A tsunami triggered by the explosive eruption of the underwater Tonga volcano in the Pacific Ocean slammed the shoreline of the Pacific nation Saturday (Jan. 15), sending residents rushing for higher ground, according to news reports. A 4-foot-tall (1.2 meters) tsunami reportedly hit Tonga’s capital of Nuku’alofa, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of the underwater volcano. Related: 10 incredible volcanoes in our solar system There have been no reports of injuries, because communication with the nation went down after the eruption, The Associated Press reported. But a local…
Read MoreMonth: January 2022
Learn the backstory of Grudge the Cat with IDW’s new ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ comic miniseries
To christen the new year in style, IDW Publishing is striking off two-thousand years into the far future with a bold new “Star Trek: Discovery” limited series titled “Adventures in the 32nd Century.” This cat-tastic offering kicks off with a tale of Book’s mysterious feline Grudge and is centered around the daring exploits of The United Federation of Planets as presented by the hit sci-fi “Star Trek” series on Paramount Plus. The four-issue release (which you can pre-order in e-book form on Amazon) is a homecoming of sorts for co-writers…
Read MoreBrace yourself for a peek at Boom!’s new ‘Dune’ comic book ‘A Whisper of Caladan Seas #1’
Back in August we revealed the first striking covers for another “Dune” tie-in comic book from Boom! Studios titled “Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas,” and now the award-winning publisher has recently released a five-page preview of the premiere issue’s lettered interior art and it’s a nothing short of brilliant. This special 40-page one-shot explores and enhances the deep mythology of legendary author Frank Herbert’s 1965 masterwork “Dune.” It’s the ideal way to immerse yourself back in the exotic sci-fi universe after seeing director Denis Villeneuve’s epic new cinematic adaptation,…
Read MoreLargest dark energy map could reveal the fate of the universe
A modified telescope in Arizona has produced an interim map, which is already the largest three-dimensional map of the universe ever — and the instrument is only about a tenth of the way through its five-year mission. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), a collaboration between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and scientists around the world, was installed between 2015 and 2019 on the Mayall telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in the Sonoran Desert, about 50 miles (88 kilometers) west of Tucson, and has been conducting a…
Read MoreNASA leasing bill morphs into ‘freedom to vote’ legislation
A recent bill meant to facilitate NASA raising money by leasing out underused facilities went in a most unexpected direction: expanding the right to vote. The NASA property bill was transformed into the “Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act” under the Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives, seeking to undercut Republican opposition to expanding the franchise. The act includes provisions such as turning election day into a federal holiday, allowing same-day voter registration, expanding early voting and mail voting and allowing more types of non-photographic ID for voting,…
Read MoreNew head of Indian space agency’s ‘biggest challenge’ will be human spaceflight
The new head of the India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has an ambitious agenda to put human spaceflight back on track, according to media reports. Shri. Somanath assumed the helm of the agency on Friday (Jan. 14) as ISRO works to help the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program recover from setbacks in part induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2019 failure of the lander component of the Chandrayaan 2 moon mission. Previously, officials wanted a crewed launch to occur in August 2022, around the 75th anniversary of modern India’s independence. But…
Read MoreWashington Students to Hear from NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station
Students from Washington state will have an opportunity next week to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Read MoreSpace Station Science Highlights: Week of January 10, 2022
Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted scientific investigations during the week of Jan. 10 that included testing a new cooling technology for spacesuits, examining cellular signaling molecules, and monitoring microbes on the space station.
Read MoreNASA TV to Air SpaceX Cargo Dragon Departure from Space Station
A SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft is set to depart the International Space Station Friday, Jan. 21.
Read MoreWatch an Asteroid Race Across the Sky
The kilometer-wide, potentially hazardous asteroid 1994 PC1 will fly past Earth on January 18th. Good news on two counts: It won’t hit us, and it’s bright enough to see in a 4-inch telescope. The post Watch an Asteroid Race Across the Sky appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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