Tilted Worlds

A new study argues the axial tilt of a world orbiting a M-dwarf star affects that world's habitability.

As we find more worlds orbiting other stars, suggesting life may be common, we are also discovering how complex the life matrix may be, suggesting life is rare.

Opening The High Frontier

A space tug would capture a satellite, take it to a fuel depot, fuel it, and allow it to go on to its intended geosynchronous orbit.  The depots would be fueled with hydrogen and oxygen-- both excellent rocket fuels-- taken from water mined from asteroids.

Such a system would reduce the cost of space operations.

Crash On Mars

The ExoMars lander crashed, the ESA says.   ESA lost contact with the lander one minute before scheduled touchdown, and some evidence suggests the lander exploded upon impact.

The orbital element of the mission is still operational.

Planet Nine

Astronomer Mike Brown of Caltech is predicting we will find the so far hypothetical Planet Nine within 16 months.

The huge world is thought to be at least ten times as massive as Earth, and a thousand times as fae from the Sun.

Problems At Jupiter

NASA's Juno probe is off to a rough start at Jupiter.  First, there was a rocket valve issue, and now the computer has put itself into safe mode.

The safe mode occurred just before the probe's first close approach to Jupiter.

Clouds Over Pluto

There may be clouds low in the atmosphere of Pluto, according to New Horizons data.

Pluto's atmosphere is proving far more complex than thought before the probe's flyby.

Galaxies Galore

A new study finds there are ten times as many galaxies in the universe as previously thought.

Observing all those galaxies, however, will have to wait for more advanced telescopes.