Artist's concept of a future orbital refueling spacecraftNorthrop GrummanThe US Space Force has selected Northrop Grumman's Passive Refueling Module (PRM) as the preferred option to establish the standard for refueling satellites in orbit, thus prolonging their mission duration under the Space Systems Command (SSC).Satellites are expensive to construct and launch into space, prompting engineers...
The eROSITA map seen in two different ways: Left shows extended X-ray emissions, while the right image shows point-like X-ray sourcesMPE, J. Sanders for the eROSITA consortiumAstronomers have utilized the eROSITA space telescope to chart half of the universe in X-ray light. This newly created map, featuring nearly a million X-ray sources, serves as...
"Astronomers unearth a previously undiscovered celestial entity adrift in the cosmos" is a frequent news topic, yet it never fails to captivate. The most recent discovery introduces a novel category of stars – elderly red giants affectionately dubbed "Old Smokers" by the research team.
SLIM's January 20 touchdown made Japan only the fifth nation to achieve a "soft landing" on the Moon after the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India.On Monday, the Japanese space agency announced that the moon lander has been revived, allowing it to continue its mission of exploring the lunar surface despite encountering...
Ingenuity as seen from the Perseverance roverNASA/JPL-CaltechNASA has officially concluded its Ingenuity Mars helicopter mission, originally planned for a month with five flights. Surpassing expectations, the mission endured for three years, completing 72 flights before being halted due to damaged rotors after its last flight. Ingenuity, part of NASA's Perseverance rover mission, made history...
Credit: Unsplash.Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have observed GJ 9827d, the smallest exoplanet known to have water vapor in its atmosphere. With a diameter approximately twice that of Earth, this distant planet could provide insights into the prevalence of water-rich atmospheres around other stars in our galaxy.Discovery and CharacteristicsGJ 9827d, discovered by...
An artist's impression of what the system might look like if the object is a black hole. (Daniëlle Futselaar/artsource.nl)Something unusual is happening at the edges of the Milky Way. In a star cluster on the outskirts of our galaxy, astronomers have spotted a compact object engaged in an orbital dance with a millisecond pulsar. They...
Illustration of the Moon-landed SLIM probe. Credit: JAXTomorrow marks a pivotal moment for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as it endeavors to achieve a groundbreaking feat in space exploration. The agency is set to launch its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, on a mission to land on the Moon successfully. If...
Astronauts will encounter time dilation effects during their mission. Credit: Unsplash.When astronauts embark on a journey to Mars, the phenomenon of time dilation becomes a significant aspect of their experience. This anticipated occurrence, where time passes at different rates for observers in motion or under the influence of gravitational fields, prompts the question: How...
In the realm of galaxies, our minds often conjure images of luminous spiral formations teeming with stars and cosmic gases. However, a distinct category known as low-surface-brightness galaxies challenges this conventional perception. These galaxies, characterized by sparse stars and unconventional appearances, typically harbor more dark matter and predominantly consist of gas, with few discernible...
