Hubble Confirms Largest Comet Nucleus Ever Seen - NASA Science
Apr 12, 2022 · NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has determined the size of the largest icy comet nucleus ever seen by astronomers. The estimated diameter is approximately 80 miles across, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. The nucleus is about 50 times larger than found at the heart of most known comets. Its mass is estimated […]
NASA’s Webb Finds Water, and a New Mystery, in Rare Main Belt …
May 15, 2023 · Using Webb’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument, astronomers have confirmed gas – specifically water vapor – around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time, indicating that water ice from the primordial solar system can be …
Comets - NASA Science
Explore images of asteroids and comets taken by NASA's robotic spacecraft. National Space Science Data Center: Comets Fact sheets, FAQs, and information about missions to explore comets.
Ancient Comet Makes Appearance - NASA
6 days ago · The comet hails from the Oort Cloud, which scientists think is a giant spherical shell surrounding our solar system. It is like a big, thick-walled bubble made of icy pieces of space debris the sizes of mountains and sometimes larger.
All NASA News - NASA
Oct 13, 2023 · NASA invites the public to virtually sail along with the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System‘s space journey using NASA’s “Eyes on the Solar System” visualization tool, a digital model of the solar system. This simulation shows the real-time positions of the planets, moons,….
NASA Invests in Concept Development for Missions to Comet, …
Dec 20, 2017 · NASA has selected two finalist concepts for a robotic mission planned to launch in the mid-2020s: a comet sample return mission and a drone-like rotorcraft that would explore potential landing sites on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.
New Comet Discovered | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
A new comet that will pass close to Earth early next week has been discovered by scientists working on the international Infrared Astronomical Satellite project. The comet first appeared in data sent to Earth on April 25, in IRAS' routine search for asteroids.
Rosetta's 'Philae' Makes Historic First Landing on a Comet
Nov 12, 2014 · Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/DLR. After a daring seven-hour descent from its mother ship, the European Space Agency's Philae lander achieves a space exploration milestone: the first-ever landing on a comet. After more than a decade traveling through space, a robotic lander built by the European Space Agency has made the first-ever soft landing of ...
NASA Prepares its Science Fleet for Oct. 19 Mars Comet Encounter
Oct 9, 2014 · NASA’s extensive fleet of science assets, particularly those orbiting and roving Mars, have front row seats to image and study a once-in-a-lifetime comet flyby on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Comet NEOWISE Sizzles as It Slides by the Sun, Providing a Treat …
Jul 8, 2020 · A comet visiting from the most distant parts of our solar system is putting on a spectacular display. Named Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, the comet made its once-in-our-lifetimes close approach to the Sun on July 3, 2020, and will cross outside Earth's orbit on its way back to the outer parts of the solar system by mid-August.