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Is the Oort Cloud made of ice?

Is the Oort Cloud made of ice?

The vast, spherical reservoir surrounding our Sun, known as the Oort Cloud, is often described as the extreme edge of ou...

Is the ISS technically not in space?

Is the ISS technically not in space?

The International Space Station, or ISS, is an extraordinary feat of engineering, continuously circling our planet many ...

Which stars are low-mass stars?

Which stars are low-mass stars?

The universe is populated by stars of every imaginable size and temperature, but among them, the low-mass stars are by f...

Is a supernova a high or low-mass star?

Is a supernova a high or low-mass star?

The spectacular detonation we call a supernova represents one of the most energetic events in the cosmos, marking the vi...

What exactly is the ecliptic?

What exactly is the ecliptic?

This is the conceptual line where the celestial sphere seems to meet the plane of Earth's path around the Sun. That imag...

What is the remaining debris from a supernova called?

What is the remaining debris from a supernova called?

The material left behind after a star meets its dramatic end—a supernova explosion—is known by a specific name: the **su...

What icy bodies mostly originate in the Oort Cloud before being flung toward the Sun?

What icy bodies mostly originate in the Oort Cloud before being flung toward the Sun?

The icy bodies that make their dramatic, fiery visits to the inner solar system—the long-period comets—are believed to h...

What icy bodies does the Oort Cloud contain?

What icy bodies does the Oort Cloud contain?

The remote reaches of our solar system harbor a colossal, spherical reservoir composed primarily of icy debris, a struct...

Has a satellite ever been hit by a meteor?

Has a satellite ever been hit by a meteor?

The question of whether satellites have been struck by natural space rocks—meteoroids—is one that often surfaces when we...

Do zodiac constellations lie along the ecliptic?

Do zodiac constellations lie along the ecliptic?

The apparent path the Sun traces across the celestial sphere over the course of a year is precisely what astronomers def...

Why does Io display more geological activity than Jupiter's other moons?

Why does Io display more geological activity than Jupiter's other moons?

The innermost of Jupiter’s four massive Galilean moons, Io, is in a state of perpetual, violent turmoil, unlike its more...

Is the North Star stationery?

Is the North Star stationery?

The star we call the North Star, formally known as **Polaris**, is often assumed to be fixed in the night sky, an unmovi...

How the star will become a red giant after the main sequence phase?

How the star will become a red giant after the main sequence phase?

The transformation of a star from its stable main sequence existence into a swollen, luminous red giant marks one of the...

Are there any meteorites from Mercury?

Are there any meteorites from Mercury?

Pieces of the solar system rain down on Earth constantly, but most fragments that survive the fiery descent and land in ...

Were any bodies recovered from the Challenger disaster?

Were any bodies recovered from the Challenger disaster?

The breakup of the Space Shuttle *Challenger* on January 28, 1986, resulted in the tragic loss of all seven crew members...

Do SpaceX rockets have self-destruct?

Do SpaceX rockets have self-destruct?

The concept of a self-destruct mechanism on a rocket, often framed dramatically in science fiction, translates in the re...

What is the most geologically active of Jupiter's moons?

What is the most geologically active of Jupiter's moons?

Jupiter's collection of natural satellites is fascinating, featuring a diverse group of worlds ranging from icy shells t...

How many galaxies are there in the cosmos universe?

How many galaxies are there in the cosmos universe?

Trying to pin down the exact number of galaxies scattered across the cosmos is one of astronomy’s most humbling exercise...

What are the evidence of ancient shoreline on Mars?

What are the evidence of ancient shoreline on Mars?

The crimson dust that defines modern Mars belies a far more dynamic and wet past. For decades, scientists have debated t...

Who was the first to see the dark side of the moon?

Who was the first to see the dark side of the moon?

The familiar, cratered face of the Moon that hangs in our night sky is only half the story. For millennia, the other hem...

Did they recover the bodies from Columbia?

Did they recover the bodies from Columbia?

The breakup of Space Shuttle *Columbia* upon re-entry on February 1, 2003, initiated one of the most extensive and sombe...

What is the evidence of the ocean on Mars?

What is the evidence of the ocean on Mars?

The revelation that Mars harbors vast quantities of water today—though not in the surface rivers and seas we might easil...

What happened to the bodies of Columbia's crew?

What happened to the bodies of Columbia's crew?

The question of what became of the seven brave men and women aboard Space Shuttle *Columbia* when it broke apart during ...

What is the oldest evidence of water on Mars?

What is the oldest evidence of water on Mars?

The question of when liquid water flowed freely on Mars has long fascinated planetary scientists, but recent findings ha...

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