August 2017 (Page 6)

NASA Voyager Probes Still Going Strong After 40 Years Forty years ago, the Voyager 1 and 2 missions began their journey from Earth to become the farthest-reaching missions in history. In the course of their missions, the two probes spent the next two decades sailing past the gas giants of Jupiter and Saturn. And while Voyager 1 then ventured into the outer Solar System, Voyager 2 swung by Uranus and Neptune, becoming the first and only probe in history to explore these worlds. This summer, the probes will be marking the fortieth anniversary of their launch – on September 5th and August 20th, respectively. DespiteRead More →

Bad News For Proxima b: An Earth-Like Atmosphere Might Not Survive There Back in of August of 2016, the existence of an Earth-like planet right next door to our Solar System was confirmed. To make matters even more exciting, it was confirmed that this planet orbits within its star’s habitable zone too. Since that time, astronomers and exoplanet-hunters have been busy trying to determine all they can about this rocky planet, known as Proxima b. Foremost on everyone’s mind has been just how likely it is to be habitable. However, numerous studies have emerged since that time that indicate that Proxima b, given the factRead More →

Hubble Eyes Stratosphere Around a Very Hot, Watery Jupiter! Extra-solar planet discoveries have been exploding in recent years. In fact, as of Aug. 1st, 2017, astronomers have identified 3,639 exoplanets in 2,729 planetary systems and 612 multiple planetary systems. And while the majority of these have been discovered by Kepler – which has detected a total of 5,017 candidates and confirmed the existence of 2,494 exoplanets since 2009 – other instruments have played an important role in these discoveries as well. This includes the Hubble Space Telescope, which in recent years has been dedicated to the detection of atmospheres around distant planets. Most recently, it wasRead More →

Need a Job? NASA is Looking for a New Planetary Protection Officer NASA has always had its fingers in many different pies. This should come as no surprise, since the advancement of science and the exploration of the Universe requires a multi-faceted approach. So in addition to studying Earth and distant planets, the also study infectious diseases and medical treatments, and ensuring that food, water and vehicles are safe. But protecting Earth and other planets from contamination, that’s a rather special job! For decades, this responsibility has fallen to the NASA Office of Planetary Protection, the head of which is known as the Planetary ProtectionRead More →

Kepler Spots the First Exomoon Candidate 4000 Light Years From Earth Ever since it was deployed in March of 2009, the Kepler mission has detected thousands of extra-solar planet candidates. In fact, between 2009 and 2012, it detected a total of 4,496 candidates, and confirmed the existence of 2,337 exoplanets. Even after two of its reaction wheels failed, the spacecraft still managed to turn up distant planets as part of its K2 mission, accounting for another 521 candidates and confirming 157. However, according to a new study conducted by a pair of researches from Columbia University and a citizen scientist, Kepler may also have alsoRead More →

A Partial Lunar Eclipse Ushers in Eclipse Season The partial lunar eclipse of June 4th, 2012. Credit: Dave Dickinson Live on the wrong continent to witness the August 21st total solar eclipse? Well… celestial mechanics has a little consolation prize for Old World observers, with a partial lunar eclipse on the night of Monday into Tuesday, August 7/8th. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon just nicks the inner dark core of the Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. This eclipse is centered on the Indian Ocean region, with the event occurring at moonrise for the United Kingdom, Europe and western Africa and moonset/sunriseRead More →

Physicists Take Big Step Towards Quantum Computing and Encryption with new Experiment Quantum entanglement remains one of the most challenging fields of study for modern physicists. Described by Einstein as “spooky action at a distance”, scientists have long sought to reconcile how this aspect of quantum mechanics can coexist with classical mechanics. Essentially, the fact that two particles can be connected over great distances violates the rules of locality and realism. Formally, this is a violation of Bell’s Ineqaulity, a theory which has been used for decades to show that locality and realism are valid despite being inconsistent with quantum mechanics. However, in a recentRead More →

Impending Asteroid Flyby Will be a Chance to Test NASA’s Planetary Defense Network! This coming October, an asteroid will fly by Earth. Known as 2012 TC4, this small rock is believed to measure between 10 and 30 meters (30 and 100 feet) in size. As with most asteroids, this one is expected to sail safely past Earth without incident. This will take place on October 12th, when the asteroid will pass us at a closest estimated distance of 6,800 kilometers (4,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. That’s certainly good news. But beyond the fact that it does not pose a threat to Earth, NASA is alsoRead More →