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A team of astronomers have announced the discovery of seven Earth-like planets in a nearby solar system; the largest number yet of detected worlds capable of having liquid water on their surface. The planets have been found around TRAPPIST-1, a Jupiter-sized ultra-cool star located 40 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius.
Topics: planets-and-asteroids, science-and-technology, astronomy-space
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| UpdatedSeven Earth-sized planets, some of which fall within the Goldilocks zone and could harbour life, have been discovered orbiting a dwarf star in our own galactic neighbourhood.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids
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Simple organic molecules have been detected on the dwarf planet Ceres, adding to evidence it contains key ingredients essential for life.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids
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Grab your binoculars! After a quiet start to the year, Australian sky watchers will be treated to a close encounter with a green comet and a rare winking star.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids
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| UpdatedUsing samples collected by the Apollo 14 moon mission, scientists estimate the Moon is much older than previously thought and likely formed more than 4.5 billion years ago.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids, united-states
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Astronomers say highly energetic bursts of radio waves found emitted from deep space came from a dwarf galaxy billions of light years away, a game-changing breakthrough that could help us understand what is in the voids between galaxies.
Topics: astronomy-space, space-exploration, science-and-technology, the-universe, research, planets-and-asteroids, australia
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| UpdatedIn the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year. But this does not coincide with the earliest sunrise or latest sunset time. We explain why.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids
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Scientists have long known the Earth's spin is slowing down, but observations of ancient astronomers from the Babylonians onwards reveal our modern days aren't getting quite as long as they should be.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids
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The December night sky provides the best view of distant galaxies for professional astronomers, but you can see some of our closest neighbours too, if you know where to look.
Topics: science-and-technology, the-moon, stars, planets-and-asteroids, australia
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| UpdatedFor more than a decade, the Cassini spacecraft has been exploring the system of Saturn some 1.2 billion kilometres from Earth. As the first phase of its final descent begins, we look at what it has discovered about the ringed planet and its moons, and and what happens next.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids
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| UpdatedDashcam footage shows the moment a meteor approaches Earth and explodes in a flash, in a phenomenon an expert says is a fireball similar to one recently seen in Western Australia.
Topics: planets-and-asteroids, astronomy-space, science-and-technology, human-interest, united-states
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The American Meteorological Society received reports of a bright light in the sky from Key West to the Florida Panhandle in the United States. The bright flash was captured on the dashboard cameras of several cars belonging to the North Point Police Department in west Florida.
Topics: astronomy-space, police, planets-and-asteroids, united-states
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| UpdatedThe discovery of tiny fossils in outback Western Australia may help scientists understand soils on Mars, according to a leading palaeontologist.
Topics: earth-sciences, planets-and-asteroids, science-and-technology, geology, port-hedland-6721, tas
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Scientists find evidence that tiny, distant Pluto harbours a hidden ocean beneath the frozen surface of its heart-shaped central plain, that is likely slushy with ice and about 100 kilometres deep.
Topics: planets-and-asteroids, astronomy-space, science-and-technology, research, united-states
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| UpdatedWe explain what an aurora is, how to spot one, and how to take a great photo if you see one.
Topics: science-and-technology, planets-and-asteroids, astronomy-space, australia
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This month, a cosmic saucepan enters the evening sky, the Leonids meteor shower peaks, and Venus steeps itself in the teapot.
Topics: science-and-technology, stars, planets-and-asteroids, astronomy-space, australia
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| UpdatedMapping of gravity data from the Moon by NASA's GRAIL mission may finally reveal how a huge bullseye-shaped basin formed on the Moon, say scientists.
Topics: science-and-technology, spacecraft, planets-and-asteroids, the-moon
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| UpdatedAlthough fears grow for the ExoMars lander, scientists say the mission to Mars has been a success. Here's what we know so far.
Topics: science-and-technology, planets-and-asteroids, astronomy-space, space-exploration, spacecraft, canberra-2600, european-union, russian-federation, australia
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| UpdatedDespite the headlines, no alleged signals from ET have ever been confirmed. Yet far from being put off their search, scientists are stepping it up.
Topics: science-and-technology, space-exploration, planets-and-asteroids
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This month, you can find the Tarantula Nebular in a neighbouring galaxy, spot a meteor, and watch Venus, Saturn and Mars put on a show in the western sky.
Topics: science-and-technology, planets-and-asteroids, galaxies, stars, astronomy-space, australia
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SpaceX chief Elon Musk has unveiled his ambitious plan to build a human colony on Mars.
Topics: astronomy-space, space-exploration, spacecraft, planets-and-asteroids, mexico
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| UpdatedSpaceX chief Elon Musk is unveiling his ambitious plan to build a human colony on Mars, an endeavour that experts say requires tens of billions of dollars.
Topics: space-exploration, planets-and-asteroids, spacecraft, mexico
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| UpdatedLarge asteroid hits on Earth have the potential to wipe out humanity, so knowing how to detect and deflect them is vital.
Topics: astronomy-space, science-and-technology, planets-and-asteroids, australia
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In September, we get a great view of one of our neighbours, a beautiful star cluster, three bright planets and a penumbral eclipse of the Moon rounds off the month.
Topics: science-and-technology, astronomy-space, planets-and-asteroids, stars
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| UpdatedA new planet discovered orbiting the closest star to Earth's solar system could have the conditions to harbour life, according to a team of international scientists.
Topics: astronomy-space, earth-sciences, science-and-technology, planets-and-asteroids