Tag: Planets and Asteroids
ET on ice: underground glaciers could hold key to Martian life
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Scientist say the discovery of enormous underground reservoirs of frozen water on Mars are an encouraging sign of extra-terrestrial life. [MORE]
Indian probe lands on moon
An Indian probe has landed on the moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation announced, in a milestone for the country's 45-year-old space program.[MORE]
Astronomers photograph planets outside solar system
Astronomers have announced a breakthrough in space exploration by capturing the first direct images of another solar system. [MORE]
Mars Phoenix unlikely to rise again
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The vehicle that detected snow falling on Mars has ceased to transmit.[MORE]
Phoenix lander almost certainly dead: NASA
NASA says its Phoenix lander on the surface of Mars has gone silent and is almost certainly dead. [MORE]
NASA ends Mars mission with Lander lost in space
NASA scientists say they can no longer communicate with the Phoenix Mars Lander and are calling an effective end to its five-month-plus mission on the Red Planet.[MORE]
Large telescopes on display
Budding astronomers are being encouraged to visit large telescopes being set up in northern Tasmania this afternoon.[MORE]
Send astronauts to Mars permanently: Aldrin
The first astronauts sent to Mars should be prepared to spend the rest of their lives there, in the same way that European pioneers headed to America knowing they would not return home, says moonwalker Buzz Aldrin.[MORE]
India celebrates successful moon launch
Indians are celebrating the successful launch of the country's first mission to the moon. [MORE]
NT meteorite mystery remains unsolved
The source of bright lights, an Earth tremor and loud explosion in Central Australia remain a mystery for now.[MORE]
Asteroid near-miss prompts calls for astronomy funding
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An asteroid that entered the earth's atmosphere has astronomers calling for more funding to scan the skies.[MORE]
Asteroid expected to burn up over Africa
An asteroid discovered earlier on Monday by an Arizona observatory will hit Earth's atmosphere over Sudan in a few hours but will burn up before it can hit the ground or endanger aircraft, astronomers said.[MORE]
Cosmic radiation defence wind at low level: scientist
Scientists say the solar wind which is a stream of particles that flows from the sun and helps protect the earth from cosmic radiation, is at its lowest level in 50 years. [MORE]
Mars lander sends back picture of Martian dust
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander has sent back the first-ever image of a speck of red Martian dust taken through an atomic force microscope, shown at a higher magnification than anything ever seen from another planet.[MORE]
Partial lunar eclipse due Saturday
People across the world will have the chance to see a partial eclipse of the Moon on Saturday.[MORE]
Mars Lander finds toxic substance in soil
The Phoenix Mars Lander may have detected perchlorate, a potentially toxic substance used in rocket fuel, in soil samples taken from the red planet, NASA scientists say.[MORE]
Phoenix Lander finds water on Mars
NASA says Phoenix Lander has 'touched and tasted' Martian water for first time.[MORE]
Scientists discover liquid on Saturn moon
US space scientists say liquid has been discovered on the surface of Titan, the largest moon of the planet Saturn.[MORE]
Humans to live on Mars 'within 25 years'
A professor of planetary science says humans could be living on Mars within 25 years.[MORE]
Dwarf 'sub-planet' named after Polynesian god
A dwarf planet orbiting beyond Neptune has been designated the third plutoid in the solar system and given the name Makemake, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has said.[MORE]
Water world: new data pinpoints wet and balmy past on Mars
Water bathed the surface of southern Mars for millions of years, helping to create an environment theoretically capable of nurturing life, according to a new study into the planet's mysterious oceans.[MORE]
Dramatic volcanism forged Mercury's surface: scientists
Scientists say volcanic activity has played a central role in forging the surface of Mercury - based on data collected by a NASA spacecraft that zoomed past the closest planet to the sun in January.[MORE]
Soil on Mars 'good for asparagus'
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NASA's Pheonix Mars Lander has collected soil on the red planet which could support some life forms.[MORE]
Martian soil could support life: NASA
"Flabbergasted" NASA scientists say that first analysis of Martian soil appeared to contain the requirements to support life.[MORE]
Giant crater explains strange shape of Mars
Three separate teams of scientists say a giant crater made by an asteroid or comet explains why Mars is so lopsided, with a basin on one hemisphere and high terrain on the other.[MORE]
