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Hot Topic
Solar System
Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids
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WISE Comet and Asteroid Count
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
02/07/11 |
| NASA´s NEOWISE mission has completed its survey of small bodies, asteroids and comets, in our solar system. The data will help astrobiologists understand the nature of these space objects and whether or not the Earth is at risk of future impacts. |
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Meteorites Speak of Water and Methane on Mars
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
02/04/11 |
| Scientists have discovered new evidence that water once flowed near the surface of Mars by examining rare martian meteorites. The information could help astrobiologists understand whether or not Mars was once habitable for life as we know it. |
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Shining Light on Asteroid Deflection
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
02/01/11 |
| If an asteroid was heading toward Earth, would it better to destroy it or alter its trajectory? One team of scientists is studying how to divert asteroids by heating their surfaces. The research could be important in the coming decades as the asteroid Apophis approaches our planet. |
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Meteorites May Answer Life's Chirality Question
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
01/21/11 |
| New research shows that a wide range of asteroids were capable of creating the kind of amino acids used by life on Earth. The findings support theories that meteorites may have played a role in setting the preference for 'left-handed' amino acids early in life's origin on Earth. |
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Astrobiology Top 10: Hayabusa's Harvest
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
12/31/10 |
| Astrobiology Magazine is highlighting the top 10 stories of 2010. At number 3, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirms that the Hayabusa spacecraft has successfully returned samples from the asteroid Itokawa. (Originally published 11/21/2010) |
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Astrobiology Top 10: Close Encounter with Comet Hartley 2
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
12/30/10 |
| Astrobiology Magazine is highlighting the top 10 stories of 2010. At number 4 is the flyby of comet Hartley 2 by NASA's EPOXI spacecraft. The images it captured show a peanut-shaped nucleus with many jets of gas spewing from its surface. (Originally published 11/05/2010 |
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Asteroid's Coat of Many Colors
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
12/19/10 |
| Scientists have discovered that an asteroid that crashed into the Nubian Desert in 2008 delivered at least 10 different types of meteorites. Some of the meteorites contain chemicals that are thought to have been important for the origin of life on Earth. |
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More than One Way to Make Amino Acids
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
12/17/10 |
| Scientists have discovered amino acids, fundamental building blocks for life as we know it, in a meteorite where none were expected. The NASA-funded study could help astrobiologists understand the potential role of meteorites in the origin of life on the early Earth. |
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Hayabusa's Harvest
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
11/21/10 |
| The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed that the Hayabusa spacecraft has successfully returned samples from the asteroid Itokawa. The samples will help astrobiologists understand the composition of asteroids and their potential role in the history and origin of life on Earth. |
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Comet Snow Storm
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| Topic: Meteorites, Comets and Asteroids |
11/20/10 |
| NASA's EPOXI mission has provided the first images that link jets of dust and gas with specific surface features on a comet. The data will help astrobiologists understand the nature of comets - and possibly even planets. |
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