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Beth Johnson
Beth Johnson

288 Followers

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Jan 6

Io Outburst Shines in Plasma Torus

Between September and December 2022, a small telescope in the Arizona desert observed a brightening of the plasma torus caused by Io’s charged volcanic particles. — I love Io. It’s my favorite moon not orbiting the Earth and is endlessly fascinating. Io is incredibly volcanic and is often referred to as the ‘most volcanic body in the solar system’, which may not be true and is still debated, but it sure sounds cool. Or hot. Something…

Space

4 min read

Io Outburst Shines in Plasma Torus
Io Outburst Shines in Plasma Torus
Space

4 min read


Jan 4

Radio Transmissions Seek to Measure Asteroid

An experiment conducted in Alaska used long-wavelength radio transmissions to hopefully map the mass distribution of a potentially hazardous asteroid. — From the high peaks of the Andes to the deep cold of the Arctic and Antarctic, space science happens in some amazing locales. The dry air, often clear skies, lack of surrounding buildings, and little light pollution help with any number of observations. …

Space

4 min read

Radio Transmissions Seek to Measure Asteroid
Radio Transmissions Seek to Measure Asteroid
Space

4 min read


Nov 1, 2022

Marshmallow Gas Giant Found at Red Dwarf Star

An exoplanet found orbiting a red dwarf star turns out to have the density of a marshmallow, surprising researchers who didn’t expect a planet with an atmosphere that close to an active star. — Astronomers at Kitt Peak have discovered a Jupiter-ish planet orbiting a red dwarf. Now, you know we only bring you exoplanet stories when there is something unusual, and as always, this release is no exception. This planet, TOI-3757 b, has the density of a marshmallow, making this the lowest-density planet…

Space

3 min read

Marshmallow Gas Giant Found at Red Dwarf Star
Marshmallow Gas Giant Found at Red Dwarf Star
Space

3 min read


Oct 27, 2022

Dealing with Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

A trio of asteroid stories: OSIRIS-REx’s sample of Bennu on schedule to return; researchers develop method to map asteroid density distribution; and 3200 Phaethon’s rotation speeds up. — Science can be a long game, especially when dealing with space science. Distances are astronomical; scales are measured in millions and billions. …

Space

3 min read

Dealing with Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
Dealing with Potentially Hazardous Asteroids
Space

3 min read


Oct 25, 2022

Europa’s Eruptions Likely from Shallow Surface Lakes

Computer models find that eruptions seen on Europa are likely coming from shallow lakes embedded in the ice rather than the subsurface ocean as expected. — Jupiter’s moon Europa likely has a global subsurface ocean that could be habitable. For that reason, NASA is sending the Europa Clipper spacecraft to collect data on the icy moon and possibly even sample some of the plumes that erupt from the surface. …

Space

3 min read

Europa’s Eruptions Likely from Shallow Surface Lakes
Europa’s Eruptions Likely from Shallow Surface Lakes
Space

3 min read


Oct 14, 2022

Innovations in the Search for Life Beyond Earth

NASA JPL is developing a new suite of instruments to ingest and analyze liquid samples, and a team of scientists thinks that they can use nitrous oxide as a biosignature. — The search for life beyond Earth is one of the more fascinating scientific endeavors currently underway. Without a way to place robots or humans on distant worlds both within and outside our solar system, scientists have been working to come up with methods that will work from a distance.

Space

3 min read

Innovations in the Search for Life Beyond Earth
Innovations in the Search for Life Beyond Earth
Space

3 min read


Oct 12, 2022

Vredefort Crater Much Larger Than Originally Thought

New geological evidence finds that Vredefort crater in South Africa was originally 250–280 kilometers in diameter and formed by an object 20–25 kilometers wide. — When we talk about planetary defense, especially in the context of the DART mission, mass extinction events — such as the Chicxulub impact — tend to come up in conversation. That particular event involved an impactor about ten kilometers in diameter which left a crater 180 kilometers across. Not only…

Geology

3 min read

Vredefort Crater Much Larger Than Originally Thought
Vredefort Crater Much Larger Than Originally Thought
Geology

3 min read


Oct 8, 2022

DART Mission Successfully Boops Dimorphos

On Monday, September 26, in front of a global audience, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test successfully hit the tiny, 160-meter asteroid Dimorphos. — Congratulations to the DART mission teams! On Monday, September 26, at 23:14 UTC, in front of a global audience, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test successfully hit the tiny, 160-meter asteroid Dimorphos. Images streamed in from the onboard camera, DRACO, as the spacecraft approached the rocky surface, ending with a barely…

Space

5 min read

DART Mission Successfully Boops Dimorphos
DART Mission Successfully Boops Dimorphos
Space

5 min read


Oct 4, 2022

Ryugu Samples Reveal Asteroid’s Origin Story

An analysis of grains sampled from the asteroid Ryugu finds that the parent body likely formed about two million years after the formation of the solar system. — Didymos and Dimorphos may have all the current media attention, but let’s not forget that Hayabusa2 collected two samples from the asteroid Ryugu, which arrived back on Earth at the end of 2020. Wait… 2020 is over? When did that happen? Anyway, the samples were divided up among several space…

Space

3 min read

Ryugu Samples Reveal Asteroid’s Origin Story
Ryugu Samples Reveal Asteroid’s Origin Story
Space

3 min read


Oct 1, 2022

Enceladus’ Oceans Host Habitable Components

New models for the composition of the subsurface oceans on Saturn’s moon Enceladus have determined that phosphorus should be readily available. — “Follow the water” is the theme of much of our quest to find life beyond Earth. From narrowing down the so-called Goldilocks zone to where water can be liquid to the discovery of subsurface ocean worlds, we have pinned our hopes on finding what we recognize as life. Now, scientists…

Space

2 min read

Enceladus’ Oceans Host Habitable Components
Enceladus’ Oceans Host Habitable Components
Space

2 min read

Beth Johnson

Beth Johnson

288 Followers

Planetary scientist, podcast host. Communication specialist for SETI Institute and Planetary Science Institute. Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/planetarypan

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