Scientists from Harvard University theorized that the mysterious dark matter that fills the universe could cause planet-killing asteroids and comets to hit Earth. According to them, such an impact event would cause wide-scale mass extinctions on the...
Related topics: Harvard University, Space, Asteroids
Why is there so little nitrogen in Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P)? That’s a question scientists asked themselves when they looked at the data from the ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft. In fact, it’s a question they ask themselves...
Related topics: Space, European Space Agency, Spacecrafts
Christened for months as "The Comet of the Century," Comet Kohoutek never came remotely close to living up to expectations.
Related topics: Space
Visualizing distant planets, moons, and comets in our solar system can be challenging.
Typically, astronomers use images from NASA missions or artistic renditions to show what space objects look like.
Now, planetariums like the American Museum of...
Related topics: Space, Science Photos, NASA, Museum
Researchers have found an explanation for why very little nitrogen could previously be accounted for in the nebulous covering of comets: the building block for life predominantly occurs in the form of ammonium salts, the occurrence of which could...
Related topics: Space
Like a groggy traveler after a long, cold night, the European Space Agency's comet-chasing Rosetta spacecraft woke up, warmed up and took stock of its surroundings early Monday as it prepared to phone home before setting off on the final leg of...
Related topics: Space, European Space Agency, Spacecrafts
Astronomers at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) have analyzed the paths of two objects heading out of the Solar System forever and determined that they also most likely originated from outside of the Solar System. These results...
Related topics: Space
The brave sungrazer never stood a chance.
Related topics: Space, Sun, Scientific Discoveries
Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) used SDSC's Comet supercomputer to help model the formation of terrestrial planets such as Mercury, Venus, and Mars in a quest to explore if there are Earth-like planets outside our solar system.
Related topics: Space, Mars
Most of Intel’s NUC computers to date have basically taken the guts of a laptop and stuffed them into a small box that’s easy to hide away behind a monitor or under a desk. If you’re looking for something that takes up less space...
Related topics: Intel, Space
A black hole was photographed, the farthest flyby was completed, and a beloved rover was proclaimed dead. Follow us through the highs and lows of 2019 space science.
Related topics: Asteroids, Space, Black Holes
Scientists made dozens of exciting new discoveries in space this year.
Unprecedented photos revealed the far side of the moon, the first black hole was captured on camera, and astronomers spotted a comet from another star system.
Spacecraft also...
Related topics: Space, NASA, Science Photos, Moon, Black Holes, Spacecrafts
These flyby rocks are some of the most mysterious objects floating around in space.
Related topics: Space, Science Photos
The impact of an asteroid or comet is acknowledged as the principal cause of the mass extinction that killed off most dinosaurs and about three-quarters of the planet's plant and animal species 66 million years ago.
Related topics: Fossils, Paleontology, Global Warming, Dinosaurs, Asteroids, Space
In September, astronomers spotted an interstellar visitor in our solar system: A comet called Borisov. Now, Hubble has captured an image of the comet as it zips past the sun.
Related topics: Telescopes, Hubble Space Telescope, Space, Sun
Unlike most meteor showers, which come from comet dust, the Geminids are fragments of an asteroid. Earth passes through the cloud each December.
Related topics: Meteor, Space, Asteroids
A scientist from NASA explained the factors that make comets serious threats to Earth. According to the scientist, an impact event caused by a comet would be much more catastrophic than the asteroid strike that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs...
Related topics: NASA, Space, Asteroids, Dinosaurs, Paleontology
Comet 2I/Borisov is a mysterious visitor from the depths of space -- the first identified comet to arrive here from another star. Hubble images capture the comet streaking though our solar system and on its way back to interstellar space. It's only...
Related topics: Space, Telescopes, Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble captured interstellar comet 2I/Borisov streaking past the Sun in a pair of images taken on November 16 and December 9. It is the first confirmed interstellar comet known to have passed through the solar system.
Related topics: Space, Sun, Telescopes, Hubble Space Telescope
A comet produces and unexpected explosive ejection of ice, dust, and gas. NASA's TESS satellites captures the whole thing by accident. The "burp" may have left a crater 65 feet across. That's quite a burp. NoneWhen NASA trained their Transiting...
Related topics: Satellites, Space, NASA