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Hot Topic
Solar System
Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids
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| Multiple Impacts? |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
10/20/04 |
| The Chicxulub meteorite impact is largely credited with the extinction of 50 percent of the world's species, including the dinosaurs. But could there have been more than one meteorite impact 65 million years ago? |
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| Debating the Dinosaur Extinction |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
10/13/04 |
| At least 50 percent of the world's species, including the dinosaurs, went extinct 65 million years ago. While most scientists now blame this catastrophe on a large meteorite impact, others wonder if there is more to the story. |
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| The Forensics of Genesis |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
10/06/04 |
| Within the next few months, the scientific community will get a first look at the recovered samples from the Genesis probe. In the best cases 85-100 percent of some samples will be recovered intact and in other cases, forensics will be needed to understand the sample history. |
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| Toutatis: Almost Too Close for Comfort |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
09/27/04 |
| The asteroid Toutatis last flew close by Earth in 1992 and 1996, but it has not come as close to us as it will this year since 1353. On Wednesday morning, scientists and skywatchers alike will be able to witness its passage within only four Earth-moon distances. |
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| Meteorites Donated Life's Phosphorus |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
08/24/04 |
| Phosphorus is much rarer in nature than are hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, but just as critical to life. Where the phosphorus came from has been a mystery, but one recent hypothesis maintains that meteorites might be a source of Earth's early phosphorus. |
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| Moon Written in Stone |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
07/31/04 |
| In stark relief against the arid Oman desert, meteor hunters have found a rock launched from the moon before life even had time to take hold on Earth. More remarkable was the scientists' ability to unravel its complex timeline to give a complete history written in stone. |
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| Rockhard Stardust |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
06/17/04 |
| Scientists thought most comets were "fluffy" snowballs -- piles of icy rubble that were loosely bound together. But Wild-2 has a solid, cohesive surface carved into lofty pinnacles, deep canyons and broad mesas. |
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| Piecing Together a Permian Impact |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
05/13/04 |
| The largest extinction event in the history of life has been tied to an Australian crater called the Bedout crater now dated to be 250.7 million years old. There are several lines of evidence that indicate the Bedout crater was caused by a meteor impact rather than volcanic activity. |
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| Hours to Impact |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
03/03/04 |
| Last January, astronomers thought an asteroid might hit the Earth. The asteroid AL00667 seemed to be on a direct course for the Northern Hemisphere, due to strike in two days or less. |
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| Museum of the Galaxies |
| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
01/07/04 |
| Comets that formed beyond Pluto and orbit the sun give off a spectacular show, but none quite so close or bright as the one witnessed by the Stardust mission team. Their comet dust sampler revealed a strange, pockmarked surface rich in depressions and steep walls. |
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