NASA’s autonomous robot snake in search of life on an icy Saturn moon

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has created a self-propelled, autonomous robot snake designed to explore extreme extraterrestrial terrain. Its first-of-a-kind propulsion system means it can boldly go where no robot snake has gone before.Continue… Continue reading NASA’s autonomous robot snake in search of life on an icy Saturn moon

40 years of Saturn data uncovers never-before-seen ring phenomenon

Saturn is renowned for its rings, easily visible through an ordinary telescope. Now, using observations collected over 40 years, scientists have discovered that the planet’s iconic rings may not be as calm as they look, uncovering a never-before-seen i… Continue reading 40 years of Saturn data uncovers never-before-seen ring phenomenon

“Lost” moon could explain several Saturn mysteries, say astronomers

Saturn is home to several solar system mysteries. Using data from Cassini, astronomers now suggest a simple answer to a few questions – a lost moon once orbited the planet before being torn to shreds.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Saturn… Continue reading “Lost” moon could explain several Saturn mysteries, say astronomers

Hackaday Links: January 30, 2022

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After all the fuss and bother along the way, it seems a bit anticlimactic now that the James Webb Space Telescope has arrived at its forever home orbiting around L2. …read more Continue reading Hackaday Links: January 30, 2022

Stunning snaps from Hubble’s latest grand tour of the outer solar system

Every year, the Hubble Space Telescope conducts a grand tour of the outer solar system planets, checking their turbulent atmospheres for changes in weather, storms, clouds and colors. This year’s shots are now in, revealing a few surprises.Continue Rea… Continue reading Stunning snaps from Hubble’s latest grand tour of the outer solar system

Scientists recreate Jupiter’s possible helium rain in the lab

Scientists have recreated in the lab some of the wild weather that might be found on Jupiter and Saturn. Using extremely high pressures and laser shock waves, the researchers produced “helium rain” which has been hypothesized to fall on these planets.C… Continue reading Scientists recreate Jupiter’s possible helium rain in the lab

Enceladus’ global subsurface ocean could host salt-driven currents

Scientists have predicted the presence and movement of ocean currents in the vast subsurface ocean of the Saturnian moon Enceladus. The moon, which is sheathed in a 20 km (12.4 mile)-thick shell of ice, is one of the most promising prospects in the ong… Continue reading Enceladus’ global subsurface ocean could host salt-driven currents

Saturn’s moons explain the planet’s tilt and why it’s increasing

Researchers at the Paris Observatory’s Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation have found that the unusual tilt of Saturn’s axis is due to the periodic gravitational pull of its moons over the last billion years.Continue ReadingCateg… Continue reading Saturn’s moons explain the planet’s tilt and why it’s increasing