exoplanets Archives | Filling Space

How are cubesats advancing astrophysics?

Cubesats are becoming more common. In low Earth orbit, they are becoming so prevalent that concerns are arising about space debris and interference with Earth-based…

Cosmos

White dwarfs’ exoplanets – what do we know about them?

Editor November 15, 2019 astronomy Earth-like planets exoplanets geochemistry geophysics Habitability magnetic fields planetary systems space science white dwarfs

A booming area of space science is the study of “exoplanets”, the term for planets outside our Solar System. Telescopes like the Transiting Exoplanet Survey…

Machine Worlds

How did MESSENGER revolutionize our understanding of Mercury?

Editor October 25, 2019 comets exoplanets flybys geology magnetic fields Mariner 10 Mercury NASA planetary science rocky planets

Mercury, one of Earth’s rocky neighbors, is one of our Solar System’s most enigmatic planets. It is notoriously difficult to study due to its close…

Cosmos

What do we know about the TRAPPIST-1 system’s habitability?

Editor September 20, 2019 Astrophysics auroras Earth-like planets exoplanets high-energy particles magnetic fields planetary systems stellar radiation the habitable zone TRAPPIST-1

The TRAPPIST-1 system is notable for having Earth-like planets that may be habitable. They are rocky and in the so-called “habitable zone” where water may…

Worlds

How does stars’ radioactivity affect the habitability of nearby planets?

Editor August 30, 2019 exoplanets gas giants Habitability habitable zones liquid water radioactivity rocky planets Space Weather terrestrial planets ultracool dwarfs

Stars are dynamic entities. They emit radiation and charged particles that affect the planets that orbit them. This “space weather” is thus an important factor…

Life

What’s it like working as an astrobiologist?

Editor August 16, 2019 asteroids astrobiology astronomy bacteria biology comets earth science exoplanets geology meteors

Astrobiology is a relatively recent area of study that investigates the origin and evolution of life in the universe. Being an astrobiologist combines perspectives from…

Life

Mainstreaming SETI: ‘Oumuamua and Light-sails

Editor January 25, 2019 `Oumuamua alien technology astronomy biological signatures comets exoplanets interstellar objects light-sails SETI technological signatures

Recently, an interstellar object named ‘Oumuamua entered our solar system. It was the first such observed object in recorded history. Scientists were thus already watching…

Arts

The work of space artists: visualizing the cosmos

Editor September 14, 2018 alien landscapes Chesley Bonestell exoplanets Mars NASA Robert Heinlein space art the Cassini spacecraft the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter the Sun

Art that depicts space drives us to explore it. Well before astronauts left Earth, the work of the “father of modern space art” Chesley Bonestell…