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Discover the Latest Cosmic Milestones: Martian Year, Planetary Alignments, and Groundbreaking Uranus Research
In recent planetary science developments, NASA has marked a new Martian year, which occurs every 687 Earth days. This milestone provides scientists with opportunities to compare seasonal changes and atmospheric patterns on the Red Planet across multiple Martian years.
For skywatchers this month, Mars and Jupiter are visible in the western sky after sunset, with Mars remaining visible for several hours after dark while Jupiter sets earlier, around 9:30 to 10:00 PM. On May 3rd, the first quarter Moon appeared right next to Mars, creating a striking celestial pairing visible during the first half of the night. Meanwhile, in the morning sky, Venus and Saturn can be observed low in the east, starting the month close together but gradually separating as May progresses.
New research indicates that Uranus radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, according to two recent studies. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the planet's thermal dynamics and may provide insights into its internal structure and composition.
In mission news, NASA's Lucy spacecraft continues its journey toward the Jupiter Trojan asteroids and is preparing for a significant flyby of the main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. This asteroid, named after the discoverer of the famous Lucy fossil, will provide valuable data about the early solar system.
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission, known as JUICE, is scheduled for a Venus flyby in August 2025 to adjust its trajectory for its eventual arrival at Jupiter, where it will study the gas giant's icy moons for potential habitable environments.
The Europa Clipper mission is making progress toward its destination, with a Mars flyby maneuver planned for March 2025 to gain the necessary speed for its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa, where it will arrive in April 2030.
In policy developments, the President's Budget Request was recently released, and notably, the National Science Foundation is abolishing its divisions, a restructuring that will impact how planetary science research is organized and funded in the United States.
Astronomers are also anticipating a nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation in the coming months, which will briefly appear as a "new star" in the night sky, providing a rare opportunity for both professional and amateur astronomers to observe this dramatic stellar event.
For skywatchers this month, Mars and Jupiter are visible in the western sky after sunset, with Mars remaining visible for several hours after dark while Jupiter sets earlier, around 9:30 to 10:00 PM. On May 3rd, the first quarter Moon appeared right next to Mars, creating a striking celestial pairing visible during the first half of the night. Meanwhile, in the morning sky, Venus and Saturn can be observed low in the east, starting the month close together but gradually separating as May progresses.
New research indicates that Uranus radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, according to two recent studies. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the planet's thermal dynamics and may provide insights into its internal structure and composition.
In mission news, NASA's Lucy spacecraft continues its journey toward the Jupiter Trojan asteroids and is preparing for a significant flyby of the main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. This asteroid, named after the discoverer of the famous Lucy fossil, will provide valuable data about the early solar system.
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission, known as JUICE, is scheduled for a Venus flyby in August 2025 to adjust its trajectory for its eventual arrival at Jupiter, where it will study the gas giant's icy moons for potential habitable environments.
The Europa Clipper mission is making progress toward its destination, with a Mars flyby maneuver planned for March 2025 to gain the necessary speed for its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa, where it will arrive in April 2030.
In policy developments, the President's Budget Request was recently released, and notably, the National Science Foundation is abolishing its divisions, a restructuring that will impact how planetary science research is organized and funded in the United States.
Astronomers are also anticipating a nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation in the coming months, which will briefly appear as a "new star" in the night sky, providing a rare opportunity for both professional and amateur astronomers to observe this dramatic stellar event.
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By Quiet. PleaseIn recent planetary science developments, NASA has marked a new Martian year, which occurs every 687 Earth days. This milestone provides scientists with opportunities to compare seasonal changes and atmospheric patterns on the Red Planet across multiple Martian years.
For skywatchers this month, Mars and Jupiter are visible in the western sky after sunset, with Mars remaining visible for several hours after dark while Jupiter sets earlier, around 9:30 to 10:00 PM. On May 3rd, the first quarter Moon appeared right next to Mars, creating a striking celestial pairing visible during the first half of the night. Meanwhile, in the morning sky, Venus and Saturn can be observed low in the east, starting the month close together but gradually separating as May progresses.
New research indicates that Uranus radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, according to two recent studies. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the planet's thermal dynamics and may provide insights into its internal structure and composition.
In mission news, NASA's Lucy spacecraft continues its journey toward the Jupiter Trojan asteroids and is preparing for a significant flyby of the main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. This asteroid, named after the discoverer of the famous Lucy fossil, will provide valuable data about the early solar system.
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission, known as JUICE, is scheduled for a Venus flyby in August 2025 to adjust its trajectory for its eventual arrival at Jupiter, where it will study the gas giant's icy moons for potential habitable environments.
The Europa Clipper mission is making progress toward its destination, with a Mars flyby maneuver planned for March 2025 to gain the necessary speed for its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa, where it will arrive in April 2030.
In policy developments, the President's Budget Request was recently released, and notably, the National Science Foundation is abolishing its divisions, a restructuring that will impact how planetary science research is organized and funded in the United States.
Astronomers are also anticipating a nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation in the coming months, which will briefly appear as a "new star" in the night sky, providing a rare opportunity for both professional and amateur astronomers to observe this dramatic stellar event.
For skywatchers this month, Mars and Jupiter are visible in the western sky after sunset, with Mars remaining visible for several hours after dark while Jupiter sets earlier, around 9:30 to 10:00 PM. On May 3rd, the first quarter Moon appeared right next to Mars, creating a striking celestial pairing visible during the first half of the night. Meanwhile, in the morning sky, Venus and Saturn can be observed low in the east, starting the month close together but gradually separating as May progresses.
New research indicates that Uranus radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, according to two recent studies. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the planet's thermal dynamics and may provide insights into its internal structure and composition.
In mission news, NASA's Lucy spacecraft continues its journey toward the Jupiter Trojan asteroids and is preparing for a significant flyby of the main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. This asteroid, named after the discoverer of the famous Lucy fossil, will provide valuable data about the early solar system.
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission, known as JUICE, is scheduled for a Venus flyby in August 2025 to adjust its trajectory for its eventual arrival at Jupiter, where it will study the gas giant's icy moons for potential habitable environments.
The Europa Clipper mission is making progress toward its destination, with a Mars flyby maneuver planned for March 2025 to gain the necessary speed for its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa, where it will arrive in April 2030.
In policy developments, the President's Budget Request was recently released, and notably, the National Science Foundation is abolishing its divisions, a restructuring that will impact how planetary science research is organized and funded in the United States.
Astronomers are also anticipating a nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation in the coming months, which will briefly appear as a "new star" in the night sky, providing a rare opportunity for both professional and amateur astronomers to observe this dramatic stellar event.