Nancy Atkinson
After Stalling Out for 40 Years, the Largest Iceberg in the World is on the Move
In 1986, a gigantic iceberg separated from the Fichner-Ronne ice shelf in West Antarctica. It was so big that it…
Vera Rubin Will Generate a Mind-Boggling Amount of Data
When the Vera C. Rubin Observatory comes online in 2025, it will be one of the most powerful tools available…
The New Asteroid Moon Discovered by Lucy Just Got its Own Name
When NASA's Lucy mission flew past asteroid Dinkinesh on November 1, 2023, it made the surprising discovery the asteroid had…
A Protoplanetary Disc Has Been Found… in Another Galaxy!
Astronomers have imaged dozens of protoplanetary discs around Milky Way stars, seeing them at all stages of formation. Now, one…
There are Mysterious Polygons Beneath the Surface of Mars
China's Zhurong rover was equipped with a ground-penetrating radar system, allowing it to peer beneath Mars's surface. Researchers have announced…
Simulating a Piece of Space Junk
When a spacecraft dies, it loses the ability to maintain its direction in space. Additionally, as the spacecraft’s orbit begins…
Aerocapture is a Free Lunch in Space Exploration
This article was updated on 11/28/23 When spacecraft return to Earth, they don't need to shed all their velocity by…
A Chinese Booster (and Additional Secret Payload) Caused a Double Crater on the Moon
Last year, astronomers warned that a large piece of debris was on a collision course with the Moon. Initially, they…
Simulating How Moon Landings Will Kick Up Dust
When spacecraft land on the Moon, their exhaust strikes the powdery regolith on the lunar surface. The Moon has low…
Gaze Into the Heart of the Milky Way in This Latest JWST Image
Thanks to its infrared capabilities, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) allows astronomers to peer through the gas and dust…