Astronomy news

• 11 Feb 2023 (6 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 23:13 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (7 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 22:35 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• US military shoots down small object over Alaska

  10-02-2023 22:26 via space.com
  
  A U.S. fighter jet shot down a mysterious object over Alaska on Friday (Feb. 10), six days after taking out a big Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.
  
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• Puffy helium planets could explain exoplanet size mystery

  10-02-2023 22:00 via space.com
  
  Gaseous planets close to their star could see their hydrogen atmospheres evaporate, leaving behind helium that could be detected by the James Webb Space Telescope.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (8 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 21:21 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• Blue Origin teams up with Shaq to send kids' postcards to space on New Shepard

  10-02-2023 21:00 via space.com
  
  The four-time NBA champion is reaching for space with Blue Origin's non-profit, Club for the Future.
  
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• Watch Russian cargo ship arrive at space station early Saturday

  10-02-2023 20:38 via space.com
  
  A robotic Russian cargo craft will arrive at the International Space Station early Saturday morning (Feb. 11), and you can watch the action live.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (9 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 20:31 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

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• Blue Origin aims for Mars in 2024 with twin NASA spacecraft

  10-02-2023 20:00 via space.com
  
  The company will launch NASA's two-spacecraft ESCAPADE mission in 2024 with its forthcoming New Glenn rocket, assuming Blue Origin has it ready in time.
  
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• Turkey earthquake opened 190-mile-long fissure, satellite images show

  10-02-2023 19:25 via space.com
  
  Two enormous cracks in Earth's crust opened near the Turkish-Syrian border after two powerful earthquakes shook the region on Monday (Feb. 6), killing over 20,000 people.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (10 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 19:07 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• Hurricane-tracking satellites can also keep tabs on harmful microplastics in the ocean

  10-02-2023 19:00 via space.com
  
  A satellite system designed to track hurricanes can reveal where damaging microplastics accumulate in the ocean. A new study now reveals why.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (11 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 18:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• Mars atmosphere mystery could be solved by rocks in Minnesota

  10-02-2023 18:00 via space.com
  
  We know precious little about how Mars got its atmosphere or how it disappeared. Now, thanks to some rocks from Duluth, Minnesota, scientists have a new theory.
  
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• Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2 tripod review

  10-02-2023 17:31 via space.com
  
  The sturdy MK055XPRO3 BHQ2 can handle heavy astrophotography setups, but it might be overkill for beginners and mirrorless users.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (12 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 17:21 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 'PneumoPlanet' inflatable moon habitat could house 32 astronauts

  10-02-2023 17:00 via space.com
  
  The PneumoPlanet inflatable lunar habitat offers an opportunity for future lunar astronauts to comfortably live, eat and work on the moon, its designers say.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (13 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 16:35 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• NASA test fires upgraded rocket engines for future Artemis moon missions (video)

  10-02-2023 16:00 via space.com
  
  The agency wants to send huge payloads towards the moon starting with Artemis 5. Getting there requires more power from recycled RS-25 space shuttle engines.
  
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• NASA test fires new rocket engines for future Artemis moon missions (video)

  10-02-2023 16:00 via space.com
  
  The agency wants to send huge payloads towards the moon starting with Artemis 5. Getting there requires more power from recycled RS-25 space shuttle engines.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (14 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 15:16 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• Lunar love affair: Enjoying the beauty of the moon

  10-02-2023 15:00 via space.com
  
  Throughout history, the has moon remained a favorite skywatching target for astronomers of all levels.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (15 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 14:11 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• NASA astronauts could hibernate on deep space missions thanks to arctic squirrels

  10-02-2023 14:00 via space.com
  
  Researchers are studying hibernating Arctic squirrels in order to harness the benefits of this natural state to protect astronauts on long-duration space missions.
  
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• Arctic squirrel research may teach NASA astronauts how to hibernate on deep space missions

  10-02-2023 14:00 via space.com
  
  Researchers are studying hibernating Arctic squirrels in order to harness the benefits of this natural state to protect astronauts on long-duration space missions.
  
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• Nikon binoculars deal spotted: Save 25% on the Nikon Aculon A211

  10-02-2023 13:26 via space.com
  
  The Nikon Aculon A211 10x42 binoculars are light, have great optics and offer a wide field of view and are now 25% off.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (16 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 13:10 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 11 Feb 2023 (17 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 12:24 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• Scope out $85 off the Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ telescope

  10-02-2023 12:05 via space.com
  
  You can get a big discount on a powerful telescope that's well suited to beginners and those without much stargazing experience.
  
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• European Space Agency wants you to help design moon and Mars spacesuits

  10-02-2023 12:00 via space.com
  
  A spacesuit contest from the European Space Agency invites designers and makers to think of how best to represent "European identity" on the surface of the moon or Mars.
  
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• China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts take their 1st spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video)

  10-02-2023 12:00 via space.com
  
  Two Chinese astronauts headed outside of the Tiangong space station on Thursday (Feb. 9) for a seven-hour-long spacewalk, the first of the ongoing Shenzhou 15 mission.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (18 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 11:44 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 11 Feb 2023 (19 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 10:18 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 11 Feb 2023 (20 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 09:04 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 11 Feb 2023 (21 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 08:03 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 11 Feb 2023 (22 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 07:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• 11 Feb 2023 (23 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 06:20 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

• India's new rocket flies 1st successful mission, delivering 3 satellites to orbit

  10-02-2023 05:26 via space.com
  
  India's new SSLV rocket successfully delivered three satellites to orbit on Thursday night (Feb. 9), bouncing back from an August 2022 failure.
  
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• 16 Feb 2023 (6 days away): Saturn at solar conjunction

  10-02-2023 01:05 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Saturn is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun.
  
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• 15 Feb 2023 (5 days away): Mercury at aphelion

  10-02-2023 01:05 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury reaches its furthest point from the Sun.
  
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• 15 Feb 2023 (5 days away): Conjunction of Venus and Neptune

  10-02-2023 01:05 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Venus and Neptune share the same right ascension, at a separation of 0°00'.
  
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• 14 Feb 2023 (4 days away): Lunar occultation of Delta Scorpii

  10-02-2023 01:05 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon will pass in front of Delta Scorpii (Dschubba), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Guyana amongst others.
  
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• 13 Feb 2023 (3 days away): Moon at Last Quarter

  10-02-2023 01:05 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon rises in the east at around midnight and appears high in the sky at sunrise.
  
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• 11 Feb 2023 (Tomorrow): Conjunction of Mercury and Pluto

  10-02-2023 01:05 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°34'.
  
  Read more

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