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Surprising number of exoplanets could host life
A new study suggests that distant stars in our Milky Way galaxy might be orbited by as many as 7 Earth-like planets, in the absence of a gas giant planet like Jupiter.
August 11, 2020
Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light
Vast areas of Mars’ nightside atmosphere glow and pulsate with ultraviolet light, according to images from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft.
August 11, 2020
Not a rainbow, not an iridescent cloud
There are many colored arcs in the sky. This photographer captured one commonly seen in summer, when the sun is high in the sky.
August 11, 2020
A deep, giant cloud disruption found on Venus
Researchers have discovered a giant atmospheric wave-like phenomenon in Venus' lower atmosphere, unlike anything else seen in the solar system. Evidence shows it has existed since at least 1983, but went completely undetected until now.
August 10, 2020
Peak Perseid mornings in 2020: August 11, 12, 13
When is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower in 2020? The greatest number of meteors is most likely to fall in the predawn hours on August 12, yet under the light of a wide waning crescent moon.
August 10, 2020
These dogs are trained to sniff out the coronavirus
Scientists have been working with professional trainers in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to train dogs to sniff out Covid-19. Most of the dogs have a 100% success rate.
August 10, 2020
See it! This weekend’s moon and Mars
Mars is getting exciting - bright now, and very red - and heading toward more brightness and more intense color by October. This past weekend, the moon and Mars were close. Photos here.
August 10, 2020
A surprising spiral around a planet factory
A new image of the planet-forming disk around the young star RU Lup reveals a beautiful and unexpected massive spiral of gas, reminiscent of a spiral galaxy.
August 9, 2020
Comet NEOWISE and globular star cluster M53
Comet NEOWISE is now heading out of the inner solar system. It probably can't be seen with the eye now, although large binoculars can still pick it up. Here's a beautiful telescopic image of the comet, near the globular star cluster M53.
August 9, 2020
Moon and Mars late evening to dawn August 7 to 9
Mars is now bright and fiery red, rising to a peak in brightness for this 2-year period in October 2020. Catch it near the waning moon - late night to dawn - on August 7, 8 and 9, 2020.
August 7, 2020
