Planetary 'autopsies' indicate worlds like Earth are common in the cosmos, suggesting life also is
A new way of studying planets in other solar systems — by doing sort of an autopsy on planetary wreckage devoured by a type of star called a white dwarf — is showing that rocky worlds with geochemistry similar to Earth may be quite ...
Water has been discovered for the first time in the atmosphere of an exoplanet with Earth-like temperatures that could support life as we know it. Eight times the mass of Earth and twice as big, K2-18b orbits in its star's "habitable zone" at a distance ...
Japanese scientist puts forward theory to solve 50-year moon rock mystery (it's not cheese)
The moon was formed when it was washed out of the right eye of the god of the land while he was bathing. Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the moon god of Japanese folklore, then lived forever in the heavens after climbing a giant celestial ladder from his ...
Telescopes capture moment of comet-rock impact on moon during eclipse
Astronomers managed to capture the moment of an impact during this week's eclipsed moon. Spanish astrophysicist Jose Maria Madiedo of the University of Huelva said Wednesday it appears a rock from a comet slammed into the moon during the total lunar eclipse late Sunday and ...
Total lunar eclipse set to woo sky-watchers from Sunday night to Monday
An unusual set of celestial circumstances comes together Sunday for sky-watchers in Europe, Africa and the Americas, where a total lunar eclipse may be glimpsed, offering a view of a large, red moon. The full moon will appear bigger than normal because it is closer ...
The world needs a "reality check" on the threat posed by climate change, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison said Tuesday at a U.N. summit to chart mankind's path away from runaway global warming. Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, brought a little galactic perspective to ...
Scientists warn that natural systems could accelerate climate change
Even if humanity slashes greenhouse gas emissions in line with Paris climate treaty goals, the planet could overwhelm such efforts and irretrievably tip into a hellish "hothouse" state, top scientists warn. Under such a scenario, Earth's average temperature would stabilize at 4 or 5 degrees ...
Scientists track star to confirm Albert Einstein's supermassive black hole theory
A team of international scientists observing a star in the Milky Way have for the first time confirmed Einstein's predictions of what happens to the motion of a star passing close to a supermassive black hole. Einstein's 100-year-old general theory of relativity predicted that light ...
Much of world to see 'blood moon' for 21st century's longest lunar eclipse Friday
A blood moon will appear in the night sky around much of the world on Friday night as the moon moves into the shadow of the earth for the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st Century. The total eclipse will last 1 hour, 42 minutes ...
Mars making closest approach to Earth in 15 years, but dust storm to cloud close-up features
Now is the time to catch Mars in the night sky. Next week, the red planet is making its closest approach to Earth in 15 years. The two planets will be just 35.8 million miles (57.6 million km) apart next Tuesday. And on Friday, Mars will ...
University of Tokyo researchers present what they say is the most ancient traces of life on Earth.
Sunday to see Mars, sun line up with Earth smack in the middle
Last week, Mercury stole the show. Now it's Mars' turn. On Sunday morning, Mars, Earth and the sun will line up perfectly in the sky. This once-every-two-years event is called Mars opposition. That's because Mars and the sun will be on opposite sides of Earth. Right ...
