NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will be able to keep exploring its exotic environs for at least another five years. The agency announced on Friday (Sept. 29) that it will keep New Horizons‘ lights on while it’s still zooming through the Kuiper Belt, the expansive ring of icy bodies beyond Neptune’s orbit. “The New Horizons mission has a unique position in our solar system to answer important questions about our heliosphere and provide extraordinary opportunities for multidisciplinary science for NASA and the scientific community,” Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science…
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Why Are Jupiter’s Rings So Thin?
Why does the biggest planet in the solar system have such flimsy rings? New research shows Jupiter’s moons may be to blame. The post Why Are Jupiter's Rings So Thin? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreWhen Planets Collect Comets
What kind of planets are likely to ensnare comets coming in from the icy outer reaches of a planetary system? The post When Planets Collect Comets appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSee a Rare Transit of Iapetus on July 17–18
It’s tiny. It’s challenging. But you won’t get the chance to see Iapetus transit the globe of Saturn again until 2037! The post See a Rare Transit of Iapetus on July 17–18 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreAsteroid Bennu Almost Swallowed Spacecraft Whole
Scientists knew the asteroid Bennu was likely a rubble pile rather than solid rock, but OSIRIS-REX’s recent visit surprised them in showing just how loosely the asteroid really is. The post Asteroid Bennu Almost Swallowed Spacecraft Whole appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreTitan Occults a Bright Star, Mira Awakens, and Comet PanSTARRS Shines
Pick one or see them all. July offers a potpourri of celestial events for both naked-eye observers and telescope users that include a rare occultation by Saturn’s moon Titan, a bright comet, and Mira at maximum. The post Titan Occults a Bright Star, Mira Awakens, and Comet PanSTARRS Shines appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSolar System Gets its Ducks in a Row
We’ll have not one but many opportunities to enjoy a rare lineup of the bright planets over the next few weeks. Amazingly, they’ll be aligned in order of their distance from the Sun. The post Solar System Gets its Ducks in a Row appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MorePerseverance Watches Wild Winds on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover is recording the windy weather in Jezero Crater, chronicling its role in making the Red Planet dusty. The post Perseverance Watches Wild Winds on Mars appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreTau Herculid Meteors Surprise and Delight
We touch on the highlights of the memorable Tau Herculid meteor shower and also report on the recent outburst of the recurrent nova U Scorpii. The post Tau Herculid Meteors Surprise and Delight appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreMystery of the Sun’s Chemical Makeup Lingers
Astronomers think they might have a solution to the conundrum of the Sun’s chemical composition. The post Mystery of the Sun's Chemical Makeup Lingers appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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