The always beautiful Lyrid meteor shower will be reaching its peak for the year tonight in the late night hours of April 21, 2014, and/or the early morning hours of April 22, 2014. Get out and enjoy the show! 🙂 If you absolutely can’t make it out tonight, then tomorrow night should be pretty good […]
Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight, On April 21, 2014 Read More 👉
Artist’s conception of Kepler-186f in its solar system (NASA Ames/SETI Institute/JPL-Caltech) It’s a bit less possible now that we’re alone in the universe. The $600-million Kepler Space Telescope, launched five years ago to identify planets, has spotted more than 3,800 and confirmed 966 of them. The last one, fifth planet of a star in the
Water Likely On New Terra-Like Exoplanet Kepler-186f Read More 👉
Drones are no longer known as mere weapons of war. At least, that’s how Google, Facebook, and other online giants like Amazon appear to be thinking. Google has just acquired Titan Aerospace, a promising solar-powered drone maker, as part of its plans to globalize wireless internet. Titan’s website provides news that the company is working
A Special Solar Drone For Social Media Read More 👉
It’s not just the annual income tax deadline that expires tomorrow. The Moon will also be going out—though like taxes, it will reappear, and 364 days sooner. In the wee hours of tomorrow morning, stargazers in the Western Hemisphere will start losing sight of the moon. For 78 minutes, the southern half of Earth’s umbral
Eclipse: Full Shadow Covers The Moon Tonight! Read More 👉
One of the most beautiful (and consistent) meteor showers of the year, the Lyrids, is nearly here — with a peak right around April 21-22. So make a note in your calendar and get ready for what looks to be quite a good show this year! The Lyrid meteor shower will be peaking in the
Lyrids Meteor Shower Peaks On April 22, 2014 Read More 👉
Mars in opposition (NASA graphic). The Fourth Rock comes closer to us on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, than it has for the past seven years. Not only is the Red Planet in opposition—-directly in line with both earth and the sun—but the opposition is “favorable.” Mars has a slightly elliptical orbit and it will be
Tonight’s The Night For Catching Mars Read More 👉
GLIMPSE360 – It was a decade in the making…over 2.5 million “snapshots” collected over a total of 172 observation days…it’s The Milky Way Galaxy like you’ve never seen it before, courtesy of the astronomical science teams at JPL and Cal Tech and the mighty imaging power (20 gigapixels) of the Spitzer Space Telescope. The GLIMPSE
[UPDATE: June, 21, 2014; see note at bottom] In the scientific discipline known as cosmology — the study of the origin and evolution of our universe — finding “hard” evidence in support of theory is often hard to come by; scientists must look for subtle indictors or traces of cosmological forces that act over vast
Even when you know the truth, that this is a Russian/NASA joint experiment on the ISS, it still looks like the hit movie Gravity is playing out in real life with a dead Russian cosmonaut.
Watch in Horror as "Gravity" Plays Out in Real Life w/ SuitSat 1 Read More 👉
The incredibly rare sight of an asteroid’s disintegration was recently captured in a series of images by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The images show (in great clarity) the never-before-seen process of a fully intact asteroid coming apart — into ten pieces in this instance. While fragile comet nuclei have been observed disintegrating during close approaches
Asteroid Disintegration Spotted By NASA's Hubble — Never-Before-Seen Phenomenon Read More 👉
An entirely new type of black hole — one that’s ‘super-powered’, and highly compact — was recently discovered by an international team of astronomers. This first of its kind black hole has been dubbed MQ1 by those involved. The researchers — who had been studying the galaxy known as M83 — came across the black
Super-Powered, Compact Black Hole MQ1 Is First Of Its Kind To Be Discovered Read More 👉
The recent discovery and subsequent observations of the supernova SN 2014J have led researchers to realize that the primary ‘yardstick’ used by astronomers to measure cosmic distances may not be such a constant after all. Six weeks ago (on January 21), a super-bright supernova was discovered in the nearby galaxy of M82, by researchers in
Supernova SN 2014J Observations Challenge Old Assumptions Read More 👉
An incredibly powerful X4.9-class solar flare erupted from the Sun on February 24, 2014, peaking right around 7:49 pm EST, according to NASA. The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a number of images and some footage of the event. The solar flare is by far the strongest seen yet this year, and one of the strongest
The rogue runaway star Kappa Cassiopeiae — also known as HD 2905 — is the subject of a stunning new image taken by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. The image shows, in detail, the incredible bow shock created by the star’s ‘rapid’ movement through the galaxy. Bow shocks could be described as something somewhat like the
Rogue Star Kappa Cassiopeiae Creates Stunning Bow Shock In New Image From NASA Read More 👉
The strongest solar flare yet seen by NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) was recently captured in a beautiful new image. The flare, which erupted from the Sun at 2:40 pm EST on January 28, 2014, registered as an M-class solar flare — a moderate flare, not as strong as the powerful X-class flares, but
Strongest Solar Flare Yet Seen By NASA's IRIS Captured In Beautiful New Image (VIDEO) Read More 👉
NASA says the ejecta from this newly formed 100-foot (30 -meter) crater on Mars extend over 9 miles (15 km) from the center of impact. The crater is at 3.7 degrees north latitude, 53.4 degrees east longitude on the Red Planet. Scientists viewing the images of this area from JPL’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Context Camera
MRO HiRise Cam Reveals Stunning New Mars Crater Read More 👉
Curcumbinary planets — such as Kepler-34(AB)b — very likely form relatively far away from their parent stars, before migrating in closer, according to new research from the University of Bristol. The new research, focused on Kepler-34(AB)b, explores the formative process of planets in circumbinary star-systems — and was performed with the aid of the Kepler
Circumbinary Planet Kepler-34(AB)b Has Its Secrets Revealed By New Research Read More 👉
Just a few years ago, indirect evidence, or “signatures”, of gigantic cosmic “tendrils”, or filaments, was discovered lurking around distant multi-galactic formations. Vast in scale but invisible, such filamentous structures apparently account for much of the missing matter required to keep galaxies intact (and prevent them from dispersing randomly throughout the cosmos). These intricately branching
Astronomers Capture First Image of 'Cosmic Web' That Holds Galaxies Together Read More 👉
2013 was a clear record year for Planetsave. From hot space stories to hot animal stories (and one combo space–animal story), this year was hot. Below were the top 5 stories of the year, based purely on page views. Check them out: 700-Pound Snake — Giant Snake Found In North Carolina, Facts And Photos (310,601 views)
Top 5 Planetsave Stories Of 2013 Read More 👉
The Ursids meteor shower — one of the most reliable meteor showers of the year — will be peaking tonight, on December 21, 2013. The exact peak will be sometime in the early morning hours on December 22, but the best time to watch for most will be in the evening on December 21 before
Ursids Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight, December 21, 2013 Read More 👉
A team of astronomers and astrophysicists has identified over 120 groups of “young, massive stars” located in well-known star-forming regions of our galaxy and found that they map faithfully onto a four arm model of our galaxy, strongly indicating that The Milky Way galaxy has four spiral arms, instead of two as previously thought. Aided
Up In Arms – Our Milky Way Galaxy Found to Have More 'Arms' Than Previously Thought Read More 👉
The Ursids meteor shower is nearly here — the noted meteor shower will be reaching its peak only a week from now, on the night of December 21, 2013. While the exact peak will be on the night of December 21, 2013, any night between the 17th and 25th offers the possibility of seeing some
Ursids Meteor Shower Peaks On December 21, 2013 Read More 👉
The Geminids meteor shower — regularly one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year — will be reaching its peak tonight, on December 13, 2013 (early morning hours of December 14, 2013). While the peak rate would typically occur sometime around 2 AM (local time), this year you might want to wait until
Geminids Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight On December 13 2013 Read More 👉
One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids, will be peaking less than a week from now, on the night of December 13, 2013 (early morning of December 14, 2013). The exact peak of the prolific meteor shower will be right around 2 AM (local time) on the 14th — but anytime
Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks On December 13 2013 — Geminids Peak Friday Read More 👉
[UPDATED: Dec. 5, 2013 – see note, below] This thrilling, deep space video of comet ISON (aka the newest ‘comet of the Century’) passing Earth and Mercury on its way towards the Sun (see below) comes to us courtesy of the Heliospheric Imager on-board NASA’s STEREO probe. The time frame of the comet’s path captured
Comet ISON Speeds Towards The Sun – Path May Spell Its Doom [VIDEO] Read More 👉
A completely new bacterial life form that appears to inhabit only space agency ‘clean rooms’ has been classified after more than three years of investigation and analysis. Microbial lifeforms that can survive and even thrive in extreme environments — known as extremophiles — have become the focus of much research in recent years. Such extreme-adapted
New 'Extreme' Form of Bacteria Found In NASA, ESA Clean Rooms Read More 👉
Comet ISON continues to rapidly increase in brightness — as you can see in the images below. But is the rapid increase a sign that the much-hyped comet may be on the verge of breaking apart? Some researchers have voiced their concerns in recent days that the rapid brightening may very well be the result
Comet ISON Shines Brilliantly In New Images, Perihelion On November 28 2013 Read More 👉
On Monday, November 18, the launch window for NASA’s latest space probe mission will open and — weather permitting — an Atlas V rocket will lift off from Kennedy Space Center carrying MAVEN: Mars Atmospheric and Volatile Evolution Mission (Ok, so it’s not a perfect acronym), which will collect Martian atmospheric data and perform other
NASA To Launch Mars Probe 'MAVEN' – Will Be Carrying Haiku Poetry [POEMS] Read More 👉
When it comes to citizen space travel, Richard Garriott de Cayeux doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk (or space walk?)…um…Let’s just say he knows of that which he speaks. A genuine “citizen astronaut”, Richard is the 6th private citizen to travel into space (above that critical altitude of 62 or so miles), and,
The Leonid meteor shower peaks tonight! Late Saturday night (early Sunday morning) on November 16, 2013, the Leonids will be reaching its peak for the year — with an expected max rate of around 10-20 meteors an hour, when seen from a dark location. Something to note this year though — with the Moon currently
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight — Leonids On Saturday November 16 2013 Read More 👉
Comet ISON may finally be starting to live up to the hype — the much ballyhooed comet is apparently now visible to the naked eye, according to recent reports. With two weeks still left until ISON reaches perihelion (closest approach to the Sun), this is a good sign. 🙂 Perhaps Comet ISON will end up
Comet ISON Now Visible To The Naked Eye Read More 👉
The Leonid meteor shower will be reaching its peak this Saturday night (early Sunday morning) on November 16, 2013. The typically prolific meteor shower is expected to reach a peak rate this year of about 10-20 meteors an hour — notably lower than during the years of meteor storms, but still a pretty good show.
Leonids Meteor Shower Peaks Saturday November 16 2013 Read More 👉
The Northern Taurids meteor shower is set to peak tonight — the night of November 12, 2013 / morning of November 13, 2013. As with the Southern Taurids of last week, this certainly won’t be the most prolific meteor shower of the year, but it can be worth it if you have the time. In
Taurids Meteor Shower Tonight — Northern Taurids Peak November 12, 2013 Read More 👉
The Leonids meteor shower will be reaching its peak this year late night on November 16, 2013 (early morning November 17, 2013). The famous meteor shower, that appears to originate out of the constellation of Leo, is expected to reach a peak rate of around 10-20 meteors an hour this year — quite a bit
Leonids 2013 — Leonids Meteor Shower Peaks November 16 2013 Read More 👉
A rather interesting looking new image of the Witch Head Nebula was recently captured by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. The new infrared portrait captures the rather strange looking resident of the Orion constellation — the hundreds of light-years across nebula is located just off of the infamous hunter’s knee in Orion. NASA
Witch Head Nebula Captured In New Image From NASA Read More 👉
The South Taurid meteor shower kicks off in earnest tonight — while the South Taurids certainly aren’t the most prolific meteor shower of the year, they do seem to regularly produce large fireballs. So they’re worth the time, in my opinion. The best time to watch will be tonight around 1 am (early Tuesday morning).
Taurid Meteor Shower Begins Tonight — Southern Taurids Begin November 5, 2013 Read More 👉
Tomorrow morning, on November 3, 2013, those on the East Coast of the United States will get to witness a strange and relatively rare sight — the simultaneous occurrence of a sunrise and a solar eclipse. In order the witness the strange sight you’ll need to have a completely clear view of the eastern horizon
Solar Eclipse Tomorrow Morning — Hybrid Solar Eclipse On Sunday, November 3 2013 Read More 👉
A hybrid solar eclipse will be occurring just a couple of days from now, on Sunday, November 3, 2013. While the eclipse will be visible to those on the East Coast of the US, those in Africa and the Middle East will get the best show — with total eclipse being visible to those in
Hybrid Solar Eclipse On Sunday November 3 2013 Read More 👉
A hybrid solar eclipse — one that shifts between a total and annular eclipse — will be occurring on November 3, 2013. For those of us in the Eastern part of the Americas the eclipse will be visible Sunday morning, shortly after sunrise, and for those in Africa and Europe, around noon/early afternoon. Central Africa
Solar Eclipse On November 3 2013 — Hybrid Solar Eclipse On Sunday Morning Read More 👉
Our Solar system is a potentially world-altering place when it comes to asteroid impacts; planetary scientists continue to find plentiful evidence of multiple and massive asteroid impacts on other planets and the various moons that orbit them…And, of course, there is evidence of “extinction level” impacts occurring in the distant past here on Earth. Such
The Private Mission To Save Planet Earth (From Asteroids) Read More 👉
The Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight, on the night of Sunday, October 20, 2013 — or the early morning of Monday, October 21, 2013, depending on how you look at it. The exact peak will be sometime between the hours of 2-5 AM on October 21, 2013. The Orionids typically produce somewhere around 20-25 meteors
Meteor Shower Tonight — Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks On October 20 2013 Read More 👉
The Orionid meteor shower will be reaching its peak only a couple of days from now — late on the night of Sunday October 20 2013 (early morning on Monday October 21 2013). The shower is already producing pretty well though, so if you want to head out tonight you might be able to see
Orionids Meteor Shower Peaks Sunday Night, October 20 2013 Read More 👉
There’s a lunar eclipse tonight! At exactly 23:51 UTC the first and only penumbral lunar eclipse of the year will reach its peak — the lunar eclipse will begin at right around 21:51 UTC on October 18th and last until about 01:50 UTC on October 19th. Those in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts
Lunar Eclipse Tonight — Penumbral Lunar Eclipse On October 18 2013 Read More 👉
The lunar eclipse is almost here! On the night of Friday October 18, 2013, a penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible in the night’s sky to those in Europe, Africa, parts of the Americas, and parts of Asia. Those in Europe, Africa, and the Near-East will get the best show, as the eclipse will peak
Lunar Eclipse On Friday October 18 2013 — Penumbral Eclipse Almost Here Read More 👉
On the night of Friday October 18, 2013, a penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible to those in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia — with the best show being available to those in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the eastern part of North/South America. A Penumbral lunar eclipse is when the
Lunar Eclipse On October 18 2013 — Penumbral Lunar Eclipse On Friday Read More 👉
A beautiful new image of Comet ISON has just come to light — showing the vibrant, almost emerald green color of the comet’s coma. The image was taken with the 0.8-meter Schulman Telescope at the University of Arizona SkyCenter by astrophotographer Adam Block. While Comet ISON is lagging behind some of the more optimistic predictions
Comet ISON Shining Vibrant Emerald Green In New Image Read More 👉
The Draconids meteor shower is peaking tonight! In a couple of hours, shortly after nightfall, one of the more unpredictable meteor showers of the year will be peaking. With the Moon currently in a relatively dark phase the meteor shower should be pretty good this year — so try to make some time to enjoy
Meteor Shower Tonight — Draconids Meteor Shower Peaks Shortly After Nightfall Read More 👉
The Draconids meteor shower is only a couple days off now — on Monday October 7, 2013, the sometimes prolific, but very unpredictable, meteor shower will be peaking, sometime shortly after nightfall. Though the absolute peak will be on Monday — Tuesday October 8, 2013, should also be a good night for meteor watching as
Draconid Meteor Shower Peaks Monday Night — October 7 2013 Read More 👉
