Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Satellite images display extreme Mississippi River flooding from space
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recent Landsat satellite data captured by the USGS and NASA on May 10 shows the major flooding of the Mississippi River around Memphis, Tenn. and along the state...
How Rogue Alien Planets Could Host Extraterrestrial Life
Interstellar planets without stars to orbit could serve as havens for life.
Fermi telescope spots 'superflares' in the Crab Nebula (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The famous Crab Nebula supernova remnant has erupted in an enormous flare five times more powerful than any flare previously seen from the object. On April 12, NASA's...
Earth study to offer clues to alien life
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they'll study methane production by cold-weather microbes on Earth to help NASA search for evidence of similar microbes elsewhere.
Ion Engines to the Asteroid Belt w/Leonard Nimoy
The Dawn spacecraft is quickly approaching the asteroid belt at ion speeds of up to 78,000 mph on a mission to explore Vesta and Ceres; Leonard Nimoy narrates.
Gallery: President Obama and NASA
President Obama has visited NASA facilities and spoken with astronauts in space since taking office in 2009.
Energizing the Filaments of NGC 1275
When examining clusters of galaxies, astronomers often find massive elliptical galaxies lurking at the centers. In some of these, long filaments of gas and dust extend outwards from the core....
French airport uses satellite landing aid
PARIS, May 10 (UPI) -- An airport in southern France has become Europe's first to guide aircraft in for landing using highly accurate satellite navigation signals, officials said.
Shuttle Commander, Station Spacewalker Join Astronaut Hall of Fame
A record-holding spacewalker and veteran shuttle commander are the newest Hall of Fame astronauts.
Scientists surprised by solar wind data retrieved from Genesis mission
The 2004 crash-landing of a NASA capsule into the deserts of Utah had mission scientists fearing for a while that samples collected by the Genesis mission, sent to capture particles...
Tiny talk on a barnacle's back: Scientists use new imaging technique to reveal complex microbial interactions
Researchers report using a new form of imaging mass spectrometry to dramatically visualize multiplex microbial interactions.
Seeking Life's Imprint in Morocco's Desert Sands
Morocco's desert sands provide a look at life's history on Earth … and maybe Mars, too.
Daredevil Flies Over the Grand Canyon with a Winged Jet Pack
Renowned daredevil Yves Rossy, aka 'Jetman', flew over the Grand Canyon with a jet pack.
Engineering tests leading the way for NASA's next neemo mission
To determine how best to explore asteroids in the future, NASA scientists and engineers are taking their experiments underwater in the 15th expedition of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or...
NASA Morpheus Lander Set to Test Moon Tech
A squat, insect–like contraption is set to fly untethered for the first time soon in a NASA test flight.
‘Surrogates’ aid design of complex parts and controlling video games
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Researchers have defined a new class of software, calling it "surrogate interaction," which enables designers and video gamers to more easily change features of complex objects...
Lunar Eclipse Over Chile's Atacama Desert
The total lunar eclipse of December 21, 2010, is visible from the site of ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Cerro Paranal in Chile.
Examining the Great Wall
Structure exists on nearly all scales in the universe. Matter clumps under its own gravity into planets, stars, galaxies, clusters, and superclusters. Beyond even these in scale are the filaments...
Shuttle to Ride a Laser "STORRM"
Endeavor's last flight (STS-134) will test a new laser guiding system by undocking and re-docking to the Space Station; an effort to make rendezvous easier and safer.
The Next Mars Rover: Q&A With Mars Science Laboratory Manager Pete Theisinger
A Q&A with Pete Theisinger, mananger of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which will drop a car-sized rover onto the Red Planet in August 2012.
Fabulous Saturn: Rings, Baubles and Spiky Spokes
From trillions of icy ring dust particles, finer than baker's flour, to more than 60 moons, each a unique world, the kingdom of Saturn is rich with mystery.
Life: Did Mars Make It - And Then Lose It?
The small, reddish, fourth rock from the Sun does not give up its biggest secrets easily. Astronomers and scientists have often blundered in trying to understand what's going on, on...
New Photos Show Lopsided Galaxy Called 'Meathook'
The asymmetrical Meathook galaxy is featured in contrasting views from two telescopes.
Mars Crater Named After Historic Freedom 7 Spacecraft
Just after the anniversary of Alan Shepard's flight, scientists named a crater in his honor
VIDEO: Inside a space capsule of the future
Science correspondent David Shukman visited SpaceX's rocket factory in California for a look inside the prototype capsule.
Human-powered copter ready to rise
Cosmic Log: On Wednesday, Judy Wexler will pedal furiously, hoping to generate the force needed to lift a human-powered helicopter off the ground and win a $250,000 prize.
Fountains of Optimism for Life Way Out There
The newfound abundance of water in the solar system inspires scientists who hope to find traces of life on other planets.
Wimpy Comet Elenin Headed for Inner Solar System
A comet first discovered last fall will be making a visit to the inner solar system soon.