milestone in India’s growing prominence in the global space sector and highlights international collaboration in cutting-edge space exploration. PROBA-3, short for Project for Onboard Anatomy, is a groundbreaking solar mission by the ESA. The mission is specifically designed to study the Sun's corona, the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, with unprecedented precision. The mission consists of two spacecraft, each designed to perform a unique and interdependent role. The Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC), weighing 31...

Dec52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Could a Rogue Planet Join Our Solar System? Scientists Explore the Possibility

Breaking News, Space

In 2017, the first confirmed interstellar visitor, Oumuamua, zipped through our Solar System, followed by Comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. These fleeting guests sparked curiosity about interstellar objects (ISOs) and rogue planets uncharted wanderers that could traverse space and potentially interact with our Sun. New research explores the tantalizing idea that the Solar System could permanently capture one of these cosmic drifters, and what such an event might mean. The study, published in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy by Edward Belbruno and James Green, delves into the dynamics of phase space an intricate mathematical framework used to describe the possible states of a system like our Solar System. Phase space reveals pathways where an interstellar object could become gravitati...

Dec52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Jupiter to Light Up the Night Sky in a Rare Celestial Event on December 7

Breaking News, Space

A spectacular astronomical event is set to captivate stargazers on December 7 as Earth aligns directly between the Sun and Jupiter. This rare occurrence, known as Jupiter’s Opposition, will illuminate the largest planet in our solar system like never before. Throughout the night, Jupiter will dominate the skies, its brilliance unmatched and its details visible to anyone with even a basic telescope or binoculars. During this phenomenon, Jupiter’s sunlit side will face Earth in its entirety, creating a breathtaking view that resembles the full moon in its glory. As Earth’s faster orbit brings it into perfect alignment with the gas giant, the planet will appear larger and brighter than at almost any other time. The result is a celestial show that will keep skywatchers enchanted from dusk t...

Dec42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Gravitational Wave Hot Spot Detected in Southern Hemisphere, Raising Questions About Cosmic Activity

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations, Learning & Developments, Space

Astronomers using the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array in South Africa have unveiled groundbreaking insights into the universe’s gravitational wave background, including the discovery of a curious "hot spot" in the Southern Hemisphere. The findings, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggest a more active universe than previously believed, potentially altering our understanding of supermassive black holes and their role in cosmic evolution. The Gravitational Wave Background Gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of space-time, are created by massive objects like black holes and neutron stars as they orbit or collide. These waves, first detected in 2015, exist across a spectrum, with the slowest and most powerful waves stemming from supermassive black h...

Dec32024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Venus Never Had Oceans Study Confirms Ending Decades of Speculation

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

Venus often referred to as Earth’s twin due to its similar size and rocky composition has been at the center of one of astronomy’s most enduring mysteries: Did it ever host oceans? A new study has finally provided an answer, and it’s not what some scientists had hoped. According to research published in the journal Nature Astronomy, Venus has likely been a dry, desolate world throughout its history. By analyzing the chemical composition of Venus’s atmosphere, scientists concluded that the planet’s interior has a remarkably low water content. This finding contradicts earlier hypotheses suggesting Venus might once have harbored oceans or even supported conditions favorable for life. The key lies in volcanic activity. On Earth, volcanic eruptions release large amounts of water vapor, wh...

Nov262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Hot Water on Ancient Mars? Tiny Martian Zircon Reveals Oldest Evidence Yet

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

A groundbreaking study has uncovered the oldest evidence of water on Mars dating back 4.45 billion years, just shortly after the planet formed. The discovery, rooted in analysis of a Martian meteorite called NWA 7034, suggests Mars had hot water circulating in its crust, potentially creating environments suitable for microbial life. Key Findings Researchers from Curtin University identified a microscopic zircon grain in the meteorite, which contains minerals that could only form in the presence of water. This water, however, wasn’t just ordinary it was likely scalding hot, resembling conditions in hydrothermal vents or hot springs seen on Earth. “This is the earliest evidence of water on Mars, predating Earth’s oldest water signatures,” said geologist Aaron Cavosie of Curtin Unive...

Nov222024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Solar Orbiter Captures Most Detailed Images of the Sun Yet

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

From a staggering distance of 74 million kilometers, the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter has delivered breathtaking new images of the Sun, showcasing unprecedented details of our closest star. Despite the vast distance, the Orbiter's advanced instruments have captured some of the highest-resolution images ever taken, shedding light on the Sun's magnetic and plasma dynamics. Launched in 2020, the Solar Orbiter is on a mission to unravel the Sun's mysteries, from its solar wind to the complex behavior of its magnetic field and dynamic eruptions like solar flares. Among its objectives is producing detailed, high-resolution imagery of the Sun's surface, a feat it accomplishes using cutting-edge instruments: Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI): A German contribution capturing the Sun's ma...

Nov202024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

SpaceX’s Sixth Starship Test Flight Marks Key Milestone for NASA’s Artemis Program

Breaking News, Space, Tech

SpaceX achieved another major milestone on Wednesday with the successful sixth flight test of its Starship spacecraft. Launched from SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas, the uncrewed mission demonstrated the spacecraft's advanced capabilities, achieving a suborbital trajectory before reentering over the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster executed a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. “Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting sixth flight test of Starship!” the company announced on X (formerly Twitter). The mission tested Starship’s endurance under extreme conditions, including a steeper reentry angle and reduced protective shielding. The spacecraft's Raptor engines successfully restarted in space, a critical step toward achieving orbit...

Nov192024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Discovery of ‘Red Monster’ Galaxies Challenges Understanding of Early Universe Formation

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

Astronomers have uncovered three colossal galaxies dubbed "red monsters" from the early Universe, defying existing models of galactic formation. Almost as large as the Milky Way, these galaxies were discovered using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and are believed to have formed during the Cosmic Dawn, within the first billion years after the Big Bang. Galactic Giants in the Cosmic Dawn The findings have raised significant questions about how galaxies could have grown so rapidly in the nascent stages of the Universe. “This is akin to finding a toddler weighing 100 kilograms,” remarked Ivo Labbé, an astronomer from Swinburne University of Technology. “JWST has now proven monsters do roam the early Universe.” Conventional theories suggest galaxies form gradually, as dark matte...

Nov182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Volcanic Activity Unveiled on Moon’s Far Side: Chang’e-6 Mission Breakthrough

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

A groundbreaking collaborative study by U.S. and Chinese scientists has uncovered evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the Moon's far side, a region often shrouded in mystery. The analysis of basalt fragments collected during China's Chang'e-6 mission reveals volcanic eruptions dating back over 4.2 billion years, with some surprisingly recent activity around 2.83 billion years ago. The findings, published in prestigious journals Nature and Science, shed new light on the Moon's lesser-explored far side, offering insights into its unique geological history compared to the near side visible from Earth. Chang'e-6 made history as the first mission to retrieve samples from the Moon's far side, braving significant challenges during its nearly two-month operation. Using advanced radiomet...