Tag: Science News

Odysseus snaps amazing lunar landing images; Intuitive shares insights in tie-up with NASA
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Odysseus snaps amazing lunar landing images; Intuitive shares insights in tie-up with NASA

[ad_1] NASA and Intuitive Machines recently showcased the first images by its lunar lander, Odysseus, making a soft landing on the Moon's south pole as part of the Intuitive Machines 1 mission (IM-1). The spacecraft's orientation and a glimpse of the Moon's South Pole region were captured in these images, marking for a significant achievement in the United States' return to lunar exploration over half a century since Apollo 17.Referred to affectionately as a "scrappy little guy" by NASA due to a tilted leg, Odysseus executed a gentle lean onto the lunar surface on February 23, 2024. Intuitive Machines disclosed that two crucial actions facilitated this smooth touchdown. The landing strut effectively absorbed the initial contact with the lunar surface, while Odysseus's liquid methane and...
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope image reveals massive star birth in celestial tapestry
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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope image reveals massive star birth in celestial tapestry

[ad_1] n a vibrant display of cosmic artistry, the NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a captivating image of the star-forming region IRAS 16562-3959 within the Milky Way Galaxy. Situated approximately 5,900 light-years away in the Scorpius constellation, this celestial panorama reveals a dynamic tapestry of colours and activities.Hubble's Precision PaletteThe mesmerising snapshot, composed by Hubble Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3, unveils the intricacies of IRAS 16562-3959 through the lens of four specialised filters. These filters, akin to thin slivers of expertly crafted material, selectively allow specific wavelengths of light to pass through, offering a detailed exploration of the region's composition, temperature, and density. The Enigmatic CoreAt the heart of the image li...
Solar storm! Sun unleashes massive X-class solar flare, triggers radio blackouts on February 9
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Solar storm! Sun unleashes massive X-class solar flare, triggers radio blackouts on February 9

[ad_1] There is no respite from solar storms for Earth. The Sun emitted a powerful X-class solar flare on February 9, reaching its peak at 8:10 a.m. (1310 GMT), resulting in shortwave radio blackouts across regions of South America, Africa, and the Southern Atlantic. Originating from sunspot AR3576, which had previously exhibited an M-class flare and plasma eruption on February 5, this recent solar flare marked a significant event in solar activity. Fortunately, by February 8, the sunspot had moved away as the sun and Earth rotated, thereby diverting the planet from the solar storm's direct trajectory. Coronal Mass Ejection and Solar ImpactAccompanying the solar flare was a coronal mass ejection (CME), characterized by a substantial release of plasma and magnetic field from the sun. Obs...
NASA, JAXA XRISM mission unveils cosmic secrets with mesmerising X-ray imagery
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NASA, JAXA XRISM mission unveils cosmic secrets with mesmerising X-ray imagery

[ad_1] In a groundbreaking revelation, the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, spearheaded by Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has provided an initial glimpse of the extraordinary data it will soon gather as it embarks on its scientific operations later this year. A snapshot released by the satellite's science team showcases a conglomerate of hundreds of galaxies and a spectrum of stellar remnants from a nearby galaxy, offering scientists an intricate understanding of its chemical composition.According to Richard Kelley, the U.S. principal investigator for XRISM at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the mission promises to unveil the hidden facets of the X-ray sky, enabling the examination of sources not just through images but also through the study...
India’s scientific Odyssey in 2024: To space with ISRO and more – a year of bold exploration
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India’s scientific Odyssey in 2024: To space with ISRO and more – a year of bold exploration

[ad_1] India gears up for a stellar 2024 in science, from space missions and cutting-edge satellites by ISRO to ambitious research stations in Antarctica, the Arctic and more.Story: In the coming year, India is embarking on ambitious scientific endeavors, ranging from ISRO looking to send humans into space and other agencies looking to go undersea. To start it all on a positive note, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has just launched the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on January 1, 2024 aiming to unlock the mysteries of X-rays and delve into the enigmatic world of black holes. But that's not all – the Aditya-L1 mission satellite will be inserted at the Lagrange Point-1 on January 6, providing an uninterrupted view of the sun for five years. Additionally, the NISAR sat...
ISRO XPoSat launch date: Pioneering x-ray polarimeter satellite all set for D-day
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ISRO XPoSat launch date: Pioneering x-ray polarimeter satellite all set for D-day

[ad_1] In a significant stride towards unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised to launch the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on January 1. Representing India's maiden dedicated polarimeter mission, XPoSat aims to explore the intricate dynamics of luminous astronomical X-ray sources thriving in extreme conditions.Scheduled for liftoff at 9:10 AM, XPoSat will ride the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) into a low earth orbit. Carrying two cutting-edge payloads, this mission promises groundbreaking revelations that will augment our comprehension of the vast astronomical expanse. The primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is designed to measure polarimetry parameters, including the degree and angle of polar...
NASA’s Juno spacecraft set for historic encounter with Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io; check date
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NASA’s Juno spacecraft set for historic encounter with Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io; check date

[ad_1] Prepare for a celestial spectacle as NASA's Juno spacecraft gears up for an unprecedented rendezvous with Jupiter's fiery moon, Io, on Saturday, December 30. This close encounter, at a mere 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) from Io's tumultuous surface, marks the closest any spacecraft has ventured to the moon in over two decades, promising a deluge of groundbreaking data.Leading the scientific charge is Juno's principal investigator, Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, who anticipates a wealth of insights into Io's volcanic dynamics. "By combining data from this flyby with our previous observations, the Juno science team is studying how Io's volcanoes vary," Bolton explains. The team aims to unravel the mysteries of Io's eruptions- how often they o...
Asteroid Psyche mission: NASA breaks records, sends cat video via laser from deep space to Earth
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Asteroid Psyche mission: NASA breaks records, sends cat video via laser from deep space to Earth

[ad_1] In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA's Asteroid Psyche mission has set a new milestone in space communication by successfully beaming an ultra-high definition video of a playful cat named Taters from an astounding distance of 31 million kilometers. Executed on December 11, this unprecedented broadcast demonstrates the potential for streaming high-bandwidth data from far off space, signifying a major technological advancement that could reshape future interplanetary missions.Capturing the charming antics of Taters, an orange tabby cat, the short video was preloaded on NASA's Psyche mission spacecraft, currently on a journey to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The footage not only delights viewers with Taters' playful pursuit of a laser pointer but also imparts tec...
ET Life? NASA discovers potential extraterrestrial oceans on 17 far-off exoplanets
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ET Life? NASA discovers potential extraterrestrial oceans on 17 far-off exoplanets

[ad_1] In a groundbreaking study, NASA has unveiled a revelation that expands the search for extraterrestrial life. Researchers have identified 17 exoplanets positioned beyond our solar system that might boast subsurface oceans beneath their icy exteriors. The intriguing aspect lies in the possibility of periodic eruptions, resembling geysers, breaking through the frozen crusts of these distant worlds. Subsurface OceansThe research, conducted by scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, included a meticulous analysis of geyser activity on these exoplanets. Remarkably, two of these celestial bodies are within observational reach of telescopes, presenting an unprecedented opportunity to witness these icy eruptions. This discovery holds paramount significance as the subsurface ocea...
NASA PACE mission to take flight in 2024, aims to unveil Earth’s atmospheric mysteries
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NASA PACE mission to take flight in 2024, aims to unveil Earth’s atmospheric mysteries

[ad_1] NASA PACE mission is all set for its 2024 launch. NASA is set to launch the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission with the aim of enhancing our understanding of Earth's atmosphere. Advanced polarimeters will be employed to study the interplay of light, aerosols, and clouds, contributing to a deeper comprehension of their impact on air quality and climate. Aerosols, encompassing tiny particles like smoke, dust, and pollutants, may appear inconspicuous, yet they play a crucial role in influencing our climate by absorbing and scattering sunlight, determining the amount of solar energy reaching Earth's surface.PACE's Ocean Color Instrument (OCI)The PACE mission will not only analyze aerosols but also explore the color of the ocean. The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI),...