Two phenomena known to inhibit the potential habitability of planets — tidal forces and vigorous stellar activity — might instead help chances for life on certain planets orbiting low-mass stars, University of Washington astronomers have found. In a paper published this month in the journal Astrobiology, UW doctoral student Rodrigo Luger and co-authorRory Barnes, research […]
On day 15, of the 15-day window for five launches of sub-orbital sounding rockets saw the launch of the Aural Spatial Structures Probe, or ASSP aboard a NASA Oriole IV sounding rocket at 1:41 am on Wednesday from the Poker Flat Research Range in interior Alaska. According to NASA,”preliminary data show that all aspects of […]
Astronomers and space enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to study a visitor from deep space, when it flies by Earth Monday night, January 26. An asteroid named 2004 BL86 will pass close to us… but still at a safe distance of about three times as far as the moon. BL86 is estimated to be […]
A scientist once noticed a connection between the stress that tides inflict on the planet and the number of small earthquakes that happen in some areas when that pressure is greatest. She saw a pattern to these earthquakes leading up to great tsunamis. A graduate student is now looking for a similar signal in Alaska. […]