News – Page 47 – Astronomy Now

NASA helicopter passes key tests on road to Mars flight

10 June 2019 Astronomy Now

Engineers are making preparations to attach a small drone-like helicopter to the Mars 2020 rover; a webcam is now available to monitor the rover’s assembly.

Polarisation study finds no new evidence for cosmic “anomalies”

7 June 2019 Astronomy Now

A new study based on polarisation data from ESA’s Planck spacecraft finds no new evidence for large-scale “anomalies” in the Cosmic Microwave Background.

Double asteroid tracked by VLT in planetary defence test

4 June 2019 Astronomy Now

ESO’s Very Large Telescope successfully tracked and imaged a fast-moving double asteroid in a key test of ongoing planetary defence efforts.

NASA funds commercial moon landers for science, exploration

2 June 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA funds three fast-track lunar landers to help kick start private-sector lunar exploration and pave the way for astronaut landings starting in 2024.

NASA to shut down Spitzer Space Telescope early next year

1 June 2019 Stephen Clark

After a search for an outside funding source turned up empty, NASA plans to end observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope in January to conclude a 16-year mission that discovered exoplanets, studied galaxies in the ancient universe, and peered at planets and asteroids in our own Solar System.

Curiosity confirms clay deposits on slopes of Mount Sharp

31 May 2019 Astronomy Now

The Curiosity Mars rover has confirmed the presence of clay deposits, formed in the presence of water in the distant past, on the slopes of Mount Sharp.

Rare-Earth metals found in atmosphere of hellish exoplanet

28 May 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers studying the hottest exoplanet discovered to date have detected multiple elements in its super-heated atmosphere, including iron and titanium.

New study suggests higher cometary contribution to Earth’s oceans

27 May 2019 Astronomy Now

SOFIA observations suggest a class of hyperactive comets contains ice similar to seawater, reinforcing the idea comets contributed to Earth’s oceans.

OSIRIS-REx is looking for a few good citizen scientists

23 May 2019 Astronomy Now

OSIRIS-REx scientists are asking citizen scientists to help map and count rocks on asteroid Bennu to aid in picking a sample selection site.

Scientists spot buried remnants of polar ice sheets on Mars

22 May 2019 Astronomy Now

Researchers have found remnants of ancient ice sheets buried up to a mile below Mars’ northern polar cap, a record of seasonal climate change on the red planet.