Do you want to be a planet-hunter? NASA has launched a new citizen science website called Planet Patrol where volunteers can help search for exoplanets in data from the TESS space telescope. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/exoplanets-nasas-planet-patrol-citizen-science…
Tag: instruments
Billion-year-old Martian dunes reveal planet’s history
The discovery of near-perfectly preserved billion-year-old Martian dunes is helping scientists to unravel the geologic and climatic history of the red planet. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/billion-year-old-martian-dunes-reveal-planet-history…
Large asteroid will pass safely November 29, closer in subsequent flybys
A large asteroid will pass Earth at more than 11 times the moon’s distance on November 29, 2020, and will approach more closely in later flybys. Charts here for telescope users. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2000-wo107-nov-2020-flyby-then-closer…
Greenland’s Ice Melting Faster Than At Any Time In Past 12,000 Years
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Greenland’s ice is starting to melt faster than at any time in the past 12,000 years, research has shown, which will raise sea levels and could have a marked impact on ocean currents. New measurements show the rate of melting matches any in the geological record for the Holocene period — defined…
Solar orbiter’s first science data shows the sun at its quietest
Three of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft’s instruments, including Imperial’s magnetometer, have released their first data. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-09-solar-orbiter-science-sun-quietest.html…
The detection of phosphine in Venus’ clouds is a big deal
Here’s how we can find out if it’s a sign of life. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/detection-phosphine-venus-clouds-sign-of-life…
New technology is a ‘science multiplier’ for astronomy
Federal funding of new technology is crucial for astronomy, according to results of a study released Sept. 21 in the Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments and Systems. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-09-technology-science-astronomy.html…
Rosetta spacecraft detects unexpected ultraviolet aurora at a comet
Data from Southwest Research Institute-led instruments aboard ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft have helped reveal auroral emissions in the far ultraviolet around a comet for the first time. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-09-rosetta-spacecraft-unexpected-ultraviolet-aurora.html…
Has microbial life been found on Venus?
Is there microbial life in the atmosphere of Earth’s closest neighbor, Venus? An international team of astronomers has found tentative but highly compelling evidence. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/life-on-venus-phosphine-biosignatures…
The Case for Life on Venus
CNET describes Venus as “a toxic, overheated, crushing hellscape where nothing can survive.” But they reported Friday that one astronomy team’s hypothesis published last month “could prompt a reevaluation of how and where we look for life in the universe.” Carl Sagan speculated about life in the clouds of Venus back in 1967, and just a few years ago, researchers suggested…