Life needs CHNOPS, the six essential elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur. Curiosity found them on ancient Mars, but a new study shows Earth was born without them. Only a lucky impact with Theia made our world habitable. In contrast, Venus never stood a chance. Meet the three planetary siblings and discover why only Earth became a cradle for life.
From ancient climate changes caused by our solar system’s galactic road trip to NASA’s dishwasher-sized Moon explorer and Australia launching Vegemite into space, this month’s space roundup has it all. Plus, if you ever need to call ET, the 21 cm hydrogen signal might be your best bet! And did you know rogue planets aren’t necessarily kicked-out exiles? They might actually form on their own. 🚀🌍✨
Mars isn’t just a rusty desert—it’s a rusty, once-beachy desert! 🌊🔴 Scientists have discovered that Mars’ red color might come from wet rust, not dry oxidation, hinting at a past with more water than we thought. Meanwhile, China’s Zhurong rover has uncovered ancient Martian shorelines, suggesting liquid water stuck around for longer—which means more time for potential alien microbes to evolve. And where did all that water go? New research shows Mars’ soil can trap and hold water, preserving ice beneath the surface. Could this hidden water still support life? 🚀🔬
This month’s space exploration column takes us from the frosty terrains of ancient Earth to the latest technological feats in Mars’ atmosphere and beyond. Discover the vital insights shared by astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and journey with us through groundbreaking discoveries about black holes, the intriguing potential for life on Titan, and the innovative strategies powering Artemis moon missions. Engage with the cultural significance of space exploration through Indigenous art and marvel at the celestial dance of orbital resonance. Dive into the cosmos with us at Milky-Way.Kiwi, where the universe is closer than ever.
We interviewed Mitch Schulte, Mars Exploration Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC and NZ Astrobiology Network’s official adviser about what it is like to work on Mars.
It would be ironic to discover life on Venus before we found out about it on Mars but scientists insist for now that is “just phosphine”.
This is a fly around of the area of Mars that the Perseverance rover will operate in.
The Brashear Telescope is a masterpiece of the Victorian age technology. It stands 9 m tall with a refracting lens of 18 inches (45.72 cm)
The Starship/Super Heavy combination that is the new name for SpaceX’s BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) is taking shape in Texas with construction of a test vehicle known as Starhopper.
This week, the European Space Agency announced that radar data collected by ESA’s Mars Express point to a pond of liquid water buried under layers of ice and dust in the south polar region of Mars. There is a long way between finding liquid brine pools on Mars and finding life. However, there might be a similar place on Earth, the Blood Falls in Antarctica that originate from a hypersaline brine groundwater environment that supports an anaerobic microbial ecosystem sustained by chemical energy. Professor Ian Hawes from Waikato University explains the importance of the discovery from Mars.
When observing the planets in astronomy it can be quite surprising to see the different sizes that appear in the eyepiece and how this can change over time.
Now that your telescope is all ready, take it outside and start viewing the night sky.
Mars is getting closer this year and will at it’s closest by the end of July. But don’t worry it’ll still be about 58 million kilometres away.
Using a telescope for the first time is not the easiest thing to do, expectations need to be realistic.
Life needs CHNOPS, the six essential elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur. Curiosity found them on ancient Mars, but a new study shows Earth was born without them. Only a lucky impact with Theia made our world habitable. In contrast, Venus never stood a chance. Meet the three planetary siblings and discover why only Earth became a cradle for life.
Mars’s mantle contains ancient fragments up to 4km wide from its formation—preserved like geological fossils from the planet’s violent early history.
Cosmic rays are hitting the atmosphere constantly. One of the products of the collisions is muons, and we can detect muons on the surface of the Earth to learn about the cosmic rays.
NGC6025 is an beautiful open cluster close to Beta Trianguli Australis in Triangulum Australe. Visible with binoculars and great in a telescope, well worth a look.
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