As the Eastern seaboard of the US goes about its morning commute on Wednesday 23 August, India will be making its second attempt at deploying a rover on the lunar surface. If successful, Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander will be the first craft to touch down near the Moon’s south pole, an attractive destination for exploration that
Space
French novelist Jules Verne captivated readers in the 19th century with his incredible tale of a journey to the center of the Earth. While Verne’s story was purely fiction, scientists have long acknowledged the impossibility of such a feat due to the extreme conditions of the Earth’s interior. The intense temperatures and crushing pressures prevent
When we step outside on a moonless night and gaze up at the sky, it may not appear to be as dark as we imagine it to be. The presence of streetlights and porch lights, especially the bluish-white LEDs that have become increasingly common, create a background glow that fills the air. This light pollution
Michigan, known for its rich geological history, recently unveiled one of its best-kept secrets – a massive meteorite that remained hidden for over eight decades. This extraordinary find came to light when a local geologist, Mona Sirbescu from Central Michigan University (CMU), examined an unusual rock that had been used as a doorstop for 30
The vast expanse of space has always fascinated humanity, and our exploration of the cosmos has led to numerous groundbreaking discoveries. One such discovery is the validation of a celestial body known as Maisie’s Galaxy, which has been confirmed as one of the earliest galaxies in the Universe. This article delves into the significance of
Deep space has always fascinated and perplexed humanity with its breathtaking phenomena. Among these enigmatic wonders lies the star system MACHO 80.7443.1718, originally discovered by the MACHO Project in the 1990s. This binary star system, known as a heartbeat star, exhibits an extraordinary celestial dance between two stars with significantly varying distances. The pulsating brightness
In the depths of space, a captivating new image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) reveals the ephemeral configurations of dust and gas in a nearby galaxy. Known as NGC 6822 or Barnard’s Galaxy, it stands as the closest galaxy to the Milky Way that does not belong to its satellites. This small
In the vast expanse of the universe, there lies a celestial object known as Messier 57, or the Ring Nebula. Located approximately 2,750 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Lyra, this dying star glows with an ethereal beauty that captivates astronomers and stargazers alike. Recently, new images captured by the James Webb Space
In a remarkable image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, a captivating surprise awaits those who zoom in. Amongst the dazzling display of celestial bodies revealing the birth of stars, an unexpected sighting presents itself – a curlicue and a blob of light resembling the punctuation mark: the question mark. The nature and origin
This weekend, get ready to witness one of the most awe-inspiring cosmic phenomena of the year – the Perseid meteor shower. Dubbed as one of the best celestial displays, the Perseids are set to peak on Sunday night, August 13. However, the preceding nights are predicted to offer excellent viewing opportunities as well. So, make
The Sun, our fiery celestial neighbor, has been causing quite a stir in recent days. Its unpredictable tantrums are being felt across the vast expanse of space, reaching out and impacting Earth in unexpected ways. On the 7th of August, the Sun unleashed a mighty X-class flare, resulting in radio blackouts across North America. This
Newly recorded data of the interior of Mars has provided the most precise measurement to date of the planet’s rotation. Surprisingly, the data from the retired InSight lander has shown that Mars’ rotation is accelerating at a rate of approximately 4 milliarcseconds per year. While this acceleration may seem minuscule, shortening the length of a