Science and Space

New companion of Neptune

2006-06-16T05:32:57+00:00

Astronomers have detected three new rocky bodies that share the same orbit as Neptune as it travels around the sun. The finding brings the total number of the gas giant’s asteroid companions, or "Trojans," up to four. The highly inclined orbit of one of ...

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How to define a planet

2006-06-10T21:31:11+00:00

The International Astronomical UnionI(IAU) is expected to propose wording to delineate planets from other small, round objects at its 12-day General Assembly meeting in Prague this August. Depending on the outcome of a separate controversial procedural issue — ...

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Space probe discovers asteroid made of rubble

2006-06-02T20:57:24+00:00

The first space probe sent to land on an asteroid and take samples delivered the goods, Japanese scientists reported in a journal article published Friday, saying the otter-shaped celestial body is the first found to be made of rubble. While previously probed asteroids ...

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Giant Slab of Earth’s Crust Found Near Core

2006-05-17T21:32:32+00:00

A huge slab of folded Earth that scientists think used to be part of the ocean floor has been detected near the planet’s core. The discovery supports the theory that Earth’s crust is constantly recycled deep into the planet as molten material from below ...

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Swedish Solar Telescope

2006-05-17T20:17:10+00:00

The Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) on the island of La Palma, Spain, had first light with a stopped down 60 cm aperture on March 2, 2002. On May 21, the telescope was opened to full aperture and the adaptive optics system was switched on for the first time. SST has ...

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Neptune nabbed its moon

2006-05-10T20:46:45+00:00

Back when the solar system was young, Neptune might have nabbed its giant moon Triton from a pair of passing sister planets, a new study says. Dual systems like Pluto and its large moon Charon are not uncommon among objects in the Kuiper Belt region, located beyond ...

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Sand Dunes on Saturn Moon

2006-05-05T21:23:13+00:00

Saturn’s moon Titan has huge regions covered with dunes, possibly made out of ice crystals, sand or some other unknown material, international space scientists reported on Thursday. Images of Titan beamed back to Earth from the joint U.S.-European Cassini mission ...

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A New Red Spot on Jupiter

2006-05-04T20:55:56+00:00

Jupiter is growing a new red spot and the Hubble Space Telescope is photographing the scene. Backyard astronomers have been following the action, too. "Red Spot Jr." as it is being called, formed after three white oval-shaped storms—two of which were at ...

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Saturn spins slower than thought

2006-05-03T21:26:22+00:00

The rotation period of rocky worlds like Earth can be calculated through simple observations of the motions of a particular spot on the planet in relation to other celestial objects. This method doesn’t work, however, for the likes Jupiter and Saturn because the ...

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Shuttle to Be Launched in July Without Tank Fix

2006-04-30T02:10:15+00:00

NASA has decided to fly the space shuttle Discovery in July without making all potential modifications to its external fuel tank that might reduce damaging foam debris, a move that concerns some agency engineers, officials said today. Engineers have removed two large ...

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