space exploration

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solar systemsolar system
+3+3
Jupiter is (ever so slightly) less gigantic than we thought!

Jupiter is (ever so slightly) less gigantic than we thought!

Maybe it should eat some naan pizza.

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
miscellanymiscellany
+4+4
Space is way bigger than you think

Space is way bigger than you think

Go ahead and think about it. Nope, it’s bigger. Try again. Nope, still too small. This game can go on a long time.

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
MarsMars
+7+7
Radioactive cosmic dust is raining down on Earth’s surface

Radioactive cosmic dust is raining down on Earth’s surface

It sounds worse than it is. In fact, it’s really cool and telling us about our local galactic neighborhood

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
MarsMars
+4+4
Farewell Mars, and bigger black holes form by eating each other

Farewell Mars, and bigger black holes form by eating each other

Psyche takes a parting shot of the red planet; black holes in the “mass gap” form by merging two smaller black holes

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+6+6
A new mini-moon for Earth next year, two moon-sized exoworlds collided
Premium

A new mini-moon for Earth next year, two moon-sized exoworlds collided

We get a second moon, kinda, for a week in 2027. Also, a cosmic train wreck around another star

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
MarsMars
+5+5
Psyche peeks at Mars before a gravitational rendezvous

Psyche peeks at Mars before a gravitational rendezvous

Also: The world is leaving the US behind in solar and wind power

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
solar systemsolar system
+6+6
How much ice is there really on the moon?
Premium

How much ice is there really on the moon?

New observations imply there’s less than we thought

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+6+6
How big are the liquid methane waves on Titan? And another Voyager 1 instrument turned off

How big are the liquid methane waves on Titan? And another Voyager 1 instrument turned off

Very cool research shows just how gnarly surfing is on other worlds, and a venerable spacecraft is losing power rapidly

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
astrophotographyastrophotography
+7+7
View from a height: The Earth from Artemis II

View from a height: The Earth from Artemis II

Moon-bound astronauts get a gorgeous shot of home, with lots of fun details

Philip Plait
Philip Plait