Meteors

Science

Did A Meteorite Kill A Woman And Destroy Buildings In Argentina?

8:15AM September 27, 2011 | Jesus Diaz

Some media is reporting that a meteorite or a piece of a satellite struck a woman in Monte Grande, Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing her and injuring eight. Witnesses say that they saw a blue ball of fire striking a house. More »

Science

The World’s Largest CMOS Sensor Is Recording Meteors At 60fps

10:20AM September 20, 2011 | Kwame Opam

Last year, when we asked what could possibly need an 52sqcm low light sensor, Canon replied with “Space stuff”. Totally proving them right, the Schmidt telescope at the University of Tokyo’s Kiso Observatory now employs it to records faint meteors in the night sky. More »

Science

What Just Streaked Across The Sky In The Southwest US?

5:30PM September 15, 2011 | Kelly Hodgkins

Reports are flooding into Twitter about a large meteor spotted in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. No videos or pictures yet, but speculation is running rampant about what exactly fell from the sky. More »

Science

How Do Meteors Sound When They Shatter Against The Atmosphere?

1:23AM August 18, 2011 | Jesus Diaz

Last weekend the Perseids hit all over Earth’s atmosphere. A USAF Space Surveillance Radar in Texas recorded their sound as they passed by, disintegrating in a million pieces. They sound like alien spaceships. Or bloody Nazi UFOs. More »

Science

Scientists Planning Real-Life Armageddon Mission

11:10PM August 17, 2011 | Casey Chan

In the classic masterpiece, Armageddon, by auteur Michael Bay, Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck were epically sent into space to blow up an asteroid headed straight for Earth. Now in real life, scientists want to try and do the same thing. More »

Science

How To Watch Tonight’s Leonid Meteor Shower

10:40AM November 18, 2010 | Brian Barrett

Around this time every year, meteors bombard our skies in a symphony of light and speed. It’s the Leonid meteor shower, and tonight’s your last chance to experience it for 12 long months. Here’s how to do it. More »

Science

The Asteroids Closest To Killing Us, Visualised

7:00AM October 23, 2010 | Brian Barrett

You can call them “near Earth objects” if you want to. I’ll stick with “asteroids hellbent on obliterating our planet and all we hold dear”. Here’s the line-up of the space rocks closest to killing us, and where they are. More »

Science

Forget Tsunamis: Asteroids Will Really Kill Us With UV Rays

2:40AM October 14, 2010 | Rachel Courtland-New Scientist

If a medium-sized asteroid lands in the ocean, tsunamis won’t be the only worry. Water vapour and sea salt thrown up by the impact could damage the ozone layer, leading to record levels of ultraviolet radiation that could threaten humanity. More »

Science

New 1.4-Gigapixel Asteroid Hunter Finds Object Headed For Earth

4:40AM September 30, 2010 | Casey Chan

The Pan-STARRS, a new 1.4-gigapixel telescope built to spot asteroids, has found a potentially dangerous asteroid headed for Earth. Luckily, we don’t have to worry just yet. It won’t hit us ’til 2098. More »

Science

Enchanting Time-Lapse Look At The Greatest Show In Space

3:40AM August 19, 2010 | Brian Barrett

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If you missed last week’s Perseids meteor shower – and I truly hope you didn’t – this beautiful time-lapse video of the view from Joshua Tree National Park should get you caught up. And fill you with more than a little wonder. More »