Science @ NASA
Spirit May Never Phone Home Again
NASA is hoping for a 'miracle from Mars' as mission controllers wait to hear from Spirit. The rover is trying to survive its toughest winter yet, and may never phone home again.
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Spacequakes Rumble Near Earth
Researchers using NASA's THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a form of space weather that packs the punch of an earthquake and plays a key role in sparking bright Northern Lights. They call it "the spacequake."
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Space Weather Turns into an International Problem
Representatives from more than 25 of the world's most technologically-advanced nations have gathered in Germany today to hear about a problem that may be too big for any one country to handle alone: solar storms.
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A Puzzling Collapse of Earth's Upper Atmosphere
Researchers are puzzling over a sharper-than-expected collapse of Earth's upper atmosphere during the deep solar minimum of 2008-09.
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Rosetta Discovers Haunting Beauty in Deep Space
The European Space Agency's Rosetta probe is beaming back hauntingly beautiful images of mysterious asteroid Lutetia.
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Down the Lunar Rabbit-hole
Newly-discovered pits on the Moon could be entrances to a geologic wonderland of underground caves and tunnels. Researchers discuss the possibilities in today's story from Science@NASA.
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South Pacific Eclipse
On Sunday, July 11th, a total eclipse of rare beauty will sweep across the South Pacific.
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Students Record Spellbinding Video … ating Spacecraft
On June 13th, while flying on an airplane at 41,000 feet, high school students from Massachusetts witnessed and recorded the dramatic breakup of Japan's Hayabusa spacecraft over Australia. Their newly-processed video is a must-see.
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Big Lunar Eclipse
This Saturday morning, June 26th, there's going to be a lunar eclipse—and for many residents of the USA, it's going to be a big one.
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Halfway to Pluto, New Horizons … n 'Exotic Territory'
Halfway to Pluto, NASA's New Horizons probe has woken up in 'exotic territory.' Mission controllers are taking the opportunity to give the spacecraft a thorough system's check in preparation for its Pluto flyby in 2015.
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Strange Martian Spirals Explained
For 40 years researchers have puzzled over a strange pattern of ice spirals and chasms around the Martian north pole. New data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter solves the mystery.
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Jupiter Impact: Mystery of the Missing Debris
On June 3rd, amateur astronomers were startled by a bright flash of light on Jupiter. It appeared to be an impact event--a comet or asteroid hitting the planet's cloudtops. Curiously, though, the "impact" has left no obvious debris. Was it really an impact--or something else? Today's story from Science@NASA discusses the possibilities.
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Journey to the Stars
It's immersive, it's explosive, and best of all it's free. On June 7th, NASA will begin sending complimentary DVDs of the smash-hit planetarium show "Journey to the Stars" to teachers and students around the country. Today's story from Science@NASA reviews the show and tells educators how to request their copies.
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As the Sun Awakens, NASA Keeps … Eye on Space Weather
The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and the next few years could bring much higher levels of solar activity. NASA is keeping a wary eye on the sun as officials meet in Washington DC to discuss the potential consequences of stormy space weather.
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Old Moon Rover Beams Surprising … er Flashes to Earth
A Soviet robot lost on the dusty plains of the Moon for the past 40 years has been found again, and it is returning surprisingly strong laser pulses to Earth. Researchers plan to use the aged robot to help them measure the Moon's orbit and test theories of gravity.
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Tracking Ticks via Satellite
Ticks cause Lyme disease and many other ailments, but finding the little bloodsuckers by hand can be both disgusting and dangerous. Now there's a better way--via satellite.
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Mars Rover Update
This just in from the Red Planet: Mars rover Opportunity has set a longevity record as it attempts a marathon trek across dangerous terrain; meanwhile, Spirit is in peril from the advancing Martian winter. Despite their troubles, both rovers remain in the hunt for new discoveries. Details are provided in today's story from Science@NASA.
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Big Mystery: Jupiter Loses a Stripe
In a surprising development that has transformed the appearance of the solar system's largest planet, one of Jupiter's two main cloud belts has completely disappeared.
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A Rare Meeting of Planets and Spaceships
Something special is happening this weekend. Venus and the Moon are gathering for a sunset conjunction on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. On the same nights, the ISS is going to be flying over many US towns and cities. And if Atlantis launches on schedule--wow! People could witness a very rare meeting of the shuttle, station, Venus and the Moon. Details and observing tips may be found in today's story from Science@NASA.
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The Astronomy of Mother's Day
Do you dare wake Mom at dawn ... on Mother's Day? Under the circumstances, she might not mind. May 9th begins and ends with a lovely display of stars and planets.
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