Hitchhiking Between Comets and AsteroidsHitchhiking Between Comets and Asteroids
<p></p> <p>Catching a ride from one solar system body to another isn’t easy. You have to figure out how to land your spacecraft safely and then get it on its way
Tag: Kuiper Belt
New Horizons Passes Pluto After Historic 3 Billion Mile JourneyNew Horizons Passes Pluto After Historic 3 Billion Mile Journey
<p><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/tn-p_lorri_fullframe_color.png" target="_blank"></a></p> <p>NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is at Pluto.</p> <p>After a decade-long journey through our solar system, New Horizons made its closest approach to Pluto Tuesday, about 7,750 miles above the
First Detection of Molecular Nitrogen at a Comet Made by RosettaFirst Detection of Molecular Nitrogen at a Comet Made by Rosetta
<p><a href="http://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2015/03/first_detection_of_molecular_nitrogen_at_a_comet/15318003-1-eng-GB/First_detection_of_molecular_nitrogen_at_a_comet.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a></p> <p>ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft has made the first measurement of molecular nitrogen at a comet, providing clues about the temperature environment in which Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko formed.</p> <p>Rosetta arrived last
Citizen Scientists Identify 1 Million Potential Debris DisksCitizen Scientists Identify 1 Million Potential Debris Disks
<p></p> <p>A NASA-sponsored website designed to crowdsource analysis of data from the agency’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission has reached an impressive milestone. In less than a year, citizen scientists
Rosetta Doesn’t Tell Us Where Earth’s Water Came FromRosetta Doesn’t Tell Us Where Earth’s Water Came From
<p></p> <p>Where did our planet get its oceans? Among planetary scientists, this is one of the most important and perplexing questions about the origins of Earth.</p> <p>One popular theory holds that water
New Horizons Spacecraft Reaches Neptune Orbit Crossing MilestoneNew Horizons Spacecraft Reaches Neptune Orbit Crossing Milestone
<p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>NASA’s Pluto-bound New Horizons spacecraft has traversed the orbit of Neptune. This is its last major crossing en route to becoming the first probe to make a close
Citizen Science – Search for New Planetary Nurseries Using “Disk Detective”Citizen Science – Search for New Planetary Nurseries Using “Disk Detective”
<p style="text-align:center"></p> <p>NASA is inviting the public to help astronomers discover embryonic planetary systems hidden among data from the agency’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission through a new website, DiskDetective.org.</p> <p>Disk
Only the International Astronomical Union Is Allowed to Name Exoplanets!Only the International Astronomical Union Is Allowed to Name Exoplanets!
<p>The International Astronomical Union (IAU) — the official body that governs the designations of all celestial bodies — in their capacity of purveyors of all things “official” has deemed attempts
Saturn’s Moons and Rings Are Gently Worn Vintage Goods From Around the Time of Our Solar System’s BirthSaturn’s Moons and Rings Are Gently Worn Vintage Goods From Around the Time of Our Solar System’s Birth
<br /> The Cassini spacecraft observes three of Saturn’s moons set against the darkened night side of the planet. Saturn is present on the left this image but is too dark
Vega Seems to Have Its Own Asteroid BeltVega Seems to Have Its Own Asteroid Belt
<p style="text-align:center" class="small"><br /> This artist’s concept illustrates an asteroid belt around the bright star Vega. Evidence for this warm ring of debris was found using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, and