Carnival of Space #574 

This week’s Carnival of Space is hosted by Allen Versfeld at his Urban Astronomer blog. Click here to read Carnival of Space #574. And if you're interested in looking back, here's an archive to all the past Carnivals of Space. If you've got a space-related blog, you should really join the carnival. Just email an entry […]

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The Sun is Actually One of the Most Difficult Places to Reach in the Solar System. Here’s how the Parker Solar Probe Will Do It 

The Parker Solar Probe, which will spend the next seven years getting closer to the Sun than any previous mission, recently launched from Cape Canaveral.

The post The Sun is Actually One of the Most Difficult Places to Reach in the Solar System. Here’s how the Parker Solar Probe Will Do It appeared first on Universe Today.

As the Martian Dust Storm Subsides, There’s Still No Word From Opportunity 

The Martian dust storm that has been raging for months finally appears to be subsiding, though it will still be some time before contact can be reestablished with Opportunity.

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TESS Practices on a Comet Before Starting on its Science Operations 

Before commencing its mission to find exoplanets, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite took some impressive images of a comet in our Solar System.

The post TESS Practices on a Comet Before Starting on its Science Operations appeared first on Universe Today.

170 Years Ago, Eta Carinae Erupted Dramatically. Astronomers Now Think They Know Why 

170 years after the star Eta Carinae erupted and became the second brightest star in the galaxy, astronomers now have a theory for what caused this.

The post 170 Years Ago, Eta Carinae Erupted Dramatically. Astronomers Now Think They Know Why appeared first on Universe Today.

Is it a Massive Planet or a Tiny Brown Dwarf. This Object is Right at the Border Between Planet and Star 

In a new study, a team from Caltech recently used the Very Large Array to confirm that a rogue planet just 20 light years away is on the cusp between being a planet and a brown dwarf

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New Canadian Radio Telescope is Detecting Fast Radio Bursts 

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), a revolutionary new radio telescope, recently made its first-ever detection of a possible Fast Radio Burst (FRB)

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A Partial Solar Eclipse and the Perseids Round Out August 

How about that Total Lunar Eclipse this past July 13th? It has been a busy year for astronomy for sure, with two total lunar eclipses, a comet fading out from an unexpected burst of glory and Saturn, Jupiter and Mars reaching opposition in quick succession.

Now, watch for a rare event, with the final eclipse for 2018 coming up on Saturday, August 11th, with a partial solar eclipse spanning northern Europe and the Arctic.

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It Looks Like Plate Tectonics Aren’t Required to Support Life 

According to a new study, it is possible that extra-solar planets with no plate tectonics might be capable of supporting life, contrary to previous assumptions.

The post It Looks Like Plate Tectonics Aren’t Required to Support Life appeared first on Universe Today.

Five Teams Compete to Design a 3D Printed Mars Habitat for NASA 

As part of their 3D-Printed Habitat Centennial Challenge, NASA recently awarded five teams with a total of $100,000 for their designs for Martian habitats.

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