Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko reached its perihelion August 13, the point in its orbit at which it is closest to the Sun. Rosetta had already captured images of increased activity, including an outurst so strong that it pushed the incoming solar wind away from the comet's nucleus! More activity is expected over the coming weeks, as the…

A recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal provides new insight into the origin of H chondrites.  Since the 1990s, main belt asteroid 6-Hebe has been suggested as the probable parent body of the H chondrites.  This new research proposes that there are at least 2 source regions of H chondrites; one in the inner…

A new video released by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory shows radar images acquired during a June 25 Earth flyby of asteroid 1999 JD6. The asteroid is made up of two distinct lobes, and measures 200 – 300 metres (660 to 980 feet) in diameter. The radar images were obtained by pairing NASA's 70-meter-wide (230-foot) Deep…

This is the question a new project at the Missouri University of Science and Technology will aim to answer. Through the testing of easily-evaporated compounds contained in meteorites, researchers will strive to develop a space-based fueling plan, utilizing near-Earth objects such as comets and asteroids, for future space travel. The project, titled “Laboratory Demonstration and…

The Perseid meteor shower is at its peak August 12 & 13, so make sure to take in the show!  At the shower's height, you can expect as many as 100 meteors per hour in the pre-dawn hours (fewer in urban areas).  The yearly Perseid meteor shower is the result of Earth's orbit intersecting the…