<p>For the first time, four NASA pilots will be flying two specialised WB-57 planes off the coast of Mexico and chasing the total solar eclipse on April 8 to capture a 'never-before-seen' view.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The solar eclipse, which will be observed by many from the ground, will for the first time be captured from a relatively closer view.</p>

<p>The pilots will follow the path of totality or total darkness, which is from southwest to northeast, and will remain in the shadows till the moon crosses the sun.</p>

<p>From the skies, this journey will take place in seven minutes in comparison to four minutes from the ground.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/devil-comet-may-appear-during-total-solar-eclipse-to-show-its-stunning-celestial-display-696285">&nbsp;'Devil Comet' likely to make an appearance during total solar eclipse in April</a></p>

<p>NASA pilot Tony Casey. a sensor equipment operator (SEO) on one of the two aircraft, said, "It's extremely exciting. I am stoked. I'm so excited to be able to fly this mission. I'm looking forward to just the experience of being there in this moment and the shadow overtaking you."</p>

<p>Casey will be the second crewman among the two WB-57 planes and is responsible for operating the instruments of the aircraft to study the eclipse.</p>

<h2><strong>How will the pilots capture the eclipse?</strong></h2>

<p>The pilots will be flying the plane, in which a camera and a telescope system will be installed. This will be used for capturing the images of the Sun in infrared and visible light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will also help scientists study its atmosphere, the corona. The scientists through the image will also look for a dust ring and asteroids which might be visible near the Sun.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Solar eclipse: Canada's Niagara declares state of emergency</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/solar-eclipse-canadas-niagara-declares-state-of-emergency-706169/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The planes "have this system that mounts onto the nose of the aircraft that allows you to put a telescope in there," said Amir Caspi, who is a solar physicist at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado and runs the experiment which Casey will be operating. In 2017, similar experiments were carried out when a previous total solar eclipse happened in the United States.</p>

<p>When the pilots will tear through the sky, the eclipse will happen towards the right-hand side.</p>

<p>The camera will be operated by Casey and he will zoom into different locations on the Sun while the team will fly to the ground.</p>

<p>"The field of view only covers a third of the Sun," he said, adding that he will try to place the camera between each side of the star to capture a total view during the eclipse and click any "interesting flare".&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


For the first time, four NASA pilots will be flying two specialised WB-57 planes off the coast of Mexico and chasing the total solar eclipse on April 8 to capture a 'never-before-seen' view.

For the first time, four NASA pilots will be flying two specialised WB-57 planes off the coast of Mexico and chasing the total solar eclipse on April 8 to capture a 'never-before-seen' view. The solar eclipse, which will be observed by many from the ground, will for the first time be captured from a relatively closer view. The pilots will follow the path of totality or total darkness, which is from southwest to northeast, and will remain in the shadows till the moon crosses the sun. From the skies, this journey will take place in seven minutes in comparison to four minutes from the ground. Also Read: 'Devil Comet' likely to make an appearance during total solar eclipse in April NASA pilot Tony Casey. a sensor equipment operator (SEO) on one of the two aircraft, said, "It's extremely exciting. I am stoked. I'm so excited to be able to fly this mission. I'm looking forward to just the experience of being there in this moment and the shadow overtaking you." Casey will be the second crewman among the two WB-57 planes and is responsible for operating the instruments of the aircraft to study the eclipse. How will the pilots capture the eclipse? The pilots will be flying the plane, in which a camera and a telescope system will be installed. This will be used for capturing the images of the Sun in infrared and visible light. It will also help scientists study its atmosphere, the corona. The scientists through the image will also look for a dust ring and asteroids which might be visible near the Sun. Watch: Solar eclipse: Canada's Niagara declares state of emergency The planes "have this system that mounts onto the nose of the aircraft that allows you to put a telescope in there," said Amir Caspi, who is a solar physicist at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado and runs the experiment which Casey will be operating. In 2017, similar experiments were carried out when a previous total solar eclipse happened in the United States. When the pilots will tear through the sky, the eclipse will happen towards the right-hand side. The camera will be operated by Casey and he will zoom into different locations on the Sun while the team will fly to the ground. "The field of view only covers a third of the Sun," he said, adding that he will try to place the camera between each side of the star to capture a total view during the eclipse and click any "interesting flare". (With inputs from agencies)

Four NASA pilots to chase solar eclipse on April 8 to capture never-before-seen views

NASA achieved a resounding success last year when it intentionally crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid. The test was a way to deflect potentially hazardous space rocks from hitting Earth. Our next story tells you how this first-of-his-kind planetary defence experiment now has unintended unintended consequences.

NASA's Dart mission asteroid: Asteroid Dimorphos debris may rain on Mars

<p>Mars, the red planet has puzzled scientists once again. NASA's Perseverance rover which has been exploring Mars' Jezero Crater since early 2021 has discovered thousands of white rocks strewn across its surface. Recently delivered images by the rover show over 4,000 light-toned, pebble-sized "unusual" rocks scattered throughout the crater floor.</p>

<p>"These rocks are very unusual, and we're trying to understand their origin," said Candice Bedford, a planetary scientist at Purdue University and a member of the Mars 2020 science team, during the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) last month.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-captures-creation-of-third-world-and-birth-of-moons-400-light-years-away-707585">James Webb captures creation of 'third world' and birth of moons 400 light-years away</a></strong></p>

<p>This comes as NASA completes an architectural review of its Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, which aims to bring Martian rocks back to Earth for analysis.</p>

<h2><strong>Analysis of rocks found THIS</strong></h2>

<p>Initial analysis of the rocks by Perseverance's instruments revealed that they are dehydrated. Not only do they lack water content, but also other minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These rocks are pretty depleted in a lot of things," Bedford noted.</p>

<p>She suggests that the dehydrated nature of the rocks indicates they were heated and metamorphosed by processes like lava flows or asteroid impacts elsewhere on Mars before being deposited in the crater.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-names-three-companies-to-develop-rover-that-astronauts-will-drive-on-moon-707655">NASA names three companies to develop rover that astronauts will drive on Moon</a></strong></p>

<p>The team is keen to understand the origins of these rocks, in order to provide insights into Mars' past, including the timing of water presence in the Jezero crater, which is now a dry landscape.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Perseverance, which has covered over 15 miles (24.8 kilometers) on Mars, celebrated its 1,000th day on the planet in&nbsp;December last year. It has filled 26 of its 43 sample tubes with Martian rock samples, which could be studied extensively.</p>

<p>"Each sample has innumerable grains that we could potentially study for forever, essentially," said Benjamin Weiss, a professor of planetary sciences at MIT and a member of the Mars 2020 team.</p>

<p>As part of a bonus mission, Perseverance has started moving towards the Jezero Crater rim, where its long-distance camera has already spotted more light-toned rocks. Scientists believe the crater rim and beyond hold unique geology, including rocks that could provide clues about Mars' early climate and the possibility of past life.</p>

<p>Returning these samples to Earth is crucial for scientists to fully understand Mars' history. "It will revolutionize our understanding of Mars," said Benjamin Weiss.</p>

<h2><strong>Mars Sample Return (MSR) programme</strong></h2>

<p>NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) program is spearheading the effort to bring these samples back to Earth. Questions remain about the program, including the timeline and approach for returning the samples. A response team (MIRT) was commissioned to evaluate alternative approaches after an independent review board (IRB) found issues with the current plan. NASA's budget for MSR is yet to be finalised, with a revised plan and budget expected in April.</p>


Mars, the red planet has puzzled scientists once again. NASA's Perseverance rover which has been exploring Mars' Jezero Crater since early 2021 has discovered thousands of white rocks strewn across its surface.

Mars, the red planet has puzzled scientists once again. NASA's Perseverance rover which has been exploring Mars' Jezero Crater since early 2021 has discovered thousands of white rocks strewn across its surface. Recently delivered images by the rover show over 4,000 light-toned, pebble-sized "unusual" rocks scattered throughout the crater floor. "These rocks are very unusual, and we're trying to understand their origin," said Candice Bedford, a planetary scientist at Purdue University and a member of the Mars 2020 science team, during the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) last month. Also read | James Webb captures creation of 'third world' and birth of moons 400 light-years away This comes as NASA completes an architectural review of its Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, which aims to bring Martian rocks back to Earth for analysis. Analysis of rocks found THIS Initial analysis of the rocks by Perseverance's instruments revealed that they are dehydrated. Not only do they lack water content, but also other minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. "These rocks are pretty depleted in a lot of things," Bedford noted. She suggests that the dehydrated nature of the rocks indicates they were heated and metamorphosed by processes like lava flows or asteroid impacts elsewhere on Mars before being deposited in the crater. Also read | NASA names three companies to develop rover that astronauts will drive on Moon The team is keen to understand the origins of these rocks, in order to provide insights into Mars' past, including the timing of water presence in the Jezero crater, which is now a dry landscape. Perseverance, which has covered over 15 miles (24.8 kilometers) on Mars, celebrated its 1,000th day on the planet in December last year. It has filled 26 of its 43 sample tubes with Martian rock samples, which could be studied extensively. "Each sample has innumerable grains that we could potentially study for forever, essentially," said Benjamin Weiss, a professor of planetary sciences at MIT and a member of the Mars 2020 team. As part of a bonus mission, Perseverance has started moving towards the Jezero Crater rim, where its long-distance camera has already spotted more light-toned rocks. Scientists believe the crater rim and beyond hold unique geology, including rocks that could provide clues about Mars' early climate and the possibility of past life. Returning these samples to Earth is crucial for scientists to fully understand Mars' history. "It will revolutionize our understanding of Mars," said Benjamin Weiss. Mars Sample Return (MSR) programme NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) program is spearheading the effort to bring these samples back to Earth. Questions remain about the program, including the timeline and approach for returning the samples. A response team (MIRT) was commissioned to evaluate alternative approaches after an independent review board (IRB) found issues with the current plan. NASA's budget for MSR is yet to be finalised, with a revised plan and budget expected in April.

NASA's Perseverance rover spots thousands of 'unusual' white rocks on Mars

Gravitas | The impact of NASA asteroid deflection

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking into an incident when a two-pound object crashed into a Florida man's house last month. The space agency is analysing whether or not the object came from the International Space Station (ISS). In case it came from ISS, it would be a rare incident of an object falling out of orbit and damaging someone's property, or having the potential to harm a person.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per local reports, the homeowner said that the object crashed through the roof of his Naples home at 2:34 pm (local time) on March 8. Its sound was recorded by his Ring security camera.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The homeowner, identified as Alejandro Otero, told WINK News, "It was a tremendous sound. It almost hit my son. He was two rooms over and heard it all. Something ripped through the house and then made a big hole on the floor and on the ceiling."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenery-on-moon-soon-nasa-to-put-plants-on-lunar-surface-by-2026-706920">Greenery on Moon soon? NASA to put plants on lunar surface by 2026</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In his social media post earlier, Otero addressed a post stating, "Can you please assist with getting NASA to connect with me? I've left messages and emails without a response."&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by the European Space Agency (ESA) estimated that the annual risk of an individual human being injured by space debris is less than 1 in 100 billion. It means it is 1.5 million times lower than the risk of being killed in an accident at home, around 65,000 times lower than the risk of being struck by lightning, and three times lower than the risk of being struck by a meteorite.</p>

<p>Falling space debris has never killed anyone, but the incident that happened with Otero could have caused casualties, as the man said that it almost hit his son.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-tennessee-pass-geoengineering-ban-as-chemtrails-conspiracy-theories-rise-706959">Tennessee Senate passes bill banning geoengineering amid ‘chemtrails’ conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>According to the scientific journal Ars Technica, the object was probably from ISS. The journal said that the US space command recorded the re-entry of a piece of space debris over the Gulf of Mexico on a path towards southwest Florida at 2.29 pm (local time) that day. The timing was just five minutes before Otero's Nest home security camera captured the sound of the crash.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It used to have a cylindrical shape, and you can tell by the shape of the top that it travelled in this direction through the atmosphere," Otero said.</p>

<p>Josh Finch, who is a NASA spokesperson, told Ars Technica that the analysis will take&nbsp;place "as soon as possible to determine its origin".&nbsp;</p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking into an incident when a two-pound object crashed into a Florida man's house last month. The space agency is analysing whether or not the object came from the International Space Station (ISS).

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking into an incident when a two-pound object crashed into a Florida man's house last month. The space agency is analysing whether or not the object came from the International Space Station (ISS). In case it came from ISS, it would be a rare incident of an object falling out of orbit and damaging someone's property, or having the potential to harm a person. As per local reports, the homeowner said that the object crashed through the roof of his Naples home at 2:34 pm (local time) on March 8. Its sound was recorded by his Ring security camera. The homeowner, identified as Alejandro Otero, told WINK News, "It was a tremendous sound. It almost hit my son. He was two rooms over and heard it all. Something ripped through the house and then made a big hole on the floor and on the ceiling." Also read: Greenery on Moon soon? NASA to put plants on lunar surface by 2026 In his social media post earlier, Otero addressed a post stating, "Can you please assist with getting NASA to connect with me? I've left messages and emails without a response." A report by the European Space Agency (ESA) estimated that the annual risk of an individual human being injured by space debris is less than 1 in 100 billion. It means it is 1.5 million times lower than the risk of being killed in an accident at home, around 65,000 times lower than the risk of being struck by lightning, and three times lower than the risk of being struck by a meteorite. Falling space debris has never killed anyone, but the incident that happened with Otero could have caused casualties, as the man said that it almost hit his son. Also read: Tennessee Senate passes bill banning geoengineering amid ‘chemtrails’ conspiracy theories According to the scientific journal Ars Technica, the object was probably from ISS. The journal said that the US space command recorded the re-entry of a piece of space debris over the Gulf of Mexico on a path towards southwest Florida at 2.29 pm (local time) that day. The timing was just five minutes before Otero's Nest home security camera captured the sound of the crash. "It used to have a cylindrical shape, and you can tell by the shape of the top that it travelled in this direction through the atmosphere," Otero said. Josh Finch, who is a NASA spokesperson, told Ars Technica that the analysis will take place "as soon as possible to determine its origin".

An object crashed through the roof of a man's house. Did it come from space?

Standard time is the synchronisation of clocks within a geographical region to a single time standard. UTC is the time standard commonly used on the Earth. Now, the White House wants NASA to figure out how to tell time on the moon as well.

Why is NASA creating a time standard for the moon?

NASA's dart fallout! Asteroid Dimorphos debris may rain on Mars

<p><strong>NASA Dart Mission Asteroid:</strong> A distant asteroid was broken into pieces by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in space in 2022 as part of a test programme&nbsp;to deflect&nbsp;celestial bodies threatening to hit&nbsp;Earth. While the DART mission was the talk of the town at the time, the debris of the asteroid in question is&nbsp;returning to haunt a planet. Worry not, as&nbsp;Earth is safe but our red neighbour&nbsp;Mars is not.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA Dart Mission</strong></h2>

<p>An asteroid, known as Dimorphos, was knocked off its original orbit and shattered into pieces by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in a groundbreaking mission. In this mission, it was also proved that the scientists on Earth have the capability to redirect an asteroid if it ever poses a threat to the planet.</p>

<p>The test ended successfully as NASA was able to prove that a kinetic impactor has the capability of changing an asteroid's orbit and also altering its overall trajectory.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-probes-binary-asteroid-system-mors-somnus-in-kuiper-belt-to-know-neptunes-past-697855">James Webb Space Telescope probes binary asteroid system Mors-Somnus in Kuiper Belt to know Neptune's past</a></p>

<p>In the test, a vending machine-sized spacecraft was launched by NASA at an asteroid system which had two space rocks, Didymos and Dimorphos. The collision of the DART spacecraft reduced the speed of &nbsp;Dimorphos' orbit time around Didymos by 32 minutes and 42 seconds.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Humans generate a meteor storm</strong></h2>

<p>In a paper, which was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the researchers said that the pieces of Dimorphos can enter the thin atmosphere of Mars and even hit its surface, where it will create craters.</p>

<p>The study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, has stated the myriad ways in which these boulders are likely to orbit around the Sun in the next 20,000 years. However, the scientists failed to find any possibility of them getting burnt up in the skies of the Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Collision with NASA spacecraft altered shape of asteroid</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/collision-with-nasa-spacecraft-altered-shape-of-asteroid-702408/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>A near-Earth object dynamicist at the European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Objects Coordination Centre study author Marco Fenucci said, "But they’re going to cross the orbit of Mars."</p>

<p>They added that if by any chance both Mars and the mini-asteroids meet at a crossing, some of them will enter its thin atmosphere. “And they will arrive to the ground and make a crater,” said Fenucci.</p>

<p>This is the first time humans have generated their own meteor storm which is likely to end up hitting a rocky planet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA Dart Mission Asteroid: A distant asteroid was broken into pieces by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in space in 2022 as part of a test programme to deflect celestial bodies threatening to hit Earth.

NASA Dart Mission Asteroid: A distant asteroid was broken into pieces by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in space in 2022 as part of a test programme to deflect celestial bodies threatening to hit Earth. While the DART mission was the talk of the town at the time, the debris of the asteroid in question is returning to haunt a planet. Worry not, as Earth is safe but our red neighbour Mars is not. NASA Dart Mission An asteroid, known as Dimorphos, was knocked off its original orbit and shattered into pieces by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in a groundbreaking mission. In this mission, it was also proved that the scientists on Earth have the capability to redirect an asteroid if it ever poses a threat to the planet. The test ended successfully as NASA was able to prove that a kinetic impactor has the capability of changing an asteroid's orbit and also altering its overall trajectory. Also Read: James Webb Space Telescope probes binary asteroid system Mors-Somnus in Kuiper Belt to know Neptune's past In the test, a vending machine-sized spacecraft was launched by NASA at an asteroid system which had two space rocks, Didymos and Dimorphos. The collision of the DART spacecraft reduced the speed of Dimorphos' orbit time around Didymos by 32 minutes and 42 seconds. Humans generate a meteor storm In a paper, which was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the researchers said that the pieces of Dimorphos can enter the thin atmosphere of Mars and even hit its surface, where it will create craters. The study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, has stated the myriad ways in which these boulders are likely to orbit around the Sun in the next 20,000 years. However, the scientists failed to find any possibility of them getting burnt up in the skies of the Earth. Watch: Collision with NASA spacecraft altered shape of asteroid A near-Earth object dynamicist at the European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Objects Coordination Centre study author Marco Fenucci said, "But they’re going to cross the orbit of Mars." They added that if by any chance both Mars and the mini-asteroids meet at a crossing, some of them will enter its thin atmosphere. “And they will arrive to the ground and make a crater,” said Fenucci. This is the first time humans have generated their own meteor storm which is likely to end up hitting a rocky planet. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA blasted an asteroid in space. It now fears boulders may collide with Mars

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidSZgpjSgDWIjX" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>NASA has shared some tips on how to shoot the total&nbsp;solar eclipse ahead of the cosmic event on April 8, which will be visible in parts of some countries like the United States and Canada.</p>

<p>For people within the path of the Moon's shadow, a total solar eclipse is a stunning celestial view, NASA said. While it's a precious chance for scientists to study the sun and the impact of a total solar eclipse on Earth, it's also great for people to capture memorable pictures.</p>

<p>NASA has shared some photography tips for everyone, from amateurs to selfie masters. Here they are:</p>

<h2><strong>Safety First</strong></h2>

<p>It's dangerous to look directly at the sun. One should use a special solar filter to protect the camera and a pair of solar viewing glasses to protect your eyes. Only then can a person click images when the sun is partially eclipsed.</p>

<p>However, when the Moon blocks the sun entirely, one can remove the cover and see the Sun's outer atmosphere called corona.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Which Camera To Use?</strong></h2>

<p>According to NASA, any camera is a good camera, whether you have a high-end DSLR or a camera phone. To take great photos during the eclipse, one needs a good eye and a vision for the image they wish to create.</p>

<p>NASA has urged people to focus on taking landscape shots if they don't have a telephoto zoom lens, capturing the changing environment during the eclipse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, having some equipment handy can prove beneficial during the eclipse. If you need stability for your camera and want to avoid taking blurry images when there is low lighting, a tripod can come in handy. Furthermore, using a delayed shutter release time will allow you to click pictures without shaking your camera.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Look Around!</strong></h2>

<p>As the most dominating element of a solar eclipse, the Sun tends to draw our attention, but it is important to remember to look around you. During a solar eclipse, the surroundings have eerie lighting and shadows. As the sunlight filters through the overlapping leaves of trees, it creates natural pinholes that project miniature eclipse replicas on the ground. Therefore, wherever you point your camera, it can yield exceptional imagery. Be sure to capture some wide-angle photos to document your eclipse experience.</p>

<h2><strong>Practice</strong></h2>

<p>It is important to familiarise yourself with the capabilities of your camera before the day of the eclipse. Many cameras, including some camera phones, have adjustable exposures that can help you adjust the brightness of your image under the difficult lighting conditions of an eclipse. Additionally, it is essential to know how to manually focus your camera to capture clear and precise shots.</p>

<p>NASA has also asked to share the images on social media and tag their official handle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA has shared some tips on how to shoot the total solar eclipse ahead of the cosmic event on April 8, which will be visible in parts of some countries like the United States and Canada.

NASA has shared some tips on how to shoot the total solar eclipse ahead of the cosmic event on April 8, which will be visible in parts of some countries like the United States and Canada. For people within the path of the Moon's shadow, a total solar eclipse is a stunning celestial view, NASA said. While it's a precious chance for scientists to study the sun and the impact of a total solar eclipse on Earth, it's also great for people to capture memorable pictures. NASA has shared some photography tips for everyone, from amateurs to selfie masters. Here they are: Safety First It's dangerous to look directly at the sun. One should use a special solar filter to protect the camera and a pair of solar viewing glasses to protect your eyes. Only then can a person click images when the sun is partially eclipsed. However, when the Moon blocks the sun entirely, one can remove the cover and see the Sun's outer atmosphere called corona. Which Camera To Use? According to NASA, any camera is a good camera, whether you have a high-end DSLR or a camera phone. To take great photos during the eclipse, one needs a good eye and a vision for the image they wish to create. NASA has urged people to focus on taking landscape shots if they don't have a telephoto zoom lens, capturing the changing environment during the eclipse. However, having some equipment handy can prove beneficial during the eclipse. If you need stability for your camera and want to avoid taking blurry images when there is low lighting, a tripod can come in handy. Furthermore, using a delayed shutter release time will allow you to click pictures without shaking your camera. Look Around! As the most dominating element of a solar eclipse, the Sun tends to draw our attention, but it is important to remember to look around you. During a solar eclipse, the surroundings have eerie lighting and shadows. As the sunlight filters through the overlapping leaves of trees, it creates natural pinholes that project miniature eclipse replicas on the ground. Therefore, wherever you point your camera, it can yield exceptional imagery. Be sure to capture some wide-angle photos to document your eclipse experience. Practice It is important to familiarise yourself with the capabilities of your camera before the day of the eclipse. Many cameras, including some camera phones, have adjustable exposures that can help you adjust the brightness of your image under the difficult lighting conditions of an eclipse. Additionally, it is essential to know how to manually focus your camera to capture clear and precise shots. NASA has also asked to share the images on social media and tag their official handle. (With inputs from agencies)

Want to shoot the solar eclipse? Here are four tips by NASA

<p>NASA's cutting-edge James Webb Space Telescope has once again helped humanity unveil cosmic wonders beyond our imagination. Following up on the work of NASA's infrared Spitzer Space Telescope, Webb has now found an Earth-like planet that emits light.</p>

<p>Now, if you're wondering why this is groundbreaking, the answer is a simple one: this is the first time any light has been detected as being emitted from another planet outside of our solar system.</p>

<h2><strong>First such find</strong></h2>

<p>In a statement, NASA said, "This is the first detection of any form of light emitted by an exoplanet as small and as cool as the rocky planets in our own solar system."</p>

<p>"The result marks an important step in determining whether planets orbiting small active stars like TRAPPIST-1 can sustain atmospheres needed to support life."</p>

<p>"It also bodes well for Webb's ability to characterise temperate, Earth-sized exoplanets using MIRI," added the American space agency.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-may-have-hosted-life-for-millions-of-years-longer-than-previously-thought-706772">Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought</a></strong></p>

<p>Thomas Greene, an astrophysicist at NASA's Ames Research Center, emphasised the significance of these observations, and said: "These observations really take advantage of Webb’s mid-infrared capability."</p>

<p>"No previous telescopes have had the sensitivity to measure such dim mid-infrared light," he added, lauding the findings published in the journal Nature.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>TRAPPIST-1 b</strong></h2>

<p>The planet in question is called 'TRAPPIST-1 b' and it shares Earth's composition. It is also roughly the same size as our planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers, as per the ESA Webb website, employed secondary eclipse photometry, a technique using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)&nbsp;to measure changes in brightness as the planet moved behind its star. It found that while TRAPPIST-1 b does not emit visible light, it does emit infrared light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, as per a LAD bible report, the planet is missing an atmosphere and thus cannot support life.</p>

<p>"Previous observations of TRAPPIST-1 b with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, as well as NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, found no evidence for a puffy atmosphere, but were not able to rule out a dense one," says the WSA Webb website.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-announce-new-world-record-of-artificial-sun-at-100-million-degrees-706852">Scientists announce new world record of ‘artificial sun’ at 100 million degrees Celsius</a></strong></p>

<p>As per Pierre-Olivier Lagage from CEA, a co-author on the paper, "This planet is tidally locked, with one side facing the star at all times and the other in permanent darkness."</p>

<p>"If it has an atmosphere to circulate and redistribute the heat, the dayside will be cooler than if there is no atmosphere," said Lagage.</p>

<p>The planet which gets about four times the amount of energy that Earth gets from the Sun has a dayside temperature of around 500 kelvins, or 230 degrees Celsius — not an ideal temperature for life.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's cutting-edge James Webb Space Telescope has once again helped humanity unveil cosmic wonders beyond our imagination. Following up on the work of NASA's infrared Spitzer Space Telescope, Webb has now found an Earth-like planet that emits light.

NASA's cutting-edge James Webb Space Telescope has once again helped humanity unveil cosmic wonders beyond our imagination. Following up on the work of NASA's infrared Spitzer Space Telescope, Webb has now found an Earth-like planet that emits light. Now, if you're wondering why this is groundbreaking, the answer is a simple one: this is the first time any light has been detected as being emitted from another planet outside of our solar system. First such find In a statement, NASA said, "This is the first detection of any form of light emitted by an exoplanet as small and as cool as the rocky planets in our own solar system." "The result marks an important step in determining whether planets orbiting small active stars like TRAPPIST-1 can sustain atmospheres needed to support life." "It also bodes well for Webb's ability to characterise temperate, Earth-sized exoplanets using MIRI," added the American space agency. Also read | Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought Thomas Greene, an astrophysicist at NASA's Ames Research Center, emphasised the significance of these observations, and said: "These observations really take advantage of Webb’s mid-infrared capability." "No previous telescopes have had the sensitivity to measure such dim mid-infrared light," he added, lauding the findings published in the journal Nature. TRAPPIST-1 b The planet in question is called 'TRAPPIST-1 b' and it shares Earth's composition. It is also roughly the same size as our planet. The researchers, as per the ESA Webb website, employed secondary eclipse photometry, a technique using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to measure changes in brightness as the planet moved behind its star. It found that while TRAPPIST-1 b does not emit visible light, it does emit infrared light. However, as per a LAD bible report, the planet is missing an atmosphere and thus cannot support life. "Previous observations of TRAPPIST-1 b with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, as well as NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, found no evidence for a puffy atmosphere, but were not able to rule out a dense one," says the WSA Webb website. Also read | Scientists announce new world record of ‘artificial sun’ at 100 million degrees Celsius As per Pierre-Olivier Lagage from CEA, a co-author on the paper, "This planet is tidally locked, with one side facing the star at all times and the other in permanent darkness." "If it has an atmosphere to circulate and redistribute the heat, the dayside will be cooler than if there is no atmosphere," said Lagage. The planet which gets about four times the amount of energy that Earth gets from the Sun has a dayside temperature of around 500 kelvins, or 230 degrees Celsius — not an ideal temperature for life. (With inputs from agencies)

James Webb Telescope spots extraterrestrial light outside our solar system. Here's what NASA has to say

<p><strong>Moon Standard Time:</strong> The daunting task of setting up a standard time zone on the Moon has been given to the space agency NASA by the White House with the hope that people on Earth will be able to tell what time it is on the Moon.</p>

<p>The space agency was sent a memo by the head of the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on Tuesday (April 2) in which they were asked to work in coordination with other US agencies and international agencies for setting up a moon-centric time reference system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has been given time till the end of 2026 to set up what is known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How different is the moon's time zone from that of Earth?</strong></h2>

<p>The time zone on the Moon won't be very similar to the standard time zones we have on Earth. Actually, Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will be an entire frame of time covering all the regions on the Moon.</p>

<p>Since the gravity on the moon is less, time shifts a bit quickly - 58.7 microseconds every day – in comparison to Earth.</p>

<p>Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will also provide scientists with a time-keeping benchmark for lunar satellites and spacecraft that require extreme precision for their missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenery-on-moon-soon-nasa-to-put-plants-on-lunar-surface-by-2026-706920">Greenery on Moon soon? NASA to put plants on lunar surface by 2026</a></p>

<p>“An atomic clock on the moon will tick at a different rate than a clock on Earth,” said Kevin Coggins, a top communications and navigation official at NASA.</p>

<p>“It makes sense that when you go to another body, like the moon or Mars, that each one gets its own heartbeat," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Why is&nbsp;Moon Standard Time important?</strong></h2>

<p>In September 2026, NASA is planning to send its astronaut missions to the moon through its Artemis programme. They will also establish a scientific lunar base which can help set the stage for future missions to Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Various spacecraft, companies and countries are part of the effort.</p>

<p>Speaking to Reuters, an OSTP official said that without a unified lunar time standard, the scientists will find it challenging to ensure that secured data transfers are taking place between spacecraft. It will also be difficult to synchronise communications among Earth, lunar satellites, bases and astronauts.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Pluto: Should 'Pluto' be a planet again? The debate rages on</strong></p>

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<p>According to the official, the discrepancies in time can also result in errors in mapping the moon and locating positions on or orbiting around the natural satellite.</p>

<p>“Imagine if the world wasn’t syncing their clocks to the same time, how disruptive that might be and how challenging everyday things become,” said the official.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Moon Standard Time: The daunting task of setting up a standard time zone on the Moon has been given to the space agency NASA by the White House with the hope that people on Earth will be able to tell what time it is on the Moon.

Moon Standard Time: The daunting task of setting up a standard time zone on the Moon has been given to the space agency NASA by the White House with the hope that people on Earth will be able to tell what time it is on the Moon. The space agency was sent a memo by the head of the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on Tuesday (April 2) in which they were asked to work in coordination with other US agencies and international agencies for setting up a moon-centric time reference system. NASA has been given time till the end of 2026 to set up what is known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). How different is the moon's time zone from that of Earth? The time zone on the Moon won't be very similar to the standard time zones we have on Earth. Actually, Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will be an entire frame of time covering all the regions on the Moon. Since the gravity on the moon is less, time shifts a bit quickly - 58.7 microseconds every day – in comparison to Earth. Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will also provide scientists with a time-keeping benchmark for lunar satellites and spacecraft that require extreme precision for their missions. Also Read: Greenery on Moon soon? NASA to put plants on lunar surface by 2026 “An atomic clock on the moon will tick at a different rate than a clock on Earth,” said Kevin Coggins, a top communications and navigation official at NASA. “It makes sense that when you go to another body, like the moon or Mars, that each one gets its own heartbeat," he added. Why is Moon Standard Time important? In September 2026, NASA is planning to send its astronaut missions to the moon through its Artemis programme. They will also establish a scientific lunar base which can help set the stage for future missions to Mars. Various spacecraft, companies and countries are part of the effort. Speaking to Reuters, an OSTP official said that without a unified lunar time standard, the scientists will find it challenging to ensure that secured data transfers are taking place between spacecraft. It will also be difficult to synchronise communications among Earth, lunar satellites, bases and astronauts. Watch: Pluto: Should 'Pluto' be a planet again? The debate rages on According to the official, the discrepancies in time can also result in errors in mapping the moon and locating positions on or orbiting around the natural satellite. “Imagine if the world wasn’t syncing their clocks to the same time, how disruptive that might be and how challenging everyday things become,” said the official. (With inputs from agencies)

Earthlings will soon be able to calculate what time it is on the Moon. Here's how

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidV4mcaZjM1zuN" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Parts of the US, Canada and Mexico will thrust into darkness as the Moon glides completely covering the Sun, marking a total solar eclipse on April 8.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While millions of spectators are excited, NASA engineers in Virginia plan to make the most of the few minutes of darkness by launching rockets straight into the eclipse's shadow, LiveScience reported.</p>

<p>These launches have a crucial science goal besides the cool factor. They will enable the scientists to understand how the sudden drop in sunlight impacts Earth's blanket of air.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The swift transition from day to night during the eclipse causes sudden temperature drops. It also tricks animals into engaging in nighttime behaviours.</p>

<p>However, scientists know little about how these brief moments of darkness affect the boundary between our planet's upper and lower atmosphere, called the ionosphere. The ionosphere extends between 55 to 310 miles (90 to 500 kilometres) above the planet's surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-may-have-hosted-life-for-millions-of-years-longer-than-previously-thought-706772">Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought</a></p>

<p>In the ionosphere, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun drives away electrons from atoms, creating electrically charged particles that puff up the upper atmosphere abundantly. During sunset, these ions recombine into neutral atoms, thinning out the charged particles. However, they are ripped away again the next morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If you think of the ionosphere as a pond with some gentle ripples on it, the eclipse is like a motorboat that suddenly rips through the water," Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering and physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said in a 2023 NASA article. "It creates a wake immediately underneath and behind it, and then the water level momentarily goes up as it rushes back in," he added.</p>

<p>NASA engineers expect to gather enough data to predict such disturbances, which interfere with radio and satellite communications. They will launch three rockets from Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The Moon will block only 81.4 per cent of the sun's light at this facility. However, the team expects to use the temporary dimming.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The same research team performed a similar experiment during last October's partial "ring of fire" solar eclipse when the Moon blocked a maximum of 90 per cent of the Sun's light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The experiment revealed that the drop in sunlight caused disturbances capable of impacting radio and satellite communications, highlighting the need for improved capability to anticipate them.</p>

<p>"We are super excited to relaunch [the rockets] during the total eclipse, to see if the perturbations start at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain the same," Barjatya concluded in a NASA statement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Parts of the US, Canada and Mexico will thrust into darkness as the Moon glides completely covering the Sun, marking a total solar eclipse on April 8. While millions of spectators are excited, NASA engineers in Virginia plan to make the most of the few minutes of darkness by launching rockets straight into the eclipse's shadow, LiveScience reported.

Parts of the US, Canada and Mexico will thrust into darkness as the Moon glides completely covering the Sun, marking a total solar eclipse on April 8. While millions of spectators are excited, NASA engineers in Virginia plan to make the most of the few minutes of darkness by launching rockets straight into the eclipse's shadow, LiveScience reported. These launches have a crucial science goal besides the cool factor. They will enable the scientists to understand how the sudden drop in sunlight impacts Earth's blanket of air. The swift transition from day to night during the eclipse causes sudden temperature drops. It also tricks animals into engaging in nighttime behaviours. However, scientists know little about how these brief moments of darkness affect the boundary between our planet's upper and lower atmosphere, called the ionosphere. The ionosphere extends between 55 to 310 miles (90 to 500 kilometres) above the planet's surface. ALSO READ | Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought In the ionosphere, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun drives away electrons from atoms, creating electrically charged particles that puff up the upper atmosphere abundantly. During sunset, these ions recombine into neutral atoms, thinning out the charged particles. However, they are ripped away again the next morning. "If you think of the ionosphere as a pond with some gentle ripples on it, the eclipse is like a motorboat that suddenly rips through the water," Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering and physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said in a 2023 NASA article. "It creates a wake immediately underneath and behind it, and then the water level momentarily goes up as it rushes back in," he added. NASA engineers expect to gather enough data to predict such disturbances, which interfere with radio and satellite communications. They will launch three rockets from Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The Moon will block only 81.4 per cent of the sun's light at this facility. However, the team expects to use the temporary dimming. The same research team performed a similar experiment during last October's partial "ring of fire" solar eclipse when the Moon blocked a maximum of 90 per cent of the Sun's light. The experiment revealed that the drop in sunlight caused disturbances capable of impacting radio and satellite communications, highlighting the need for improved capability to anticipate them. "We are super excited to relaunch [the rockets] during the total eclipse, to see if the perturbations start at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain the same," Barjatya concluded in a NASA statement. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA plans to launch three rockets into the solar eclipse shadow next week. Here’s why

<p><strong>Water on Mars:</strong> Mars may have hosted life for much longer than once believed, according to scientists. How much longer? Its habitable period might actually have been longer by millions of years.</p>

<h2><strong>Water on Mars</strong></h2>

<p>In its ancient past, Mars boasted oceans, lakes, and rivers, painting a picture reminiscent of early Earth during the solar system's infancy.</p>

<p>As per estimates, the gradually changing climate rendered the red planet barren, as we know it today.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/martians-wanted-nasa-is-looking-for-volunteers-to-live-in-a-mars-simulator-for-a-year-692066">‘Martians wanted’: NASA is looking for volunteers to live in a Mars simulator for a year</a></strong></p>

<p>Competing theories exist regarding the disappearance of Martian water. Some propose it evaporated into space as the planet's atmosphere thinned, while others suggest it became trapped within the planet's crust, forming an icy permafrost layer.</p>

<p>Traditionally, scientists thought Mars lost its water during the Hesperian period, about 3.7 to 2.9 billion years ago. However, recent findings propose water may have persisted until the late Hesperian period.</p>

<p>However, a research team by the UK's Imperial College has now found signs that water was abundant in a 154&nbsp;km-diameter basin just south of Mars' equator called Gale Crater. According to them, Mars had water "long after the planet was thought to have become dry and inhospitable."</p>

<h2><strong>Why does water on Mars matter?</strong></h2>

<p>The findings, as per the researchers, "have implications for our understanding of Mars' changing climate, as well as where we now look for signs of habitability."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Using data from the Curiosity rover's exploration, researchers spotted deformed layers in Mars' desert sandstone, which they say "could only have been formed by water".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-evidence-mars-was-once-a-planet-of-rivers-651444">Life on Mars? Curiosity rover discovers that it was once a 'planet of rivers'</a></strong></p>

<p>Dr Steven Banham, the lead author of the study&nbsp;published in Geology, noted that "the sandstone revealed that water was probably abundant more recently, and for longer than previously thought—but by which process did the water leave these clues? "</p>

<p>"This water might have been pressurised liquid, forced into and deforming the sediment; frozen, with the repeat freezing and thawing process causing the deformation; or briny, and subject to large temperature swings."</p>

<p>"What's clear is that behind each of these potential ways to deform this sandstone, water is the common link," he noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Water on Mars: Mars may have hosted life for much longer than once believed, according to scientists. How much longer? Its habitable period might actually have been longer by millions of years.

Water on Mars: Mars may have hosted life for much longer than once believed, according to scientists. How much longer? Its habitable period might actually have been longer by millions of years. Water on Mars In its ancient past, Mars boasted oceans, lakes, and rivers, painting a picture reminiscent of early Earth during the solar system's infancy. As per estimates, the gradually changing climate rendered the red planet barren, as we know it today. Also read | ‘Martians wanted’: NASA is looking for volunteers to live in a Mars simulator for a year Competing theories exist regarding the disappearance of Martian water. Some propose it evaporated into space as the planet's atmosphere thinned, while others suggest it became trapped within the planet's crust, forming an icy permafrost layer. Traditionally, scientists thought Mars lost its water during the Hesperian period, about 3.7 to 2.9 billion years ago. However, recent findings propose water may have persisted until the late Hesperian period. However, a research team by the UK's Imperial College has now found signs that water was abundant in a 154 km-diameter basin just south of Mars' equator called Gale Crater. According to them, Mars had water "long after the planet was thought to have become dry and inhospitable." Why does water on Mars matter? The findings, as per the researchers, "have implications for our understanding of Mars' changing climate, as well as where we now look for signs of habitability." Using data from the Curiosity rover's exploration, researchers spotted deformed layers in Mars' desert sandstone, which they say "could only have been formed by water". Also read | Life on Mars? Curiosity rover discovers that it was once a 'planet of rivers' Dr Steven Banham, the lead author of the study published in Geology, noted that "the sandstone revealed that water was probably abundant more recently, and for longer than previously thought—but by which process did the water leave these clues? " "This water might have been pressurised liquid, forced into and deforming the sediment; frozen, with the repeat freezing and thawing process causing the deformation; or briny, and subject to large temperature swings." "What's clear is that behind each of these potential ways to deform this sandstone, water is the common link," he noted. (With inputs from agencies)

Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought

<p>NASA is gearing up to launch three sounding rockets during the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.</p>

<p>Notably, sounding rockets are suborbital rockets designed to carry scientific instruments or experiments into the upper atmosphere of the Earth for the purpose of gathering data. They are typically used for atmospheric studies.</p>

<p>The mission rockets - Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) - will see what effects the eclipse have on Earth's upper atmosphere. Led by Aroh Barjatya from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the rockets will lift off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.</p>

<p>The APEP rockets, previously used during the 2023 annular solar eclipse, have been refurbished with new instrumentation for this mission. As per the space agency NASA, these rockets will be launched at different intervals - 45 minutes before, during, and 45 minutes after the peak of the local eclipse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These launches are timed to gather data on how the sudden dimming of sunlight during an eclipse influences the ionosphere.&nbsp;The ionosphere is a region of the Earth's upper atmosphere that extends from about 48 kilometres (30 miles) to several hundred kilometres above the Earth's surface. It is abundant in ions from the ionisation of molecules and atoms by solar radiation.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologists-used-ancient-dna-to-construct-the-face-of-the-sixth-century-chinese-emperor-705587">Archaeologists used ancient DNA to construct the face of the sixth-century Chinese emperor</a></p>

<p>Barjatya pointed out, “It’s an electrified region that reflects and refracts radio signals, and also impacts satellite communications as the signals pass through."</p>

<p>He added, “Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.”</p>

<p>The APEP rockets will soar to a maximum altitude of 260 miles. They will measure charged and neutral particle density, as well as electric and magnetic fields. Moreover, each rocket will release secondary instruments to gather more comprehensive data.</p>

<p>“Each rocket will eject four secondary instruments the size of a two-liter soda bottle that also measure the same data points, so it's similar to results from fifteen rockets, while only launching three,” Barjatya noted.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/aliens-on-venus-a-new-experiment-suggests-planet-can-host-lives-in-a-toxic-cloud-705569">Aliens on Venus? A new experiment suggests planet can host lives in a toxic cloud</a></p>

<p>Alongside the rocket launches, teams across the US will employ various methods to study the ionosphere, including high-altitude balloons and ground-based radars.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Planting trees in wrong places could lead to global warming: Study</strong></p>

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<p>“We saw the perturbations capable of affecting radio communications in the second and third rockets, but not during the first rocket that was before peak local eclipse” said Barjatya while adding, “We are super excited to relaunch them during the total eclipse, to see if the perturbations start at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain the same.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA is gearing up to launch three sounding rockets during the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Notably, sounding rockets are suborbital rockets designed to carry scientific instruments or experiments into the upper atmosphere of the Earth for the purpose of gathering data.

NASA is gearing up to launch three sounding rockets during the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Notably, sounding rockets are suborbital rockets designed to carry scientific instruments or experiments into the upper atmosphere of the Earth for the purpose of gathering data. They are typically used for atmospheric studies. The mission rockets - Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) - will see what effects the eclipse have on Earth's upper atmosphere. Led by Aroh Barjatya from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the rockets will lift off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The APEP rockets, previously used during the 2023 annular solar eclipse, have been refurbished with new instrumentation for this mission. As per the space agency NASA, these rockets will be launched at different intervals - 45 minutes before, during, and 45 minutes after the peak of the local eclipse. These launches are timed to gather data on how the sudden dimming of sunlight during an eclipse influences the ionosphere. The ionosphere is a region of the Earth's upper atmosphere that extends from about 48 kilometres (30 miles) to several hundred kilometres above the Earth's surface. It is abundant in ions from the ionisation of molecules and atoms by solar radiation. Also Read | Archaeologists used ancient DNA to construct the face of the sixth-century Chinese emperor Barjatya pointed out, “It’s an electrified region that reflects and refracts radio signals, and also impacts satellite communications as the signals pass through." He added, “Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.” The APEP rockets will soar to a maximum altitude of 260 miles. They will measure charged and neutral particle density, as well as electric and magnetic fields. Moreover, each rocket will release secondary instruments to gather more comprehensive data. “Each rocket will eject four secondary instruments the size of a two-liter soda bottle that also measure the same data points, so it's similar to results from fifteen rockets, while only launching three,” Barjatya noted. Also Read | Aliens on Venus? A new experiment suggests planet can host lives in a toxic cloud Alongside the rocket launches, teams across the US will employ various methods to study the ionosphere, including high-altitude balloons and ground-based radars. Watch | Planting trees in wrong places could lead to global warming: Study × “We saw the perturbations capable of affecting radio communications in the second and third rockets, but not during the first rocket that was before peak local eclipse” said Barjatya while adding, “We are super excited to relaunch them during the total eclipse, to see if the perturbations start at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain the same.” (With inputs from agencies)

NASA rockets to probe Earth's upper atmosphere during Solar Eclipse 2024

<p>NASA’s compact satellite BurstCube has embarked on its journey to the International Space Station,&nbsp;laboratory for scientific research.&nbsp;The spacecraft hitched a ride aboard SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was launched at 4:55 pm EDT on Thursday (Mar 21) from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US.&nbsp;BurstCube is a NASA mission designed to detect and locate gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).</p>

<p>GRBs are powerful explosions that occur in distant galaxies and are among the most energetic events in the universe. BurstCube is aiming to study these bursts to better understand their origins and properties.</p>

<p>Upon reaching the station, BurstCube will be unpacked and subsequently deployed into orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“BurstCube may be small, but in addition to investigating these extreme events, it’s testing new technology and providing important experience for early career astronomers and aerospace engineers,” remarked Jeremy Perkins, BurstCube’s principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/charon-plutos-planetary-bestie-goes-viral-as-nasa-shares-stunning-snapshot-703738">Charon, Pluto's planetary bestie goes viral as NASA shares stunning snapshot</a></p>

<p>Short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are thought to be formed by the merger of two neutron stars. There stars spiral inward and eventually merge due to gravitational wave emission.</p>

<p>These bursts play a role in the creation of heavy elements like gold or iodine.&nbsp;During a GRB, particularly those associated, extremely high-energy conditions are present. These conditions, including high temperatures and densities, facilitate the production of heavy elements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BurstCube's detectors are strategically positioned to enable wide-area detection and localisation of events, as per research scientist&nbsp; Israel Martinez at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Goddard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our current gamma-ray missions can only see about 70 per cent of the sky at any moment because Earth blocks their view. Increasing our coverage with satellites like BurstCube improves the odds we’ll catch more bursts coincident with gravitational wave detections.”</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/water-plumes-collected-from-jupiters-moon-europa-may-bear-signs-of-alien-life-703701">Water plumes collected from Jupiter’s moon Europa may bear signs of alien life</a></p>

<p>The satellite’s primary instrument is adept at capturing gamma rays within the energy range of 50,000 to 1 million electron volts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Study: Climate change-led temperature rise to boost inflation</strong></p>

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<p>Julie Cox, a BurstCube mechanical engineer at Goddard said, “We were able to order many of BurstCube’s parts, like solar panels and other off-the-shelf components, which are becoming standardised for CubeSats."</p>

<p>“That allowed us to focus on the mission’s novel aspects, like the made-in-house components and the instrument, which will demonstrate how a new generation of miniaturised gamma-ray detectors work in space.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA’s compact satellite BurstCube has embarked on its journey to the International Space Station, laboratory for scientific research. The spacecraft hitched a ride aboard SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services mission.

NASA’s compact satellite BurstCube has embarked on its journey to the International Space Station, laboratory for scientific research. The spacecraft hitched a ride aboard SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services mission. It was launched at 4:55 pm EDT on Thursday (Mar 21) from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US. BurstCube is a NASA mission designed to detect and locate gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). GRBs are powerful explosions that occur in distant galaxies and are among the most energetic events in the universe. BurstCube is aiming to study these bursts to better understand their origins and properties. Upon reaching the station, BurstCube will be unpacked and subsequently deployed into orbit. “BurstCube may be small, but in addition to investigating these extreme events, it’s testing new technology and providing important experience for early career astronomers and aerospace engineers,” remarked Jeremy Perkins, BurstCube’s principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Also Read | Charon, Pluto's planetary bestie goes viral as NASA shares stunning snapshot Short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are thought to be formed by the merger of two neutron stars. There stars spiral inward and eventually merge due to gravitational wave emission. These bursts play a role in the creation of heavy elements like gold or iodine. During a GRB, particularly those associated, extremely high-energy conditions are present. These conditions, including high temperatures and densities, facilitate the production of heavy elements. BurstCube's detectors are strategically positioned to enable wide-area detection and localisation of events, as per research scientist Israel Martinez at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Goddard. “Our current gamma-ray missions can only see about 70 per cent of the sky at any moment because Earth blocks their view. Increasing our coverage with satellites like BurstCube improves the odds we’ll catch more bursts coincident with gravitational wave detections.” Also Read | Water plumes collected from Jupiter’s moon Europa may bear signs of alien life The satellite’s primary instrument is adept at capturing gamma rays within the energy range of 50,000 to 1 million electron volts. WATCH | Study: Climate change-led temperature rise to boost inflation × Julie Cox, a BurstCube mechanical engineer at Goddard said, “We were able to order many of BurstCube’s parts, like solar panels and other off-the-shelf components, which are becoming standardised for CubeSats." “That allowed us to focus on the mission’s novel aspects, like the made-in-house components and the instrument, which will demonstrate how a new generation of miniaturised gamma-ray detectors work in space.” (With inputs from agencies)

NASA’s shoebox-sized ‘BurstCube’ satellite set to study short gamma-ray bursts

<p>Mysteries abound and wonders never cease in the vast expanse of space. NASA has once again captivated the world with a mesmerising glimpse into the cosmos. This time, it wasn't just any celestial marvel but a striking portrait of planetary companionship - Pluto and its planetary bestie and moon, Charon.</p>

<p>Shared by NASA on its social media handle, the image was captured by the New Horizons spacecraft just before its closest encounter with Pluto on July 14, 2015. NASA also accompanied the post with a caption and shared that the besties are "sometimes referred to as a double dwarf planet system."</p>

<p>"Charon is the largest of Pluto's five moons – Charon is 754 miles (1,214 km) across, and Pluto is about 1,400 miles wide. The distance between them is 12,200 miles (19,640 km)," NASA said in the caption of the post.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/water-plumes-collected-from-jupiters-moon-europa-may-bear-signs-of-alien-life-703701">Water plumes collected from Jupiter’s moon Europa may bear signs of alien life</a></p>

<p>But it's not just their proportions that intrigue scientists. The post also shared a remarkable phenomenon - mutual tidal locking. "The same surfaces of Charon and Pluto always face each other," NASA explained, highlighting that it is called&nbsp;"a phenomenon called mutual tidal locking."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Describing the image itself, NASA detailed the features of Charon, depicting its predominantly grey surface with a reddish north polar region, countless impact craters, and a distinctive ridge dividing its terrain.</p>

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<p>The internet, as expected, erupted in awe and wonder at this cosmic spectacle.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-is-biological-key-study-confirms-703678">Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is 'biological', key study confirms</a></p>

<p>Since its posting on March 22, the image garnered over 6,00,000 views and sparked a flurry of comments from intrigued netizens.</p>

<p>One user marvelled at the uncanny resemblance of Charon to a bun.&nbsp;"Wow, it looks like a delicious bun! NASA what are you doing! Now I wanted to eat in the middle of the night!"</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Study: Climate change-led temperature rise to boost inflation</strong></p>

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<p>Others pondered the timeless beauty of space photography.&nbsp;"Crazy to think this image is already nearly 10 years old, space photography truly is timeless," one user wrote.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One witty observer even likened Charon to a tortilla in a playful banter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid the whimsical musings, genuine inquiries also seemed to arise about the origins of the moon's craters.</p>

<p>"What causes all those craters?" one user questioned.&nbsp;"This is very beautiful," another user said in awe.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Mysteries abound and wonders never cease in the vast expanse of space. NASA has once again captivated the world with a mesmerising glimpse into the cosmos. This time, it wasn't just any celestial marvel but a striking portrait of planetary companionship - Pluto and its planetary bestie and moon, Charon.

Mysteries abound and wonders never cease in the vast expanse of space. NASA has once again captivated the world with a mesmerising glimpse into the cosmos. This time, it wasn't just any celestial marvel but a striking portrait of planetary companionship - Pluto and its planetary bestie and moon, Charon. Shared by NASA on its social media handle, the image was captured by the New Horizons spacecraft just before its closest encounter with Pluto on July 14, 2015. NASA also accompanied the post with a caption and shared that the besties are "sometimes referred to as a double dwarf planet system." "Charon is the largest of Pluto's five moons – Charon is 754 miles (1,214 km) across, and Pluto is about 1,400 miles wide. The distance between them is 12,200 miles (19,640 km)," NASA said in the caption of the post. Also Read | Water plumes collected from Jupiter’s moon Europa may bear signs of alien life But it's not just their proportions that intrigue scientists. The post also shared a remarkable phenomenon - mutual tidal locking. "The same surfaces of Charon and Pluto always face each other," NASA explained, highlighting that it is called "a phenomenon called mutual tidal locking." Describing the image itself, NASA detailed the features of Charon, depicting its predominantly grey surface with a reddish north polar region, countless impact craters, and a distinctive ridge dividing its terrain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × The internet, as expected, erupted in awe and wonder at this cosmic spectacle. Also Read | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is 'biological', key study confirms Since its posting on March 22, the image garnered over 6,00,000 views and sparked a flurry of comments from intrigued netizens. One user marvelled at the uncanny resemblance of Charon to a bun. "Wow, it looks like a delicious bun! NASA what are you doing! Now I wanted to eat in the middle of the night!" Watch | Study: Climate change-led temperature rise to boost inflation × Others pondered the timeless beauty of space photography. "Crazy to think this image is already nearly 10 years old, space photography truly is timeless," one user wrote. One witty observer even likened Charon to a tortilla in a playful banter. Amid the whimsical musings, genuine inquiries also seemed to arise about the origins of the moon's craters. "What causes all those craters?" one user questioned. "This is very beautiful," another user said in awe. (With inputs from agencies)

Charon, Pluto’s planetary bestie goes viral as NASA shares stunning snapshot

Studies of the 4.5 billion year old asteroid Bennu sample collected in space and brought to Earth by NASA reveals never seen before minerals. Watch in for more details!

NASA OSIRIS-Rex Mission: Asteroid Bennu harbors building blocks of life & minerals

When NASA sent its DART spacecraft to slam into the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, the U.S. space agency demonstrated that it was possible to change a celestial object's trajectory, if needed, to protect Earth. It turns out that this collision changed not only the asteroid's path but its shape as well.

Collision with NASA spacecraft altered shape of asteroid

Studies of the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu sample collected in space and brought to Earth by NASA reveals never seen before minerals. The asteroid also contains also high-carbon content and water, which together could indicate the building blocks of life on earth may be found in the rock.

NASA's Bennu asteroid sample contains carbon, water

<p>Reshaping our understanding of extraterrestrial chemistry, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has unearthed a cosmic cocktail of ingredients essential for life's formation. Recent observations unveiled a surprising array of icy compounds surrounding young protostars IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385, including familiar substances like ethanol, and possibly acetic acid.</p>

<p>This revelation, made possible by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), highlights the foundations&nbsp;of potentially habitable worlds, where conditions might be suitable for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per NASA, "MIRI was developed through a 50-50 partnership between NASA and ESA. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory led the US efforts for MIRI, and a multinational consortium of European astronomical institutes contributes for ESA."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Astronomers speculate that these complex organic molecules (COMs) likely originated from icy materials undergoing sublimation, transitioning directly from the solid to the gas phase. The detection of COMs within ices raises hopes for unraveling the genesis of larger molecules in space.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-spot-black-hole-devouring-star-at-close-proximity-to-earth-700055">Scientists spot black hole devouring star at close proximity to Earth</a></p>

<p>Moreover, simpler compounds such as formic acid, methane, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide were also identified, hinting at potential parallels to early Earth's chemistry. Notably, sulfur-containing compounds like sulfur dioxide may have played a pivotal role in driving metabolic reactions on our primitive planet.</p>

<p>“All of these molecules can become part of comets and asteroids and eventually new planetary systems when the icy material is transported inward to the planet-forming disk as the protostellar system evolves,” said Ewine van Dishoeck, one of the coordinators of the science program at Leiden University.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenland-ice-sheet-melting-rates-can-predict-europes-summer-weather-heres-how-700072">Greenland ice sheet melting rates can predict Europe's summer weather. Here's how</a></p>

<p>“We look forward to following this astrochemical trail step-by-step with more Webb data in the coming years, he added.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-wetland-parks-welcome-hundreds-of-swans-other-migratory-birds-700074">China's wetland parks welcome hundreds of swans &amp; other migratory birds</a></strong></p>

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<p>These findings hold profound implications for our understanding of planetary formation and the potential for life beyond our own world.</p>

<p>The study, conducted under the James Webb Observations of Young ProtoStars (JOYS+) program, pays tribute to Harold Linnartz, a valued team member whose contributions were integral to the project. He passed away in December 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Reshaping our understanding of extraterrestrial chemistry, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has unearthed a cosmic cocktail of ingredients essential for life's formation.

Reshaping our understanding of extraterrestrial chemistry, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has unearthed a cosmic cocktail of ingredients essential for life's formation. Recent observations unveiled a surprising array of icy compounds surrounding young protostars IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385, including familiar substances like ethanol, and possibly acetic acid. This revelation, made possible by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), highlights the foundations of potentially habitable worlds, where conditions might be suitable for life. As per NASA, "MIRI was developed through a 50-50 partnership between NASA and ESA. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory led the US efforts for MIRI, and a multinational consortium of European astronomical institutes contributes for ESA." Astronomers speculate that these complex organic molecules (COMs) likely originated from icy materials undergoing sublimation, transitioning directly from the solid to the gas phase. The detection of COMs within ices raises hopes for unraveling the genesis of larger molecules in space. Also Read | Scientists spot black hole devouring star at close proximity to Earth Moreover, simpler compounds such as formic acid, methane, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide were also identified, hinting at potential parallels to early Earth's chemistry. Notably, sulfur-containing compounds like sulfur dioxide may have played a pivotal role in driving metabolic reactions on our primitive planet. “All of these molecules can become part of comets and asteroids and eventually new planetary systems when the icy material is transported inward to the planet-forming disk as the protostellar system evolves,” said Ewine van Dishoeck, one of the coordinators of the science program at Leiden University. Also Read | Greenland ice sheet melting rates can predict Europe's summer weather. Here's how “We look forward to following this astrochemical trail step-by-step with more Webb data in the coming years, he added. Watch | China's wetland parks welcome hundreds of swans & other migratory birds × These findings hold profound implications for our understanding of planetary formation and the potential for life beyond our own world. The study, conducted under the James Webb Observations of Young ProtoStars (JOYS+) program, pays tribute to Harold Linnartz, a valued team member whose contributions were integral to the project. He passed away in December 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Webb Telescope finds icy compounds with life ingredients in space near these protostars

<p>NASA's Europa Clipper mission in October 2024 will&nbsp;embark on a journey to explore Europa, a moon of Jupiter harbouring tantalising evidence of a subsurface ocean. However, beyond its scientific objectives, Europa Clipper will also aim to carry humanity's aspirations into the cosmos through a carefully curated message sealed within the spacecraft's vault.</p>

<p>"The plate combines the best humanity has to offer across the universe – science, technology, education, art, and math," Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington reportedly said. "The message of connection through water, essential for all forms of life as we know it, perfectly illustrates Earth’s tie to this mysterious ocean world we are setting out to explore."</p>

<h2><strong>What is the message within Europa Clipper?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A triangular plate in Europa Clipper will bear an array of symbols and inscriptions. Crafted from tantalum, this artifact will embody the spirit of exploration and the quest for understanding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-james-webb-telescope-finds-exoplanet-with-boiling-ocean-is-it-a-leap-in-habitable-exploration-698270">NASA's James Webb Telescope finds exoplanet with 'boiling ocean'. Is it a leap in habitable exploration?</a></p>

<p>The outward-facing panel will showcase an engraving of US Poet Laureate Ada Limon’s poem "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa," alongside over 2.6 million names submitted by the public.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, linguists have etched waveforms representing the word "water" spoken in 103 languages, highlighting the universal significance of this vital element.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-a-snake-like-amphibian-that-produces-milk-for-its-young-698014">Scientists discover a snake-like amphibian that produces milk for its young</a></p>

<p>As Europa Clipper is set to venture into the depths of space, it will carry with it the hopes and aspirations of generations.</p>

<p>From Frank Drake's pioneering equation to the visionary efforts of scientists like Ron Greeley, the mission will encapsulate humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Drake Equation was developed by American astronomer Frank Drake in 1961 and is used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilisations in the Milky Way galaxy.</p>

<p>The equation takes into account various factors such as the rate of star formation, the fraction of stars with planets, the number of planets that could potentially support life, the probability of life emerging on those planets, the likelihood of intelligent life evolving, and the duration for which such civilisations release detectable signals into space.</p>

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<p>"It’s been a decades-long journey, and we can’t wait to see what Europa Clipper shows us at this water world," remarked Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.</p>

<p>"In 2030, after a 1.6-billion-mile (2.6-billion-kilometer) journey, Europa Clipper will begin orbiting Jupiter, making 49 close flybys of Europa," as per NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With its launch scheduled from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Europa Clipper will unveil the mysteries of one of the solar system's most enigmatic moons, igniting our collective imagination and inspiring future generations to explore the cosmos.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's Europa Clipper mission in October 2024 will embark on a journey to explore Europa, a moon of Jupiter harbouring tantalising evidence of a subsurface ocean.

NASA's Europa Clipper mission in October 2024 will embark on a journey to explore Europa, a moon of Jupiter harbouring tantalising evidence of a subsurface ocean. However, beyond its scientific objectives, Europa Clipper will also aim to carry humanity's aspirations into the cosmos through a carefully curated message sealed within the spacecraft's vault. "The plate combines the best humanity has to offer across the universe – science, technology, education, art, and math," Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington reportedly said. "The message of connection through water, essential for all forms of life as we know it, perfectly illustrates Earth’s tie to this mysterious ocean world we are setting out to explore." What is the message within Europa Clipper? A triangular plate in Europa Clipper will bear an array of symbols and inscriptions. Crafted from tantalum, this artifact will embody the spirit of exploration and the quest for understanding. Also Read | NASA's James Webb Telescope finds exoplanet with 'boiling ocean'. Is it a leap in habitable exploration? The outward-facing panel will showcase an engraving of US Poet Laureate Ada Limon’s poem "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa," alongside over 2.6 million names submitted by the public. Meanwhile, linguists have etched waveforms representing the word "water" spoken in 103 languages, highlighting the universal significance of this vital element. Also Read | Scientists discover a snake-like amphibian that produces milk for its young As Europa Clipper is set to venture into the depths of space, it will carry with it the hopes and aspirations of generations. From Frank Drake's pioneering equation to the visionary efforts of scientists like Ron Greeley, the mission will encapsulate humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge. The Drake Equation was developed by American astronomer Frank Drake in 1961 and is used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilisations in the Milky Way galaxy. The equation takes into account various factors such as the rate of star formation, the fraction of stars with planets, the number of planets that could potentially support life, the probability of life emerging on those planets, the likelihood of intelligent life evolving, and the duration for which such civilisations release detectable signals into space. Watch | Mystery of MH370: Families seek closure, what really happened to Malaysia's missing airplane? × "It’s been a decades-long journey, and we can’t wait to see what Europa Clipper shows us at this water world," remarked Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "In 2030, after a 1.6-billion-mile (2.6-billion-kilometer) journey, Europa Clipper will begin orbiting Jupiter, making 49 close flybys of Europa," as per NASA. With its launch scheduled from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Europa Clipper will unveil the mysteries of one of the solar system's most enigmatic moons, igniting our collective imagination and inspiring future generations to explore the cosmos. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Europa Clipper mission to send humanity's message to one of Jupiter's largest moons

<p>In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers utilising NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a distant exoplanet potentially cloaked entirely by a vast ocean of water. This finding marks a significant leap in the exploration of habitable conditions beyond Earth.</p>

<p>The observations, facilitated by the JWST, unveiled the presence of water vapour along with chemical signatures of methane and carbon dioxide within the atmosphere of the exoplanet.</p>

<p>Researchers from the University of Cambridge suggested that this chemical composition indicates a 'water world' scenario where the ocean blankets the entire surface, coupled with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.</p>

<p>Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, leading the analysis, speculated on the extreme conditions of the exoplanet's ocean, stating, "The ocean could be upwards of 100 degrees [Celsius] or more." However, the habitability of such an environment remains uncertain.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-a-snake-like-amphibian-that-produces-milk-for-its-young-698014">Scientists discover a snake-like amphibian that produces milk for its young</a></p>

<p>Debates arise from a Canadian team's additional observations of the same exoplanet, challenging the proposed scenario.</p>

<p>They argue that the planet's temperature might be too high for liquid water to exist, estimating it could reach a staggering 4,000 degrees Celsius.</p>

<h2><strong>Habitable?</strong></h2>

<p>By analysing starlight filtered through exoplanet atmospheres, astronomers can discern detailed chemical compositions, shedding light on potential habitability.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-love-preserved-termites-found-frozen-in-amber-while-mating-38mn-years-ago-697969">Ancient love preserved: Termites found frozen in amber while mating 38mn years ago</a></p>

<p>The absence of ammonia in the atmosphere of TOI-270 d supports the 'hycean world' hypothesis, suggesting an ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. However, further observations are needed to ascertain the abundance of water vapour and clarify the likelihood of an oceanic expanse.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mystery-of-mh370-families-seek-closure-what-really-happened-to-malaysias-missing-airplane-698265">Mystery of MH370: Families seek closure, what really happened to Malaysia's missing airplane?</a></strong></p>

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<p>Dr. Jo Barstow of the Open University expressed excitement over the discovery, saying, "Spectra of these small planets with JWST are really exciting because these are brand new environments for which we have no solar system equivalent."&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the search for extraterrestrial life remains ongoing, scientists caution against premature conclusions. "We need to be extremely careful about how we communicate findings on this kind of object," Madhusudhan stressed, highlighting the complexity of interpreting data from distant worlds.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers utilising NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a distant exoplanet potentially cloaked entirely by a vast ocean of water.

In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers utilising NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a distant exoplanet potentially cloaked entirely by a vast ocean of water. This finding marks a significant leap in the exploration of habitable conditions beyond Earth. The observations, facilitated by the JWST, unveiled the presence of water vapour along with chemical signatures of methane and carbon dioxide within the atmosphere of the exoplanet. Researchers from the University of Cambridge suggested that this chemical composition indicates a 'water world' scenario where the ocean blankets the entire surface, coupled with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, leading the analysis, speculated on the extreme conditions of the exoplanet's ocean, stating, "The ocean could be upwards of 100 degrees [Celsius] or more." However, the habitability of such an environment remains uncertain. Also Read | Scientists discover a snake-like amphibian that produces milk for its young Debates arise from a Canadian team's additional observations of the same exoplanet, challenging the proposed scenario. They argue that the planet's temperature might be too high for liquid water to exist, estimating it could reach a staggering 4,000 degrees Celsius. Habitable? By analysing starlight filtered through exoplanet atmospheres, astronomers can discern detailed chemical compositions, shedding light on potential habitability. Also Read | Ancient love preserved: Termites found frozen in amber while mating 38mn years ago The absence of ammonia in the atmosphere of TOI-270 d supports the 'hycean world' hypothesis, suggesting an ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. However, further observations are needed to ascertain the abundance of water vapour and clarify the likelihood of an oceanic expanse. Watch | Mystery of MH370: Families seek closure, what really happened to Malaysia's missing airplane? × Dr. Jo Barstow of the Open University expressed excitement over the discovery, saying, "Spectra of these small planets with JWST are really exciting because these are brand new environments for which we have no solar system equivalent." While the search for extraterrestrial life remains ongoing, scientists caution against premature conclusions. "We need to be extremely careful about how we communicate findings on this kind of object," Madhusudhan stressed, highlighting the complexity of interpreting data from distant worlds. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's James Webb Telescope finds exoplanet with 'boiling ocean'. Is it a leap in habitable exploration?

Did life exist on Mars? This is a question to which all of us want answers too well an American Rover built by NASA's jet propulsion lab has been driving around and studying Mars for over 3 years. Watch this interview to know more.

NASA's 'Perseverance' completes three years on Mars

<p>Ever wonder to what extent some individual can go to fulfill their civic duties? Of course, with the government's assistance. This time, it was a couple of astronauts who did what could appear as a seemingly impossible task. They cast their ballots from space. Yes, quite literally from above our world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The unprecedented demonstration of civic responsibility was made by astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara. Even the vastness of space did not hinder them from participating in the electoral process of US primary voting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The duo shared their extraterrestrial voting experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, encouraging Earthbound citizens to exercise their right to vote.</p>

<p>"Being in space didn’t stop (O’Hara) and I from voting. Go vote today!" Moghbeli wrote in her tweet.<img alt="Astronaut" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0e25a50d-4386-49d5-a273-64896133f808" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/USWhiteHouse%20%281%29.png" /></p>

<p>NASA's intricate space voting procedure involves astronauts completing electronic absentee ballots aboard the International Space Station. Once the vote is cast, the encrypted document embarks on a journey through the cosmos. It travels via a tracking and data relay satellite to a ground antenna situated at the White Sands Complex in New Mexico.</p>

<p>From there, the ballot takes the cosmic route to the Mission Control Center in Houston, serving as a relay station before reaching the county clerk’s office.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>This interstellar voting process underscores the lengths to which modern technology and innovation can facilitate participation in democratic practices, even beyond the confines of our planet.</p>

<h2><strong>Who are the astronauts who voted from space?</strong></h2>

<p>Jasmin Moghbeli was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017. Moghbeli launched to the International Space Station as Commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on August 26, 2023 and successfully docked on August 27, 2023.</p>

<p>In May 2017, Loral O’Hara was selected as a member of the 22nd NASA astronaut class. O’Hara was safely launched and docked to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz rocket on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ever wonder to what extent some individual can go to fulfill their civic duties? Of course, with the government's assistance. This time, it was a couple of astronauts who did what could appear as a seemingly impossible task.

Ever wonder to what extent some individual can go to fulfill their civic duties? Of course, with the government's assistance. This time, it was a couple of astronauts who did what could appear as a seemingly impossible task. They cast their ballots from space. Yes, quite literally from above our world. The unprecedented demonstration of civic responsibility was made by astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara. Even the vastness of space did not hinder them from participating in the electoral process of US primary voting. The duo shared their extraterrestrial voting experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, encouraging Earthbound citizens to exercise their right to vote. "Being in space didn’t stop (O’Hara) and I from voting. Go vote today!" Moghbeli wrote in her tweet. NASA's intricate space voting procedure involves astronauts completing electronic absentee ballots aboard the International Space Station. Once the vote is cast, the encrypted document embarks on a journey through the cosmos. It travels via a tracking and data relay satellite to a ground antenna situated at the White Sands Complex in New Mexico. From there, the ballot takes the cosmic route to the Mission Control Center in Houston, serving as a relay station before reaching the county clerk’s office. What does it mean? This interstellar voting process underscores the lengths to which modern technology and innovation can facilitate participation in democratic practices, even beyond the confines of our planet. Who are the astronauts who voted from space? Jasmin Moghbeli was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017. Moghbeli launched to the International Space Station as Commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on August 26, 2023 and successfully docked on August 27, 2023. In May 2017, Loral O’Hara was selected as a member of the 22nd NASA astronaut class. O’Hara was safely launched and docked to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz rocket on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA astronauts vote from space in US primary elections

A SpaceX rocket lifted off from Florida night carrying a crew of three U.S. astronauts & a Russian cosmonaut on their way to the ISS. The crew began a six-month science mission in Earth's orbit,

SpaceX launches eighth long-duration crew to ISS, webcast captures spectacular nightime launch

<p>In 2019, an unmanned space probe called Beresheet crashed into the moon, scattering its cargo on the lunar surface. Included in the cargo were tardigrades, a nearly indestructible critter that is known for its ability to survive in any environment. But can they survive an environment as foreign as that on the moon? Here's all you need to know.</p>

<h2><strong>The doomed spacecraft</strong></h2>

<p>In April 2019, Israeli spacecraft, originally designated SpaceIL, was a lunar lander funded and built by the non-profit organisation SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries. Israel Space Agency provided technical support for it.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-warn-against-alarming-rise-in-pre-term-births-due-to-climate-change-696268">Scientists warn against alarming rise in pre-term births due to climate change</a></strong></p>

<p>The spacecraft, which was launched on February 22, 2019, attempted a soft landing on April 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the NASA website, the plan was for Beresheet to land in Mare Serenitatis and transmit data from the surface for about 2 days.</p>

<p>However, due to the main engine failure, it crashed on the lunar surface.</p>

<p>Its precious cargo included tardigrades and "lunar library" - something resembling a DVD that contains a 30-million-page archive of human history viewable under microscopes, as well as human DNA - was being carried on the Beresheet robot lander.</p>

<h2><strong>Tardigrades on moon</strong></h2>

<p>Aboard the Beresheet spacecraft were water bears or tardigrades, creatures which are under a millimetre long and can survive despite being heated to 150C or being frozen to almost absolute zero.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They were dehydrated and placed in suspended animation before being loaded on to the spacecraft.</p>

<p>Back then, Arch Mission Foundation boss Nova Spivack, as quoted by BBC, said that they "believe the chances of survival for the tardigrades… are extremely high."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/devil-comet-may-appear-during-total-solar-eclipse-to-show-its-stunning-celestial-display-696285">'Devil Comet' likely to make an appearance during total solar eclipse in April</a></strong></p>

<p>Now, as per a Science Alert report, these tiny animals may have colonised the moon thanks to their remarkable abilities to survive almost anything.</p>

<p>Apparently, laboratory tests have shown that frozen specimens of tardigrade's Hypsibius dujardini species, travelling in a vacuum, were fatally damaged when smashed into sand. However, at a little slower — 2,600 km/h or less — they survived. The moon crash was slower than that, so the chances of water bears on the moon would be very high, if not for the lack of liquid water necessary for their survival.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In 2019, an unmanned space probe called Beresheet crashed into the moon, scattering its cargo on the lunar surface. Included in the cargo were tardigrades, a nearly indestructible critter that is known for its ability to survive in any environment.

In 2019, an unmanned space probe called Beresheet crashed into the moon, scattering its cargo on the lunar surface. Included in the cargo were tardigrades, a nearly indestructible critter that is known for its ability to survive in any environment. But can they survive an environment as foreign as that on the moon? Here's all you need to know. The doomed spacecraft In April 2019, Israeli spacecraft, originally designated SpaceIL, was a lunar lander funded and built by the non-profit organisation SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries. Israel Space Agency provided technical support for it. Also read | Scientists warn against alarming rise in pre-term births due to climate change The spacecraft, which was launched on February 22, 2019, attempted a soft landing on April 11. As per the NASA website, the plan was for Beresheet to land in Mare Serenitatis and transmit data from the surface for about 2 days. However, due to the main engine failure, it crashed on the lunar surface. Its precious cargo included tardigrades and "lunar library" - something resembling a DVD that contains a 30-million-page archive of human history viewable under microscopes, as well as human DNA - was being carried on the Beresheet robot lander. Tardigrades on moon Aboard the Beresheet spacecraft were water bears or tardigrades, creatures which are under a millimetre long and can survive despite being heated to 150C or being frozen to almost absolute zero. They were dehydrated and placed in suspended animation before being loaded on to the spacecraft. Back then, Arch Mission Foundation boss Nova Spivack, as quoted by BBC, said that they "believe the chances of survival for the tardigrades… are extremely high." Also read | 'Devil Comet' likely to make an appearance during total solar eclipse in April Now, as per a Science Alert report, these tiny animals may have colonised the moon thanks to their remarkable abilities to survive almost anything. Apparently, laboratory tests have shown that frozen specimens of tardigrade's Hypsibius dujardini species, travelling in a vacuum, were fatally damaged when smashed into sand. However, at a little slower — 2,600 km/h or less — they survived. The moon crash was slower than that, so the chances of water bears on the moon would be very high, if not for the lack of liquid water necessary for their survival. (With inputs from agencies)

These Earth critters may be colonising the moon, all thanks to a 2019 crash. Here's all you need to know

A SpaceX rocket lifted off from Florida night carrying a crew of three U.S. astronauts & a Russian cosmonaut on their way to the ISS. The crew began a six-month science mission in Earth's orbit.

SpaceX launches its eighth long-duration crew to the International Space Station

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidJO4pH4PvssDJ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-8 mission in collaboration with NASA on Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA and SpaceX launched a crew of four to the International Space Station in the Dragon spacecraft, marking the third attempt after they cancelled it twice due to poor weather conditions. The launch marked SpaceX's eighth crew rotation mission in the ISS with NASA's Commercial Crew Program.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA astronauts involved in the mission are Commander Mattew Dominick, Pilot Michael Barratt, and Mission Specialists Jeanette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin, a Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut. Barratt would be making his third visit to the ISS with this mission.</p>

<p>The four-member crew will return to Earth in the fall. They will spend&nbsp;six months at the ISS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>SpaceX used their "reusable, two-stage rocket" Falcon 9 to launch the Dragon spacecraft. After detaching from Dragon, the Falcon 9 will land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/devil-comet-may-appear-during-total-solar-eclipse-to-show-its-stunning-celestial-display-696285">'Devil Comet' likely to make an appearance during total solar eclipse in April</a></p>

<p>A few days ahead of the launch, the administrators discovered a small air leak at the space station. ISS Program Manager Joel Montalbano stated at a Crew-8 mission briefing, "It's not an impact to Crew-8, but I didn't want anybody to be surprised."&nbsp;</p>

<p>At 10:53 pm on Sunday, the mission lifted off after the engineers concluded that a small crack on the hatch seal wouldn't be an issue in launching the mission. The mission crew members cheered on the ground as the first-stage booster separated from Dragon and the spacecraft moved towards space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The crew will perform over 200 science experiments at the ISS, often referred to as a "floating laboratory." These experiments are a part of the long-term mission to prepare humanity for long-term stays in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One such experiment is taking stem cells to space to study their effects on degenerative disease. Another involves observing the cellular impact of microgravity and ultraviolet radiation on plants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, the crew will test pressure cuffs on legs to check whether they help relieve health problems. Astronauts will also see whether microalgae can help remove carbon dioxide from the air, providing food and oxygen for them.</p>

<p>In the last year, SpaceX undertook almost a hundred launches. Their next launch is the Transporter-10 mission. SpaceX's official website says, "Transporter-10 is SpaceX's 10th dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. There will be 53 payloads on this flight, including CubeSats, MicroSats, and a hosted payload."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-8 mission in collaboration with NASA on Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA and SpaceX launched a crew of four to the International Space Station in the Dragon spacecraft, marking the third attempt after they cancelled it twice due to poor weather conditions.

SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-8 mission in collaboration with NASA on Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA and SpaceX launched a crew of four to the International Space Station in the Dragon spacecraft, marking the third attempt after they cancelled it twice due to poor weather conditions. The launch marked SpaceX's eighth crew rotation mission in the ISS with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts involved in the mission are Commander Mattew Dominick, Pilot Michael Barratt, and Mission Specialists Jeanette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin, a Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut. Barratt would be making his third visit to the ISS with this mission. The four-member crew will return to Earth in the fall. They will spend six months at the ISS. SpaceX used their "reusable, two-stage rocket" Falcon 9 to launch the Dragon spacecraft. After detaching from Dragon, the Falcon 9 will land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. ALSO READ | 'Devil Comet' likely to make an appearance during total solar eclipse in April A few days ahead of the launch, the administrators discovered a small air leak at the space station. ISS Program Manager Joel Montalbano stated at a Crew-8 mission briefing, "It's not an impact to Crew-8, but I didn't want anybody to be surprised." At 10:53 pm on Sunday, the mission lifted off after the engineers concluded that a small crack on the hatch seal wouldn't be an issue in launching the mission. The mission crew members cheered on the ground as the first-stage booster separated from Dragon and the spacecraft moved towards space. The crew will perform over 200 science experiments at the ISS, often referred to as a "floating laboratory." These experiments are a part of the long-term mission to prepare humanity for long-term stays in space. One such experiment is taking stem cells to space to study their effects on degenerative disease. Another involves observing the cellular impact of microgravity and ultraviolet radiation on plants. Furthermore, the crew will test pressure cuffs on legs to check whether they help relieve health problems. Astronauts will also see whether microalgae can help remove carbon dioxide from the air, providing food and oxygen for them. In the last year, SpaceX undertook almost a hundred launches. Their next launch is the Transporter-10 mission. SpaceX's official website says, "Transporter-10 is SpaceX's 10th dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. There will be 53 payloads on this flight, including CubeSats, MicroSats, and a hosted payload." (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX, NASA launch Crew-8 astronaut mission to International Space Station

<p>Odysseus, an American lunar lander that had a doomed, wonky descent on the moon, sent its final image&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;before its power banks depleted, said Intuitive Machines (IM), the private company behind the project that saw America reach the Moon after over 50 years.</p>

<h2><strong>The final image</strong></h2>

<p>The photograph "showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity's presence in the universe," said IM. As per the company, the image was actually captured more than a week back on February 22, the day Odysseus touched down near the Moon's south pole. However, it was only received on Thursday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/quite-the-photographer-us-lunar-spacecraft-odysseus-shares-new-pictures-it-is-expected-to-go-dark-soon-694602">'Quite the photographer': US lunar spacecraft Odysseus shares new pictures</a></strong></p>

<p>"Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you again," said the company to the spaceship that achieved America's first lunar touchdown since the manned Apollo 17 mission in 1972.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Before its power was depleted, Odysseus completed a fitting farewell transmission. Received today, this image from February 22nd showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe.<br />
<br />
Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you… <a href="https://t.co/RwOWsH1TSz">pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz</a></p>
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) <a href="https://twitter.com/Int_Machines/status/1763336637432385813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Is Odysseus out of commission forever?</strong></h2>

<p>With the onset of the long lunar night, flight controllers cannot attempt to awaken the lander for another two or three weeks. However, nothing is certain. Recently, Japan's SLIM spaceship, which in January had landed upside down, was successfully resurrected.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Odysseus moon landing: Historic mission reaches lunar surface</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/odysseus-moon-landing-historic-mission-reaches-lunar-surface-692967/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>Toppled over craft</strong></h2>

<p>Odysseus reached the Moon last Thursday (Feb 22) after an 11th-hour navigational glitch and white-knuckle descent that ended with it landing in a sideways or sharply tilted position. This toppled position has impeded the spacecraft's communications and solar-charging capability.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-spaceship-odysseus-may-have-tipped-over-on-moon-surface-likely-fractured-landing-equipment-693303">US spaceship Odysseus may have 'tipped over' on Moon surface, likely 'fractured' landing equipment</a></strong></p>

<p>On Friday, Intuitive Machines said that two of the spacecraft's communication antennae were pointed the wrong way and thus were knocked out of commission. Likewise, Odysseus' solar panels were facing the wrong direction, thereby limiting the vehicle's ability to recharge its batteries.</p>

<p>As per the company, the navigational issues were due to human error.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Odysseus, an American lunar lander that had a doomed, wonky descent on the moon, sent its final image on Thursday before its power banks depleted, said Intuitive Machines (IM), the private company behind the project that saw America reach the Moon after over 50 years.

Odysseus, an American lunar lander that had a doomed, wonky descent on the moon, sent its final image on Thursday before its power banks depleted, said Intuitive Machines (IM), the private company behind the project that saw America reach the Moon after over 50 years. The final image The photograph "showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity's presence in the universe," said IM. As per the company, the image was actually captured more than a week back on February 22, the day Odysseus touched down near the Moon's south pole. However, it was only received on Thursday. Also read | 'Quite the photographer': US lunar spacecraft Odysseus shares new pictures "Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you again," said the company to the spaceship that achieved America's first lunar touchdown since the manned Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Before its power was depleted, Odysseus completed a fitting farewell transmission. Received today, this image from February 22nd showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe. Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you… pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz — Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 29, 2024 × Is Odysseus out of commission forever? With the onset of the long lunar night, flight controllers cannot attempt to awaken the lander for another two or three weeks. However, nothing is certain. Recently, Japan's SLIM spaceship, which in January had landed upside down, was successfully resurrected. Watch: Odysseus moon landing: Historic mission reaches lunar surface Toppled over craft Odysseus reached the Moon last Thursday (Feb 22) after an 11th-hour navigational glitch and white-knuckle descent that ended with it landing in a sideways or sharply tilted position. This toppled position has impeded the spacecraft's communications and solar-charging capability. Watch | US spaceship Odysseus may have 'tipped over' on Moon surface, likely 'fractured' landing equipment On Friday, Intuitive Machines said that two of the spacecraft's communication antennae were pointed the wrong way and thus were knocked out of commission. Likewise, Odysseus' solar panels were facing the wrong direction, thereby limiting the vehicle's ability to recharge its batteries. As per the company, the navigational issues were due to human error. (With inputs from agencies)

'Goodnight Odie': Wonky US Moon lander Odysseus goes dark with power banks depleted

<p>A new project, launched by NASA, has been turning the beauty of the universe into sound and giving the visually impaired a chance to experience the hidden wonders of space.</p>

<p>Through a process known as sonification, NASA has translated data into sound which gets accompanied by new images of celestial objects observed by the space telescopes of the agency.</p>

<p>The audio was released by NASA along with a new documentary, "Listen to the Universe". It&nbsp;was uploaded on the new NASA+ streaming platform on Wednesday (Feb 28).&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"Sonifications add a new dimension to stunning space imagery, and make those images accessible to the blind and low-vision community for the first time," stated Liz Landau, who heads multimedia efforts for NASA’s Astrophysics Division and also looks over the production of the documentary.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fiery-red-supermassive-black-hole-found-when-universe-was-in-infancy-694718">Scientists find oldest fiery-red supermassive black hole from universe’s infancy</a></p>

<p>"I was honoured to help tell the story of how Dr. Arcand and the System Sounds team make these unique sonic experiences and the broad impact those sonifications have had," Landau said.</p>

<h2><strong>All about NASA sonification project</strong></h2>

<p>The NASA sonification project started in 2020 and came from other Chandra X-ray Observatory projects which is aimed at targetting blind and visually impaired audiences. "Listen to the Universe" looks into the process of how these sonifications are created.</p>

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<p>Telescopes like Chandra X-ray Observatory generally collect scientific data from space in the form of digital signals and convert them into visual images. Sonification is also a similar process but it involves audio.</p>

<p>The first sonification was done of a supernova remnant which was blowing a cloud of energised particles.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Universe's brightest and hungriest black hole</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/universes-brightest-and-hungriest-black-hole-692383/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Another was created of a spiral galaxy, which is similar to the Milky Way, and the third of a spatial cloud of gas and dust, nicknamed the "Jellyfish Nebula."</p>

<p>The NASA+ streaming platform was established to provide on-demand video and other content regarding the agency to the public.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A new project, launched by NASA, has been turning the beauty of the universe into sound and giving the visually impaired a chance to experience the hidden wonders of space.

A new project, launched by NASA, has been turning the beauty of the universe into sound and giving the visually impaired a chance to experience the hidden wonders of space. Through a process known as sonification, NASA has translated data into sound which gets accompanied by new images of celestial objects observed by the space telescopes of the agency. The audio was released by NASA along with a new documentary, "Listen to the Universe". It was uploaded on the new NASA+ streaming platform on Wednesday (Feb 28). × "Sonifications add a new dimension to stunning space imagery, and make those images accessible to the blind and low-vision community for the first time," stated Liz Landau, who heads multimedia efforts for NASA’s Astrophysics Division and also looks over the production of the documentary. Also Read: Scientists find oldest fiery-red supermassive black hole from universe’s infancy "I was honoured to help tell the story of how Dr. Arcand and the System Sounds team make these unique sonic experiences and the broad impact those sonifications have had," Landau said. All about NASA sonification project The NASA sonification project started in 2020 and came from other Chandra X-ray Observatory projects which is aimed at targetting blind and visually impaired audiences. "Listen to the Universe" looks into the process of how these sonifications are created. × Telescopes like Chandra X-ray Observatory generally collect scientific data from space in the form of digital signals and convert them into visual images. Sonification is also a similar process but it involves audio. The first sonification was done of a supernova remnant which was blowing a cloud of energised particles. Watch: Universe's brightest and hungriest black hole Another was created of a spiral galaxy, which is similar to the Milky Way, and the third of a spatial cloud of gas and dust, nicknamed the "Jellyfish Nebula." The NASA+ streaming platform was established to provide on-demand video and other content regarding the agency to the public. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA converts beauty of universe into sound for visually impaired to experience

<p>NASA's Terra satellite recently captured a strange image of the sky above the Gulf of Mexico and just off the coast of Florida, which revealed some odd, eerie holes in the clouds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is not the first time that such holes have been spotted. In fact, for more than 60 years, these holes have been puzzling the scientists, some even linking it to paranormal phenomena. However, now scientists have decoded the mystery behind these clouds.</p>

<p>In the photo, which was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) using NASA's Terra satellite last month, a cluster of ellipse-shaped figures or circles appeared which looked like they had been neatly cut out from the clouds. As per NASA, they even depicted "feathery wisps" in the middle of the hole.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fiery-red-supermassive-black-hole-found-when-universe-was-in-infancy-694718">Scientists find oldest fiery-red supermassive black hole from universe’s infancy</a></p>

<h2><strong>What are these holes and what causes them?</strong></h2>

<p>These holes are called cavum clouds, hole-punch clouds or fallstreak holes. Such holes are caused by aeroplanes which travel through banks of altocumulus clouds, as per NASA, which cited a study published by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) scientists in 2010 and 2011.</p>

<p>NASA claimed these mid-level clouds are filled with liquid water droplets which are "supercooled." &nbsp;Because of this, the droplets remain in a liquid state even when temperatures fall to the typical freezing point of water.</p>

<p>"Supercooling happens when water droplets are exceptionally pure and lack small particles, such as dust, fungal spores, pollen, or bacteria, around which ice crystals typically form," said NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Universe's brightest and hungriest black hole</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/universes-brightest-and-hungriest-black-hole-692383/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Supercooling may sound exotic, but it occurs routinely in Earth’s atmosphere. Altocumulus clouds, which cover about 8 per cent of Earth’s surface at any given time, are mostly composed of liquid water droplets supercooled to a temperature of about (5 degrees Fahrenheit)," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>UCAR scientists finally found that when planes pass through clouds, they sometimes create either cavum or canal clouds. Cavum clouds are formed when planes pass at a fairly sharp angle, while canal clouds appear when planes pass at a longer, shallow angle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's Terra satellite recently captured a strange image of the sky above the Gulf of Mexico and just off the coast of Florida, which revealed some odd, eerie holes in the clouds.

NASA's Terra satellite recently captured a strange image of the sky above the Gulf of Mexico and just off the coast of Florida, which revealed some odd, eerie holes in the clouds. This is not the first time that such holes have been spotted. In fact, for more than 60 years, these holes have been puzzling the scientists, some even linking it to paranormal phenomena. However, now scientists have decoded the mystery behind these clouds. In the photo, which was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) using NASA's Terra satellite last month, a cluster of ellipse-shaped figures or circles appeared which looked like they had been neatly cut out from the clouds. As per NASA, they even depicted "feathery wisps" in the middle of the hole. Also Read: Scientists find oldest fiery-red supermassive black hole from universe’s infancy What are these holes and what causes them? These holes are called cavum clouds, hole-punch clouds or fallstreak holes. Such holes are caused by aeroplanes which travel through banks of altocumulus clouds, as per NASA, which cited a study published by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) scientists in 2010 and 2011. NASA claimed these mid-level clouds are filled with liquid water droplets which are "supercooled." Because of this, the droplets remain in a liquid state even when temperatures fall to the typical freezing point of water. "Supercooling happens when water droplets are exceptionally pure and lack small particles, such as dust, fungal spores, pollen, or bacteria, around which ice crystals typically form," said NASA. Watch: Universe's brightest and hungriest black hole "Supercooling may sound exotic, but it occurs routinely in Earth’s atmosphere. Altocumulus clouds, which cover about 8 per cent of Earth’s surface at any given time, are mostly composed of liquid water droplets supercooled to a temperature of about (5 degrees Fahrenheit)," it added. UCAR scientists finally found that when planes pass through clouds, they sometimes create either cavum or canal clouds. Cavum clouds are formed when planes pass at a fairly sharp angle, while canal clouds appear when planes pass at a longer, shallow angle. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA spots eerie holes in clouds above Florida. Are they a paranormal phenomenon or...

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