NASA’s Perseverance Rover Investigates Geologically Rich Mars Terrain; Collects ‘Wildcat Ridge’, analyzes with SHERLOC instrument

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Investigates Geologically Rich Mars Terrain; Collects ‘Wildcat Ridge’, analyzes with SHERLOC instrument

NASA’s Perseverance rover is well into its second science campaign, collecting rock-core samples from features within an area long considered by scientists to be a top prospect for finding signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. The rover has collected four samples from an ancient river delta in the Red Planet’s Jezero Crater since July 7, […]

Sharpest image ever of universe’s most massive known star

Sharpest image ever of universe’s most massive known star

By harnessing the capabilities of the 8.1-meter Gemini South telescope in Chile, which is part of the International Gemini Observatory operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, astronomers have obtained the sharpest image ever of the star R136a1, the most massive known star in the Universe. Their research, led by NOIRLab astronomer Venu M. Kalari, challenges our understanding […]

Cassini Takes Plunge Into Saturn, Scientists Cross-Fingered

Cassini Takes Plunge Into Saturn, Scientists Cross-Fingered

In its line up for final plunge into Saturn’s atmosphere, Cassini has once again taken a proximal plunge into the surface of Saturn on June 29, 2017. The final plunge is scheduled for mid-September. The Cosmic Dust Analyzer’s (CDA) science team, in Germany adjusted the instrument’s settings this week based on experience in recent “proximal” […]