Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
'Superpuff' alien worlds could be ringed giant planets just like Saturn
All four outer planets in our solar system sport at least a few rings, but so far, we haven't observed any such features around exoplanets. That's confusing.
Trump hails India's 'impressive strides' on moon exploration, pledges greater cooperation on space
India's rapid progress in lunar exploration has the attention of the president of the United States.
How astronomers are piecing together the mysterious origins of superluminous supernovae
When a massive star reaches the end of its life, it can explode as a supernova. But there's a unique type of supernova that's much brighter that we're just starting...
Earth captures new 'mini moon'
Earth has acquired a second "mini-moon" about the size of a car, according to astronomers who spotted the object circling our planet.
50 years ago, scientists were studying why the sun’s corona is so hot
An accommodating sun, Science News, February 28, 1970 – This year’s eclipse [offers] an important opportunity for observation…. The temperature of the main body of the sun is about 6,000° Celsius, but the...
Hopes for supernova are dimming as Betelgeuse brightens
It appears that the hopes of astronomers who wanted a nearby star to explode have been dashed. After weeks of unprecedented dimming, Betelgeuse — a star in the constellation Orion —...
Satellite almost on empty gets new life after space docking
A communication satellite almost out of fuel has gotten a new life after the first space docking of its kind.
Lakers star LeBron James to miss matchup vs. Warriors with sore groin
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will sit out Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors because of groin soreness.
Large exoplanet could have the right conditions for life
Astronomers have found an exoplanet more than twice the size of Earth to be potentially habitable, opening the search for life to planets significantly larger than Earth but smaller than...
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton could miss start of season
New York Yankees star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is expected to miss the start of the 2020 regular season because of a strained right calf.
Large exoplanet could have the right conditions for life
Astronomers have found an exoplanet more than twice the size of Earth to be potentially habitable, opening the search for life to planets significantly larger than Earth but smaller than...
SpaceX delays next Dragon cargo ship launch for NASA due to rocket issue
SpaceX has delayed the launch of its next Dragon cargo ship bound for the International Space Station by at least four days in order to replace the upper stage of...
Reports: Steven Spielberg won't direct 'Indiana Jones 5'; James Mangold in talks
Steven Spielberg stepped down as the director of the fifth Indiana Jones film, sources with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday.
How to spot Canis Major, the big dog of winter
The constellation of Canis Major is visible in the winter sky this month.
Molson Coors reports active shooter at its Milwaukee campus
Brewing company Molson Coors said there was an active shooter on its Milwaukee campus on Wednesday.
Earth has new, but temporary, natural moon
There is a new, but temporary, natural moon orbiting Earth, according to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center.
Colorado House votes to abolish death penalty; Gov. Jared Polis to sign
Colorado's House of Representatives voted to abolish the death penalty Wednesday.
Docking gives telecoms satellite new lease of life
A shepherding spacecraft grabs an ageing telecoms satellite to help extend its mission life.
Ancient meteorite site on Earth could reveal new clues about Mars' past
Scientists have devised new analytical tools to break down the enigmatic history of Mars' atmosphere -- and whether life was once possible there. It could help astrobiologists understand the alkalinity,...
15-million-year-old crater on Earth reveals clues about Mars' watery past
Meteorite samples from an ancient impact site in Germany may offer new clues about the history of oceans and life on Mars.
China's Moon Rover Takes a Deeper Look at the Far Side
Radar data from the Chang’e-4 mission shows multiple debris layers under the rover, recording eons of lunar history -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
China’s moon rover revealed what lies beneath the lunar farside
The farside of the moon is a lunar layer cake. New data from China’s Chang’e-4 lander and Yutu-2 rover reveal alternating layers of coarse rock and fine soil down to a depth...
New York Giants cut captain Alec Ogletree
The New York Giants released team captain Alec Ogletree and fellow linebacker Kareem Martin on Wednesday, opening up about $13 million in salary cap space.
Digging into the far side of the moon: Chang'E-4 probes 40 meters into lunar surface
A little over a year after landing, China's spacecraft Chang'E-4 is continuing to unveil secrets from the far side of the Moon. The latest study, published on Feb. 26 in...
Chinese moon rover peers beneath surface of mysterious lunar far side
The first published data from the Yutu 2 rover's ground-penetrating radar instrument reveal the layered structure beneath the gray dirt of Von Kármán Crater's floor.
New patented invention stabilizes, rotates satellites
Many satellites are in space to take photos. But a vibrating satellite, like a camera in shaky hands, can't get a sharp image. Pointing it at a precise location to...
NASA's VIPER moon mission to seek out lunar water slips to 2023
NASA is delaying the launch of a long-lived rover designed to sniff out water on the moon.
NASA has officially detected 'marsquakes’ on the Red Planet
The InSight lander’s seismometer sits directly on the ground, feeling the Red Planet’s reverberations. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/)Like many seismologists, Bruce Banerdt checks his email every morning for the latest quake report. Unlike others, however, he...