Earth Swing By

Researchers at the MIT have developed the ability to create low-cost plasma sensors for orbiting spacecraft. These 3D-printed sensors can be produced for tens of dollars in a matter of days. The 3D-printed plasma sensorsare ideal for CubeSats, which are used for environmental monitoring or and could help scientists weather prediction.

Researchers working closely with the University of Washington have developed a novel algorithm — known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery, or THOR — to find and track asteroids that could possess killer impact for our planet. The algorithm has now proved its usefulness by detecting the first candidate asteroids.

Scientists studying Neptune's temperature were in for a surprise recently. They discovered unusual temperature variations on the planet. Scientists had not anticipated such a dramatic temperature swing, with the planet becoming chilly during its summer season and then warming up at the south pole.

The largest asteroid to pass by Earth this year will swing closest on Sunday, giving astronomers a rare chance for a good look at a space rock that formed at the dawn of our solar system.

A Mercury-bound spacecraft swooped past Earth on Friday, tweaking its roundabout path to the solar system’s smallest and innermost planet.

A NASA spacecraft bound for Jupiter will swing by Earth to get the boost it needs to arrive at the giant gas planet in 2016.

Astronomers getting their first close-up glimpse of a giant asteroid about to whiz by Earth found a surprise bonus rock. A smaller moon asteroid is circling the larger space rock, an unusual but not unheard of space phenomenon.

An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier is set to make a close but harmless swing by Earth on Tuesday. Scientists at NASA's Near-Earth Object Program, which tracks asteroids and comets, ruled out any chance of impact. They're using the close encounter to learn more about the space rock known as 2005 YU55.

Researchers at the MIT have developed the ability to create low-cost plasma sensors for orbiting spacecraft. These 3D-printed sensors can be produced for tens of dollars in a matter of days. The 3D-printed plasma sensorsare ideal for CubeSats, which are used for environmental monitoring or and could help scientists weather prediction.

Researchers working closely with the University of Washington have developed a novel algorithm — known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery, or THOR — to find and track asteroids that could possess killer impact for our planet. The algorithm has now proved its usefulness by detecting the first candidate asteroids.

Scientists studying Neptune's temperature were in for a surprise recently. They discovered unusual temperature variations on the planet. Scientists had not anticipated such a dramatic temperature swing, with the planet becoming chilly during its summer season and then warming up at the south pole.

The largest asteroid to pass by Earth this year will swing closest on Sunday, giving astronomers a rare chance for a good look at a space rock that formed at the dawn of our solar system.

A Mercury-bound spacecraft swooped past Earth on Friday, tweaking its roundabout path to the solar system’s smallest and innermost planet.

A NASA spacecraft bound for Jupiter will swing by Earth to get the boost it needs to arrive at the giant gas planet in 2016.

Astronomers getting their first close-up glimpse of a giant asteroid about to whiz by Earth found a surprise bonus rock. A smaller moon asteroid is circling the larger space rock, an unusual but not unheard of space phenomenon.

An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier is set to make a close but harmless swing by Earth on Tuesday. Scientists at NASA's Near-Earth Object Program, which tracks asteroids and comets, ruled out any chance of impact. They're using the close encounter to learn more about the space rock known as 2005 YU55.