An illustration issued by the Southwest Research Institute showing the giant asteroid collision in outer space that produced the dust that led to an ice age on Earth. (PA) A gigantic asteroid collision in space 470 million years ago is responsible for creating the right conditions for life on Earth. What’s more, clues from the […]
Cataclysmic asteroid collision 470m years ago was crucial for life on Earth Read More »
This weekend, two enormous asteroids will whizz past our planet, NASA has revealed. The first asteroid, called 2010 C01, is estimated to be around 120 to 260 metres in diameter. At the higher end of that estimate, that’s about the same size as the QE2. Meanwhile, the second asteroid, called 2000 QW7, is estimated to
Two enormous asteroids will whizz past Earth tomorrow, NASA reveals Read More »
An interstellar comet, similar to the mysterious space rock known as ‘Oumuamua that sped through our solar system in 2017, is headed our way. The mysterious space rock, known as comet C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), was first spotted by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov in Ukraine on August 30. Now researchers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in
Alien comet barrelling towards Earth could be visitor from another star system Read More »
The idea of a huge asteroid smashing into Earth may sound like the plot of a science-fiction blockbuster, but according to the European Space Agency (ESA) , it could soon become a reality. ESA estimates that there are currently 878 asteroids in the ‘risk list’ for hitting Earth. The space agency explained: “This ESA catalogue
More than 800 asteroids are at risk of hitting Earth in the next 100 years, ESA warns Read More »
Image copyright SSTL Image caption The camera could be used as an inspection tool This is a neat image of Planet Earth, showing another beautiful day in the Mediterranean. The outlines of Italy, Corsica and Sardinia are unmistakable. The view to the west includes the Balearics. What’s interesting about the picture is that it was
A view of the Hera mission’s spacecraft arriving at Didymos (Image: ESA) As much as we all go on about hating humanity, there’s little doubt we’re the best thing about Planet Earth. So it would be a dreadful shame if a whopping great space rocket smashed into our homeworld and send us into extinction. Luckily,
Nasa and ESA join forces to save Earth from apocalypse asteroids Read More »
Scientists have outlined a madcap plan to build an “elevator” between Earth and the Moon, claiming it could drastically reduce the cost of space travel. Known as Spaceline, the elevator would consist of a giant lift shaft tethered to the surface of the Moon, which would dangle down into geostationary orbit around the Earth like
‘Space elevator’ could transport astronauts between Earth and the Moon, scientists claim Read More »
Jupiter system captured in JUICE NavCam test (annotated) Airbus Defence and Space Jupiter has an abundance of moons, and astronomers continue to spot new ones and to make unexpected findings about the ones we’ve already seen. An upcoming mission from the European Space Agency, called the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, hasn’t even left
Upcoming Mission to Jupiter Images the Planet’s Moons From Earth Read More »
Unlike other space elevator concepts, researchers have plans for a connection between the moon and Earth’s orbit, which would be free from gravity’s clutches. The concept of a space elevator that could take a crew from the Earth’s surface to space without needing rockets is not new. However, a combination of the immense cost and
Radical space elevator idea wants to see cable from moon to the Earth Read More »
We’ve been wrecking the planet for a very long time indeed (Picture: DeAgostini/Getty Images) There is little doubt that humanity is having a dreadful effect on the other lifeforms that dwell on Planet Earth. Unfortunately, this process looks to have been going on for a very long time indeed. A new study published in the
