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Asteroid Toutatis passed within 18 lunar distances on December 11-12
Here are images, videos and info from the sweep past Earth of this 3-mile-wide (5-km-wide) space rock.
December 13, 2012
Saturn’s large moon Titan has mini Nile, scientists say
Titan's Nile is no dry riverbed. It appears to be filled with liquid, presumably ethane mixed with methane.
December 12, 2012
New meteor shower might coincide with 2012 Geminids!
Debris left behind by Comet Wirtanen might produce 30 meteors per hour, added to 100 meteors per hour from the Geminids. That would be an awesome meteor show!
December 11, 2012
Close pass and possible asteroid eclipse tonight of 2012 XE54
Astronomers discovered the asteroid yesterday. It might enter Earth's shadow in the next few hours and pass slightly more than half the moon's distance a few hours after that.
December 10, 2012
No global dust storm for Mars this year?
On November 10, a major dust storm broke out in Mars' southern hemisphere. By early December 2012, the storm was dying down.
December 10, 2012
Video: Moon phases for all of 2013
The video was created with data from from the Clementine moon mission of 1990s, plus measurements from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, orbiting now.
December 8, 2012
Galaxy hits a cosmic bullseye
Galaxy NGC 922 got its unusual shape millions of years ago when a smaller galaxy plunged right through its heart and shot out the other side.
December 7, 2012
What are elliptical galaxies?
Elliptical galaxies are among the largest single star systems in the universe and are built by the collisions of many smaller galaxies.
December 5, 2012
Photos from friends: December 3, 2012 line-up of three planets
No one has sent us a photo of planets above pyramids yet, but we hope someone will! Meanwhile, enjoy our friends' photos of the December 3 planets, which were seen from around the world.
December 3, 2012
Watching the seasons change in the atmosphere of Titan
Who would have imagined we'd be able to watch the seasons change in the atmosphere of Saturn's large moon Titan? The Cassini spacecraft makes it possible.
December 2, 2012
