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Forecast for Mercury: Morning micro-meteor showers
Mercury - with only the thinnest of atmospheres - has a continuous rain of micro-meteors wherever on the planet dawn is breaking.
October 9, 2017
Did the moon once have air?
We know that ancient lunar volcanos spewed lava. Gases rising from the lava might have accumulated around the moon to form a temporary atmosphere, 3 to 4 billion years ago.
October 8, 2017
5 new pairs of merging supermassive black holes
Merging black holes are the sorts of catastrophic events that produce the strongest gravitational waves. Scientists just announced 5 new pairs, in the centers of distant galaxies.
October 8, 2017
Is dust what’s dimming Tabby’s Star?
Astronomers say they've found a smoking gun that rules out the idea of an energy-harvesting megastructure or Dyson sphere - built by an alien civilization - surrounding Tabby's Star.
October 5, 2017
Large storm on sun sparked global aurora on Mars
Scientists said the solar event "lit up Mars like a light bulb." It was the biggest event of its kind so far observed by spacecraft in Mars orbit and on the surface.
October 3, 2017
Moon and planet-rise, seen from space
This timelapse video shows a peaceful and breathless moonrise from the International Space Station, with Venus, Mars and Mercury also in view.
October 3, 2017
Farthest active inbound comet yet
Most comets become active only when near the sun. This one is active, but distant, between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus, where sunlight is 1/225th as bright as seen from Earth.
October 2, 2017
New Horizons’ discoveries keep coming
New ScienceCast video on recent results from New Horizons spacecraft data. Landslides on Charon. Possible snow on Pluto. Plus a preview of New Horizons' next target.
September 30, 2017
Space visionaries boost Pluto lander
At a NASA symposium this week, space scientists and engineers presented an exciting new concept for a lander that would explore Pluto by "hopping" across its surface.
September 29, 2017
Is the Milky Way a normal galaxy?
Astronomers assume our Milky Way galaxy is typical. They use our knowledge of it to leapfrog out to understanding the rest of the universe. But is the Milky Way typical?
September 28, 2017
