Space Science

Pinning Down the Source of Astronaut’s Blurred Vision

Pinning Down the Source of Astronaut’s Blurred Vision

In recent years, NASA physicians have become increasingly alarmed regarding a tendency among astronauts to suffer from blurred vision upon their return to Earth. The immediate culprit appeared to a flattening of the back of the eyeball combined with aggravation of the optic nerve, but what precisely has been causing the changes has been a […]

Posted in: Space Science
ESO’s ALMA Makes First Observation of Snow Line in Space

ESO’s ALMA Makes First Observation of Snow Line in Space

One of the more noticeable themes in planetary science over the last few years has been the discovery that our solar solar system, and presumably many others as well, is a very wet place, brimming with water, ice and snow in some of the most unexpected locations, such as possible subsurface ocean on Pluto. But […]

Japan Launches ASTRO-H X-Ray Observatory “Hitomi”

Japan Launches ASTRO-H X-Ray Observatory “Hitomi”

Overnight Japan lofted the ASTRO-H X-Ray Observatory into Low Earth Orbit. As is the custom, the spacecraft was given an additional name, “Hitomi” to go along with the formal designation.  Hitomi literally means the pupil of the eye, or aperture, in Japanese, but also connotes a broader meaning of the wisdom or insight which can […]

Posted in: Space Science
Cassini Prepares to Taste the Oceans of Enceladus During Historic “Plume Dive”

Cassini Prepares to Taste the Oceans of Enceladus During Historic “Plume Dive”

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is about to make a return visit to one of the most interesting environments we have yet discovered in the Saturn system, and that is saying something. On Wednesday, October 28th, Cassini will make a low flyby over the South Pole of Enceladus, the 300 mile diameter moon which appears to contain […]

Endless Earths and Alien Megastructures

Endless Earths and Alien Megastructures

It is one of the “oldest” story-lines in science fiction. A ship of intrepid space travelers discover the remains of an incredibly ancient civilization distributed throughout a region of space. Eventually the realization hits, they were the “first ones,” the founders who seeded life throughout the universe. On occasion, Innerspace has suggested that perhaps the […]

Posted in: Space Science
Dawn Images “Lonely Mountain” From New Orbit at Ceres

Dawn Images “Lonely Mountain” From New Orbit at Ceres

(Full image here) NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has arrived at its new mapping orbit, and is beginning to send back spectacular images of the dwarf planet’s surface in rich detail. From JPL: “At its current orbital altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers), Dawn takes 11 days to capture and return images of Ceres’ whole surface. Each […]

Posted in: Asteroids, Space Science
Philae Phones Home

Philae Phones Home

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko /  Image credit ESA The weekend brought great news for the European Space Agency’s Rosetta/Philae mission. From ESA’s Rosetta blog: “Rosetta’s lander Philae is out of hibernation! The signals were received at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt at 22:28 CEST on 13 June. More than 300 data packets have been analysed […]

Posted in: Space Science
CATS in Dragon’s Trunk Promises New Era in ISS Based Observation

CATS in Dragon’s Trunk Promises New Era in ISS Based Observation

CATS Graphic: Image Credit GSFC When SpaceX made its first launch to ISS in May of 2012 as part of the history making COTS 2/3 mission, the cargo consisted almost entirely of low value, non-essential items, and for obvious reasons. Six launches later, and for the moment the only US spacecraft supplying the ISS in […]

Posted in: NASA, Space Science
ESO: Black Holes Aligned Despite Being Over Billions of Light Years Apart

ESO: Black Holes Aligned Despite Being Over Billions of Light Years Apart

Image: Artists impression of quasars aligned with each other in a galactic superstructure. Credit ESO This is truly strange, and a pretty clear indication that our conception of how the universe is built is still very incomplete. From the ESO: Observations with ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile have revealed alignments over the largest […]

Philae Falls Silent : Was a Landing Success or Failure?

Philae Falls Silent : Was a Landing Success or Failure?

Estimate of Philae’s approximate orientation imposed over image taken shortly after landing. Image Credit : ESA Mission Update ESA’s Rosetta Blog, Comments follow: “With its batteries depleted and not enough sunlight available to recharge, Philae has fallen into ‘idle mode’ for a potentially long silence. In this mode, all instruments and most systems on board […]

Posted in: Space Science
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