Mercury, Moon May Still Be Erupting
October 17, 2014
Two objects that should be old and dead show surprising activity. Other indications of youthfulness in the solar system are noted.
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Rosetta and the Stone
August 6, 2014
A historic comet rendezvous mission begins today after ten years in space.
ISON Died a Customary Comet Death
December 2, 2013
Comet ISON was not unusual for breaking up and sputtering to a fiery end. That's in comets' nature.
Turning Astrobiology Surprises Into Evolutionary Fiction
September 2, 2012
There's never been a surprise that a good astrobiologist hasn't been able to spin into an evolutionary tale.
Comety Show: Oceans from Space
October 11, 2011
Finally, a comet has been found with a deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio that is close to that found in Earth’s oceans. That had not been true of many other comets. Astrobiologists claim this ration in Comet Hartley 2 as “proof” that our water came special delivery from water-balloon comets. But why do they believe that, what constitutes proof, and what new problems does the “proof” lead to?
Planetary Eruptions
July 29, 2011
Eruptions can come in two types: literal and figurative. Some planetary bodies are literally erupting. Others are causing figurative eruptions in theories. Here are some recent news stories about planets, moons, comets and other objects circling our sun and other stars. There hasn’t been much news from Mercury or Venus this month, so we’ll start on the home planet and work outward.
Stardust Finds Burnt Rock in Comet Dust
March 14, 2006
Major upset in solar system origin theories indicated by minerals that had to form hot.