Latest Articles - Page: 5
Has liquid water ever existed on Mars?
The evidence is overwhelming that Mars was once a far wetter world than the cold, arid planet we see today. Ancient geol...
What happens if the universe expands too fast?
The universe isn't just getting bigger; it’s stretching at an ever-increasing rate, a phenomenon that has left cosmologi...
What are the units used in space?
The vastness of space necessitates a language of measurement far beyond the familiar feet, miles, and pounds of daily li...
Why is a star stable during the main sequence period of its life cycle?
The vast majority of a star’s existence, the span during which it shines with a steady light, is spent on what astronome...
Are there satellites in low Earth orbit?
The region we call Low Earth Orbit, or LEO, is currently the busiest highway in space, densely populated with functionin...
What evidence is there for ancient shorelines on Mars?
The ongoing investigation into the geological record of Mars frequently circles back to a profound possibility: that the...
Who witnessed the first supernova?
The moment a star dies in a violent, brilliant explosion marks one of the universe's most dramatic events, a supernova. ...
What are the colors of the nebulae?
The universe presents an astonishing palette when we look toward nebulae, those immense clouds of gas and dust that repr...
What are the parts of a comet?
When we look up at the night sky and spot one of those celestial visitors streaking across the darkness, we are seeing a...
What is the most famous dark nebula?
The undisputed champion when naming a single, recognizable dark nebula is almost certainly the **Horsehead Nebula**, als...
How is space weather different from normal weather?
The concept of weather typically conjures images of rain clouds, wind speed indicators, and thermometers measuring condi...
What is the largest unit of measurement in astronomy?
The sheer size of the cosmos renders our everyday measurements completely inadequate when we try to map out the universe...
What is the astronomical system of units CSS?
The immense span of the cosmos renders everyday measurements like kilometers and miles laughably small, akin to using mi...
What qualifies a planet according to NASA?
The classification of a celestial body as a "planet" is a surprisingly deep question that touches on astronomy, history,...
How to tell if a star is older?
Determining the age of a star is one of astronomy’s most persistent challenges. Unlike a tree, we cannot simply count ri...
Are there stars that live forever?
The concept of a star living forever seems to clash with our observations of exploding supernovae and dimming remnants, ...
Who was the first space traveler?
The honor of becoming the first human to venture into outer space belongs to a citizen of the Soviet Union, **Yuri Aleks...
What is a meteor called when it hits the ground?
The passage of a space rock through our atmosphere is a natural spectacle, one that captures the imagination and has fas...
How does clearing the neighborhood define a planet?
The concept of a celestial body having "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit is the most critical, and often most ...
What is a meteor that has landed on the ground?
The object that completes a fiery passage through the atmosphere and actually comes to rest on the ground is officially ...
How does NASA classify planets?
The standard for classifying a planet within our Solar System is a specific set of rules established by the Internationa...
Why is New Glenn a big deal?
The arrival of Blue Origin’s **New Glenn** rocket is genuinely significant, marking a crucial step in the evolution of A...
What was the purpose of the Spirit and Opportunity?
The two Mars Exploration Rovers, **Spirit** and **Opportunity**, were fundamentally designed to serve as highly mobile, ...
What are the properties of elliptical galaxies?
Elliptical galaxies represent a major class of stellar systems, often standing out due to their smooth, featureless ligh...