The Biggest Astronomy Stories of 2014

[ScienceRocks]

The Biggest Astronomy Stories of 2014
by Calla Cofield, Space.com Staff Writer | December 23, 2014 04:53pm ET

An artist's concept of Kepler-186f, the first Earth-sized planet found orbiting in the habitable zone of its parent star.
The year 2014 was a packed one for astronomical science.

Over the last 12 months, scientists made historic progress in the study of Mars, had two close encounters with comets, and may have found hints of dark matter and signals from the Big Bang. It's enough to make us eager for 2015 to see what new discoveries await.

But there are some stories that stand out from the crowd that was space science in 2014. Here is our list of the biggest astronomy stories of the year:

Historic year in Mars exploration

Tantalizing new information about the Red Planet, along with new clues about the possibility that it once supported life, was revealed this year. 2014 also happens to be the 50-year launch anniversary of the first probe ever sent to Mars.

In December, scientists working on the Mars rover Curiosity announced that the Red Planet hosts organic chemicals (those that contain carbon and are the building blocks of life on Earth). The chemicals chlorobenzene, dichloroethane, dichloropropane and dichlorobutane were discovered inside a rock that Curiosity drilled into in May 2013. Researchers stressed that their findings do not indicate that life exists or ever existed on Mars — but it does open the door of possibility.

In addition, scientists confirmed in December that the rover had detected methane on Mars, despite not finding any trace of methane last year. Living organisms on Earth are known to produce high levels of methane, so its presence on the Red Planet is another possible sign of life.

Earth-size planet found in the habitable zone

For the first time, scientists identified an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of its parent star. The "Earth cousin" could have liquid water and, potentially, the right conditions for life.

The new planet, called Kepler-186f, is less than 10 percent larger than Earth, and orbits a red dwarf star. Red dwarfs are smaller and dimmer than our sun, but the planet still lies in the star's habitable zone — a distance at which the planet could have a surface temperature at which water would remain a liquid.

Kepler-186f is the outermost of five planets orbiting the star Kepler-186, located about 490 light-years from Earth. Scientists think it could be a rocky planet, but they don't yet know if Kepler-186f has an atmosphere suitable for life. As planets become more massive, they become more likely to resemble gas giants like Jupiter, rather than terrestrial planets like Earth and Mars.

Kepler-186f was discovered by the Kepler space telescope. In February, scientists with the Kepler mission announced that they had discovered more than 700 new exoplanets — more than doubling the number of confirmed exoplanets.

The Biggest Astronomy Stories of 2014
. There's over 4,000 more that could be added so who knows about 2015! We will find get to see pluto this year too.

 

[westwall]

What, no mention of the landing on the comet? Oh yes, there it is....

 

[Old Rocks]

In our solar system, Rosetta and Far Horizons.

 

[Tom Sweetnam]

Kepler-186f. 490 light years away. Cool. Now all we have to do is spend the next 100,000 years figuring out how the hell to get there. I think there'll be some serious space/time warping going on by then.

 

[TheOldSchool]

In our solar system, Rosetta and Far Horizons.

I can't wait for the up close Pluto shots! Did you know we're on our way to Ceres too?

 

[Mac1958]

Kepler-186f. 490 light years away. Cool. Now all we have to do is spend the next 100,000 years figuring out how the hell to get there. I think there'll be some serious space/time warping going on by then.

I love watching this stuff on TV, and try as I may, I just can't get my head around the size of the universe.

Trillions of stars. Incredible.

Seems to me that warping is the only way this is going to happen. Even traveling at the speed of light won't be enough.

Amazing.

.

 

[TheOldSchool]

The Biggest Astronomy Stories of 2014
by Calla Cofield, Space.com Staff Writer | December 23, 2014 04:53pm ET

An artist's concept of Kepler-186f, the first Earth-sized planet found orbiting in the habitable zone of its parent star.
The year 2014 was a packed one for astronomical science.

Over the last 12 months, scientists made historic progress in the study of Mars, had two close encounters with comets, and may have found hints of dark matter and signals from the Big Bang. It's enough to make us eager for 2015 to see what new discoveries await.

But there are some stories that stand out from the crowd that was space science in 2014. Here is our list of the biggest astronomy stories of the year:

Historic year in Mars exploration

Tantalizing new information about the Red Planet, along with new clues about the possibility that it once supported life, was revealed this year. 2014 also happens to be the 50-year launch anniversary of the first probe ever sent to Mars.

In December, scientists working on the Mars rover Curiosity announced that the Red Planet hosts organic chemicals (those that contain carbon and are the building blocks of life on Earth). The chemicals chlorobenzene, dichloroethane, dichloropropane and dichlorobutane were discovered inside a rock that Curiosity drilled into in May 2013. Researchers stressed that their findings do not indicate that life exists or ever existed on Mars — but it does open the door of possibility.

In addition, scientists confirmed in December that the rover had detected methane on Mars, despite not finding any trace of methane last year. Living organisms on Earth are known to produce high levels of methane, so its presence on the Red Planet is another possible sign of life.

Earth-size planet found in the habitable zone

For the first time, scientists identified an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of its parent star. The "Earth cousin" could have liquid water and, potentially, the right conditions for life.

The new planet, called Kepler-186f, is less than 10 percent larger than Earth, and orbits a red dwarf star. Red dwarfs are smaller and dimmer than our sun, but the planet still lies in the star's habitable zone — a distance at which the planet could have a surface temperature at which water would remain a liquid.

Kepler-186f is the outermost of five planets orbiting the star Kepler-186, located about 490 light-years from Earth. Scientists think it could be a rocky planet, but they don't yet know if Kepler-186f has an atmosphere suitable for life. As planets become more massive, they become more likely to resemble gas giants like Jupiter, rather than terrestrial planets like Earth and Mars.

Kepler-186f was discovered by the Kepler space telescope. In February, scientists with the Kepler mission announced that they had discovered more than 700 new exoplanets — more than doubling the number of confirmed exoplanets.

The Biggest Astronomy Stories of 2014
. There's over 4,000 more that could be added so who knows about 2015! We will find get to see pluto this year too.

Outer Space is black Matthew!!! Run for your life before it hate crimes you!!!