Not One, Not Two, But Three Planetary Systems Are Forming Around This Binary Star

Astronomers have spied three whole systems of exoplanets being born around one binary star. SVS 13 is a binary star system 980 light-years away, and the complex structures of dust around it are shedding light on how planetary systems are born in these fascinating environments. Since a large proportion of stars is bound up in … Read more

Solar power: Static electricity can keep desert solar panels free of dust

Dust drastically lowers the output of solar panels, but applying an electric field to the panels can make dust particles repel each other and disperse Technology 11 March 2022 By Chen Ly Illustration of dust removal from a solar panel using static electricity Sreedath Panat and Kripa Varanasi Static electricity could remove dust from desert … Read more

Astronomers Identify The Largest Molecule Ever Found in a Planet-Forming Disk

The largest molecule yet found in a roiling disk of dust and gas around a baby star has been identified, scientists report. In this swirling cloud, astronomers detected the signature of dimethyl ether, a molecule that contains nine atoms. This oxygen-bearing molecule can act as a building block for sugars and other biomolecules, which means … Read more

The curse and silver lining of martian dust storms — Commander’s Report: sol 10

Dr. Michaela Musilova is the director of Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program, which conducts analog missions to the moon and Mars for scientific research at a habitat on the volcano Mauna Loa. Currently, she is in command of the two-week Valoria 3 martian mission and contributed this report to Space.com’s Expert Voices: … Read more

What an Unplanned Rocket Crash on The Moon Can Teach Us About Impact Physics in Space

On March 4, 2022, a lonely, spent rocket booster will smack into the surface of the Moon at nearly 6,000 mph. Once the dust has settled, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will move into position to get an up-close view of the smoldering crater and hopefully shed some light on the mysterious physics of planetary impacts. … Read more

Mystery Rocket Will Crash Into The Moon Tomorrow, And Scientists Are Watching Closely

On 4 March 2022, a lonely, spent rocket booster will smack into the surface of the Moon at nearly 6,000 mph (9,656 km/h). Once the dust has settled, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will move into position to get an up-close view of the smoldering crater and hopefully shed some light on the mysterious physics of … Read more

Dust devils’ subtle trails across Mars revealed in bold blue

The Martian surface is criss-crossed by little whirlwinds that swirl through its thin atmosphere. Their tracks are revealed in this striking infrared image taken by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Space 23 February 2022 By Gege Li ESA/Roscosmos/CaSSIS Photograph ESA/Roscosmos/CaSSIS THIS intriguing landscape is one of the latest images of the surface of Mars. It … Read more

A giant Mars dust pile is sculpted by the wind in this photo by a European probe

The Medusae Fossae Formation on Mars.  (Image credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO) An enormous dust deposit on Mars shows the power of Martian wind in a new image snapped from orbit.  Standing on the surface of Mars is possibly the largest single dust source on the Red Planet: the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF). … Read more

James Webb Space Telescope will do a galaxy deep dive into the dust

One of the James Webb Space Telescope‘s first studies will seek to tell us more about 19 nearby galaxies and how they fit into our neighborhood’s history. The infrared images taken from deep space will allow Webb’s data to add galactic information about star formation, strong winds blowing off these stars to disturb gas and … Read more