Space

NASA Needs Backup Plan To Maintain U.S. Presence At Space Station, Watchdog Says

10:50am July 12, 2018

by Giles Snyder

The Government Accountability Office released a report warning NASA that further delays in the space agency's commercial crew program could keep American astronauts from reaching the space station.

In 'Light Of The Stars,' Adam Frank Studies Alien Worlds To Find Earth's Fate

5:32pm July 05, 2018

Astrophysicist Adam Frank has a new book out, Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth. He talks to NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about it.

NASA has released a fireworks-like image of a nebula in the constellation Carina.

Science

LOOK: Hot, Young Stars Form 'Celestial Fireworks'

4:15pm July 04, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

NASA posted the glittery image of stars that "live fast and die young" on the eve of Independence Day. It shows a cluster of "huge, hot" stars called NGC 3603, about 20,000 light years away.

When she saw photos of the young planet PDS 70 b, "It looked so clear," says Miriam Keppler, who led a team in the discovery.

Science

Scientists Capture First Birth Of A Planet

10:08pm July 02, 2018

by Clare Lombardo

Photographs of a young planet orbiting a star provide useful information about how planets form and grow.

Asteroid Ryugu, photographed on June 26 by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, was the Japanese mission's destination. The craft will travel alongside the asteroid for 18 months.

Science

Japan's Hayabusa2 Spacecraft Arrives At Its Asteroid Destination

3:28pm June 27, 2018

by Bill Chappell

The mission includes a plan to bring a sample back to Earth. It's the first time humans have been able to study a C-type asteroid at such a close range for an extended period.

The constellation Leo can be found by following guide stars in the Big Dipper.

Science

How To Find The Summer Constellations (360° Video)

5:46am June 26, 2018

Have you ever wanted to casually point out Cygnus, Leo and Cassiopeia? Just in time for summer, this panoramic video shows you some tricks to help you navigate the night sky.

A dust storm has reduced sunlight and visibility on Mars. But NASA's Curiosity rover, seen in a self-portrait taken last week in the Gale Crater, runs on nuclear energy and is powering through.

Science

Mars Dust Storm Now 'Planet-Encircling,' Dimming Hopes For NASA Rover

7:23pm June 21, 2018

by Amy Held

As the dust storm grows and the solar-paneled Opportunity remains asleep, the younger Curiosity rover has been able to power through.

Global map of Mars showing a growing dust storm as of June 6, 2018. The map was produced by the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.

Science

Giant Dust Storm On Mars Threatening To End NASA's Opportunity Rover

2:06pm June 14, 2018

by Joe Palca

The rover has shut itself down because the solar panels aren't getting enough sunlight to charge the batteries. If the storm persists, the rover mission may be over, ending a 14-year run.

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These two views from NASA's Curiosity rover, acquired specifically to measure the amount of dust inside Gale Crater, show that dust has increased over three days from a major Martian dust storm. The left-hand image shows a view of the east-northeast rim o

Science

Enormous Dust Storm On Mars Threatens The Opportunity Rover

2:41pm June 13, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

With the sun entirely blocked out by dust, the solar-powered rover has presumably fallen asleep to wait out the storm. NASA scientists say they are "very concerned," but that they hope for the best.

Two rock samples taken by NASA's Curiosity rover were found to contain organic molecules.

Science

NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Chemical Building Blocks For Life On Mars

5:14pm June 07, 2018

by Joe Palca

Scientists can't say whether there is, or ever was, life on the Red Planet. But two Martian rock samples contained organic molecules — which contain carbon, the chemical element central to life.