In the vast expanse of space, an estimated one million Near Earth Objects (NEOs), also known as near-Earth asteroids, are constantly orbiting close to our planet. Every night, astronomers track NEOs and discover new ones, noting how fast they’re traveling, how large they are and where they’re headed. Because of their work, world leaders could get advance warning if one of these celestial objects is on a collision course with Earth, helping prepare for calamity.
But there’s one thing astronomers don’t yet know, something that could be key to defending Earth from dangerous collisions: how to quickly identify what an NEO is made of.�
NASA has been preparing for their Europa Clipper mission since 2013, when the mission’s pre-project was approved. The spacecraft is roughly the length of a basketball court, making it the larg… Read moreNASA’s Europa Clipper headed to study an ocean world
Looking up at the moon in the night sky, it’s difficult to grasp just how dramatic the topography of its surface really is. But for David Kring, the reality of that terrain isn’t too hard to imagine. Read moreNew research highlights scale of moon's canyons
Climate change affects everything, and now we are beginning to see its reach. Last week Antarctica was setting records with an extended heatwave 50 degrees warmer than normal. On Aug. 7, Fort … Read moreSpotlight on Climate: Around the world in 80 ways
