Satellite Images of China Earthquake

Some of the first satellite images have been released of areas in China hit by the 7.9 magnitude earthquake on May 12, 2008. This image shows Beichuan, one of the worst-hit areas in Sichuan Province of southwest China. The pictures reveal a large forest, a school and clusters of residential houses along a [...]

Strange, Super-Sized Pulsar Stumps Scientists

Astronomers have discovered a fast-spinning, super-sized pulsar in a stretched-out orbit around an apparent Sun-like star. This combination (as well as that many hyphenated words in one sentence) has never seen before, and astronomers are puzzled about how this bizarre system developed. "Our ideas about how the fastest-spinning pulsars are produced do not [...]

Ultimate Recycling on the ISS: Urine to Water

Right now, the crews on board the International Space Station consist of three people. But by late next year, the crew size will grow to six. That means more food, more water and ultimately more waste. But NASA has been working on a recycling system to transform urine and other liquid wastes [...]

7 Minutes of Terror for Phoenix Spacecraft (Video)

Are you ready for the Phoenix spacecraft to land on Mars? At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Entry, Descent and Landing team for Phoenix has been hard at work getting ready, performing simulations to prepare for the real landing, scheduled for May 25, 2008 in a region above Mars' Arctic Circle. Emily Lakdawalla [...]

Unusual Crater in Mars' Mamers Valles (Gallery)

The Mars Express Spacecraft captured several images of an unusual crater in the Mamers Valles area on Mars with its High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). The crater is at the end of the long, winding valley, and contains a remarkable dark area. Scientists are not certain whether the dark colored material could have [...]

Weekend SkyWatcher's Forecast - May 16-18, 2008

"Everybody dancing in the moonlight… Dancing in the moonlight… Everybody feeling warm and bright… It's such a fine and natural sight… Everybody dancing in the moonlight." Oh! Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! Pardon me while I celebrate the return of Spring and enjoy viewing the Moon. This weekend will be a terrific [...]

Mars Is REALLY Cold

We knew Mars was cold, but new observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that the crust and upper mantle of Mars are stiffer and colder than previously thought. And scientists say any liquid water that might exist below the planet's surface, and any possible organisms living in that water, would be found deeper [...]

Carnival of Space #54

We have another new host for the Carnival of Space. This week we look to David S. F. Portree and his blog Altair VI. Click here to read the Carnival of Space #54 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 [...]

Mapquesting the Solar System

Map generators like Mapquest and Yahoo! Maps have bailed me out quite a few times, helping me get where I needed to go. So imagine in the future, navigating on other bodies in our solar system and having the ability to find landmarks and destinations to point you in the right direction. [...]

Elusive Molecule Found in Venus' Atmosphere

Hydroxyl, an important but difficult-to-detect molecule, has been found in the upper atmosphere of Venus by the Venus Express spacecraft. This is the first time this molecule has been detected on another planet, and even though it is thought to be an "atmospheric cleanser," knowing that it is part of Venus' thick, greenhouse-like atmosphere [...]

"Fusionman" Soars the Skies (Gallery)

A Swiss adventurer who calls himself Fusionman tried out a new jet powered carbon wing, and successfully flew for 5 minutes on May 15 before landing with a parachute. Yves Rossy, a 48-year-old former air force pilot lit the jets on his wing and then jumped from a plane over Bex, Switzerland. [...]

How to Escape From a Black Hole

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, black holes are regions of space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape. And in the 1970's physicist Stephen Hawking asserted that any information sucked inside a black hole would be permanently lost. But now, researchers at Penn State have shown that [...]

Pole Shift on Europa?

Curved features on Jupiter?s moon Europa may indicate that its poles have wandered by almost 90°, a new study reports. Researchers believe the drastic shift in Europa?s rotational axis was likely a result of the build-up of thick ice at the poles. ?A spinning body is most stable with its mass farthest from its [...]

New NASA Study Links Humans to Changes On Earth

A new NASA-led study shows human-caused climate change has made an impact on a wide range of Earth's natural systems, including permafrost thawing, plants blooming earlier across Europe, and lakes declining in productivity in Africa. Researchers at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Science and 10 other institutions have linked varying impacts since 1970 [...]

The Big Announcement: Chandra, VLA Find Youngest Supernova in Our Galaxy

Astronomers have found the remains of the youngest supernova, or exploded star, in the Milky Way Galaxy. The supernova occurred in 1868, but was hidden behind a thick veil of gas and dust. Using the Very Large Array (VLA) and NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which could peer through the veil, astronomers [...]

This Week's "Where in the Universe?" Challenge

Here's your image for this week's "Where in the Universe?" challenge. Take a look at the image and before proceeding to the end of this post, make your guess as to what location in the universe is represented here. It could be anywhere — nothing is off limits for this challenge! [...]

Comet C/2005 L3 McNaught Brighter Than Expected

According to the estimations made by the IAU (International Astronomical Union) and ICQ (International Comet Quarterly) information, Comet C/2005 L3 McNaught wasn't supposed to be any brighter than magnitude 15 this month and in a slow decline in brightness. However, thanks to observations done by Joseph Brimacombe at Macedon Ranges Observatory, the "tale of [...]

Looking for Black Holes in ? Water?

Looking for Hawking Radiation in space is likely impossible with our current technology. But scientists here on Earth recently used flowing water to simulate a black hole and create event horizons, testing Stephen Hawking's famous prediction that the event horizon creates particles and anti-particles. (...)Read the rest of Looking for Black Holes in ? Water? [...]

Vatican Astronomer Says Its OK to Believe in ET

The director of the Vatican observatory said it's possible that intelligent life exists on other planets. And since aliens would be part of God's creation, their existence would not contradict the Catholic faith. In an interview with the Vatican newspaper Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes discussed the Big Bang theory, as well as [...]

Imminent Discovery of Life On Mars?

Do you think there is life on Mars? Do you think Phoenix will find evidence of it? Now there's a blog that's trying to collect a snapshot of the opinions of scientists, amateurs, and everyday people. "Imminent Discovery" thinks Phoenix may find simple life. Finding this evidence will definitely become headlines… If it [...]

Phobos Might Only Have 10 Million Years to Live

You can breathe easily. The Moon is slowly receding away from the Earth at a rate of 3.7 cm/year (1.5 in/yr). But the Martians aren't so lucky. Their moon Phobos is known to be doing exactly the opposite. It's spiraling inward, and in the distant future it will crash into the surface of Mars. Researchers [...]

Rising Temperatures Could Shut Down Plate Tectonics

Venus is known as the Earth's twin, but a better name might be Earth's "evil twin" planet. Although Venus has a similar size and mass to Earth, it has a dramatically different surface and atmosphere. And one of the biggest differences is that fact that Earth has plate tectonics, and Venus doesn't. New research indicates [...]

Lower Gravity Will Help Lunar Dust Get Deep Into Astronaut Lungs

Dusting the house might be a chore here on Earth, but when astronauts return to the Moon, they'll need to be neat freaks. Their lives might depend on it! According to researchers at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, the health of lunar astronauts will depend on how well they can keep the fine lunar [...]

It's Almost Time for the Mars Phoenix Landing

You probably already forgot, but NASA has a spacecraft heading to Mars right now. The Phoenix Mars Lander has been traveling for almost 10 months, and it's going to be landing on the surface of Mars in just a few days. Mark your calendar for May 25, 2008. it's going to be an exciting day. (...)Read [...]

Podcast: The Hubble Space Telescope

Our understanding of the cosmos has been revolutionized by the Hubble Space Telescope. The breathtaking familiar photos, like the Pillars of Creation, pale in comparison to the astounding amount of science data returned to Earth. Hubble's getting old, though, serviced several times already, and due for another mission later this year. Let's relive the historic [...]

The Simplicity of Space

posted a photo:

The video demonstrates visually the simplicity of space and uncovers a series of cult icons. These images demonstrate that the simplicity of space knowledge is known,... More? just not to you. A more detailed understanding can be discovered in the book www.H2onE2.com. Additional videos are located on the website

Who's in the Sun

0512 posted a photo:

Holy Cloud

0512 posted a photo:

moon eclipse

samu posted a photo:

White Aurora

samu posted a photo:

Today a white moon.

Circles in the Sky

Gazing skyward on a sunny day in May,

Sideways Galaxy NGC 3628

Dark dust lanes cut across the middle of this gorgeous

A Supply Ship Docks with the International Space Station

Looking out a window of the International Space Station brings breathtaking views.

Ancient Craters of Southern Rhea

Saturn's ragged moon Rhea has one of the oldest surfaces known.

The M81 Galaxy Group Through the Integrated Flux

Large galaxies and faint nebulae highlight this deep image of the

Retrograde Mars

Why would Mars appear to move backwards?

Stars and Mars

Wandering through

Ragin' Full-On

SPACE.com Image of the Day

A monster storm rages on Saturn.

NordicTrack

SPACE.com Image of the Day

A Swedish rocket launches European microgravity experiments.

Shower Massage

SPACE.com Image of the Day

Water is used instead of fire to run stress tests on a Mars lander.

A Bit of the Old Ultraviolet

SPACE.com Image of the Day

The sun's ultraviolet light glows blue as seen by SOHO.

The Frost Report

SPACE.com Image of the Day

HiRISE spotted these frost patterns of the Louth Crater on Mars.

Show 160: Intense Explosion

On March 19, the most intense explosion ever recorded appeared in the night sky. It shone dimly for less than a minute, then vanished. It was a gamma ray burst 7.5 billion light years away, but so bright it could be seen -- though faintly -- by the naked eye. Astronomers estimate that the burst was as bright as 10 million galaxies combined. Such bursts are thought to be caused by hypernovae, the explosion of a star much more massive than our Sun.

Show 159: One Cool Brown Dwarf

Brown dwarfs are not quite stars and not quite planets. They are the missing links between the lowest mass stars and the highest mass planets possible. Scientists recently discovered the coolest brown dwarf known -- an important discovery that may shed light on the development of planets beyond our solar system.

Show 158: HubbleWatch for April 2008

A distant, dim flash in the sky marks the location of the biggest explosion ever recorded, as astronomers monitor a gamma ray burst brighter than 10 million galaxies combined. And astronomers have found tiny, early galaxies so thick with stars that they might never experience night as we do.

Show 157: A Ringed Moon

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found evidence of material orbiting Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon, which means Rhea could have rings. This is the first time rings have potentially been found around any moon. Astronomers speculate that a collision in the moon's distant past led to the rings' formation.

Show 156: Water on Enceladus

The Cassini space probe was launched in 1997 and flew by Earth, Venus and Jupiter. It entered orbit around Saturn in 2004. One of Saturn's moons, Enceladus, is believed to have liquid water below its crusty surface. A daring flyby of Cassini into geyser plume of Enceladus has bolstered the idea.

Show 155: Looking for Life

Astronomers know that complex molecules are required building blocks for life, and can indicate that biological activity is present on distant worlds. Methane, which can come from volcanic eruptions, among other sources, is a key ingredient for the formation of life and also a by-product of microbial activity.

Show 154: Titan's Internal Ocean

Saturn's moon, Titan, may have a deep, hidden ocean. The second largest moon in the solar system, Titan has long been thought to have an environment similar to that of early Earth, before life began putting oxygen into atmosphere. If the ocean prediction is true, Titan will join three other solar system moons suspected of hiding underground oceans.

Show 153: HubbleWatch for March 2008

For the first time, an organic molecule has been located in the atmosphere of a planet beyond our solar system. The planet itself can't sustain life, but could the molecule's presence is good news for life elsewhere. Back on Earth, art and science merge as the Walter's Art Museum in Baltimore, Md., displays Hubble images on its walls. The special exhibit is the brainchild of a group of curating students at Johns Hopkins University, who worked with astrophysicists to create the display.

Show 152: Salty Mars

Mars was too salty to sustain life for much of its history, new evidence from the Opportunity rover on the Martian surface indicates. Minerals deposited in sedimentary rocks suggest they formed in extremely salty water -- even saltier than oceans on Earth. Such conditions would have made it inhospitable to even the toughest micro-organisms.

Show 151: Venus Collision

Venus is much like planet Earth its composition, but also very different in other ways -- it's bone-dry with little sign of water, experiences temperatures hot enough to melt lead, is enshrouded in a thick poisonous atmosphere of CO2 and sulfuric acid, and even rotates "backwards." Now we may have an explanation for this weirdness -- a tremendous head-on collision of two bodies may have formed our planetary neighbor.

Show 150: Natural Telescopes

Gravitational lenses are like giant magnifying glasses in the sky. They occur where huge accumulations of matter, like galaxy clusters, create enough gravity to warp and magnify the light of objects beyond them. This enables us to see objects normally too far away to be viewed by even the most powerful telescopes. Gravitational lenses were once thought to be rare. But astronomers using Hubble have found several, and new sky surveys found more. Scientists are now training a "digital robot" to find additional lenses.

Show 149: Shoot the Moon

A mission to the Moon will search for water. Scientists would like to know if the Moon does have residual water, as hinted at by earlier missions. The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite will send an impactor into a dark crater at the Moon's south pole. Instruments will measure the plume produced by the impact to see what materials are present, looking particularly for water. LCROSS will launch in October 2008 and the impact will take place early in 2009.

Show 148: HubbleWatch for February 2008

Gravitational lensing is highly useful quirk of the universe. When vast amounts of matter accumulate -- as in enormous clusters of galaxies -- the intense gravity created distorts and magnifies the light of objects behind the cluster. The effect is like creating a giant magnifying glass in space. Astronomers recently used the effect to find one of the youngest galaxies ever seen, and track the placement of dark matter.

Show 147: Orphan Stars

Stars were recently found forming in a long tail of gas trailing away from a galaxy. We normally would not expect to see stars being born so far from their parent galaxy. Scientists believe the pressure of the galaxy's motion through space as it plummeted toward the center of a huge cluster of galaxies stripped away the gas that formed these "orphan stars."