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<p>Ken Mattingly was a celebrated astronaut who contributed significantly to NASA's space missions, including Apollo 16. He passed away on Tuesday (Oct 31) at 87, NASA confirmed.</p>

<p>He also played a pivotal role in Apollo 13, one of the most remarkable space missions, during which he provided significant ground support in a near-disastrous accident.</p>

<p>Mattingly's career witnessed some extraordinary achievements. He commanded shuttle missions and played a crucial role in Apollo 16's success.</p>

<p>Here's everything you need to know about Ken Mattingly.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ken Mattingly's Early Life</strong></h2>

<p>Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II was born on 17 March 1936 in Chicago. Raised in Miami, he developed a keen interest in aviation and space. He pursued his bachelor's degree at Auburn University.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, Mattingly enlisted in the Navy as an ensign. In 1960, he became a Navy jet pilot after earning his wings. He also attended the test-pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and became a part of the astronaut corps.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-lucy-spacecraft-in-quest-for-asteroid-dinkinesh-finds-another-gem-of-space-rock-654619" target="_blank">Asteroid Dinkinesh has its own moon, pictures sent by Lucy mission show</a></p>

<h2><strong>Ken Mattingly's Apollo 16 &amp; Other Missions</strong></h2>

<p>Ken Mattingly ventured into his first spaceflight in April 1972 as a part of the Apollo 16 mission. He was the command module pilot. He contributed significantly by clicking exclusive pictures of the Moon's surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the Apollo 13 mission, he was removed from the crew just days before launch due to concerns about exposure to German measles. However, his expertise and guidance were essential as his groundwork ensured the safe return of the astronauts after&nbsp;Apollo 13 suffered an explosion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He stayed behind and provided key real-time decisions to successfully bring home the wounded spacecraft and the crew of Apollo 13," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson&nbsp;said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The entire incident was shown in Tom Hanks starrer&nbsp;Apollo 13 released in 1995.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/data-lab-delhi-leads-october-pollution-among-major-indian-cities-what-awaits-in-the-diwali-month-654506" target="_blank">Data Lab: Delhi leads October pollution among major Indian cities. What awaits in the Diwali month?</a></p>

<p>Mattingly was the head of the astronaut support office for space shuttle programs and led various space shuttle flights, including the Department of Defense's first space shuttle mission.</p>

<p>Mattingly did not leave the aerospace industry even after retirement. Gary Sinise portrayed his perseverance and commitment during Apollo 13 in the 1995 film.</p>

<h2><strong>Ken Mattingly's&nbsp;Family &amp; Cause Of Death</strong></h2>

<p>Ken Mattingly is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and his son, Thomas III. He inspired many astronauts and space enthusiasts. His legacy is also an inspiration for future generations, as he has left a memorable mark on the history of human space exploration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokeswoman, confirmed his death but did not specify the cause or location.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ken Mattingly was a celebrated astronaut who contributed significantly to NASA's space missions, including Apollo 16. He passed away on Tuesday (Oct 31) at 87, NASA confirmed.

Ken Mattingly was a celebrated astronaut who contributed significantly to NASA's space missions, including Apollo 16. He passed away on Tuesday (Oct 31) at 87, NASA confirmed. He also played a pivotal role in Apollo 13, one of the most remarkable space missions, during which he provided significant ground support in a near-disastrous accident. Mattingly's career witnessed some extraordinary achievements. He commanded shuttle missions and played a crucial role in Apollo 16's success. Here's everything you need to know about Ken Mattingly. Ken Mattingly's Early Life Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II was born on 17 March 1936 in Chicago. Raised in Miami, he developed a keen interest in aviation and space. He pursued his bachelor's degree at Auburn University. Later, Mattingly enlisted in the Navy as an ensign. In 1960, he became a Navy jet pilot after earning his wings. He also attended the test-pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and became a part of the astronaut corps. ALSO READ | Asteroid Dinkinesh has its own moon, pictures sent by Lucy mission show Ken Mattingly's Apollo 16 & Other Missions Ken Mattingly ventured into his first spaceflight in April 1972 as a part of the Apollo 16 mission. He was the command module pilot. He contributed significantly by clicking exclusive pictures of the Moon's surface. During the Apollo 13 mission, he was removed from the crew just days before launch due to concerns about exposure to German measles. However, his expertise and guidance were essential as his groundwork ensured the safe return of the astronauts after Apollo 13 suffered an explosion. "He stayed behind and provided key real-time decisions to successfully bring home the wounded spacecraft and the crew of Apollo 13," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. The entire incident was shown in Tom Hanks starrer Apollo 13 released in 1995. ALSO READ | Data Lab: Delhi leads October pollution among major Indian cities. What awaits in the Diwali month? Mattingly was the head of the astronaut support office for space shuttle programs and led various space shuttle flights, including the Department of Defense's first space shuttle mission. Mattingly did not leave the aerospace industry even after retirement. Gary Sinise portrayed his perseverance and commitment during Apollo 13 in the 1995 film. Ken Mattingly's Family & Cause Of Death Ken Mattingly is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and his son, Thomas III. He inspired many astronauts and space enthusiasts. His legacy is also an inspiration for future generations, as he has left a memorable mark on the history of human space exploration. Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokeswoman, confirmed his death but did not specify the cause or location. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Who was Ken Mattingly? Apollo 16 astronaut who died at 87

<p>Scientists now have established why the red supergiant star Betelgeuse turned dim between 2018 and 2020, dismissing theories that suggested that the star might be entering the last stage of its evolution—Supernova or the ultimate explosion.</p>

<p>According to a team of scientists from France’s Université Côte d’Azur, the dimming was caused by a burst of dust on the star’s surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team reportedly used MATISSE (Multi Aperture mid-Infrared Spectroscopic Experiment) instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer in northern Chile to snap high-resolution pictures of the star from 2018 to 2020.</p>

<p>Images released on Monday (Oct 23) by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) revealed that the star had returned to its original form, from our point of view.</p>

<h2><strong>The cause of the dimming revealed</strong></h2>

<p>The French team also observed that while the star appeared dim during these years, its photosphere actually brightened up.</p>

<p>This led the team to believe that the dimming was due to a burst of dust, in the form of silicon monoxide, coming from the star.</p>

<p>The burst might have been caused by a sudden cooling of the star's surface.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place?</strong></p>

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<p>"The changes in the structure of the photosphere and the silicon monoxide are consistent with both the formation of a cold spot on the star’s surface and the ejection of a cloud of dust," the statement by the French team reads.</p>

<h2><strong>Theory supports 2021 study results</strong></h2>

<p>If the hypothesis holds true, it would align with the findings of a 2021 study concerning Betelgeuse, which suggested that the star had essentially expelled a bubble of gas. Astronomers who observed the star during that period had concluded that a sudden temperature drop had caused some gas to erupt from its surface.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-a-vaccine-for-cocaine-heres-how-it-works-651343"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Scientists develop a vaccine for cocaine. Here`s how it works</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the 2021 results, this abrupt cooling would have been sufficient to cause the departing gas to condense into solid dust. This dust would then have dispersed to create a shroud in front of the star, causing it to appear dimmer from our perspective.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The MATISSE images, therefore, provide support for this theory. Furthermore, these images indicate that dust, the same dust that can eventually contribute to the formation of new star systems, can actually form in close proximity to stars.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Scientists now have established why the red supergiant star Betelgeuse turned dim between 2018 and 2020, dismissing theories that suggested that the star might be entering the last stage of its evolution—Supernova or the ultimate explosion.

Scientists now have established why the red supergiant star Betelgeuse turned dim between 2018 and 2020, dismissing theories that suggested that the star might be entering the last stage of its evolution—Supernova or the ultimate explosion. According to a team of scientists from France’s Université Côte d’Azur, the dimming was caused by a burst of dust on the star’s surface. The team reportedly used MATISSE (Multi Aperture mid-Infrared Spectroscopic Experiment) instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer in northern Chile to snap high-resolution pictures of the star from 2018 to 2020. Images released on Monday (Oct 23) by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) revealed that the star had returned to its original form, from our point of view. The cause of the dimming revealed The French team also observed that while the star appeared dim during these years, its photosphere actually brightened up. This led the team to believe that the dimming was due to a burst of dust, in the form of silicon monoxide, coming from the star. The burst might have been caused by a sudden cooling of the star's surface. Watch: Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place? × "The changes in the structure of the photosphere and the silicon monoxide are consistent with both the formation of a cold spot on the star’s surface and the ejection of a cloud of dust," the statement by the French team reads. Theory supports 2021 study results If the hypothesis holds true, it would align with the findings of a 2021 study concerning Betelgeuse, which suggested that the star had essentially expelled a bubble of gas. Astronomers who observed the star during that period had concluded that a sudden temperature drop had caused some gas to erupt from its surface. Also read: Scientists develop a vaccine for cocaine. Here`s how it works According to the 2021 results, this abrupt cooling would have been sufficient to cause the departing gas to condense into solid dust. This dust would then have dispersed to create a shroud in front of the star, causing it to appear dimmer from our perspective. The MATISSE images, therefore, provide support for this theory. Furthermore, these images indicate that dust, the same dust that can eventually contribute to the formation of new star systems, can actually form in close proximity to stars. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Scientists resolve the mystery behind sudden dimming of supergiant Betelgeuse star

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<p>NASA's Johnson Space Center has been struggling to open a canister which kept an asteroid sample safe during its journey through space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A month ago, pristine samples from an asteroid landed on Earth, enclosed within a tight capsule. However, the curation team for the OSIRIS-REx mission, the first US mission to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu, has been having trouble opening the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team has been handling the TAGSAM head carefully using a specialised glovebox under the nitrogen flow to prevent contamination.</p>

<p>In a blog post,&nbsp;NASA said, "After multiple attempts at removal, the team discovered that they could not remove two of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head with the current tools approved for use in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. The team has been developing and implementing new approaches to extract the material inside the head while continuing to keep the sample safe and pristine."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="www.wionews.com/science/giant-solar-storm-to-hit-earth-on-oct-24-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-650597" target="_blank">Giant solar storm to hit Earth on Oct 24: Here's how to protect yourself</a></p>

<p>On the initial removal of the aluminium lid on the canister, the mission team found black dust and debris on the avionics deck. On 11 October 2023, NASA revealed the first sample collected from TAGSAM's outer covering. However, it mentioned that the team still hasn't opened the sample canister.</p>

<p>So far, the curation team has removed some of the material from inside the canisters using tweezers. "The tools for any proposed solution to extract the remaining material from the head must be able to fit inside the glovebox and not compromise the scientific integrity of the collection, and any procedures must be consistent with the clean room's standards," NASA wrote in its blog post.</p>

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<p>According to NASA, the asteroid samples collected exceed the mission's goal of gathering 60 grams of debris from the asteroid. The space agency has recovered 70.3 grams of rocks and dust. The research team has also found an abundance of carbon and water molecules in the samples.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Launched in September 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission reached asteroid Bennu in December 2018. The spacecraft landed on Bennu and collected a sample from its surface in October 2020. Then, OSIRIS-REx dropped the asteroid sample in the Utah desert on 24 September 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the mission has hit a temporary block, the initial findings from the asteroid sample look promising.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA's Johnson Space Center has been struggling to open a canister which kept an asteroid sample safe during its journey through space. A month ago, pristine samples from an asteroid landed on Earth, enclosed within a tight capsule.

NASA's Johnson Space Center has been struggling to open a canister which kept an asteroid sample safe during its journey through space. A month ago, pristine samples from an asteroid landed on Earth, enclosed within a tight capsule. However, the curation team for the OSIRIS-REx mission, the first US mission to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu, has been having trouble opening the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head. The team has been handling the TAGSAM head carefully using a specialised glovebox under the nitrogen flow to prevent contamination. In a blog post, NASA said, "After multiple attempts at removal, the team discovered that they could not remove two of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head with the current tools approved for use in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. The team has been developing and implementing new approaches to extract the material inside the head while continuing to keep the sample safe and pristine." ALSO READ | Giant solar storm to hit Earth on Oct 24: Here's how to protect yourself On the initial removal of the aluminium lid on the canister, the mission team found black dust and debris on the avionics deck. On 11 October 2023, NASA revealed the first sample collected from TAGSAM's outer covering. However, it mentioned that the team still hasn't opened the sample canister. So far, the curation team has removed some of the material from inside the canisters using tweezers. "The tools for any proposed solution to extract the remaining material from the head must be able to fit inside the glovebox and not compromise the scientific integrity of the collection, and any procedures must be consistent with the clean room's standards," NASA wrote in its blog post. ALSO READ | Human sperm is breaking one of Newton's laws of motion and the finding may be revolutionary According to NASA, the asteroid samples collected exceed the mission's goal of gathering 60 grams of debris from the asteroid. The space agency has recovered 70.3 grams of rocks and dust. The research team has also found an abundance of carbon and water molecules in the samples. Launched in September 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission reached asteroid Bennu in December 2018. The spacecraft landed on Bennu and collected a sample from its surface in October 2020. Then, OSIRIS-REx dropped the asteroid sample in the Utah desert on 24 September 2023. Although the mission has hit a temporary block, the initial findings from the asteroid sample look promising. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

A canister containing asteroid samples is giving NASA a hard time. Here's why

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<p>A recent study has revealed that the cause behind the largest marsquake that occurred on 4 May 2022 was not a meteor but something else.</p>

<p>According to the paper published in the&nbsp;<em>Geophysical Research Letters&nbsp;</em>journal<em>,&nbsp;</em>two of the most shocking quakes on Mars did not occur because of a meteor or any object from the sky. The most likely explanation is that the tectonic forces within Mars released suddenly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The marsquake, S1222a, had a magnitude of 4.7 and caused shakings around the planet to resonate for six hours.</p>

<p>Dr Benjamin Fernando, the lead author of the recently published paper, contacted space agencies of various countries to survey the marsquake. But after exploring 144.8 million square kilometres of Mars, Fernando's team could not find a crater, concluding that an asteroid did not cause the tremor. "The most exciting thing about this research has been bringing together researchers from across the world to search for the crater, including those from nations who do not routinely collaborate in space research," he told IFLScience.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research team InSight concluded that Mars is more geographically active than they expected, as per previous measurements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Dr Fernando believes Mars still does not have active tectonic plates, and the stress release within Mars' crust caused the tremors. He said, "These stresses are the result of billions of years of evolution, including the cooling and shrinking of different parts of the planet at different rates."</p>

<p>"We still do not fully understand why some parts of the planet seem to have higher stresses than others, but these results help us to investigate further. One day, this information may help us to understand where it would be safe for humans to live on Mars and where you might want to avoid it!" he added.</p>

<p>Dr Daniela Tirsch, the science coordinator for the high-resolution stereo camera on board the ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, explained, "This experiment shows how important it is to maintain a diverse set of instruments at Mars, and we are glad to have played our part in completing the multi-instrumental and international approach of this study."</p>

<p>Other international collaborators have also echoed these sentiments.</p>

<p>Dr Jianjun Liu, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "We are willing to collaborate with scientists around the world to share and apply this scientific data to get more knowledge about Mars, and are proud to have provided data from the colour images on Tianwen-1 to contribute to this effort."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A recent study has revealed that the cause behind the largest marsquake that occurred on 4 May 2022 was not a meteor but something else. According to the paper published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal, two of the most shocking quakes on Mars did not occur because of a meteor or any object from the sky.

A recent study has revealed that the cause behind the largest marsquake that occurred on 4 May 2022 was not a meteor but something else. According to the paper published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal, two of the most shocking quakes on Mars did not occur because of a meteor or any object from the sky. The most likely explanation is that the tectonic forces within Mars released suddenly. The marsquake, S1222a, had a magnitude of 4.7 and caused shakings around the planet to resonate for six hours. Dr Benjamin Fernando, the lead author of the recently published paper, contacted space agencies of various countries to survey the marsquake. But after exploring 144.8 million square kilometres of Mars, Fernando's team could not find a crater, concluding that an asteroid did not cause the tremor. "The most exciting thing about this research has been bringing together researchers from across the world to search for the crater, including those from nations who do not routinely collaborate in space research," he told IFLScience. The research team InSight concluded that Mars is more geographically active than they expected, as per previous measurements. However, Dr Fernando believes Mars still does not have active tectonic plates, and the stress release within Mars' crust caused the tremors. He said, "These stresses are the result of billions of years of evolution, including the cooling and shrinking of different parts of the planet at different rates." "We still do not fully understand why some parts of the planet seem to have higher stresses than others, but these results help us to investigate further. One day, this information may help us to understand where it would be safe for humans to live on Mars and where you might want to avoid it!" he added. Dr Daniela Tirsch, the science coordinator for the high-resolution stereo camera on board the ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, explained, "This experiment shows how important it is to maintain a diverse set of instruments at Mars, and we are glad to have played our part in completing the multi-instrumental and international approach of this study." Other international collaborators have also echoed these sentiments. Dr Jianjun Liu, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "We are willing to collaborate with scientists around the world to share and apply this scientific data to get more knowledge about Mars, and are proud to have provided data from the colour images on Tianwen-1 to contribute to this effort." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mars shook for over 6 hours in 2022 and its source is quite shocking

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<p>The supermoons of 2023 might be over. But our night sky offers an abundance of marvellous astronomical events. This week, it's the Draconid meteor shower.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Unlike other meteor showers, the Draconids meteor shower is visible in the evening rather than in the early hours.</p>

<p>The meteor shower, occasionally called the Giacobinids, happens when Earth passes through the debris left behind by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, discovered by Michel Giacobini in 1900. The small comet is only 1.24 miles wide and orbits around the Sun once every 6.6 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anna Gammon-Ross, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told Metro UK that the Draconoid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Draco (Latin for the dragon). "This is because, although meteors can be seen all over the sky, they all appear to emerge or radiate from a single point lying within this constellation," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-we-help-take-india-to-space-but-enough-trains-dont-halt-for-us-say-spaceport-personnel-642151" target="_blank">India: 'We help take India to space but enough trains don't halt for us', say Spaceport personnel</a></p>

<p>Draconid meteor shower occurs when comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner's debris burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. According to Anna, this debris burns up around 50 miles above the ground, making it a non-dangerous event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meteor showers or shooting stars occur when particles as small as a grain of sand burn in the Earth's atmosphere. Any large debris that makes it through the fiery passage and lands on the Earth's surface is called a meteorite.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Draconid meteor shower is not the busiest of the year. However, it is unique because it has been the cause of a meteor storm, during which an observer can witness over a thousand meteors.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How to watch the Draconoid meteor shower 2023?</strong></h2>

<p>The Draconid meteor shower 2023 will be visible from Friday, October 6, to Tuesday, October 10. The best time to watch the event would be around 8 pm on Sunday, October 8, in the northwest of the sky.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To increase your chances of spotting the meteor shower, find a dark area of clear sky and allow around 20 minutes to let your eyes adapt to the dark. Skywatchers who wish to look up for a long time can find a place to lie down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Don't fret if you missed the Draconids meteor shower, as the Orionids are currently happening and will reach their peak on October 21 and 22. This shower is caused by debris from the well-known Halley's Comet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The supermoons of 2023 might be over. But our night sky offers an abundance of marvellous astronomical events. This week, it's the Draconid meteor shower. Unlike other meteor showers, the Draconids meteor shower is visible in the evening rather than in the early hours.

The supermoons of 2023 might be over. But our night sky offers an abundance of marvellous astronomical events. This week, it's the Draconid meteor shower. Unlike other meteor showers, the Draconids meteor shower is visible in the evening rather than in the early hours. The meteor shower, occasionally called the Giacobinids, happens when Earth passes through the debris left behind by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, discovered by Michel Giacobini in 1900. The small comet is only 1.24 miles wide and orbits around the Sun once every 6.6 years. Anna Gammon-Ross, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told Metro UK that the Draconoid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Draco (Latin for the dragon). "This is because, although meteors can be seen all over the sky, they all appear to emerge or radiate from a single point lying within this constellation," she added. ALSO READ | India: 'We help take India to space but enough trains don't halt for us', say Spaceport personnel Draconid meteor shower occurs when comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner's debris burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. According to Anna, this debris burns up around 50 miles above the ground, making it a non-dangerous event. Meteor showers or shooting stars occur when particles as small as a grain of sand burn in the Earth's atmosphere. Any large debris that makes it through the fiery passage and lands on the Earth's surface is called a meteorite. The Draconid meteor shower is not the busiest of the year. However, it is unique because it has been the cause of a meteor storm, during which an observer can witness over a thousand meteors. How to watch the Draconoid meteor shower 2023? The Draconid meteor shower 2023 will be visible from Friday, October 6, to Tuesday, October 10. The best time to watch the event would be around 8 pm on Sunday, October 8, in the northwest of the sky. To increase your chances of spotting the meteor shower, find a dark area of clear sky and allow around 20 minutes to let your eyes adapt to the dark. Skywatchers who wish to look up for a long time can find a place to lie down. Don't fret if you missed the Draconids meteor shower, as the Orionids are currently happening and will reach their peak on October 21 and 22. This shower is caused by debris from the well-known Halley's Comet. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

The Draconid meteor shower might turn into a meteor storm. Here's when to watch

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<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidyMa2J2v3Yev2" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Almost a year has passed since NASA intentionally crashed a $300 million spacecraft into an asteroid. However, now, the asteroid is behaving unexpectedly.</p>

<p>NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a one-of-a-kind stunt. They slammed a spacecraft into the space rock Dimporphos at 14,000 miles per hour on September 26, 2022.</p>

<p>Dimorphos orbits another asteroid called Didymos. While neither object threatened Earth, the DART demonstrated that NASA could nudge an asteroid and alter its trajectory. The action might come in handy if a planetary defence scenario ever materialises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tiny but mighty DART craft shortened Dimorphos' orbital period by about 33 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, according to a new research, Dimorphos' orbiting time has decreased by another full minute compared to NASA's numbers,&nbsp;<em>New Scientist</em>&nbsp;reported. A high school teacher and his students conducted the research from September to November 2022. The study said the asteroid's orbital period, initially 11 hours 55 minutes, has decreased by 34 minutes.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="www.wionews.com/science/swiss-researchers-engineer-bacteria-to-generate-electricity-using-wastewater-635881" target="_blank">Swiss researchers engineer bacteria to generate electricity using wastewater</a></p>

<p>Jonathan Swift, a math and science teacher at the Thacher School who participated in the research, said, "That was inconsistent at an uncomfortable level." He said, "We tried our best to find the crack in what we had done, but we couldn't find anything." His team presented their findings at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Mexico in June, receiving positive responses.</p>

<p>However, Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour is not a cause for alarm, as the asteroid still poses no threat to Earth. But it could teach scientists more about asteroid deflection.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No other mission before DART had ever conducted a planetary defence test. Thus, Dimorphos is the only real-world example to learn from.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists do not have the accurate reason behind Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour. But there are some theories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One theory suggests that Dimorphos was once tidally locked to Didymos, meaning, like Earth's moon, the same side of the satellite always faced its host. However, the DART mission might have changed its alignment, causing Dimorphos to tumble around as the system's tidal forces changed its orbit. If this theory is true, Dimorphos will likely settle back into a tidally locked state over time, a DART team member said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the new study is accurate, it won't be the first unintended consequence of NASA's DART mission. Researchers have been learning more about the effects of the spacecraft's crash at Dimorphos over the past year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Almost a year has passed since NASA intentionally crashed a $300 million spacecraft into an asteroid. However, now, the asteroid is behaving unexpectedly. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a one-of-a-kind stunt.

Almost a year has passed since NASA intentionally crashed a $300 million spacecraft into an asteroid. However, now, the asteroid is behaving unexpectedly. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a one-of-a-kind stunt. They slammed a spacecraft into the space rock Dimporphos at 14,000 miles per hour on September 26, 2022. Dimorphos orbits another asteroid called Didymos. While neither object threatened Earth, the DART demonstrated that NASA could nudge an asteroid and alter its trajectory. The action might come in handy if a planetary defence scenario ever materialises. The tiny but mighty DART craft shortened Dimorphos' orbital period by about 33 minutes. However, according to a new research, Dimorphos' orbiting time has decreased by another full minute compared to NASA's numbers, New Scientist reported. A high school teacher and his students conducted the research from September to November 2022. The study said the asteroid's orbital period, initially 11 hours 55 minutes, has decreased by 34 minutes. ALSO READ | Swiss researchers engineer bacteria to generate electricity using wastewater Jonathan Swift, a math and science teacher at the Thacher School who participated in the research, said, "That was inconsistent at an uncomfortable level." He said, "We tried our best to find the crack in what we had done, but we couldn't find anything." His team presented their findings at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Mexico in June, receiving positive responses. However, Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour is not a cause for alarm, as the asteroid still poses no threat to Earth. But it could teach scientists more about asteroid deflection. No other mission before DART had ever conducted a planetary defence test. Thus, Dimorphos is the only real-world example to learn from. Scientists do not have the accurate reason behind Dimorphos' unexpected behaviour. But there are some theories. One theory suggests that Dimorphos was once tidally locked to Didymos, meaning, like Earth's moon, the same side of the satellite always faced its host. However, the DART mission might have changed its alignment, causing Dimorphos to tumble around as the system's tidal forces changed its orbit. If this theory is true, Dimorphos will likely settle back into a tidally locked state over time, a DART team member said. If the new study is accurate, it won't be the first unintended consequence of NASA's DART mission. Researchers have been learning more about the effects of the spacecraft's crash at Dimorphos over the past year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA hit this asteroid months back and now something weird is happening

<p>James Webb Space Telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released several stunning images of space ever since it was launched in December 2021. But a recent image has left the users baffled, as it has posed a giant cosmic question...quite literally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA shared a breathtaking image taken by James Webb in which a pair of actively forming young stars, known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, can be seen in high-resolution near-infrared light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA noted in a statement that "Herbig-Haro 46/47 is an important object to study because it is relatively young – only a few thousand years old".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ornament-of-dead-child-reconstruction-of-9000-year-old-necklace-found-in-grave-622147">'Ornament of dead child': Reconstruction of 9,000-year-old necklace reveals details</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As the space agency elaborated on the details of the image it shared, users were quick to focus on a strange celestial object after zooming in towards the bottom centre of the infrared photo. They found the shape of a "question mark".&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA didn't mention anything about the so-called question mark. But to get a better understanding, Space.com spoke to some experts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by the outlet, representatives of the Space Telescope Science Institute, which manages the telescope's science operations, said that "it is probably a distant galaxy, or potentially interacting galaxies (their interactions may have caused the distorted question mark shape)".&nbsp;</p>

<p>And the institute said that since it appears red in the observation, it's quite far away.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/rare-video-captures-killer-whale-tearing-into-massive-shark-slurping-its-liver-watch-622127">Rare video captures killer whale tearing into massive shark, 'slurping' its liver. Watch</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Going goblin mode.<br />
<br />
Within the orange-white splotch at the center of this image are 2 chaotic baby stars. Over thousands of years, the pair repeatedly gobbled up, then spat out the gas and dust around them — producing those fiery orange lobes: <a href="https://t.co/lSOy5uyCYD">https://t.co/lSOy5uyCYD</a> <a href="https://t.co/jHVu6YlGXv">pic.twitter.com/jHVu6YlGXv</a></p>
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1684204017252020224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The representatives added: "This may be the first time we've seen this particular object. An additional follow-up would be required to figure out what it is with any certainty. Webb is showing us many new, distant galaxies — so there's a lot of new science to be done!"&nbsp;</p>

<p>The outlet also quoted Matt Caplan, who is an assistant professor of physics at Illinois State University.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Caplan told the outlet that it "could easily be merging galaxies in the background, with the upper part of the question mark being part of a larger galaxy getting tidally disrupted".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, "Given the colour of some of the other background galaxies, this doesn't seem like the worst explanation. Despite how chaotic mergers are, double-lobed objects with curvy tails extending away from them are very typical."</p>

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James Webb Space Telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released several stunning images of space ever since it was launched in December 2021.

James Webb Space Telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released several stunning images of space ever since it was launched in December 2021. But a recent image has left the users baffled, as it has posed a giant cosmic question...quite literally. NASA shared a breathtaking image taken by James Webb in which a pair of actively forming young stars, known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, can be seen in high-resolution near-infrared light. NASA noted in a statement that "Herbig-Haro 46/47 is an important object to study because it is relatively young – only a few thousand years old". Also read: 'Ornament of dead child': Reconstruction of 9,000-year-old necklace reveals details As the space agency elaborated on the details of the image it shared, users were quick to focus on a strange celestial object after zooming in towards the bottom centre of the infrared photo. They found the shape of a "question mark". NASA didn't mention anything about the so-called question mark. But to get a better understanding, Space.com spoke to some experts. As quoted by the outlet, representatives of the Space Telescope Science Institute, which manages the telescope's science operations, said that "it is probably a distant galaxy, or potentially interacting galaxies (their interactions may have caused the distorted question mark shape)". And the institute said that since it appears red in the observation, it's quite far away. Also read: Rare video captures killer whale tearing into massive shark, 'slurping' its liver. Watch Going goblin mode. Within the orange-white splotch at the center of this image are 2 chaotic baby stars. Over thousands of years, the pair repeatedly gobbled up, then spat out the gas and dust around them — producing those fiery orange lobes: https://t.co/lSOy5uyCYD pic.twitter.com/jHVu6YlGXv — NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) July 26, 2023 × The representatives added: "This may be the first time we've seen this particular object. An additional follow-up would be required to figure out what it is with any certainty. Webb is showing us many new, distant galaxies — so there's a lot of new science to be done!" The outlet also quoted Matt Caplan, who is an assistant professor of physics at Illinois State University. Caplan told the outlet that it "could easily be merging galaxies in the background, with the upper part of the question mark being part of a larger galaxy getting tidally disrupted". He said, "Given the colour of some of the other background galaxies, this doesn't seem like the worst explanation. Despite how chaotic mergers are, double-lobed objects with curvy tails extending away from them are very typical." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

This giant cosmic 'question mark' in space needs answers. What is it really?

<p>Voyager Space, a US space venture company, and Airbus, a renowned aerospace firm, on Wednesday announced that they will be collaborating in the pursuit of constructing a private version of the International Space Station (ISS).&nbsp;</p>

<p>In&nbsp;their recent announcement, they said Airbus would be the&nbsp;core partner in a newly planned venture responsible for the development, construction, and operation of the orbital research post.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Europe and space project</strong></h2>

<p>The reason behind this strategic move is to expand Europe's involvement in the ambitious space project.&nbsp;However, Reuters reports that specific details regarding shareholdings and financial arrangements are yet to be disclosed.</p>

<p>Starlab is among the three private concepts designed to replace the ISS, which has served as an orbital laboratory that has housed crews for over two decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The original blueprint for Starlab featured an inflatable habitat designed by Lockheed Martin. However, as per Reuters, a subsequent decision to adopt a metallic structure resulted in Airbus superseding Lockheed Martin's role.</p>

<p>Dylan Taylor, the CEO of Voyager Space, clarified that "Lockheed will likely still have a role to play somewhere within the supply chain."</p>

<p>He also said that Starlab will remain a US-led initiative, and that, "There will be contributions coming from Europe, but there will definitely be an assembly and large contributions coming from the US".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The International Space Station</strong></h2>

<p>NASA, as per Reuters, has planned to retire the ISS in 2030 and intends to rely on private companies to host scientific research in low-Earth orbit. However, the NASA officials have acknowledged that the ISS's lifespan might need to be extended as a private replacements moves forward.</p>

<p>Voyager Space and Airbus have reportedly stated that Starlab is expected to deploy around 2028.</p>

<p>"It will occur before the ISS decommissioning; we're highly confident of that. Whether it's going to be late 2027, early 2028, or late 2028 we're still working out those details," said Taylor.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Voyager Space, a US space venture company, and Airbus, a renowned aerospace firm, on Wednesday announced that they will be collaborating in the pursuit of constructing a private version of the International Space Station (ISS).

Voyager Space, a US space venture company, and Airbus, a renowned aerospace firm, on Wednesday announced that they will be collaborating in the pursuit of constructing a private version of the International Space Station (ISS). In their recent announcement, they said Airbus would be the core partner in a newly planned venture responsible for the development, construction, and operation of the orbital research post. Europe and space project The reason behind this strategic move is to expand Europe's involvement in the ambitious space project. However, Reuters reports that specific details regarding shareholdings and financial arrangements are yet to be disclosed. Starlab is among the three private concepts designed to replace the ISS, which has served as an orbital laboratory that has housed crews for over two decades. The original blueprint for Starlab featured an inflatable habitat designed by Lockheed Martin. However, as per Reuters, a subsequent decision to adopt a metallic structure resulted in Airbus superseding Lockheed Martin's role. Dylan Taylor, the CEO of Voyager Space, clarified that "Lockheed will likely still have a role to play somewhere within the supply chain." He also said that Starlab will remain a US-led initiative, and that, "There will be contributions coming from Europe, but there will definitely be an assembly and large contributions coming from the US". The International Space Station NASA, as per Reuters, has planned to retire the ISS in 2030 and intends to rely on private companies to host scientific research in low-Earth orbit. However, the NASA officials have acknowledged that the ISS's lifespan might need to be extended as a private replacements moves forward. Voyager Space and Airbus have reportedly stated that Starlab is expected to deploy around 2028. "It will occur before the ISS decommissioning; we're highly confident of that. Whether it's going to be late 2027, early 2028, or late 2028 we're still working out those details," said Taylor. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Race to build ISS successor: Voyager Space and Airbus strengthen partnership

Would you like to have a meal 15 miles above Earth? A feast that is 'out of this world'? Molly Gambhir tells you how the space tourism race is heating up.

Gravitas | A meal that is 'out of this world'

China's 'artificial sun' experiment sustained a nuclear fusion reaction for for 403 seconds during the process, superheated plasma reached 70 million degrees celsius. The quest is to harness the power of nuclear fusion, which stars, including the sun, use to burn.

China is making a 'mini sun' as global fusion race heats up | World News | WION

<p>Elon Musk's SpaceX will soon carry out its first test flight of 'Starship,' a rocket&nbsp;which, as per AFP, is touted as the company's most powerful rocket ever built and is designed to ferry humans to the Moon and beyond. The launch which is scheduled for Monday, as per a Reuters report, comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave it a green flag. The long-awaited license allowing the space vehicle to be launched into orbit was granted on Friday. It&nbsp;clears the way for the test flight that is crucial to&nbsp;SpaceX's goals in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The launch is monumental. SpaceX's Starship is the space capsule the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected for its Artemis III mission.</p>

<p>"Success maybe, excitement guaranteed!," tweeted billionaire Elon Musk late on Friday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Success maybe, excitement guaranteed! <a href="https://t.co/LoDrBmHkQa">https://t.co/LoDrBmHkQa</a></p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1647023634899169281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-get-the-dope-on-juice-europes-mission-to-find-aliens-582516">Explained | Get the dope on JUICE, Europe’s mission to find aliens</a></strong></p>

<p>In a statement, FAA said: "After a comprehensive licence evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility requirements."</p>

<p>The licence&nbsp;is valid for five years.&nbsp;As per regulatory notices filed on Friday, the liftoff of SpaceX's most powerful rocket 'ever' can happen anytime from 5:30 am to 2 pm Central time on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-models-like-chatgpt-drink-an-enormous-volume-of-water-finds-study-582496">AI models like ChatGPT ‘drink’ an enormous volume of water, finds study</a></strong></p>

<p>AFP pins the liftoff time at 7 am (1200 GMT) from the private space company's sprawling Texas base. It also reports that in case the attempt is postponed, fallback times are scheduled for later this week.</p>

<p>Starship consists of a reusable capsule that carries crew and cargo and the first-stage Super Heavy booster rocket. Slated for late 2025 at the earliest, the Artemis III mission will take humans to the lunar surface.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Elon Musk's SpaceX will soon carry out its first test flight of 'Starship,' a rocket which, as per AFP, is touted as the company's most powerful rocket ever built and is designed to ferry humans to the Moon and beyond.

Elon Musk's SpaceX will soon carry out its first test flight of 'Starship,' a rocket which, as per AFP, is touted as the company's most powerful rocket ever built and is designed to ferry humans to the Moon and beyond. The launch which is scheduled for Monday, as per a Reuters report, comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave it a green flag. The long-awaited license allowing the space vehicle to be launched into orbit was granted on Friday. It clears the way for the test flight that is crucial to SpaceX's goals in space. The launch is monumental. SpaceX's Starship is the space capsule the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected for its Artemis III mission. "Success maybe, excitement guaranteed!," tweeted billionaire Elon Musk late on Friday. Success maybe, excitement guaranteed! https://t.co/LoDrBmHkQa — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 14, 2023 × Also read | Explained | Get the dope on JUICE, Europe’s mission to find aliens In a statement, FAA said: "After a comprehensive licence evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility requirements." The licence is valid for five years. As per regulatory notices filed on Friday, the liftoff of SpaceX's most powerful rocket 'ever' can happen anytime from 5:30 am to 2 pm Central time on Monday. Also read | AI models like ChatGPT ‘drink’ an enormous volume of water, finds study AFP pins the liftoff time at 7 am (1200 GMT) from the private space company's sprawling Texas base. It also reports that in case the attempt is postponed, fallback times are scheduled for later this week. Starship consists of a reusable capsule that carries crew and cargo and the first-stage Super Heavy booster rocket. Slated for late 2025 at the earliest, the Artemis III mission will take humans to the lunar surface. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Up, Up, and Away!: Elon Musk’s SpaceX to try and launch ‘Starship,’ its most powerful rocket ever on Monday

ISRO's second mission in 2023 has taken off successfully. The largest indigenous rocket LVM3 along with 36 satellites is now on route, space. This is the second commercial mission performed by LVM3.

India's largest, heaviest rocket LMV3 set to take off, to carry payload of 36 satellites

In a shocking astronomical discovery, the James Webb Telescope has unearthed six fully-formed galaxies in an earlier time frame of the universe. Stumping all previous scientific conjectures, astronomers made the astounding discovery of six massive galaxies dating back to 600 million years.

The Big Space: James Webb Telescope makes shocking discovery, shows extreme promise early on

<p>Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21). One of the three astronauts is NASA's Francisco Rubio. Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, the other two, are Russian cosmonauts. They were due to end their mission in March. Two months ago, they were stuck when the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking.&nbsp; "(Their return flight) is now scheduled to take place on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023," Russian space agency Roscosmos said in its latest update.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: WION Fineprint | Russian Space Agency: Soyuz MS-22 radiator hit by micro meteoroid</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Soyuz MS-22 capsule coolant leak</strong><br />
The coolant leak on December 14 on Soyuz MS-22 was believed to have been caused by a micro meteoroid, Roscosmos and NASA earlier said. Joel Montalbano, NASA's space station program manager, insisted last month while talking to reporters: "We're not calling this a rescue Soyuz. I'm calling it a replacement Soyuz. This is the next Soyuz that was scheduled to fly in March. It will just fly a little early." The coolant leak was captured in a stunning video recorded by station cameras, which was shared widely. Docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unfit to bring back the three astronauts.</p>

<p>Last week, Russia delayed the launch of MS-23 return capsule, which was initially scheduled for February 20. The capsule launch has now been pushed to March. The delay is reportedly related to a leak on another Russian spacecraft docked with the ISS — the Progress-82 freighter, also known as Progress MS-21. It was launched in late October.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/science/a-tiny-meteorite-probably-struck-soyuz-causing-a-coolant-leak-russian-official-says-543545">A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says</a></strong></p>

<p>"A commission is working on the Progress MS-21 case. Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in unmanned mode until March 2023," Roscosmos wrote in a Telegram post on February 13, space.com reported.</p>

<p><em>(With agency inputs) </em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21).

Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21). One of the three astronauts is NASA's Francisco Rubio. Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, the other two, are Russian cosmonauts. They were due to end their mission in March. Two months ago, they were stuck when the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking. "(Their return flight) is now scheduled to take place on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023," Russian space agency Roscosmos said in its latest update. Watch: WION Fineprint | Russian Space Agency: Soyuz MS-22 radiator hit by micro meteoroid × Soyuz MS-22 capsule coolant leak The coolant leak on December 14 on Soyuz MS-22 was believed to have been caused by a micro meteoroid, Roscosmos and NASA earlier said. Joel Montalbano, NASA's space station program manager, insisted last month while talking to reporters: "We're not calling this a rescue Soyuz. I'm calling it a replacement Soyuz. This is the next Soyuz that was scheduled to fly in March. It will just fly a little early." The coolant leak was captured in a stunning video recorded by station cameras, which was shared widely. Docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unfit to bring back the three astronauts. Last week, Russia delayed the launch of MS-23 return capsule, which was initially scheduled for February 20. The capsule launch has now been pushed to March. The delay is reportedly related to a leak on another Russian spacecraft docked with the ISS — the Progress-82 freighter, also known as Progress MS-21. It was launched in late October. Also read: A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says "A commission is working on the Progress MS-21 case. Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in unmanned mode until March 2023," Roscosmos wrote in a Telegram post on February 13, space.com reported. (With agency inputs) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Soyuz MS-22 leak: 3 astronauts stranded on International Space Station last year will now return in September

After the discovery of a planet oddly three billion kilometres away from Earth, a new research has now revealed another remote ringed planet has also been discovered in the solar system - the Dwarf planet. It is about 555 kilometres in diameter and almost half the size of Pluto.

European Space Agency scientists discover Dwarf planet ringed by dust, ice

Two NASA astronauts successfully completed 256th spacewalk at the International Space Station. Astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio gave the International Space Station a power upgrade by installing six new rollout solar array.

Two NASA astronauts take spacewalk, install solar array on to International Space Station

In a move towards inclusivity, the European Space Agency is named the first-ever 'Parastronaut', this is a major step towards allowing people with physical disabilities to work and live in space. The selected candidate will be part of a new generation of 17 recruits picked for astronaut training, however, he has to go through several tests.

British Paralympic sprinter John McFall named world's first 'Parastronaut' | WION

<p>We Earth-dwellers have Earth-centric idea of the Universe and that's probably fine. From sunrise to sunset (and beyond), we eat, drink, work and sleep on one single planet. Human colonies on Moon and Mars are still in the concept stage. Till then, its one blue planet for us.</p>

<p>Due to our Earth-centric thoughts, its hard to imagine that the largest canyon in the Solar System is not on Earth. Sorry Grand Canyon but a canyon system on Mars takes the cake here. And European Space Agency has clicked a picture of it.</p>

<p>Valles Marineris, the canyon system on Mars, is longer, wider and deepr than Grand Canyon. It is 4000 kilometres long, 200 kilometre wide and upto 7 km deep. These dimensions are much greater than the Grand Canyon. To put things in Indian perspective, the length of Valles Marineris is greater than the distance between Kashmir to Kanyakumari.</p>

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<p>Image of the Valles Marineris has been captured by ESA's Mars Express. The image shows two trenches, called Chasma in the western region of Valles Marineris. Left portion of the image is southern direction. 840-kilometre-long lus Chasma is visible there and 805-kilometre-long Tithonium Chasma is visible in the right side of the image. Incredible surface details are present in this high resolution image that captures Valles Marineris that is up to 7 kilometres deep.</p>

<p>The blackened portion in the Tithonium Chasma is black sand. Scientists think that the sand must have come from Tharsis volcanic region.</p>

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We Earth-dwellers have Earth-centric idea of the Universe and that's probably fine. From sunrise to sunset (and beyond), we eat, drink, work and sleep on one single planet.

We Earth-dwellers have Earth-centric idea of the Universe and that's probably fine. From sunrise to sunset (and beyond), we eat, drink, work and sleep on one single planet. Human colonies on Moon and Mars are still in the concept stage. Till then, its one blue planet for us. Due to our Earth-centric thoughts, its hard to imagine that the largest canyon in the Solar System is not on Earth. Sorry Grand Canyon but a canyon system on Mars takes the cake here. And European Space Agency has clicked a picture of it. Valles Marineris, the canyon system on Mars, is longer, wider and deepr than Grand Canyon. It is 4000 kilometres long, 200 kilometre wide and upto 7 km deep. These dimensions are much greater than the Grand Canyon. To put things in Indian perspective, the length of Valles Marineris is greater than the distance between Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Image of the Valles Marineris has been captured by ESA's Mars Express. The image shows two trenches, called Chasma in the western region of Valles Marineris. Left portion of the image is southern direction. 840-kilometre-long lus Chasma is visible there and 805-kilometre-long Tithonium Chasma is visible in the right side of the image. Incredible surface details are present in this high resolution image that captures Valles Marineris that is up to 7 kilometres deep. The blackened portion in the Tithonium Chasma is black sand. Scientists think that the sand must have come from Tharsis volcanic region. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'Grand Canyon on Mars': ESA clicks Martian feature that's bigger than the original thing

<p>What distinguishes Saturn from the rest of the planets in our Solar System are the majestic rings the planet has. These rings are so prominent, they are visible from amateur telescopes as well. The planet sure gets a regal look due to it. But what is stopping from all planets to have such a ring? size? Saturn is a giant planet in our Solar System. But so is Jupiter, in fact, Jupiter is bigger than Saturn, then why it does not have Saturn-like rings?</p>

<p>A recent study from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) throws light on the reason why Jupiter does not have Saturn-like rings. Findings of this study were reported in the journal Planetary Science.</p>

<p>UCR astrophysicist Stephen Kane led the study along with his student. Together, they ran a simulation. Into the simulation, they fed info about orbits of Jupiter's four moons and the orbit of the planet itself. They also fed information about how much time it takes to form rings around the planet.</p>

<p>Kane found that the reason why Jupiter could not form Saturn-like moon was its moons. Jupiter has four main moons that were discovered by Galileo.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-colourful-pic-of-pluto-wows-netizens-499450">NASA posts colourful pic of Pluto, wows netizens</a></strong></p>

<p>We found that the Galilean moons of Jupiter, one of which is the largest moon in our solar system, would very quickly destroy any large rings that might form," Kane said.</p>

<p>So based on this research, it can be said that Jupiter did not have Saturn-like rings even in its past.</p>

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What distinguishes Saturn from the rest of the planets in our Solar System are the majestic rings the planet has. These rings are so prominent, they are visible from amateur telescopes as well.

What distinguishes Saturn from the rest of the planets in our Solar System are the majestic rings the planet has. These rings are so prominent, they are visible from amateur telescopes as well. The planet sure gets a regal look due to it. But what is stopping from all planets to have such a ring? size? Saturn is a giant planet in our Solar System. But so is Jupiter, in fact, Jupiter is bigger than Saturn, then why it does not have Saturn-like rings? A recent study from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) throws light on the reason why Jupiter does not have Saturn-like rings. Findings of this study were reported in the journal Planetary Science. UCR astrophysicist Stephen Kane led the study along with his student. Together, they ran a simulation. Into the simulation, they fed info about orbits of Jupiter's four moons and the orbit of the planet itself. They also fed information about how much time it takes to form rings around the planet. Kane found that the reason why Jupiter could not form Saturn-like moon was its moons. Jupiter has four main moons that were discovered by Galileo. Also Read | NASA posts colourful pic of Pluto, wows netizens We found that the Galilean moons of Jupiter, one of which is the largest moon in our solar system, would very quickly destroy any large rings that might form," Kane said. So based on this research, it can be said that Jupiter did not have Saturn-like rings even in its past. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Why doesn't Jupiter have Saturn-like rings? Here's the answer

<p>We do not know of life beyond Earth. There hasn't been any conclusive proof yet. We have tried to contact alien civilizations (if they exist). But we have got no response till now. However, it is intriguing to imagine that there is indeed an alien civilization out there that's trying to contact us and hasn't been successful. Till now at least.</p>

<p>A 'heartbeat' like radio signal has been received by universities across US and Canada. This radio signal, coming from a distant galaxy is flashing with surprising regularity.</p>

<p>Such signals are called Fast Radio Bursts or FRB. Generally, FRB's last for several milliseconds. But this FRB has lasted 1000 times longer. The scientists have discovered that the bursts are taking place every 0.2 seconds. This is similar to a beating heart.</p>

<p>The FRB has been designated FRB 20191221A by scientists. It is the longest-lasting FRB till date.</p>

<p>The radio signals are coming from a galaxy billions of light years away. The source of the radio bursts is unknown but it is being said by the scientists that it is a radio pulsar or a magnetar that is emitting this signal</p>

<p>“There are not many things in the universe that emit strictly periodic signals,” says Daniele Michilli, a postdoc in MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. “Examples that we know of in our own galaxy are radio pulsars and magnetars, which rotate and produce a beamed emission similar to a lighthouse. And we think this new signal could be a magnetar or pulsar on steroids.”</p>

<p>The discovery has been reported in the journal Nature.</p>

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We do not know of life beyond Earth. There hasn't been any conclusive proof yet. We have tried to contact alien civilizations (if they exist). But we have got no response till now.

We do not know of life beyond Earth. There hasn't been any conclusive proof yet. We have tried to contact alien civilizations (if they exist). But we have got no response till now. However, it is intriguing to imagine that there is indeed an alien civilization out there that's trying to contact us and hasn't been successful. Till now at least. A 'heartbeat' like radio signal has been received by universities across US and Canada. This radio signal, coming from a distant galaxy is flashing with surprising regularity. Such signals are called Fast Radio Bursts or FRB. Generally, FRB's last for several milliseconds. But this FRB has lasted 1000 times longer. The scientists have discovered that the bursts are taking place every 0.2 seconds. This is similar to a beating heart. The FRB has been designated FRB 20191221A by scientists. It is the longest-lasting FRB till date. The radio signals are coming from a galaxy billions of light years away. The source of the radio bursts is unknown but it is being said by the scientists that it is a radio pulsar or a magnetar that is emitting this signal “There are not many things in the universe that emit strictly periodic signals,” says Daniele Michilli, a postdoc in MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. “Examples that we know of in our own galaxy are radio pulsars and magnetars, which rotate and produce a beamed emission similar to a lighthouse. And we think this new signal could be a magnetar or pulsar on steroids.” The discovery has been reported in the journal Nature. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'Heartbeat' in space: Mysterious radio signal from nothingness has been received

Scientists claim that they have discovered the fastest-growing black hole of the past nine billion years. The supermassive black hole has mass of three billion suns and is 7,000 times more luminous than all the light from Milky Way.

Fastest-growing black hole, with mass of 3 billion suns, discovered by astronomers

<p>Aurora borealis is a beautiful dance of light across the sky. If you want to observe this brilliant natural wonder, you have to go to countries near the North Pole, Scandinavian countries preferably.</p>

<p>But do you know that as the aurora dances across the sky it produces a ghostly sound. An investigation into this suggests that this eerie sound is produced even aurora isn't visible in the sky.</p>

<p>This sound associated with the aurora has been mentioned in regional folktales and accounts shared by the local population.</p>

<p>Unto Laine, ac acoustics engineer from Alto University in Finland has been able to record these ghostly sounds. At EUROREGIO/BNAM2022 Joint Acoustics Conference in Denmark, Laine presented his findings.</p>

<p>"This cancels the argument that auroral sounds are extremely rare and that the aurora borealis should be exceptionally bright and lively," Laine says.</p>

<p>These sounds are apparently produced even when aurora isn't visible.</p>

<p>Listen to the mysterious, eerie sound of the aurora borealis</p>

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<p>Researchers have also identified where exactly these sounds come from in the atmosphere. It was found that these sounds are produced at the altitude of about 70 to 100 metres. Such a low altitude has surprised scientists since aurora results from interaction of solar particles with Earth's magnetic field very high up.</p>

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<p>You can now<strong> write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a></strong>.<br />
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Aurora borealis is a beautiful dance of light across the sky. If you want to observe this brilliant natural wonder, you have to go to countries near the North Pole, Scandinavian countries preferably.

Aurora borealis is a beautiful dance of light across the sky. If you want to observe this brilliant natural wonder, you have to go to countries near the North Pole, Scandinavian countries preferably. But do you know that as the aurora dances across the sky it produces a ghostly sound. An investigation into this suggests that this eerie sound is produced even aurora isn't visible in the sky. This sound associated with the aurora has been mentioned in regional folktales and accounts shared by the local population. Unto Laine, ac acoustics engineer from Alto University in Finland has been able to record these ghostly sounds. At EUROREGIO/BNAM2022 Joint Acoustics Conference in Denmark, Laine presented his findings. "This cancels the argument that auroral sounds are extremely rare and that the aurora borealis should be exceptionally bright and lively," Laine says. These sounds are apparently produced even when aurora isn't visible. Listen to the mysterious, eerie sound of the aurora borealis × Researchers have also identified where exactly these sounds come from in the atmosphere. It was found that these sounds are produced at the altitude of about 70 to 100 metres. Such a low altitude has surprised scientists since aurora results from interaction of solar particles with Earth's magnetic field very high up. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Want to hear mysterious, ghostly sound aurora borealis makes? Check it out here

<p>Gold is the most sought-after precious metal in the world. Sure there are metals rarer than gold but the yellow metal has enticed humankind for more than a millennium.</p>

<p>So how about a star made of gold? The concept is certainly novel for us dwellers of solar system which has hydrogen-helium-based star.</p>

<p>So this 'gold standard' star is named HD 222925. It is 1,460 light-years away from Earth. It's not completely made of gold but large number of elements. Scientists have been able to find 65 separate element in this star. That's the maximum number of elements found in a single object outside solar system. The star is at the end of its life as a red giant.</p>

<p>"To the best of my knowledge, that's a record for any object beyond our Solar System. And what makes this star so unique is that it has a very high relative proportion of the elements listed along the bottom two-thirds of the periodic table. We even detected gold," said astronomer Ian Roederer of the University of Michigan.</p>

<p>"These elements were made by the rapid neutron capture process. That's really the thing we're trying to study: the physics in understanding how, where and when those elements were made."</p>

<p><strong>Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.</strong></p>

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Gold is the most sought-after precious metal in the world. Sure there are metals rarer than gold but the yellow metal has enticed humankind for more than a millennium.

Gold is the most sought-after precious metal in the world. Sure there are metals rarer than gold but the yellow metal has enticed humankind for more than a millennium. So how about a star made of gold? The concept is certainly novel for us dwellers of solar system which has hydrogen-helium-based star. So this 'gold standard' star is named HD 222925. It is 1,460 light-years away from Earth. It's not completely made of gold but large number of elements. Scientists have been able to find 65 separate element in this star. That's the maximum number of elements found in a single object outside solar system. The star is at the end of its life as a red giant. "To the best of my knowledge, that's a record for any object beyond our Solar System. And what makes this star so unique is that it has a very high relative proportion of the elements listed along the bottom two-thirds of the periodic table. We even detected gold," said astronomer Ian Roederer of the University of Michigan. "These elements were made by the rapid neutron capture process. That's really the thing we're trying to study: the physics in understanding how, where and when those elements were made." Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

This star is made of gold, but it's dying

<p>There are many strange things in the Universe. From galaxies to black holes and whatnot. But pulsars are perhaps the most interesting. Pulsars from dead stars. And black widow pulsars are still an interesting sub-category.</p>

<p>Pulsars have high magnetism and they spin around themselves very very rapidly. In addition to this they emit powerful beams of X-rays and gamma rays into the space. When these emissions are in Earth's line of sight we can detect the 'pulse' which can even be of a millisecond.</p>

<p>Black widow pulsars are a rare find. These are pulsar with which companion stars are associated. Although they are called 'companion' stars, the pulsar live off them, blasting them with radiation and devouring their stellar material.</p>

<p>The pulsar and the binary system in question is named ZTF J1406+1222. This binary system has the shortest orbital period. This brings the companion star right into the line of fire of the rapidly revolving pulsar.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-proof-of-extraterrestrial-photosynthesis-heres-what-it-is-how-it-can-help-us-476821">Scientists find proof of 'extraterrestrial photosynthesis'. Here's what it is, how it can help us</a></strong></p>

<p>Moreover the 'black widow' pulsar and its prey, the companion star are circling each other every 62 minutes.</p>

<p>The name of category of black widow pulsars has been derived from Black Widow Spiders. In this spider species, the mating game is most often fatal for the male spider. The female spider, after mating, eats her male companion.</p>

<p><strong>Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.</strong></p>

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There are many strange things in the Universe. From galaxies to black holes and whatnot. But pulsars are perhaps the most interesting. Pulsars from dead stars. And black widow pulsars are still an interesting sub-category.

There are many strange things in the Universe. From galaxies to black holes and whatnot. But pulsars are perhaps the most interesting. Pulsars from dead stars. And black widow pulsars are still an interesting sub-category. Pulsars have high magnetism and they spin around themselves very very rapidly. In addition to this they emit powerful beams of X-rays and gamma rays into the space. When these emissions are in Earth's line of sight we can detect the 'pulse' which can even be of a millisecond. Black widow pulsars are a rare find. These are pulsar with which companion stars are associated. Although they are called 'companion' stars, the pulsar live off them, blasting them with radiation and devouring their stellar material. The pulsar and the binary system in question is named ZTF J1406+1222. This binary system has the shortest orbital period. This brings the companion star right into the line of fire of the rapidly revolving pulsar. Also Read | Scientists find proof of 'extraterrestrial photosynthesis'. Here's what it is, how it can help us Moreover the 'black widow' pulsar and its prey, the companion star are circling each other every 62 minutes. The name of category of black widow pulsars has been derived from Black Widow Spiders. In this spider species, the mating game is most often fatal for the male spider. The female spider, after mating, eats her male companion. Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Scientists find 'black widow' pulsar that's eating a star

<p>The Universe is expanding, this is a known fact. According to The Big Bang Theory (not the series, the actual scientific theory), the Universe originated in an unimaginably massive Big Bang, and material got thrown outwards from a single point.</p>

<p>It is thus easy to imagine that the Universe has been expanding for the last 13.8 billion years. A blast of any kind throws material outwards so expansion is quite logical.</p>

<p>Interesting thing is that instead of slowing down, the expansion of the universe has accelerated. The reason for this is Dark Energy. This form of mysterious energy has a repulsive effect greater than gravity and thus makes the entire Universe expand.</p>

<p>But scientists now think that the Universe will start contracting remarkably soon. They have put forth their research in the journal Scientific Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.</p>

<p>The team of scientists behind this study has built a model of the Universe in which Dark Energy is not a constant force of nature but an entity called quintessence. This entity can decay over time.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-video-of-a-black-hole-goes-crazy-viral-476057">Watch: NASA video of a black hole goes crazy viral</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>So the scientists say that the acceleration of the Universe would stop in next 65 million years. In next 100 million years (a very short time when space is considered) it will stop expanding and start contracting. And billions of years after that, the Universe may meet its death (or a rebirth of time and space).</p>

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The Universe is expanding, this is a known fact. According to The Big Bang Theory (not the series, the actual scientific theory), the Universe originated in an unimaginably massive Big Bang, and material got thrown outwards from a single point.

The Universe is expanding, this is a known fact. According to The Big Bang Theory (not the series, the actual scientific theory), the Universe originated in an unimaginably massive Big Bang, and material got thrown outwards from a single point. It is thus easy to imagine that the Universe has been expanding for the last 13.8 billion years. A blast of any kind throws material outwards so expansion is quite logical. Interesting thing is that instead of slowing down, the expansion of the universe has accelerated. The reason for this is Dark Energy. This form of mysterious energy has a repulsive effect greater than gravity and thus makes the entire Universe expand. But scientists now think that the Universe will start contracting remarkably soon. They have put forth their research in the journal Scientific Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. The team of scientists behind this study has built a model of the Universe in which Dark Energy is not a constant force of nature but an entity called quintessence. This entity can decay over time. Watch: NASA video of a black hole goes crazy viral So the scientists say that the acceleration of the Universe would stop in next 65 million years. In next 100 million years (a very short time when space is considered) it will stop expanding and start contracting. And billions of years after that, the Universe may meet its death (or a rebirth of time and space). WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Our Universe may start contracting soon enough, say scientists

<p>Black holes are an enigma. We can only theorise what happens inside this mysterious celestial structure but we don't know for sure as no one, or nothing from our planet has entered black hole and returned to tell the tale. Gravitational pull of black hole is so unimaginably powerful that even light, the fastest entity in the universe, cannot escape the grip of a black hole.</p>

<p>NASA and other space agencies across that world continuously study this cosmic wonder and post beautiful photos and videos for us to marvel at.</p>

<p>A video posted by NASA has gone crazy viral.</p>

<p>It's a visualisation of a black hole.</p>

<p>“This visualization simulates the appearance of a black hole as seen on its edge, where inbound matter has collected into a thin, hot structure called an accretion disk. The black hole’s extreme gravity alters the paths of light coming from different parts of the disk, making rings of matter visible above and below. At the center lies the black hole's shadow, an area roughly twice the size of the event horizon — its point of no return,” says NASA. The video has been posted on Instagram.</p>

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<p>NASA further provides information that this visualisation was first published in September 2019. This was the period when scientists were able to take very first photo of a black hole.</p>

<p>It is tricky to 'see' a black hole. As light can't escape from it, we cannot 'see' a black hole. Its presence can only be detected with the help of the effects it has on surrounding space.</p>

<p>Within just 13 hours of posting this video, it has been seen more than 2 million times.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Black holes are an enigma. We can only theorise what happens inside this mysterious celestial structure but we don't know for sure as no one, or nothing from our planet has entered black hole and returned to tell the tale.

Black holes are an enigma. We can only theorise what happens inside this mysterious celestial structure but we don't know for sure as no one, or nothing from our planet has entered black hole and returned to tell the tale. Gravitational pull of black hole is so unimaginably powerful that even light, the fastest entity in the universe, cannot escape the grip of a black hole. NASA and other space agencies across that world continuously study this cosmic wonder and post beautiful photos and videos for us to marvel at. A video posted by NASA has gone crazy viral. It's a visualisation of a black hole. “This visualization simulates the appearance of a black hole as seen on its edge, where inbound matter has collected into a thin, hot structure called an accretion disk. The black hole’s extreme gravity alters the paths of light coming from different parts of the disk, making rings of matter visible above and below. At the center lies the black hole's shadow, an area roughly twice the size of the event horizon — its point of no return,” says NASA. The video has been posted on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × NASA further provides information that this visualisation was first published in September 2019. This was the period when scientists were able to take very first photo of a black hole. It is tricky to 'see' a black hole. As light can't escape from it, we cannot 'see' a black hole. Its presence can only be detected with the help of the effects it has on surrounding space. Within just 13 hours of posting this video, it has been seen more than 2 million times. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Watch: NASA video of a black hole goes crazy viral 

<p>Scientists are enthusiastic about establishing colonies on Mars, but is that a good idea? There have been claims and counterclaims over the possibility of living on Mars. Experts have noted that it's a planet where you cannot breathe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The idea to find a place more Earth-like in the solar system is quite unreal, but not entirely. Titan, which is Saturn's largest Moon believed to be surprisingly similar to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previous probes have concluded that Titan is the only Moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It provides it with Earth-like weather phenomena. On Titan, methane rainfall converts into rivers, which later form lakes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/presence-of-alien-tech-on-earth-scientist-wants-to-probe-interstellar-object-lying-in-the-pacific-ocean-473699">Presence of alien tech on Earth? Scientist wants to probe interstellar object 'lying in the Pacific Ocean'</a></strong></p>

<p>The rain, which is basically liquid methane, falls through nitrogen winds, experts have found.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a new model given by planetary scientists, another feature was found to be similar such as landscape formations.&nbsp;The findings are reported in Geophysical Research Letters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a team of planetary scientists from Stanford University in California, materials produce hydrocarbon sand dunes. Scientists have found that the dunes are different to silicate sedimentary structures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team also explained that it was quite intriguing to observe the formation of the sand dunes, close to the rivers, lakes and oceans filled with liquid methane.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After creating a series of computer models, which further revealed that Titan has an Earth-like seasonal cycle within the atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

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<p><em>Mosaics of Titan imaged by NASA's Cassini probe. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)</em></p>

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<p>The phenomenon drives the movement of grains over the Moon's surface. Such movement led to the formation of dunes and plains after clumps of hydrocarbons come together.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study noted that "sediments on Saturn's Moon are thought to largely consist of mechanically weak organic grains, prone to rapid abrasion into dust."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Significantly, scientists see Titan as one of the main candidates for future human colonisation because of the Earth-like phenomena.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;What’s special about these astronauts returning to earth from space?</strong></p>

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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sounds-bizarre-but-this-woman-is-seriously-scared-of-aliens-after-nine-ufo-sightings-474361">Sounds BIZARRE but this woman is seriously scared of aliens after 'nine UFO sightings'</a></strong></p>

<p>Mathieu Lapôtre, geologist and study lead author said, "Our model adds a unifying framework that allows us to understand how all of these sedimentary environments work together."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lapôtre, an assistant professor of geological sciences at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy &amp; Environmental Sciences added, "If we understand how the different pieces of the puzzle fit together and their mechanics, then we can start using the landforms left behind by those sedimentary processes to say something about the climate or the geological history of Titan—and how they could impact the prospect for life on Titan."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Scientists are enthusiastic about establishing colonies on Mars, but is that a good idea? There have been claims and counterclaims over the possibility of living on Mars.

Scientists are enthusiastic about establishing colonies on Mars, but is that a good idea? There have been claims and counterclaims over the possibility of living on Mars. Experts have noted that it's a planet where you cannot breathe. The idea to find a place more Earth-like in the solar system is quite unreal, but not entirely. Titan, which is Saturn's largest Moon believed to be surprisingly similar to Earth. Previous probes have concluded that Titan is the only Moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere. It provides it with Earth-like weather phenomena. On Titan, methane rainfall converts into rivers, which later form lakes. ALSO READ | Presence of alien tech on Earth? Scientist wants to probe interstellar object 'lying in the Pacific Ocean' The rain, which is basically liquid methane, falls through nitrogen winds, experts have found. As per a new model given by planetary scientists, another feature was found to be similar such as landscape formations. The findings are reported in Geophysical Research Letters. As per a team of planetary scientists from Stanford University in California, materials produce hydrocarbon sand dunes. Scientists have found that the dunes are different to silicate sedimentary structures. The team also explained that it was quite intriguing to observe the formation of the sand dunes, close to the rivers, lakes and oceans filled with liquid methane. After creating a series of computer models, which further revealed that Titan has an Earth-like seasonal cycle within the atmosphere. Mosaics of Titan imaged by NASA's Cassini probe. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona) × The phenomenon drives the movement of grains over the Moon's surface. Such movement led to the formation of dunes and plains after clumps of hydrocarbons come together. The study noted that "sediments on Saturn's Moon are thought to largely consist of mechanically weak organic grains, prone to rapid abrasion into dust." Significantly, scientists see Titan as one of the main candidates for future human colonisation because of the Earth-like phenomena. WATCH | What’s special about these astronauts returning to earth from space? × ALSO READ | Sounds BIZARRE but this woman is seriously scared of aliens after 'nine UFO sightings' Mathieu Lapôtre, geologist and study lead author said, "Our model adds a unifying framework that allows us to understand how all of these sedimentary environments work together." Lapôtre, an assistant professor of geological sciences at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences added, "If we understand how the different pieces of the puzzle fit together and their mechanics, then we can start using the landforms left behind by those sedimentary processes to say something about the climate or the geological history of Titan—and how they could impact the prospect for life on Titan." WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Fascinating fact: Saturn Moon Titan has Earth-like landscape

<p>Space is full of mysteries. There is always something unusual lurking out in the deep depths of the mysterious space. With the advancement in technology, space agencies across the world unravel mysteries and theories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) keeps sharing images and pieces of information to reveal various aspects of space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recently, NASA has shared an image on its official Instagram account in which a large and dark shadow can be seen on Jupiter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/presence-of-alien-tech-on-earth-scientist-wants-to-probe-interstellar-object-lying-in-the-pacific-ocean-473699">Presence of alien tech on Earth? Scientist wants to probe interstellar object 'lying in the Pacific Ocean'</a></strong></p>

<p>The shadow on the left side of the image was apparently cast by Jupiter's moon Ganymede.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA revealed that NASA Solar System Exploration's Juno spacecraft captured the stunning image.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the space agency, the image was taken during the mission's 40th close pass by the giant planet on February 25, 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-insight-lander-captures-images-of-sunrise-on-mars-473049">NASA InSight lander captures images of sunrise on Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>NASA also mentioned that Eclipses on Jupiter are more common than what we experience on Earth because the planet has four major moons that often pass between Jupiter and the Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In just one week, Ganymede transits once; Europa, twice; and Io, four times. And since Jupiter’s moons orbit in a plane close to Jupiter’s orbital plane, the moon shadows are often cast upon the planet," NASA revealed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Deadly coral disease grips Florida coast, efforts on to restore damaged reef</strong></p>

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<p>NASA said that citizen scientist Thomas Thomopoulos created this enhanced-colour image using raw data from the JunoCam instrument.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"At the time the raw image was taken, the Juno spacecraft was about 71,000 kilometres above Jupiter’s cloud tops, at a latitude of about 55 degrees south, and 15 times closer than Ganymede, which orbits about 1.1 million kilometres away from Jupiter," NASA said.&nbsp;</p>

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Space is full of mysteries. There is always something unusual lurking out in the deep depths of the mysterious space. With the advancement in technology, space agencies across the world unravel mysteries and theories.

Space is full of mysteries. There is always something unusual lurking out in the deep depths of the mysterious space. With the advancement in technology, space agencies across the world unravel mysteries and theories. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) keeps sharing images and pieces of information to reveal various aspects of space. Recently, NASA has shared an image on its official Instagram account in which a large and dark shadow can be seen on Jupiter. ALSO READ | Presence of alien tech on Earth? Scientist wants to probe interstellar object 'lying in the Pacific Ocean' The shadow on the left side of the image was apparently cast by Jupiter's moon Ganymede. NASA revealed that NASA Solar System Exploration's Juno spacecraft captured the stunning image. As per the space agency, the image was taken during the mission's 40th close pass by the giant planet on February 25, 2022. ALSO READ | NASA InSight lander captures images of sunrise on Mars NASA also mentioned that Eclipses on Jupiter are more common than what we experience on Earth because the planet has four major moons that often pass between Jupiter and the Sun. "In just one week, Ganymede transits once; Europa, twice; and Io, four times. And since Jupiter’s moons orbit in a plane close to Jupiter’s orbital plane, the moon shadows are often cast upon the planet," NASA revealed. WATCH | Deadly coral disease grips Florida coast, efforts on to restore damaged reef × NASA said that citizen scientist Thomas Thomopoulos created this enhanced-colour image using raw data from the JunoCam instrument. "At the time the raw image was taken, the Juno spacecraft was about 71,000 kilometres above Jupiter’s cloud tops, at a latitude of about 55 degrees south, and 15 times closer than Ganymede, which orbits about 1.1 million kilometres away from Jupiter," NASA said. ×

What's that giant black spot on Jupiter?

<p>Although James Webb Space Telescope is soon to open entirely new vista of space research for us, good ol' Hubble deserves its due. Humanity's very firt eye in the sky has been steadfast in sending pictures of far corners of space for last three decades. And to commemorate its 32nd year of operation, a unique image has been released.</p>

<p>The image shows five galaxies that are eventually going to collide. The galaxies are so closely situated (well in galactic terms) that it in itself is a thing of wonder.</p>

<p>This group of galaxies is called Hickson Compact Group 40. These galaxies are situated unusually close.</p>

<p>These galaxies are on a collision course, about a billion years from now, all five galaxies would collide to form a single elliptical galaxy.</p>

<p>So what are the types of galaxies present in the photo?</p>

<p>We can see three spiral galaxies, marked by orange colour visible due to space dust. The one in the middle is an elliptical galaxy. The one in the bottom right corner is a lenticular (lens-like) galaxy.</p>

<p>This galactic huddle is sitting somewhere in the direction of constellation Hydra.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/breakthrough-in-search-for-aliens-what-does-a-habitable-ice-shell-on-jupiters-moon-europa-mean-472318">Breakthrough in search for aliens? What does a habitable ice shell on Jupiter's moon Europa mean?</a></strong></p>

<p>How big is this huddle? Well all five of these galaxies would fit inside two Milky Ways.</p>

<p>Scientists think Dark Matter is playing part in merger of these galaxies. They think that the Dark Matter is forming a cloud around the group and slowing individual galaxies down.</p>


Although James Webb Space Telescope is soon to open entirely new vista of space research for us, good ol' Hubble deserves its due. Humanity's very firt eye in the sky has been steadfast in sending pictures of far corners of space for last three decades.

Although James Webb Space Telescope is soon to open entirely new vista of space research for us, good ol' Hubble deserves its due. Humanity's very firt eye in the sky has been steadfast in sending pictures of far corners of space for last three decades. And to commemorate its 32nd year of operation, a unique image has been released. The image shows five galaxies that are eventually going to collide. The galaxies are so closely situated (well in galactic terms) that it in itself is a thing of wonder. This group of galaxies is called Hickson Compact Group 40. These galaxies are situated unusually close. These galaxies are on a collision course, about a billion years from now, all five galaxies would collide to form a single elliptical galaxy. So what are the types of galaxies present in the photo? We can see three spiral galaxies, marked by orange colour visible due to space dust. The one in the middle is an elliptical galaxy. The one in the bottom right corner is a lenticular (lens-like) galaxy. This galactic huddle is sitting somewhere in the direction of constellation Hydra. Also Read | Breakthrough in search for aliens? What does a habitable ice shell on Jupiter's moon Europa mean? How big is this huddle? Well all five of these galaxies would fit inside two Milky Ways. Scientists think Dark Matter is playing part in merger of these galaxies. They think that the Dark Matter is forming a cloud around the group and slowing individual galaxies down.

Check out this fantastic Hubble image of five colliding galaxies

<p>New research might have finally found why one side of the Moon's surface is different from the other.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research revealed that one side of the Moon's surface might have been impacted when a massive asteroid slammed into it around 4.3 billion years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A research report published earlier this month revealed that ancient collisions on the Moon's south pole changed patterns of convection in the lunar mantle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-sighting-as-four-planets-line-up-in-the-sky-in-april-heres-how-to-watch-it-471784">Rare sighting as alignment of four planets will be visible through April. Here's how to watch it</a></strong></p>

<p>As per International Astronomical Union, there are more than 9,000 visible craters pockmarking the Moon. The craters have been made due to the impacts from meteors, asteroids and comets over billions of years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the marking, or the craters, are not evenly distributed as it has been seen that the far side of the moon comparatively has a higher concentration of craters than the visible near side. The experts claimed that they have found the answer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the latest study published in the journal Science Advances, it has been revealed that the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin on the lunar surface would have created a massive plume of heat. The heat probably propagated through the lunar interior.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/carbon-monoxide-levels-spike-due-to-billowing-smoke-from-wildfires-fueled-by-climate-change-study-472180">Carbon monoxide levels spike due to billowing smoke from wildfires fueled by climate change: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>For the unversed, the SPA basin is an immense impact crater on the far side of the Moon. The report mentioned that the plume would have carried certain materials, which is a suite of rare-Earth and heat-producing elements — to the Moon's nearside.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That concentration of elements might have created the nearside volcanic plains and would also have contributed to the volcanism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We know that big impacts like the one that formed SPA would create a lot of heat," said Matt Jones, who is a PhD candidate at Brown University and the study’s lead author.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The question is how that heat affects the Moon's interior dynamics. What we show is that under any plausible conditions at the time that SPA formed, it ends up concentrating these heat-producing elements on the nearside. We expect that this contributed to the mantle melting that produced the lava flows we see on the surface," Jones added.&nbsp;</p>

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New research might have finally found why one side of the Moon's surface is different from the other. The research revealed that one side of the Moon's surface might have been impacted when a massive asteroid slammed into it around 4.

New research might have finally found why one side of the Moon's surface is different from the other. The research revealed that one side of the Moon's surface might have been impacted when a massive asteroid slammed into it around 4.3 billion years ago. A research report published earlier this month revealed that ancient collisions on the Moon's south pole changed patterns of convection in the lunar mantle. ALSO READ | Rare sighting as alignment of four planets will be visible through April. Here's how to watch it As per International Astronomical Union, there are more than 9,000 visible craters pockmarking the Moon. The craters have been made due to the impacts from meteors, asteroids and comets over billions of years. However, the marking, or the craters, are not evenly distributed as it has been seen that the far side of the moon comparatively has a higher concentration of craters than the visible near side. The experts claimed that they have found the answer. As per the latest study published in the journal Science Advances, it has been revealed that the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin on the lunar surface would have created a massive plume of heat. The heat probably propagated through the lunar interior. ALSO READ | Carbon monoxide levels spike due to billowing smoke from wildfires fueled by climate change: Study For the unversed, the SPA basin is an immense impact crater on the far side of the Moon. The report mentioned that the plume would have carried certain materials, which is a suite of rare-Earth and heat-producing elements — to the Moon's nearside. That concentration of elements might have created the nearside volcanic plains and would also have contributed to the volcanism. "We know that big impacts like the one that formed SPA would create a lot of heat," said Matt Jones, who is a PhD candidate at Brown University and the study’s lead author. "The question is how that heat affects the Moon's interior dynamics. What we show is that under any plausible conditions at the time that SPA formed, it ends up concentrating these heat-producing elements on the nearside. We expect that this contributed to the mantle melting that produced the lava flows we see on the surface," Jones added.

Why is one side of the Moon different from the other? An asteroid hit, perhaps.

Two Russian astronauts ventured outside the International Space Station on April 18 for a spacewalk to install a control panel for a 37-foot-long robotic arm.

Russian astronauts take a spacewalk to install robotic arm controls on ISS

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