Science News
A New Count of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
May 16, 2012
Science@NASA Headline News — 2012
NASA has just released a new count of asteroids that come close to the orbit of Earth and could survive entry through our planet's atmosphere. The data, gathered by an infrared space telescope named WISE, reveal important new information about the origin and make-up of these potentially hazardous space rocks.
Solar Eclipse this Weekend
May 15, 2012
Science@NASA Headline News — 2012
On Sunday, May 20th, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, producing an annular solar eclipse visible across the Pacific side of Earth from China to the United States.
NASA's Juno Spacecraft Images Big Dipper
May 15, 2012
In England it is known as the "Plough," in Germany the "Great Cart," and in Malaysia the "Seven Ploughs." Since humanity first turned its eyes skyward, the seven northern hemisphere stars that compose the "Big Dipper" have been a welcome and familiar introduction to the heavens.
Mojave Desert Tests Prepare for NASA Mars Roving
May 15, 2012
Team members of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission took a test rover to Dumont Dunes in California's Mojave Desert this week to improve knowledge of the best way to operate a similar rover, Curiosity, currently flying to Mars for an August landing.
NASA Space Telescope Sees the Light from an Alien Super-Earth
May 8, 2012
Science@NASA Headline News — 2012
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected light emanating from a "super-Earth" beyond our solar system for the first time.
NASA to Hold News Conference on Dawn Mission Results
May 8, 2012
NASA will host a news conference on Thursday, May 10, at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT) to present a new analysis of the giant asteroid Vesta using data from the agency's Dawn spacecraft.
Hubble to Use Moon as Mirror to See Venus Transit
May 8, 2012
This mottled landscape showing the impact crater Tycho is among the most violent-looking places on our moon. Astronomers didn't aim NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to study Tycho, however. The image was taken in preparation to observe the transit of Venus across the sun's face on June 5-6.
Paydirt at 8-Year-Old Mars Rover's 'New Landing Site'
May 4, 2012
A report in the May 4 edition of the journal Science details discoveries Opportunity made in its first four months at the rim of Endeavour Crater, including key findings reported at a geophysics conference in late 2011.
Catch a Glimpse of Halley's Comet Debris -- Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
May 4, 2012
Each spring as Earth passes through the debris trail from Halley's Comet (1P/Halley), the cosmic bits burn up in our atmosphere and result in the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower. This year the peak will occur on the night of May 5 and into the morning of May 6, with meteor rates of about 40-60 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
HuScience Nugget: Lightning Signature Could Help Reveal the Solar System's Originsbble Sees the Eye of the Storm in Galaxy Cluster
May 4, 2012
As lightning flashes, it creates low frequency waves that circle Earth, a phenomenon known as Schumann Resonance, which tells scientists what kinds of atoms exist in a planet's atmosphere.