Solar sails have been hailed as an innovative propulsion technique that uses sunlight to generate thrust. The concept is based on the transfer of momentum from photons of light to the sail, resulting in the acceleration of the spacecraft. Despite the relatively low levels of thrust produced, when applied continuously over time, solar sails can
Space
In a surprising turn of events, asteroid 2024 RW1 made its presence known by burning up in a bright flash above the Philippines. The small asteroid, only about one meter in diameter, was detected by NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey mere hours before it reached Earth’s atmosphere. Despite reports stating that it “struck the Earth,” the
Lunar occultations are indeed a captivating astronomical phenomenon that offers a unique opportunity to witness the Moon passing in front of various celestial objects such as stars, planets, and star clusters. The month of September presents a series of intriguing lunar occultation events that are worth observing for any astronomy enthusiast. One of the remarkable
Back in July 2020, the Tianwen-1 mission launched by China’s CNSA successfully entered the orbit of Mars. This groundbreaking mission comprised an orbiter, a lander, two deployable cameras, a remote camera, and the Zhurong rover. Its primary objective is to delve deep into Mars’s geology and internal structure, analyze its atmosphere, and seek signs of
Delving deep into the vast expanse of our galaxy, researchers have discerned faint signs of a tumultuous history that shaped the Milky Way as we know it today. Amidst the swirling gases and twinkling stars, there lies a narrative of past cosmic conflicts, waiting to be unraveled. Recent findings, gathered through the Gaia satellite, have
Located just outside the Milky Way Galaxy, approximately 210,000 light-years away from Earth, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a dwarf galaxy that spans about 18,900 light-years in diameter and is home to an estimated 3 billion stars. Orbiting the Milky Way as a satellite galaxy along with its counterpart, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC),
When we look at the moons within our Solar System, we discover a vast array of peculiarities. We have moons that are hot, moons that are cold, moons with liquid, and moons that are dusty. There’s even a planet with a “walnut” moon and another with “potato” moons. However, out of the nearly 300 moons
Betelgeuse, also known as Betel-gurz or Beetle-juice, has captivated amateur astronomers for years with its brilliance in the night sky. This red supergiant variable star, located in the constellation Orion, has recently garnered even more attention due to its unexpected dimming. With a pulsation period of 2,170 days, which is five times longer than its
Throughout the history of science fiction, warp drives have been a staple in stories of space exploration. The idea of traveling faster than the speed of light to cover vast distances in the universe has captured the imagination of both writers and readers alike. However, the concept of warp drives has remained largely confined to
A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the realm of planetary studies – the detection and measurement of the ambipolar field surrounding our planet Earth. This electric field, first theorized over 60 years ago, has significant implications for how we perceive and analyze the behavior and development of our dynamic planet. According to astronomer Glyn
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket recently faced a setback after its first-stage booster tipped over and exploded while attempting to land. This incident led to the rocket being grounded while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates the cause of the failure. The rocket had successfully launched a batch of 21 Starlink internet satellites, but the landing of
The Polaris Dawn mission has been causing a stir with its groundbreaking plans to conduct the first-ever spacewalk by commercial space travelers. This mission, backed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, marks a significant milestone in the realm of space exploration. However, despite its lofty ambitions, the mission is not without its risks. Unlike traditional space missions,
SpaceX is preparing to launch an all-civilian crew on an ambitious orbital journey, setting the stage for a groundbreaking spacewalk by private individuals. The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, is scheduled for liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:38 am (0738 GMT), with additional launch opportunities available
The recent announcement from NASA regarding the two US astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who arrived at the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner, has stirred up quite a commotion. Due to thruster malfunctions of the Boeing spacecraft, their return home has been postponed, and they will now have to stay six
The recent measurements taken using the James Webb Space Telescope have shed new light on the expansion speed of the Universe. Scientists have long grappled with the discrepancy in measurements of the accelerating expansion of the Universe, known as the Hubble tension. This has been a persistent problem in cosmology, causing a stir in the