The Lyrid meteor shower is currently active from April 15 to April 29, with the peak activity happening on Sunday night and Monday morning. However, the shower will still be visible for the next week. On Tuesday night, the Lyrids will coincide with the April full moon, or “pink moon,” which rises at 7:49 p.m.
Space
NASA’s Voyager 1 probe recently faced a major setback when it began spouting gibberish and stopped sending readable data back to Earth. However, after months of troubleshooting, the US space agency announced that the spacecraft is once again returning usable information to ground control. This achievement comes after a single malfunctioning chip was identified as
In a groundbreaking study published in May 2023, researchers have finally debunked the age-old myth that the Moon is made of green cheese. Instead, they have revealed that the Moon’s inner core is actually a solid sphere with a density comparable to that of iron. This discovery not only settles the debate regarding the state
Jupiter’s moon, Io, is a place like no other in our Solar System. With more volcanic activity than any other celestial body of its size, Io is a realm of fire and fury. Home to over 400 active volcanoes, the moon’s surface is constantly changing, with molten lava flowing and erupting in a spectacular display.
When considering the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life, scientists acknowledge that the characteristics of potential alien worlds may differ significantly from our own Earth. While it is challenging to predict the exact nature of alien life, Earth can provide valuable insights. Some organisms on our planet have adapted to survive in extreme environments that are
The Surprising Discovery Planetary atmospheres are known to be leaky, with Earth itself losing about 90 tonnes of atmospheric material every day. This phenomenon provides insights into the evolution of other planets in our solar system. A recent discovery involving Venus, Earth’s evil twin, has intrigued scientists. A spacecraft passing by Venus detected carbon and
Pluto, the dwarf planet at the edge of our solar system, is renowned for its distinct feature known as the “heart,” scientifically termed as Tombaugh Regio. This heart-shaped region on Pluto has puzzled researchers for years, with its relatively bright appearance standing out against the icy landscape. The formation of this heart is shrouded in
NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has faced numerous challenges in recent years. The independent review highlighted unrealistic budget and schedule expectations, an unwieldy structure, and ineffective leadership. This has ultimately led to significant budget cuts, layoffs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and uncertainty about the mission’s future. The proposed budget cut of $454,080,000 to NASA’s
Throughout history, the quest for eternal youth has captivated our imagination, leading to stories of extreme measures taken to preserve youthful beauty. While the tale of Countess Elizabeth Báthory’s alleged use of blood baths for this purpose may be more myth than reality, a new study suggests that a similar rejuvenating process is happening in
Solar energy is abundant and free, making it an attractive option for spacecraft operating within the Solar System. Solar sails have the ability to harness the solar wind emitted by the Sun and use it as propulsion for spacecraft. Despite the advantages that solar sails offer, there are challenges that need to be overcome for
In the vast expanse of space, human ingenuity knows no bounds. The year was 2009 when NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) with a mission to meticulously map the lunar surface, unveiling potential landing sites, resources, and intriguing features like lava tubes. Over the years, the LRO has proven to be a testament to
Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, has been transmitting unintelligible signals back to our planet, causing confusion among scientists. After months of receiving a jumble of 1s and 0s, NASA finally decided to investigate the issue. It was discovered that the Voyager’s flight data subsystem (FDS) was responsible for the garbled messages. A