Astronomy
NASA's Juno Spacecraft Could Intercept 3I/ATLAS as it Approaches Jupiter
arXiv:2507.21402v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is expected to arrive at a distance of $53.56(\pm 0.45)$ million ${\rm km}$ ($0.358\pm 0.003$~au) from Jupiter on March 16, 2026. We show that applying a total thrust $\Delta$V of $2.6755{{\rm km~s^{-1}}}$ to lower perijove on September 9, 2025 and then execute a Jupiter Oberth Maneuver, can bring the Juno spacecraft from its orbit around Jupiter to intercept the path of 3I/ATLAS on March 14, 2026. A close fly-by...
Categories: Astronomy
How Much Has Mercury Shrunk?
Mercury is still shrinking as it cools in the aftermath of its formation; new research narrows down estimates of just how much it has contracted.
Categories: Astronomy
See a trio of spectacular star clusters brighten the summer sky in August 2025
The Hyades, Pleiades and Hercules star clusters make for excellent targets in the late summer months.
Categories: Astronomy
Mercury quiz: How well do you know the Swift Planet?
This quiz will explore the facts, the fun and the fascinating quirks of our solar system’s speedster, Mercury
Categories: Astronomy
How the nature of environmental law is changing in defense of the planet and the climate
The effects of Earth's changing climate is driving up the number of legal suits related to environmental issues
Categories: Astronomy
NASA and Google test AI medical assistant for astronaut missions to the moon and Mars
Google and NASA are trialing an AI-powered medical assistant that could help astronauts care for themselves when mission control is out of reach.
Categories: Astronomy
Moon quiz: For all lunatics
Think you know Earth's moon? Test your knowledge in a lunar quiz!
Categories: Astronomy
Scientists just recreated the universe's first ever molecules — and the results challenge our understanding of the early cosmos
In a first, scientists have recreated the formation of the first ever molecules in the universe to learn more about early star formation.
Categories: Astronomy
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 173 — The Return of the Malik
On Episode 173 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and and Tariq Malik look back at the week in space news.
Categories: Astronomy
If everyone in the world turned on the lights at the same time, what would happen?
Beyond powering lights, it's also important to think about where all that light would go.
Categories: Astronomy
Titan darkens Saturn in rare shadow transit on Aug. 19: Here's how to see it
The second largest moon in the solar system will cast its shadow over Saturn on Aug. 19.
Categories: Astronomy
