New Atlas

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Europa's ocean may be more Earthlike than previously thought

David Szondy June 12, 2019

A new study by Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California indicate that the subterranean world ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa may be more Earthlike than scientists believed, with the waters containing common salt.

Color composite view combines violet, green, and infrared images of Europa in natural color (left) and ...

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NASA tests Europa Clipper antenna for future Jupiter moon mission

David Szondy April 2, 2019

A key element of NASA's Europa Clipper is being put through its paces as a prototype of the probe's High-Gain Antenna (HGA) undergoes testing at the Experimental Test Range (ETR). The HGA will be used to keep the Clipper in contact as it conducts a series of flybys of Jupiter's moon Europa.

A full-scale prototype of the high-gain antenna on NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft is undergoing testing in ...

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Jupiter may have formed much farther from the Sun than we thought

Michael Irving March 24, 2019

As the largest planet in the solar system by a wide margin, Jupiter has a lot of sway, but its history is still a bit of a mystery. Now astronomers have put forward a new theory, suggesting that the gas giant formed much farther away from the Sun and then migrated into its current position.

A new theory suggests that Jupiter formed five times further from the Sun than its current ...

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NASA lab brews up alien atmospheres here on Earth

Michael Irving March 14, 2019

Earth’s pleasant, life-giving atmosphere is turning out to be somewhat of an oddity. To get a better understanding of exoplanets, a team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has recreated one of these alien atmospheres in the lab.

A NASA team has recreated the atmosphere of a "hot Jupiter" exoplanet, similar to this artist's ...

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NASA lab brews up alien atmospheres here on Earth

Michael Irving March 14, 2019

Earth’s pleasant, life-giving atmosphere is turning out to be somewhat of an oddity. To get a better understanding of exoplanets, a team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has recreated one of these alien atmospheres in the lab.

Space

The year's most spectacular space photos

Michael Irving December 19, 2018

The Sun is setting on 2018, and with so many eyes on (and in) the skies it’s been a stellar year for space photography. From mesmerizing nebulae to historic firsts to stunning views of Earth and other planets, New Atlas rounds up some of the best space photos of the year.

The Lagoon Nebula, a stellar nursery about 4,000 light-years from Earth, captured in visible light by ...

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Hubble spots "hot Neptune" exoplanet that's evaporating at a record rate

Michael Irving December 13, 2018

A type of world dubbed a "hot Neptune" has been conspicuously few and far between in terms of exoplanet discoveries, but a new observation may explain why. Hubble has now spotted a hot Neptune named GJ 3470b that’s vanishing at a record rate.

An illustration of GJ 3470b, shrouded in a cloud of gas as its atmosphere is stripped ...

Space

Juno approaches halfway mark of its science mission

David Szondy December 12, 2018

NASA's Juno orbiter is approaching the halfway mark of its science mission. On December 21 at 8:49:48 am PST (11:49:48 am EST), the spacecraft will complete the 16th of 32 scheduled science orbits in a flyby that will bring it within 3,140 mi (5,053 km) of the planet's cloud tops.

Artist's concept of Juno, which is approaching the halfway mark of its science mission

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Dolphins in the Jovian clouds among the most astonishing Jupiter images of 2018

Rich Haridy December 4, 2018

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has recently delivered a mind-bending torrent of amazing images, Over the past twelve months we have been treated to some of the best images yet including a magnificent shot of a cloud in the shape of a dolphin, swimming over the Jovian surface.

A dolphin in the clouds of Jupiter, among the best images of the massive planet captured ...

Space

Water discovered hidden deep beneath Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Anthony Wood September 5, 2018

Scientists may have discovered large amounts of water hidden deep beneath the surface of Jupiter’s famous Great Red Spot. The discovery, which was made using ground-based telescopes, opens up the possibility that extremophile lifeforms could exist in the atmosphere of the enigmatic gas giant.

Image of Jupiter's Great Red Spot created from data collected by NASA's Juno spacecraft