What Can We Actually Find on an Exoplanet? Part 1: The Atmospheric Fingerprint
Reported by Universe Today
If an alien civilization could see Earth only as a single pale blue dot, what could they learn? We start with transit spectroscopy, the biosignature cocktail of oxygen, methane, ozone, and water, and why even the James Webb will struggle to find life....
- By: Paul Sutter (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/pmsutter)
- On: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:15 +0000
A moon for Mars! Asaph Hall finds Phobos 149 years ago
Reported by Space | EarthSky
On this date in 1877, astronomer Asaph Hall discovered a moon for Mars: Phobos, the larger of 2 moons. He discovered the other moon, Deimos, later that year.
The post A moon for Mars! Asaph Hall finds Phobos 149 years ago first appeared on EarthSky....
- By: Space | EarthSky
- On: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:00 +0000
APOD: 2026 August 17 – A Golden Corona Eclipse
Reported by NASA
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 17 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating unive...
- By: NASA
- On: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:05 +0000
Swift spacecraft, and a mission to save it, caught on video
Reported by Space | EarthSky
The Swift space telescope is falling back to Earth. The LINK spacecraft is trying to save it. See both in orbit in a new video.
The post Swift spacecraft, and a mission to save it, caught on video first appeared on EarthSky....
- By: Space | EarthSky
- On: Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:00 +0000
APOD: 2026 August 16 – Milky Way over Yellowstone
Reported by NASA
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 16 – Milky… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating u...
- By: NASA
- On: Sun, 16 Aug 2026 04:05 +0000
The Planet That Lied About Its Own Spin
Reported by Universe Today
A new study warns that astronomers measuring the rotation of distant exoplanets may often be measuring atmospheric winds instead, since the clouds of Venus circle the planet roughly 60 times faster than Venus itself actually spins. Kane proposes using mult...
- By: Mark Thompson (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/mark)
- On: Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:40 +0000