News Archive
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This page contains a number of links to news items we highlighted in 2018. Please scroll down to see more information.
Image: NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft. NASA
Astronomers have spectroscopically detected
hydrogen sulphide in Uranus’ atmosphere, a gas
image: Graham CopeKoga/Cambridge University Library.
Prof Stephen Hawking’s final theory on the origin
of the universe, written in collaboration with Prof
Thomas Hertog from KU Leuven, has been
published in the Journal of High Energy Physics.
The theory was submitted for publication before
Hawking’s death earlier this year.
Image: NASA's Mariner 10 mission (1974)
An international team of researchers has
presented a case for the atmosphere of
Venus as a possible niche for extraterrestrial
microbial life. Although surface conditions are
inhospitable, space probes to the planet have
shown that temperature and pressure in the
lower and middle portions of the atmosphere
might be able to support microbial life.
ESA: Clean Space Challenges & Solutions
Image: ESA
View an animated introduction to ESA's Clean
Space initiative, dedicated to safeguarding
the Earth and space environments on ESA's
Winning design. Credit: ESA/D. Vrenko
ESA has announced the winner of a competition to
design a logo for its CHEOPS mission, which will
measure the size of planets as they cross before
of their parent stars. CHEOPS (CHaracterising
ExOplanets Satellite) will be launched aboard a
Soyuz rocket and the design will be seen on the
ocket's shell that protects the satellite during
launch and as it passes into space.
January / February 2018
Interstellar Asteroid is Dark, Red
Image: ESO/M. Kornmesser
Artist's impression of interstellar asteroid
`Oumuamua, which seems to be a dark red
& highly-elongated metallic or rocky object,
about 400 metres long. Oumuamua is unlike
anything normally found in the Solar System.
Private Mission May Reach Enceladus
Image: NASA
RUSSIAN billionaire Yuri Milner, founder of the
$100 million Breakthrough Starshot project to send
small probes to Alpha Centauri, has announced
plans to explore funding a mission to Enceladus.
Other links :
http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/15470-unst-satellite-launch-
site-could-bring-massive-benefits
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/nov/14/satellites-
could-be-launched-from-shetland-islands-most-nothern-isle
https://shetlandspacecentre.com/
http://www.bizstats.co.uk/ltd/shetland-space-centre-limited-
An Atmosphere Around the Moon?
Recent research suggests that the
Moon had a significant atmosphere in the
past which was thicker than the atmosphere
of Mars today. This could also be a source
for some of the water detected
Analysis of Comet 67P's Dust Jet
Image: ESA/ Rosetta/ UPD/ LAM/ IAA/ SSO/ INTA/ UPM/DASP/ IDA/ MPS
Whilst orbiting comet 67P in July 2016, ESA’s
Rosetta spacecraft flew through an errupting
dust jet and used all five of its instruments to
record it. Analysis of the data is now complete
Carl Sagan and the golden record
The Golden Record is a 90-minute message
of goodwill from Earth to any extraterrestrials
who might find one of the two Voyager
spaceships. The brainchild of astronomer
Carl Sagan, the record contains engraved
sounds and images chosen to represent
the diversity of Earth. After a crowd funding
campaign, LP and CD versions will be
released for the first time by specially formed
'Ozma records'.The content includes opera,
rock 'n' roll, blues, classical music and field
image credit: NASA
Russian space agency Roscosmos has
announced it will be collaborating with
NASA to facilitate scientific missions
in the moon's orbit and to its surface.
The agencies "intend to develop
international technical standards which
will be used later, in particular to create
a space station in lunar orbit".
agreed on standards for a docking
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington
The planet Mercury has very little atmosphere,
but it does have a strange weather pattern:
United Emirates Plans 'Mars City'
Image credit: Dubai Media Office
The United Arab Emirates is constructing a
giant “space city” in the desert to simulate
conditions on Mars as realistically as possible.
The planned city will cover 1.9 million square
feet and will simulate conditions for a
You can learn more about other aspects of the
NASA has announced that the James
Webb space telescope will stay on Earth
for slightly longer than intended, to allow
more time for testing. The launch aboard
an Ariane V booster, was originally
scheduled for October 2018. The telescope
will now be launched sometime between
Mars Rover Opportunity Prepares for
Image: NASA JPL
As Winter approaches, Opportunity searches
for a good place to rest, tilted towards the
Sun to and recharge its solar batteries
Credit: NASA / Aarhus University / T. White
Scientists have used a new algorithm and
data from the Kepler space telescope for the
most detailed study to date of the Seven
Sisters star cluster (the Pleiades)
Cressida: Uranus Moon that Would Float
Image: Erich Karkoschka/Univ. of Arizona, Voyager 2, NASA
Astronomers at the University of Idaho
(Moscow) have calculated Cressida’s density
and mass using variations in an inner ring of
the planet as Uranus passed in front of a
The Tail of the Disappearing Comet
Getting ready to count shooting stars this
Autumn? Want to read a clear explanation
of meteor showers in plain English?
Pop over to the Universe Aware site for
a clear run down of the basic facts
Download Free E-books from NASA
Image: NASA
Did you know you can download NASA ebooks
from their website. Books are in the categories