Could a comet hit Mars in 2014?
A recently discovered comet will make an uncomfortably close planetary flyby next year — but this time it’s not Earth that’s in the cosmic crosshairs. According to preliminary orbital prediction models, comet C/2013 A1 will buzz Mars on October 19, 2014. Early calculations suggest that the chance of impact is low — but that could…
In Reality, Nebulae Offer No Place for Spaceships to Hide
In the Battlestar: Galactica universe, nebulas are a nifty spot to hide from the Cylons that are plotting to kill humanity. There’s just one problem with the hypothesis, though: These diffuse areas of gas in our universe are actually very faint, even if you get close up. Probably too faint for a hiding spot. Prequel…
NASA unveils image of Mercury unlike any you’ve ever seen
Tiny Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, may look to the human eye like Earth’s moon. But appearances can be deceiving. Instruments aboard NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft, currently orbiting Mercury, reveal a rich variety of chemicals, minerals and physical features, a new image of the planet shows. The false-color view depicts variations in the…
How Dennis Tito could send humans to Mars and back by 2020
Late last night, word began circulating that entrepreneur Dennis Tito — who, in 2001, became the world’s first space tourist — intends to launch a privately backed mission to Mars in 2018. Details will be announced next week, but initial reports indicate that the expedition will be round-trip and last 501 days. Most significantly, it…
