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NASA’s OSIRIS-REx appears to have just successfully nabbed some material from the surface of asteroid Bennu. The next step is to return the sample to Earth for study for clues about the early solar system, but today’s successful encounter is a critical milestone for the mission.
Read MoreNASA is set to grab a sample of asteroid Bennu tomorrow, if all goes according to plan. The ambitious OSIRIS-REx mission will collect a surface sample using a special device called TAGSAM, eventually returning the sample to Earth for study.
Read MoreTwinkle, twinkle, little star. Just a children’s song, right? It turns out this memorable melody has a lot more truth than you might think. On most nights, the stars appear to flicker as a result of minor refractive shifts in color as the starlight passes through the different layers of atmosphere.
Read MoreAsteroids are some of the most mysterious bodies in our solar system, and studying them can reveal secrets about the early formation of our solar system. Until recently we’d never seen the surface of one up close, but that all changed when NASA’s OSIRIS-REx imaged the asteroid Bennu.
Read MoreEvery culture has a unique bond with the night sky. Constellations that we know today, like Orion, Leo or The Big Dipper (technically an “asterism”) might have been seen differently in other cultures and thus been named differently, have a different mythology and relationship to its surroundings.
Read MoreAs the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and for this reason you should check out this superb visualization of what causes a planetary opposition to occur and see just what’s happening that makes Mars shine so brightly.
Read MoreMars reaches the closest opposition - the point in its orbit in which the Sun-Earth-Mars system forms a straight line - until 2035 tomorrow. For the entire month of October, Mars will be spectacular in the eastern sky after sunset.
Read MoreWhat does Mars look like in infrared? What do laser scans of the surface reveal? NASA has a page dedicated to these and more questions about the Martian topography.
Read MoreHIRISE is the most powerful space telescope in the solar system, outside of Earth orbit, and is taking pictures of the Martian surface from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), and you can have a say in its output!
Read MoreEver since NASA’s Mariner 4 first flew by Mars in 1965, we’ve been discovering new things about the intriguing Red Planet. We’ve sent landers, rovers, orbiters, and numerous science experiments to study the geology, weather and seasonal behaviors of Mars, and in doing so we’ve acquired a massive amount of stunning imagery.
Read MoreAs Mars reaches opposition next week, you’ll have no trouble finding it in the eastern sky after sunset. Mars is the brightest object in this region of the sky, its unmistakably reddish hue makes it a brilliant object to view even without the aid of binoculars or a telescope.
Read MoreMars is nearing opposition, the point when Earth is directly between Mars and the Sun. But there’s another milestone that happens on October 6th, Mars’ closest approach to Earth at 38.6 million miles. This is the closest Mars will be to Earth until 2035.
Read MoreMars is putting on a show for the entire month. We’ve gained so much knowledge about this captivating world, and NASA has put together a great introductory site to learn more about the science, missions and future plans for all things Martian.
Read MoreThroughout the month of October, Mars will dominate the evening sky as it reaches opposition. While opposition happens every two years, this particular pass is the closest Earth will be to Mars until 2035.
Read MoreThanks to an ambitious multimedia project called “Apollo in Real Time”, anyone can now relive the historic first landing of Apollo 11, the ‘Successful Failure’ of Apollo 13, and man’s last voyage to the lunar surface with Apollo 17.
Read MoreAfter the Apollo missions returned over 800 lbs of Moon rocks, the work was all ahead for lunar geologists. Ever wonder what they learned?
Read MoreThe Moon is one of the most fascinating objects in the night sky. Not only is it a bright, large target for unaided observers and binocular/telescope-users alike, it’s constantly changing, offering a fresh face every time you look at it!
Read MoreTomorrow is NASA’s official International Observe the Moon Night 2020, where observers from all around the world celebrate Earth’s closest neighbor through programs and observing parties.
Read MoreStargazing can be a rewarding recreational activity anyone with an interest. But are there ways to get started without getting overwhelmed? Thankfully, yes! Astronomers love to share their love of the night sky, and here are a few resources you can use to get connected.
Read MoreFor a few days after New Moon, the sunlight reflecting off of Earth into space hits the unlit face of the Moon, causing a ghostly silhouetted disc to appear alongside the lit crescent of the Moon in the dusk. If you haven’t already seen it over the weekend, be sure to check tonight!
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