Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Russian meteor misidentified by most
MOSCOW, March 1 (UPI) -- Most of the inhabitants of the Russian city under an exploding meteor failed to identify it for what it was, a poll indicated.
Mars mission poses greater risk to human life than Nasa would allow
Crew on Dennis Tito's Mars mission will face unprecedented dangers – and time is too tight for the usual test flightsThe private mission to Mars proposed by the US millionaire Dennis Tito...
Tiny Satellites' Big Mission: Going Beyond Earth Orbit
CubeSats could someday be used for cheap, high-risk missions.
China sets its 5th manned space mission for summer
China will send three astronauts to its orbiting space station this summer in a mission that's part of preparations to establish an even larger permanent presence above Earth.
Two Type 1a Supernovae Discovered
Light from two massive stars that exploded hundreds of millions of years ago recently reached Earth, and each event was identified as a supernova. A supernova discovered Feb. 6th exploded...
Dark matter and galaxies part ways in collision between hefty galaxy clusters
(Phys.org)—This composite image shows the distribution of dark matter, galaxies, and hot gas in the core of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 520, formed from a violent collision of massive...
New Greek observatory sheds light on old star
(Phys.org)—Continuing a tradition stretching back more than 25 centuries, astronomers have used the new 2.3-m 'Aristarchos' telescope, sited at Helmos Observatory (2340m high) in the Pelοponnese Mountains in Greece, to...
Private Mission to Mars in 2018: Who Should Go?
The Inspiration Mars Foundation is hoping to recruit a married couple for its 2018 manned Mars flyby mission.
In pictures: Astronaut snaps Scotland from space
Canadian astronaut's snaps from the International Space Station
Fermi's motion produces a study in spirograph
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope orbits our planet every 95 minutes, building up increasingly deeper views of the universe with every circuit. Its wide-eyed Large Area Telescope sweeps across the...
Comet may give Mars a close shave in 2014
COONABARABRAN, Australia, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A newly discovered comet is heading for Mars and should give the red planet a close fly-by in October 2014, Australian astronomers say.
Camera in football records ball's flight
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. and Japanese researchers say a new system could give football fans watching televised games a new camera angle -- with the camera in...
Texas' 'White Gold' Seen From Space
Record-setting snowfall in Texas spotted by NASA's Suomi NPP satellite.
Ultimate honeymoon? Married couple to travel to Mars
If financial tycoon Dennis Tito has his way, a hitched couple will go around the red planet within five years
Mosh pits can shed light on panic situations
(Phys.org)—When physics graduate student Jesse Silverberg took his girlfriend to a heavy metal concert, he didn't dive into the mosh pit as usual. He hung back and observed that humans...
Space History Photo: Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Preparations
The rig is prepared for encapsulation in its payload fairing.
Big meteorite chunk found in Russia's Ural Mountains
Scientists and meteorites hunters have been on a quest to find bits of rock from the asteroid exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia on February 15. More than...
Scientist closes in on a mystery that impedes space exploration
(Phys.org)—New research by Stanford aeronautics and astronautics Assistant Professor Sigrid Close suggests she's on track to solve a mystery that has long bedeviled space exploration: Why do satellites fail?
NASA's Webb Telescope components meet 'Big Red'
(Phys.org)—"Big Red" isn't a golden retriever or a NASA engineer, it's the nickname for a small chamber that helps ensure equipment can withstand very cold temperatures that would be experienced...
Indecisive quanta
(Phys.org)—In ytterbium nickel phosphide there is a quantum critical point between the ferromagnetic and non-magnetic states that was previously not thought possible.
Full Moon Set Captured By Amateur Astronomer In Upstate N.Y. | Time-Lapse Video
On February 26th, 2013, Chris Pruzenski recorded Luna descending in Hemlock, NY. He used a Nikon D5100 camera with a Celestron C8-NGT, 1000mm telescope. The house in the video is...
Pluto-Bound Spacecraft Gets Review for US Postage Stamp
More than 12,000 people signed a petition for a U.S. postage stamp to honor NASA's first Pluto probe.
NASA's Sequester Plan Targets Private Space Taxi Funds and Tech
NASA is facing a looming $900 million budget hit if Congress fails to act by March 1.
Video of Little Girl Reaching for Moon a YouTube Hit
One toddler's fascination with the moon has become a hit on YouTube.
Odd 'gigantic jet' lightning seen over China
A rare glimpse of a "gigantic jet" — a huge and mysterious burst of lightning that connects a thunderstorm with the upper atmosphere — was made over China in 2010...
Stunning Night Sky Photos of February 2013
Amateur astronomers have sent in some amazing views of the night sky this month.
Space History Photo: Project Mercury Altitude Wind Tunnel Gimbaling Rig
This rig was developed to train astronauts in how to gain control of a spacecraft moving in multiple directions at the same time.
Saturn's north polar hexagon
(Phys.org)—Saturn's north polar hexagon basks in the Sun's light now that spring has come to the northern hemisphere. Many smaller storms dot the north polar region and Saturn's signature rings,...