Spectacular Comet Show is Predicted

NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO, has seen an unprecedented number of  'suicide comets'. These comets have a trajectory that brings them so close to the Sun that they vaporize. It is common for SOHO to see one of these comets every few days. However, between December 13 and 22 SOHO picked up more than 25 comets. Specialists at NASA believe this could be an indication of an even larger comet approaching the sun that could light up the night sky. This would be similar to the Ikeya-Seki comet that got close to the sun in 1965. However, some astronomers are skeptics. There is no solid evidence that relates increased 'suicide comet' activity to the approach of a larger comet, and even if there was a larger comet it could possibly take millions of years to get here. Regardless, skywatching enthusiasts are keeping their fingers crossed for a phenomenal show.

 

Read the full article here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110117-comets-storm-sun-soho-nasa-sungrazing-science-space/

NASA Finds the Planetary 'Missing Link'

NASA has just found a planet, only 560 light years away, that they believe is the missing link between Earth and larger gas giants. This planet was found by NASA's Kepler spacecraft on Monday the 10th of January. The planet, named Kepler-10b, is 1.4 times the size of the Earth, and close to 4.6 times its mass. However, the planet is tidally locked, meaning one side is locked facing its red dwarf star, so the planet cannot support life. The sunny side has a temperature of around 1,370 Cº, much too hot for life to form. Because of this intense heat, it is unlikely that the planet harbors much of an atmosphere either. Any air or liquid on the surface would immediately vaporize and escape into space. Although this planet isn't inhabitable, it is an important link between the gas giants scientists usually find in space and our own planet.




For the full article: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110110-nasa-kepler-10b-new-planet-found-rocky-science-space/