SPACE
& SCIENCE NEWS: August 2007
home > space
& science news > space & science news: August 2007: 1
| 2 | 3
| 4
Galaxies clash in four-way merger
(Aug 6, 2007)
Four gigantic galaxies have been seen crashing into one another in
one of the biggest cosmic collisions ever seen. A US team of astronomers
observed the four-way cosmic smash-up using NASA's Spitzer and Chandra
space telescopes along with ground-based observatories. The clashing
galaxies are expected to eventually merge into a single, behemoth
galaxy up to 10 times as massive as our own Milky Way.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Largest known exoplanet puzzles astronomers
(Aug 6, 2007)
A newly discovered alien planet has a record-breaking low density
– about the same as that of balsawood. Astronomers say the planet,
called TrES-4, could be losing grip of its puffed-up atmosphere. "TrES-4
is the largest known exoplanet," says Georgi Mandushev from Lowell
Observatory in Arizona.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Lander targets Mars' water
(Aug 6, 2007)
When NASA's Phoenix
lander arrives at Mars
next May, it will join a flotilla of spacecraft already at the red
planet working as a team of robotic scientists to probe the existence
of water. Two NASA
orbiters and a European craft are currently circling Mars. NASA's
two Mars rovers are also operating in their fourth year since landing
in January 2004.
Read
more. Source: Spaceflight Now |
Lift off for NASA's Mars probe
(Aug 4, 2007)
NASA has launched a spacecraft on a nine-month journey to Mars,
where it will dig below the surface for clues to the existence of
past or present life. The Phoenix
probe lifted off at 0526 EDT (1026 BST) from Cape Canaveral, Florida,
atop a Delta II rocket. If everything goes to plan, Phoenix should
arrive at Mars in late May 2008.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Planet orbiting giant red star discovered
(Aug 4, 2007)
A planet orbiting a giant red star has been discovered by an astronomy
team led by Penn State's Alex Wolszczan,
who in 1992 discovered the first planets ever found outside this solar
system. The new discovery is helping astronomers to understand what
will happen to the planets in this solar system when the sun becomes
a red giant.
Read
more. Source: Penn. State Univ. |
Slim chance of tuning in to alien TV
(Aug 4, 2007)
Alien-hunters hoping to eavesdrop on extraterrestrial TV may be in
for disappointment. It has been suggested that the next generation
of radio telescopes, such as LOFAR, now being built in the Netherlands,
could be used to detect radio noise from alien radio and TV. So Marko
Horvat, a computer scientist at the University of Zagreb, Croatia,
calculated the odds of detecting alien civilisations of different
lifespans from their radio signals.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Saturn ring created by remains of long-dead
moon
(Aug 3, 2007)
Dust cast off the shattered remains of a long-dead moon of Saturn
is the source of a mysterious ring
around the giant planet, suggest observations by the Cassini
spacecraft. The moon's broken body appears to be kept in line by the
gravitational influence of another moon called Mimas.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Cassini probe may fly through Saturn moon's
plume
(Aug 2, 2007)
In a daring act of space-obatics, the Cassini
probe is to buzz one of Saturn's stranger moons. If NASA opts for
the most precarious of the trajectories under consideration, Cassini
will approach within just 30 kilometres of Enceladus
before flying through a plume of steam emanating from its south pole.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Launch of NASA Mars probe delayed
(Aug 1, 2007)
The launch of NASA's latest mission to Mars
has been delayed by 24 hours. The Phoenix
spacecraft was to have launched on Friday, but lift-off has now been
rescheduled. Severe weather on Tuesday around the launch pad at Cape
Canaveral, Florida, prevented engineers from fuelling the second stage
of the rocket.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
1 | 2
| 3 | 4
BACK TO TOP
|
You
are here:
Home
> Space & Science news
> August 2007:
1 | 2
| 3 | 4
Other news sections
Latest science news
Archeo news
Eco news
Health news
Living world news
Paleo news
Strange news
Tech news
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia of Science
Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy
and Sustainable Living
News archive
Bookshop
Contact
|
