Earth

NASA says that the orbits of asteroids can be changed by Jupiter's massive gravity and by occasional close encounters with planets like Mars or other objects. These accidental encounters can knock asteroids out of the main belt and hurl them into space in all directions across the orbits of the other planets. One such occurrence is set to take place today, February 23, as one asteroid is expected to pass by Earth. Know the details of this close encounter.Asteroid 2024 CL3: DetailsAn asteroid, given the designation of…

Many Star Wars fans probably thought they were dreaming when the European Space Agency published images of what looked like a TIE starfighter in space. Alas, it wasn’t the Empire, but rather glimpses of a decades-old Earth observation satellite making its return home.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe recent images of the satellite, known as the second European Remote Sensing satellite, or ERS-2, were taken by space tech company HEO using cameras onboard other satellites. ESA…

ERS-2, a satellite that revolutionized our perspective of our planet and understanding of climate change, was launched in 1995. After 13 years of orbital decay, mainly driven by solar activity, the satellite will now naturally reenter Earth’s atmosphere. ERS-2 is now expected to undergo atmospheric reentry and begin to break up on February 21, 2024. Credit: ESAERS-2 is expected to undergo atmospheric reentry and begin to break up today.Throughout its 16-year working life, the second European Remote Sensing satellite,…

2024 has continued the trend of the past year, with asteroid approaches on most days. NASA, with the help of its advanced ground and space-based telescopes, has shed light on four asteroids that are set to pass Earth at close distances today, February 22. While none of these space rocks pose a threat to life on Earth, their close approaches serve as a reminder of the threat posed by these space rocks and the need to continuously monitor them in their orbits. Check out the details of the close approaches below.Asteroid…

After Asteroid 2024 CK5 passed Earth by a close margin a few days ago, NASA has issued yet another asteroid warning. As many as four space rocks are approaching the planet at breakneck speeds and will fly past Earth closely tomorrow, February 22. While these asteroids can sometimes come even closer to Earth than the Moon, most of them do not pose any threat and pass by relatively safely. Still, the space agencies continue to monitor their orbits for any potential collision scenarios. Know all about the close encounter…

Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus is gearing up for its attempt at a potentially historic landing on the Moon’s surface later this week. Things are looking good so far for the lunar lander, which beamed back breathtaking views of Earth from space.China's Plan to Land Astronauts on the MoonThe IM-1 mission recently transmitted the first batch of photos that were captured shortly after launch, revealing a series of selfies that show parts of the spacecraft with Earth’s familiar blue as an iconic backdrop.The images were taken on…

Have you ever wondered about the optimal temperature for life on Earth? For humans, 20°C is comfortable. Any warmer and we work less efficiently because releasing heat requires energy.We know many species can live at much colder or warmer temperatures than humans. But our systematic review of published research found the thermal ranges of animals, plants and microbes living in air and water overlap at 20°C. Could this be a coincidence?For all species, the relationship with temperature is an asymmetric bell-shaped curve.…

Astronomers have uncovered a celestial revelation: stars passing near our solar system have wielded a profound influence on the orbit of Earth as well as those of its its planetary companions. This cosmic dance, detailed in a study titled "Passing Stars as an Important Driver of Paleoclimate and the Solar System's Orbital Evolution" published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, challenges our understanding of Earth's history and even encompasses shifts in climate.Stellar Perturbations and Climate VariabilityNathan A.…

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A satellite will hurtle down to Earth this week and no one knows quite when or where it’s going to land — but there’s no need to worry. In the space sector, this is standard operating procedure.  The satellite in question is the European Space Agency’s ERS-2. Launched in 1995, the spacecraft set new standards for Earth observation. It was also an extremely durable machine. Despite an original mission life of just three years, ERS-2 made it to the ripe old age of 15 before its operations were…