Space Exploration

Astronomers are looking forward to getting data from the recently launched Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), but speed will be of the essence when analyzing that data. To prepare, researchers from MIT and other institutions have used a batch of data from the Kepler spacecraft to test how quickly they …

The dust storm raging on Mars shows no signs of abating. In fact, it’s still growing in size. NASA says the storm is now a “global” event that completely encircles the planet. The little Opportunity rover is still snoozing through it thanks to a lack of light, but Curiosity is …

The Mars of today is almost entirely geologically inert, but that was not always the case. Scientists believe they’ve identified a process that created the previously unexplained Medusae Fossae formations on the planet’s surface. Researchers have used data from orbiting spacecraft to point the finger at a massive volcanic event …

Dawn has been in orbit of Ceres since March, 2015 and its three-year examination of the dwarf planet has vastly expanded our understanding of its nature and composition. In February 2017, NASA announced it had detected organic molecules on the surface of Ceres. Now, new evidence suggests there are more …

It’s not a matter of if, but rather when, a large asteroid or comet impacts Earth. It has happened many times in the past, but Earth has never been home to a spacefaring species before. With enough warning, humanity could potentially avoid impacts, or at least mitigate the effects. NASA just hosted …

Explosive volcanic eruptions are the likely source of the Medusae Fossae Formation, a massive, unusual deposit of soft rock near Mars’ equator, with undulating hills and abrupt mesas, according to a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. The Medusae Fossae Formation is one of the largest sedimentary …

In an unexpected announcement, President Trump has ordered the creation of a new branch of the US military to ensure “American dominance in space.” The “Space Force” sounds like a campy Saturday morning cartoon, but it could have serious real-world ramifications. Such a military operation could run afoul of international …

Astronomers detected a massive outpouring of energy from a distant galaxy 10 years ago, which would usually mean a supernova event — the death of a star. The galaxy in question is actually two galaxies colliding, so the region known as Arp 299 is rich with supernovae. However, the signal …

Around 1.4 billion years ago, a day on Earth lasted approximately 18.7 hours, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And this is at least in part because the Moon was closer and changed the way our planet spun around its axis. Professors …

Things on Mars may have gone from bad to worse for the Opportunity rover. The dust storm on the planet shows no signs of abating, and NASA now says the rover has missed its latest check-in. That suggests its batteries are drained, and that could spell the end for this …