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A popular theory among astronomers is that the inner solar system was subjected to a large number of impacts shortly after the planets were formed. Meteorites, asteroids and comets struck everything in their path, especially Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury and the Moon. The idea provides an elegant explanation for why Ea... |
5 January 2012
11:07 GMT |
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Earlier this month, we should have witnessed the destruction of a comet, as it plunged too close to the Sun for it to be able to remain in one piece. However, the object did just that, despite all odds, and became somewhat of a celebrity in the process. This is comet Lovejoy.
Astronomers at the Paranal Observatory,... |
27 December 2011
05:56 GMT |
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Despite overwhelming odds, comet Lovejoy somehow managed to avoid being entirely disintegrated by solar heat, after passing within 140,000 kilometers (87,000 miles) of the Sun's surface. Astronomers thought it to be a goner for sure.
No other sungrazer comet has ever been observed to escape a head-on encounter... |
16 December 2011
08:14 GMT |
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The ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) imaged comet Lovejoy yesterday, December 15, as the doomed space rock entered its Sun-centered field of view. The object is speeding towards its demise, with its fate sealed long ago. The comet was only discovered about two weeks ago, but even then its course i... |
15 December 2011
09:29 GMT |
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Experts at the American space agency are hard at work towards developing a type of harpoon that would enable future robotic spacecraft to rapidly and precisely collect samples from the surface of comets, without having to land on their surface.
This would be an important step forward, since comets are not the easie... |
14 December 2011
04:38 GMT |
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Officials at the American space agency admitted recently that numerous Moon rocks, and meteorite and gas samples, cannot be accounted for, after being loaned to various research groups, museums and universities around the country.
An internal report compiled by NASA Inspector General Paul Martin revealed that 517 s... |
9 December 2011
10:01 GMT |
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A group of experts say that a comet which was only recently discovered is well on its way to a mid-December collision with the Sun. The object is part of a class of comets called sungrazers, meaning they move very closely to the surface of the star during their pass through the inner solar system.
In many instances,... |
6 December 2011
08:57 GMT |
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In two papers published in the December 1 issue of the top scientific journal Nature, investigators describe two possible explanations for an extremely-weird gamma-ray burst astronomers detected on Christmas Day 2010.
The event was first detected by the NASA Swift spacecraft, and cataloged as GRB 101225A. The main r... |
1 December 2011
02:59 GMT |
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After completing their swing through the inner solar system this fall, the remnants of comet Elenin will head out towards the edges of the solar system once more. The patch of debris remained after the object was destroyed earlier this year is now of even less threat than the original comet was.
For some, comet El... |
26 October 2011
03:17 GMT |
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A team of astronomers using the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope recently managed to identify a rain of comets striking the inner sections of a nearby solar system. According to experts, the event is reminiscent of the Late Heavy Bombardment, a similar event that affected our own solar system.
The event was discovered... |
20 October 2011
03:27 GMT |
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Those who argued strong and loud that comet Elenin would cause catastrophic natural events as it zipped past Earth were brought to silence on Sunday, October 16. Pieces of the object zipped past our planet without ushering in the apocalypse.Some people were convinced that this object was the infamous planet Nibiru, h... |
19 October 2011
08:31 GMT |
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Astronomers say that a large comet impacted Saturn's beautiful rings back in the 1300s. While this has been known for quite some time, a new study indicates that the tracks are still visible today. The announcement was made on October 4, at a science meeting.
Essam Marouf, who is a professor of electrical en... |
10 October 2011
16:01 GMT |
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According to the conclusions of a new scientific study, it would appear that Uranus got such a tilted orbit after being subjected to repeated impacts from comets. In the past, astronomers believed that only a single, devastating blow was sufficient to tilt the massive gas giant.
In addition to providing a better ... |
10 October 2011
08:21 GMT |
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The Herschel Space Observatory – the largest and most complex telescope ever deployed to space – has recently detected water very similar to that in Earth's oceans in a distant comet. Both types of water exhibited nearly identical compositions, indicating that impactors may have brought water here.
... |
6 October 2011
03:37 GMT |
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This amazing video sent back by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows how a speeding comet slammed itself into the Sun. According to solar physicists, the ensuing blast that occurred on the other side of the star was not caused by the impact.
The collision took place over the weekend, when a sungrazer c... |
5 October 2011
05:39 GMT |
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Most of the precious metals that exist on Earth today may have been brought here by comets and asteroids billions of years ago. At that time, the entire inner solar system passed through a violent phase called the Late Heavy Bombardment.
During those times, vast numbers of comets, asteroids, meteorites and other s... |
8 September 2011
03:45 GMT |
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NEOWISE, the extended mission of the NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), is currently helping astronomers to keep track of near-Earth objects (NEO) that may pose a threat to the planet. Just a few days ago, it found Earth's first Trojan. Every planet or moon out there has five special points in thei... |
1 August 2011
07:21 GMT |
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Astronomers say that they may have discovered the trails left behind by a comet passing through our neighborhood recently. The object itself has yet to be identified, but researchers say that it could pose a threat to our planet. Investigators base their conclusions on an analysis of a surprising meteor shower, that ... |
28 July 2011
04:28 GMT |
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A recent analysis of the comet Hartley 2, conducted with a NASA telescope, reveals that the object is shedding large amounts of ice particles, which aggregate to form golf ball-sized pebbles in its wake.This was first discovered in late 2010, when a NASA space probe flew very close to the object. At that time, the in... |
15 July 2011
05:45 GMT |
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With the passing of a medium-sized asteroid past Earth on June 27, the issue of space impactors has again been brought to the spotlight. Based on historical evidence, astronomers are wondering whether our planet is indeed overdue for a huge collision. Over millions of years, numerous comets and asteroids have slammed... |
28 June 2011
09:37 GMT |
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A telescope instrument designed to search Earth's surroundings for dangerous asteroids and other near-Earth objects (NEO) discovered a new comet earlier this month. The space object will carry out a flyby around our planet in 2013. Based on data available at this point, astronomers estimate that it will take two... |
17 June 2011
11:05 GMT |
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The NASA Deep Impact spacecraft passed by a small comet called Hartley 2 late last year, revealing the celestial body to be extremely active. Now, a study details those findings further, suggesting that the comet is in fact hyperactive, and interesting to study. Hartley 2 was studied as part of EPOXI, the extended mi... |
17 June 2011
02:43 GMT |
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A pair of identical spacecraft launched back in 2006 was recently used to scan the skies in search for binary star systems. The observatories proved extremely efficient at this, identifying no less than 122 such paired stars, astronomers say. The researchers, based at the University of Central Lancashire, in the Unit... |
15 June 2011
03:04 GMT |
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For the next 31 months, the Rosetta spacecraft will remain in hibernation mode, experts at the European Space Agency (ESA) announced yesterday, June 8. They say that the final commands have been sent to the spacecraft, which is now on its way to meet comet 67-P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.It has now entered the longest leg... |
9 June 2011
09:42 GMT |
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Officials with the European Space Agency (ESA) say that the Rosetta spacecraft will be put into hibernation mode as soon as possible, as it begins the longest leg of its massive cosmic journey. The first opportunity to do so will arise on June 8, and mission controllers plan to take it. The space probe will spend mor... |
3 June 2011
09:49 GMT |
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For the second time in about 10 days, solar physicists discovered that a new comet had met a fiery end in the flames of the Sun. The event happened shortly after a massive solar eruption that took place on the star between May 20-21.
Until less than two weeks ago, no instances of such an event had been detected. ... |
1 June 2011
01:46 GMT |
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Investigators at the American space agency say that studies conducted thus far on comet Hartley-2 indicate that the celestial body is part of a new class of objects that has never been analyzed before. After the NASA EPOXI mission flew past the comet recently, experts got a fairly in-depth view of what was going on u... |
18 May 2011
10:55 GMT |
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This week, scientists with the American space agency saw a relatively large comet strike the Sun, after having spiraled ever closer to the star for a while now. At the same time, they also noticed a huge solar eruption, but the team that made the observations says that the two events are unrelated. The Sun is now w... |
14 May 2011
03:05 GMT |
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Recently, NASA announced the three project proposals that were selected for future development, with chances of being turned into actual space missions in 2016. Comet Hopper, a project led by the University of Maryland, is one of the three finalists. All three proposals have been selected under the Discovery Program ... |
12 May 2011
03:12 GMT |
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The American space agency is currently in the process of evaluating its options for a major, 2016 space exploration mission, after having selected three of the most promising proposals submitted by experts.At this point, the three research teams that proposed the investigations will receive $3 million each. The funds... |
6 May 2011
06:11 GMT |
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Currently located some 274 million kilometers (170 million miles) away from Earth, the comet Elenin is getting ready to visit the inner solar system this autumn. The celestial object caused some stir when it was found, as the first observations were carried out in December 2010.
The object was not detected earlier... |
5 May 2011
07:29 GMT |
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In late 2010, astronomers observed an asteroid that apparently changed its brightness over time. In a series of investigations that were concluded recently, experts manage to establish and prove that this phenomenon was caused by collisions between two or more space rocks.
This is the only possible way of explain... |
29 April 2011
02:54 GMT |
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Geological studies of the planet's rocks seem to point at the idea that vital chemical elements life uses today were not indigenous to Earth, but were rather brought here by extraterrestrial raining seasons. Hydrogen, carbon and phosphorous are all elements without which life on this planet would be impossible. ... |
19 April 2011
06:03 GMT |
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Though researchers have been proposing for a very long time that comets contain vast amounts of water, this was never conclusively proven until only recently. A team of experts managed to get definite proof that the liquid can be found within these space wanderers. Importantly, the debate that raged on in the interna... |
6 April 2011
08:59 GMT |
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A collaboration of investigators from the United States has recently determined that ripples observable in the ice rings surrounding the planet Saturn were most likely produced by cometary collisions.The experts propose that cometary fragments that struck the gas giant about 10 years ago are responsible for generatin... |
1 April 2011
02:33 GMT |
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Following a successful “burn to depletion” maneuver, one of the most enduring missions NASA sent to space finally came to an end yesterday, March 25. The Stardust spacecraft sent its last transmission to Mission Control at 4:33 pm PDT (2333 GMT).The comet-hunting probe had a very rich career, which spanne... |
25 March 2011
11:44 GMT |
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After 12 years of activity, the most active comet-hunting spacecraft NASA ever operated, the Stardust probe, will finally end its activity with a scheduled engine firing called the “burn to depletion.” Even at it is retired from active duty the robotic explorer will provide the space agency with new infor... |
24 March 2011
06:31 GMT |
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When the Deep Impact spacecraft visited comet Hartley 2 late last year, it managed to catch a number of pictures showing the tremendous levels of activity going on on the small space body. The existence of that activity is currently perplexing scientists.
The NASA space probe caught up with Hartley 2 in November ... |
18 March 2011
03:40 GMT |
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After waiting for more than three and a half years for this occasion, experts at NASA finally got what they wanted yesterday. The Stardust-NExT space mission caught up with comet 9P/Tempel 1 on February 14, and snapped a series of high-resolution images of its surface. The space probe has been traveling through the i... |
15 February 2011
03:37 GMT |
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Officials at the American space agency announce that the Stardust-NExT mission has finally caught up with its target, comet 9P/Tempel 1. The spacecraft arrived just on time for its planned February 14 flyby, which is scheduled to take place shortly. The Stardust probe has been tracking down this comet for a few month... |
14 February 2011
04:29 GMT |
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A NASA statecraft is currently getting ready for a Valentine's Day visit to a comet making his way through the solar system. The probe, which is already at its third cometary flyby, has just finished adjusting its course, which will take it in the best possible angle to image its target.It is heading for an icy ... |
8 February 2011
06:17 GMT |
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In about 11 days, a NASA space probe is due to perform flyby of a comet within the inner solar system, for the third time since it was launched. The spacecraft carried out a correction maneuver a few days ago, in order to ensure that the meet-up will go on without a hitch. The Stardust-NExT mission uses a space probe... |
3 February 2011
09:49 GMT |
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A NASA spacecraft heading for a Valentine's Day flyby of a famous comet has eyes on its target, officials at the American space agency announced recently. Everything appears to be set for the upcoming studies, which are bound to yield more data about comets in general.The Stardust-NExT mission uses a space probe... |
29 January 2011
18:01 GMT |
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An international team of investigators led by American researchers has recently determined that the space object which slammed into Jupiter's atmosphere on July 19, 2009 was in fact an asteroid, and not a comet, as previously stated. The group was also able to determine that the space rock was approximately the ... |
27 January 2011
04:33 GMT |
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Astronomers analyzing the behavior the comet 17P/Holmes exhibited during its last three visits to the inner solar system say that we might see the celestial body blow up in 2014, when it heads towards the Sun for another pass. The object revealed a mysterious and amazing flare three times before, while flying by the ... |
26 January 2011
08:55 GMT |
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Throughout last month, solar physicists keeping an eye on the Sun have discovered more than 25 small comets slamming straight into the star. They now say that this mob of celestial bodies may in fact be the herald of a much larger comet heading for the solar surface.
The incoming body, they say, could be so large ... |
20 January 2011
01:54 GMT |
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Experts announce that one of the most likely reasons for which the Moon contains such large amounts of water and ice is that comets slammed into its surface billions of years ago. This allowed the chemical to accumulate, and get stored at the most suitable locations on the lunar surface. According to the new data, ... |
10 January 2011
02:56 GMT |
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Recent observations conducted on a large asteroid revealed that the space body may not be a barren rock after all, but rather a dormant comet of some kind, that is only now beginning to come back to life. Astronomers found 596 Scheila, the object in question, more than 100 years ago, and have always been convinced th... |
5 January 2011
03:08 GMT |
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According to the recent discoveries of a scientific investigation, it would appear that water ice and organic molecules are common place in the solar system, and especially on asteroids making their way among the planets. Astronomers were able to make an impressive breakthrough in this field of research when they wer... |
3 January 2011
06:59 GMT |
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A group of French scientists was recently able to identify a new class of particles in the central parts of Antarctica, that analysis show did not originate on our planet. Most likely, the team says, the alien particles came here from outer space, most likely aboard comets. The particles were found by French research... |
30 December 2010
09:04 GMT |
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