Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.

— Inscription on Columbus' caravels

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Updated: 12 min 46 sec ago

Too young to be so cool: lessons from three neutron stars

Thu, 06/20/2024 - 5:00am

ESA’s XMM-Newton and NASA’s Chandra spacecraft have detected three young neutron stars that are unusually cold for their age. By comparing their properties to different neutron star models, scientists conclude that the oddballs’ low temperatures disqualify around 75% of known models. This is a big step towards uncovering the one neutron star ‘equation of state’ that rules them all, with important implications for the fundamental laws of the Universe.

Categories: Astronomy

Scientists spot hidden companions of bright stars

Thu, 06/20/2024 - 3:00am

Detecting faint objects close to bright stars is incredibly difficult. Yet, by combining data from ESA's Gaia space telescope with ESO’s GRAVITY instrument on the ground, scientists managed just that. They captured the first light signals of so far unseen dim companions of eight luminous stars. The technique unlocks the tantalising possibility to capture images of planets orbiting close to their host stars.

Categories: Astronomy

Drone racing prepares neural-network AI for space

Wed, 06/19/2024 - 3:13pm

Drones are being raced against the clock at Delft University of Technology’s ‘Cyber Zoo’ to test the performance of neural-network-based AI control systems planned for next-generation space missions.

Categories: Astronomy

327th ESA Council : Media information session at ESA HQ

Wed, 06/19/2024 - 10:30am
Video: 00:36:48

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Council Chair Renato Krpoun brief journalists on decisions taken at the ESA Council meeting held in Paris on 18 and 19 June 2024.

Categories: Astronomy

Slovenia to become ESA’s 23rd Member State

Tue, 06/18/2024 - 6:42pm

Slovenia signed the Accession Agreement to the ESA Convention on 18 June 2024. Upon ratification, Slovenia will become the 23rd ESA Member State.

Categories: Astronomy

Metallic Mars

Tue, 06/18/2024 - 1:45pm
Image: Metallic Mars
Categories: Astronomy

Can't stop won't stop: Solar Orbiter shows the Sun raging on

Tue, 06/18/2024 - 9:00am

The hyperactive sunspot region responsible for the beautiful auroras earlier in May was still alive and kicking when it rotated away from Earth’s view. Watching from the other side of the Sun, the ESA-led Solar Orbiter mission detected this same region producing the largest solar flare of this solar cycle. By observing the Sun from all sides, ESA missions reveal how active sunspot regions evolve and persist, which will help improve space weather forecasting.

Categories: Astronomy

Ariane 6 launches Curium One: space for all

Tue, 06/18/2024 - 6:00am

Europe’s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether into Earth orbit to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies, Ariane 6’s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher. Read on for all about Curium One, then see who else is flying first.

Categories: Astronomy

Will climate change turn the Arctic green?

Tue, 06/18/2024 - 5:00am
Categories: Astronomy

ESA Impact 2024 – June Council Edition

Mon, 06/17/2024 - 4:30am

ESA Impact 2024 – June Council Edition

ESA Impact Council Edition: Spotlight on recent milestones

Categories: Astronomy

Moving the Ariane 6 upper part to the launch pad for first flight

Mon, 06/17/2024 - 4:29am
Image: Moving the Ariane 6 upper part to the launch pad for first flight
Categories: Astronomy

Preparing ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite for liftoff

Mon, 06/17/2024 - 4:12am

With ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite due to launch in a few weeks, the satellite is now at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California being readied for its big day. Once in orbit, this new mission will show how short-term weather forecasts in the Arctic and beyond could be improved.

Categories: Astronomy

Ariane 6 launches GRBBeta: small satellite, big astrophysics

Fri, 06/14/2024 - 6:40am

Europe’s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions, each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether launching new satellites to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6’s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher. Read on for all about GRBBeta, then see who else is flying first.

Categories: Astronomy

Week in images: 10-14 June 2024

Fri, 06/14/2024 - 4:10am

Week in images: 10-14 June 2024

Discover our week through the lens

Categories: Astronomy

Earth from Space: Heel of Italy

Fri, 06/14/2024 - 4:00am
Image: The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over a section of Italy’s heel in the southern part of the boot-shaped peninsula.
Categories: Astronomy

Ariane 6

Thu, 06/13/2024 - 11:29am

Ariane 6

Ariane 6

Categories: Astronomy

Hera and its CubeSats speak with mission control

Thu, 06/13/2024 - 7:55am

ESA’s Hera asteroid mission and its two CubeSats interacted as if they were in space, within the foam pyramid-lined walls of the Agency’s Maxwell test chamber in the Netherlands. The trio communicated together, sharing data and ranging information at the same time as their Hera mothership received commands from its mission controllers at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

Categories: Astronomy

ESA prepares for its first open day in the UK

Thu, 06/13/2024 - 7:40am

ESA is getting ready to show thousands of visitors how space improves life on Earth at its very first open day to be held in the UK.

Categories: Astronomy

Ariane 6 launches RAMI: the interplanetary deployer

Wed, 06/12/2024 - 7:30am

Europe’s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether launching new satellites to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6’s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher. Read on for all about the RAMI deployer, then see who else is flying first.

Categories: Astronomy

Drone test of planetary landing radar

Wed, 06/12/2024 - 5:23am
Image: Drone test of planetary landing radar
Categories: Astronomy