Scientists have made significant progress in developing an ultra-stable telescope capable of detecting Earth-like planets and analyzing their atmospheres for signs of life. The team has successfully measured subatomic- or picometer-sized distortions across a five-foot segmented mirror, paving the way for future missions.
The NASA GOLD Mission observes the dynamic intermingling of space and Earth's uppermost atmosphere, seeking to understand what drives change in this critical region. The mission provides fast observations to monitor hour-by-hour changes in space weather and improves forecasting models for satellites, astronauts, and life on Earth.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Berguitta affects Mauritius and Reunion Islands. NASA's Terra satellite image shows the storm's center just south of Mauritius, with both islands under warning.
A NASA team studied the motion of Mercury to indirectly measure the Sun's mass loss and solar parameters. The research improved upon earlier predictions, reducing uncertainty and providing a more accurate estimate of the rate of solar mass loss.
Tropical Cyclone Berguitta formed in the southwestern Indian Ocean on January 12, 2018, and showed intense rainfall rates around its center. The storm's maximum sustained winds were estimated at 115 mph, but later dropped to 65 knots as it moved southwest.
The largest X-ray galaxy cluster ever discovered contains the mass of three million billion suns and is composed of two colliding clusters, with most mass hidden in dark matter. Hubble's observations also show that the hot gas is being torn from the dark matter during the collision.
Tropical Cyclone Berguitta is moving southwest towards Mauritius with sustained winds of 85 knots. The storm's strength is expected to be maintained over the next day and a half due to warm sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Cyclone Joyce made landfall along the Pilbara Coast in Western Australia, with maximum sustained winds near 45 knots. The cyclone is expected to weaken as it tracks southwest through the region, but will continue to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
A NASA team has demonstrated fully autonomous X-ray navigation in space, utilizing millisecond pulsars to precisely determine the location of an object moving at thousands of miles per hour. This technology offers a new option for deep-space navigation that could work in concert with existing spacecraft-based radio and optical systems.
NASA's JPSS-1 satellite captured visible images of Tropical Cyclone Joyce as it moved south along the northwestern Australian coast on January 11. The cyclone had maximum sustained winds near 45 knots and was forecast to make landfall near Wallal Downs mid-day local time on January 12.
Heavy rainfall in California, fueled by wildfires, caused deadly mudslides that killed at least 17 residents. NASA's LHASA model provided a landslide hazard assessment map, showing the potential for landslides.
Tropical cyclone Ava caused extreme flooding and landslides in Madagascar, resulting in at least 29 deaths. NASA's IMERG analysis estimated near-700mm of rainfall in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar, with highest totals on land in northeastern regions.
The James Webb Space Telescope underwent critical cryogenic testing inside Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, ensuring it will safely reach its orbit and perform its science mission. The telescope was subjected to a range of tests, including alignment checks and simulations of starlight detection.
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has detected a comet's rotation period slow by more than 10 times in just 60 days, revealing light variations associated with material recently ejected into the coma. The comet's small size and high water production suggest that more than half of its surface area contains sunlight-activated jets.
Tropical Storm Irving is experiencing severe wind shear, causing clouds to gather on one side and exposing the storm's center. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument on board NASA's Aqua satellite provided a visible image of this phenomenon.
Tropical Depression 5S formed with sustained winds of 30 knots and was consolidating off Western Australia's coast. NASA satellite data showed a band of thunderstorms with temperatures as low as -90 degrees Celsius, capable of producing heavy rainfall.
Tropical Cyclone Irving appears elongated due to wind shear, with persistent development thunderstorms around its center. The storm is expected to weaken as it interacts with a trough of low pressure, rapidly transitioning into an extratropical system by Jan. 11.
Scientists launched four rockets from Alaska to measure x-ray emissions, determine the impact of water on the upper atmosphere, and form Polar Mesospheric clouds. One rocket studied diffuse X-rays from space, while another investigated the formation and dynamics of PMCs.
Tropical Cyclone Ava is weakening and moving southward off the coast of Madagascar, according to NASA. The cyclone's maximum sustained winds are near 35 knots (40 mph/62 kph), expected to dissipate later in the day on January 9.
Tropical Cyclone Irving was hurricane-force in the Southern Indian Ocean, with heavy rainfall rates of over 93 mm/h reported by GPM's DPR Ku Band. The storm's 3-D precipitation structure was examined, revealing powerful storms at altitudes of up to 17 km.
Tropical Cyclone Ava is located in the Southern Indian Ocean, southeast of Europa Island. The storm is expected to maintain strength for the next day before weakening due to increasing vertical wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Cyclone Ava made landfall along northeastern Madagascar's coast, as captured by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite. The eye of the storm was about 10 nautical miles wide and had strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 knots.
Scientists confirm that a decline in chlorine levels resulting from the international ban on CFCs is leading to less ozone depletion in the Antarctic winter. The study found a 20% decrease in ozone loss from 2005 to 2016, with a steady annual decline of 0.8%.
Tropical Cyclone Ava has strengthened with a more well-formed storm and strong thunderstorms over central Madagascar, posing heavy rainfall risks. The storm is expected to intensify further by January 5, potentially reaching 70 knots (80 mph) before moving south of the island nation.
The ICON and GOLD missions are teaming up to provide comprehensive observations of the ionosphere, a little-understood area close to home. By capturing detailed remote and in situ data, these missions will help improve situational awareness for astronauts and humans on the ground.
Tropical Depression Bolaven caused flooding, landslides, and at least two deaths in the Philippines with heavy rain falling at a rate of almost 121 mm per hour. A NASA satellite observed the storm's 3-D structure, revealing storm tops exceeding 16 km high.
Brown dwarfs blur the line between stars and planets, making their formation a puzzle. The James Webb Space Telescope will study specific brown dwarfs to gain insight into star formation and exoplanet atmospheres.
Tropical Depression Bolaven is being weakened by persistent vertical wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures as it approaches Vietnam. The storm will track west across the South China Sea before making final landfall in southern Vietnam on Jan. 4.
Researchers used MMS data to identify regions where high-energy electrons are accelerated, a key step in understanding magnetosphere energy conversion. This discovery will help scientists study magnetic reconnection and its effects on Earth's power grids and GPS communications.
Tropical Storm Ava formed off northeastern Madagascar on Jan. 3, with NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite analyzing the storm in infrared light. The satellite provided data showing coldest cloud tops and strongest storms wrapped around the center of circulation.
Tropical Depression 01W formed just west of the Philippines on January 2, 2018, according to NASA's Terra satellite imagery. The depression is forecast to strengthen and make landfall in Vietnam, impacting the South China Sea region.
Tropical Cyclone Hilda formed near Australia's northwest coast, with NASA's GPM satellite detecting heavy precipitation. The storm intensified to a tropical storm before dissipating over land, bringing a Tropical Cyclone Warning to the region.
Satellite imaging from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite reveals holiday travelers facing wet and snowy weather on both coasts. A large area of clouds associated with a frontal system is forecast to bring rain and snow across the US, with heavy rainfall and flooding predicted in the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.
Tropical Depression Kai-Tak was captured dissipating in the Gulf of Thailand by NASA's Aqua satellite, revealing fragmented storms and strong vertical wind shear. The system is expected to disperse due to persistent high wind shear, leading to its final dissipation on Dec. 22.
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will generate never-before-seen big pictures of the universe, enabling astronomers to explore mysteries like dark energy and galaxy evolution. The mission will also discover thousands of exoplanets, including rocky planets in the habitable zone.
Tropical Storm Tembin, also known as Vinta, is bringing strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to the southern Philippines. The storm has a high potential for generating heavy rainfall due to its cold cloud tops, which are colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
NASA has selected the Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return and Dragonfly mission for concept development under the New Frontiers program. The CAESAR mission aims to return a sample from a comet to study its origin and history, while the Dragonfly mission will explore Saturn's moon Titan and its prebiotic chemistry.
Tropical Storm Tembin was spotted by NASA's Terra satellite on Dec. 20 near the Philippine Sea, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a westward trajectory. The storm is forecasted to move through the southern Philippine islands, potentially strengthening in the South China Sea.
Tropical Depression Kai-Tak has weakened and elongated due to wind shear, but still harbors strong storms with extremely cold cloud top temperatures. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects the depression to maintain its strength before dissipating east of the Malay Peninsula.
A team of astronomers discovered massive clouds of gas and dust orbiting the star RZ Piscium, which could have formed from destroyed planets. The star's unusual dimming episodes suggest it is a young Sun-like star with a debris disk.
Thomas Fire contained to 60% thanks to improving weather conditions, with satellite images showing reduced hot spots and smoke. However, forecasted strong north winds may reignite the fire, prompting concern for continued spread.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak has strengthened over the South China Sea with powerful thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures reaching as low as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to move southwesterly and approach the Malay Peninsula by Dec. 22, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak generated heavy rainfall in central and southern Philippines, causing major flooding and landslides. The storm's estimated precipitation totals reached up to 512 mm (20.2 inches) along its track.
Two NASA satellites monitored Tropical Cyclone Kai-Tak as it weakened, interacting with land areas and easterly wind shear. The storm dissipated over the South China Sea on December 18, following a predicted trajectory.
A NASA-led team has identified that gravity waves are the primary driver of Jupiter's equatorial jet stream's reversal, with convection in the lower atmosphere producing waves that travel up to the stratosphere. The findings could help scientists better understand the dynamic atmosphere of Jupiter and other planets.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the southern and central Philippines due to its very cold cloud top temperatures. The storm has slowed down, increasing the likelihood of inland flooding in the Eastern Visayas region.
Long-lasting compounds still dominate the outlook for ozone recovery, despite regulations by the Montreal Protocol. Short-lived compounds from human sources are expected to have minimal impact on ozone recovery due to their short lifetimes.
Tropical Storm Kai-tak developed near the east central Philippines, producing strong convective storms with heavy precipitation. GPM data showed intense storms dropping rain at a rate of over 143 mm/h and reaching altitudes of over 16 km.
The MAVEN mission helps answer the question of how long a rocky planet might be habitable by orbiting a red dwarf star. Based on Mars' atmospheric loss data, researchers estimated that such a planet's atmosphere could lose charged particles and neutral particles at significantly higher rates.
System 96W, a developing area of tropical low pressure, is expected to affect the central Philippines. The storm's western quadrant has moved over the east-central Philippines, with multiple satellite images showing its elongated shape and several areas of thunderstorms.