Asteroid 2024 EL3 flew past Earth at just 0.09 LD
A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2023 EL3 flew past Earth at a distance of just 0.09 LD / 0.00024 AU (36 040 km / 22 394 miles) from the center of our planet at 10:31 UTC on March 11, 2024.
Unexpected signals from Voyager 1 baffle engineers after 46 years of service
Over four decades after its launch, Voyager 1’s journey takes a mysterious turn as it sends back incomprehensible signals from the edge of the solar system, sparking concern and curiosity among the team at NASA.
Largest object ever jettisoned from ISS to make uncontrolled re-entry this week
The International Space Station’s (ISS) largest-ever discarded object, a hefty equipment pallet weighing 2.9 tons, is anticipated to make an uncontrolled descent back to Earth between March 8 and 9, 2024. Launched into space for a critical ISS power system upgrade, this pallet, loaded with nine old station batteries, will not fully disintegrate upon reentry, with predictions indicating about half a ton of debris could survive the descent and impact the planet’s surface.
Astronomers discover oceans of water vapor in planet-forming disc around young star
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered vast reservoirs of water vapor in the disc around HL Tauri, a young star 450 light-years away from Earth, unveiling processes that may lead to the birth of planets rich in water and redefining our search for life in the universe.
Study confirms no risk of asteroid Apophis being redirected toward Earth by other asteroids
A comprehensive study by astronomers from Western University calculated the paths of all known asteroids and found there is no risk of the notorious asteroid Apophis colliding with another space object and altering its course toward Earth, further dispelling fears of a potentially catastrophic impact in April 2029. Apophis is named for the demon serpent, who personified evil and chaos in ancient Egyptian mythology.
Comet disintegrates as it dives into the Sun
A new sun-diving comet appeared in LASCO C3 coronagraph imagery at around 11:54 UTC on March 2, 2024, and continued moving toward the Sun until it disintegrated by 05:42 UTC on March 3.
Asteroid 2024 EF to fly past Earth at 0.1 LD on March 4
A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2024 EF will fly past Earth at a distance of just 0.15 LD / 0.00039 AU (57 668 km / 35 833 miles) from the center of our planet at 07:02 UTC on March 4, 2024.
Large fireball over Brazil captured by webcams and GOES-East satellite
A large fireball was recorded over Recife, Brazil at 01:49 UTC on February 28, 2024 (22:59 LT, February 27). The event was captured by webcams and NOAA’s GOES-East satellite.
Astronomers discover first new moon of Uranus in over two decades and two new moons of Neptune
The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center announced the discovery of three new moons, marking the first Uranian moon found in over 20 years and two additional satellites orbiting Neptune, one being the faintest moon ever detected by ground-based telescopes.
First detailed images of near-Earth asteroid 2008 OS7
On February 2, NASA utilized the Deep Space Network’s Goldstone Solar System Radar to capture the first detailed images of asteroid 2008 OS7 during its close approach to Earth. The asteroid, measuring between 150 to 200 m (500 – 650 feet) wide, passed at a safe distance of approximately 2.9 million km (1.8 million miles), allowing scientists to refine its size, rotation, and orbital path, improving predictions of its future trajectories.
