The MMS spacecraft flies in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth, mapped in three dimensions using a tetrahedral formation. The mission uses GPS signals to calculate location and design maneuvers for precise control.
Tropical Cyclone Carlos was detected by NASA's Terra satellite as it moved south of La Reunion Island. The storm showed a tight circle of thunderstorms around its center and maximum sustained winds of 63.2 mph (102 kph). Further intensification is expected over the next 24 hours before weakening due to vertical wind shear
Tropical Cyclone Carlos was tracked by NASA as it moved between Madagascar and La Reunion Island in the Southern Indian Ocean, revealing a concentrated storm with heavy rainfall rates up to 120 mm per hour. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 51.7 mph, with a predicted intensification due to decreasing vertical wind shear.
New NASA research suggests that young red dwarf stars can make planets uninhabitable through frequent stellar eruptions, potentially erasing the water supply and preventing life from developing. This challenges traditional definitions of habitable zones.
Tropical Cyclone Carlos appears more organized, with defined center of circulation, after wind shear relaxation. The storm is expected to strengthen due to warm sea surface temperatures and peak at 70 knots before weakening.
NASA scientist William Zhang has developed a technique to manufacture lightweight, high-resolution X-ray mirrors using single-crystal silicon, reducing costs and improving resolution. The new technology addresses performance goals that have long been unmet in the field of X-ray optics.
Tropical Cyclone Carlos formed north of La Reunion Island in February 2017, bringing heavy rain and towering storms to the area. NASA's GPM satellite collected data on the storm's structure and precipitation rate, showing intense feeder bands with rainfall rates over 100 mm per hour.
Scientists are taking advantage of the rare opportunity to study the sun and Earth during the August 2017 total solar eclipse. The event will provide a chance to collect data only available during eclipses, including studying the corona and its effects on space weather.
A NASA scientist has initiated a study to determine whether severe solar storms can confuse animals' internal compasses, causing them to lose their way. The researcher hopes to find a statistical correlation between solar storms and cetacean mass strandings using massive data-mining efforts.
A NASA team has created a smart radiator that folds and unfolds like origami, allowing it to change its shape to shed or conserve heat. The radiator uses temperature-sensitive materials and a vanadium-oxide-based coating to achieve this effect.
Rainfall totals of close to 300 mm were estimated along Australia's northwest coast using NASA's IMERG product. The analysis was conducted on the remnant low pressure area that formed from Tropical Cyclone 03S, which moved into the Indian Ocean on January 27, 2017.
The Fermi telescope has observed high-energy light from solar eruptions on the far side of the sun, which should block direct light. This allows scientists to study how charged particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light during solar flares.
Astronomers discover five new gamma-ray blazars with massive black holes, challenging current ideas on their formation and growth. The discoveries suggest that these objects could have formed rapidly in the universe's early history.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone 03S has transformed into a frontal system in the Southern Indian Ocean, showing an elongated shape and strong wind shear. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for heavy rain and cold temperatures.
NASA's Radiation Dosimetry Experiment reveals steady increase in cosmic radiation rate higher in the atmosphere, contrary to particle concentration. The findings will improve space weather models and develop real-time instruments for safe flight operations.
Tropical Cyclone 3S formed after heavy rainfall in a tropical low pressure system consolidated and strengthened over northwestern Australia. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center confirmed the cyclone's development on January 27.
A new tool called EEGGL helps map out the paths of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) before they reach Earth. The model is based on fundamental physics theory and takes into account the magnetic structure of CMEs, providing a better understanding of their behavior in space.
NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) estimated record-breaking rainfall totals over the western United States from January 17 to 24, 2017. Rainfall of almost 4 inches in one day was reported in Long Beach, California, causing flooding and mudslides.
NASA has resumed rigorous vibration testing on the James Webb Space Telescope after an early shutdown in 2016 due to sensor readings exceeding predicted levels. The team implemented changes to the test profile to prevent similar issues, adding diagnostic tests to ensure confidence in the launch environment.
A collaboration between NASA and the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center uses satellite data to improve stream flow forecasts, reducing errors by up to 70 percent. This enhances decision-making for managing water resources and reservoir facilities in the basin.
Matthew McGill, a NASA Goddard researcher, has made significant contributions to understanding climate change impacts through the application of lidar technology. His work on the Cloud Aerosol Transport System (CATS) instrument has been successfully operating on the International Space Station for two years.
Tropical Depression 01W made a brief landfall over southern Vietnam on January 16, dissolving into the Gulf of Thailand by January 17. The depression was disorganized and lacked deep convection, according to satellite imagery.
The galaxy RX J1140.1+0307 has a supermassive black hole with one of the lowest known masses, yet its emission spectrum cannot be explained by current models. Scientists believe other mechanisms are at play in the interactions between the inner and outer parts of the accretion disk surrounding the black hole.
The NASA Terra satellite observed cloud tops west and north of the center of the low-pressure area reaching -70 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms. The low-level center of circulation appears to be consolidating, with multiple surface observations showing 15-20 knot winds.
NASA used its Global Precipitation Measurement mission to analyze heavy rainfall in southern Thailand, which resulted in record-breaking totals. The analysis showed extreme rainfall of over 700 mm over the Gulf of Thailand and greater than 500 mm on land., Rainfall has increased significantly over Thailand during this La Nina year.
NASA's TRMM-based Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis reveals higher-than-average precipitation in California due to the Pineapple Express, causing widespread flooding and mudslides. The atmospheric river event has brought much-needed relief but also poses significant challenges.
Astronomers observe IRAS 14348-1447, a gas-rich spiral galaxy merger, showcasing intense gravitational interactions. The galaxy's extreme infrared emission is fueled by massive molecular gas reserves.
Astronomers have discovered a shadow sweeping across the face of a vast pancake-shaped gas-and-dust disk surrounding a young star, possibly caused by an unseen planet gravitationally pulling on material. The twisted inner disk is casting its shadow onto the outer region.
A recent NASA study found a significant correlation between wildfires and drought in northern sub-Saharan Africa. The research, led by Charles Ichoku, used satellite records to analyze the impact of fires on water cycle indicators, revealing that burning suppresses precipitation in the region.
Tropical Depression 01W formed near Mindanao on January 8, 2017, and quickly weakened due to wind shear. The depression moved west through Mindanao towards the South China Sea, bringing moderate to heavy rains and rough seas to the region.
A series of moisture-laden storms has affected the western US, including California and the Pacific Northwest, causing extreme rain events and blanketeting the region in snow. The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy snows and periods of rain with potential flooding or flash flooding along the West Coast.
Solar storms can charge up soil in moon's permanently shadowed regions, potentially producing sparks that could vaporize and melt the soil. This process, known as dielectric breakdown, could alter the regolith and provide clues to the moon's history.
Astronomers use Hubble observations to characterize the interstellar medium along Voyager 1 and 2's trajectories. The study reveals a rich, complex ecology with multiple clouds of hydrogen and other elements.
Astronomers have discovered three young star systems with doomed comets, suggesting a common mechanism for exocomet destruction. The study provides new insights into the past and present activity of comets in our solar system, potentially making life possible on terrestrial planets.
Lucy will be the first spacecraft to study six Trojan asteroids orbiting Jupiter, providing insights into the solar system's origins. The mission aims to decipher the history of the outer planets and understand the causes of differences between Trojans.
Severe thunderstorms spawned tornadoes and generated flooding rainfall over the Southeast, with up to a foot of rain falling in five days. At least 13 deaths were blamed on the violent weather, according to NASA's Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) program.
The galaxy IRAS 16399-0937 hosts a double nucleus, with the northern nucleus featuring a black hole of massive proportions and a starburst region in the southern part. Hubble's observations reveal the intricate structure of this cosmic megamaser, shedding light on its unique composition and energetic processes.
Typhoon Nock-ten generated significant rainfall in the Philippines and South China Sea. The NASA GPM mission provided estimated rainfall totals of up to 350 mm, highlighting the storm's intense precipitation.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten is weakening due to wind shear, with its low-level center located south of a large area of convection and thunderstorms. The storm's shape has changed, taking on characteristics of a frontal system, indicating a decline in strength.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten, also known as Nina, is intensifying before making landfall in the Philippines. NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captured strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall predictions.
Tropical Storm Yvette was battered by vertical wind shear, with the majority of clouds and thunderstorms being pushed north and west of its center. The storm made landfall on Christmas Day south of Broome, Western Australia.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observes the small stellar galaxy NGC 4707, a loose spiral with undefined shape and central bulge, located 22 million light-years from Earth.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten strengthened from a tropical depression, with maximum sustained winds near 52 mph. The storm is forecast to intensify into a typhoon by Dec 24 and track through the Philippines on Dec 25-26.
Tropical Cyclone Yvette's center of circulation has seen an increase in continuous rainfall area, with convective storms dropping rain at rates over 60 mm per hour. The storm's maximum sustained winds have reached up to 52 mph, with forecast predictions indicating landfall on Christmas Day.
Tropical Depression 30W has formed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean with strong thunderstorms and a concentrated area of cold cloud top temperatures. The storm is moving west-northwest at 9.2 mph and is expected to intensify into a typhoon by Dec. 24.
Tropical Cyclone Yvette formed in the Indian Ocean with intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall rates of over 127 mm per hour. The GPM satellite revealed the 3D structure of precipitation in storms near the center of circulation, with some storm tops reaching altitudes above 17 km.
Tropical Cyclone 02S has developed strong thunderstorms, with cold cloud top temperatures near -63°F (-53°C), according to NASA's Aqua satellite data. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts the storm will curve toward the southeast and make landfall south of Broome on Dec. 25.
A NASA-developed camera, equipped with a moth's eye-inspired absorber technology, is now operational on the SOFIA aircraft. This innovation allows for greater sensitivity in far-infrared astronomy, enabling scientists to study early stages of star and planet formation, as well as map magnetic fields around supermassive black holes.
NASA's Aqua and GPM satellites observed strong storms developing in Vardah's remnant low pressure area, with convective thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall rates of over 6.1 inches per hour.
Researchers found that Neptune-mass worlds are likely the most common type of planet to form in icy outer realms. The study provides insight into the types of planets waiting to be found far from a host star, where scientists suspect planets form most efficiently.