Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
This year, on Christmas, Mars showcased its own version of a winter wonderland, and the stunning images of the Red Planet have been shared by NASA and the European Space Agency. At the Mars’ south pole, the Martian landscape is seen covered with a unique form of ice and dust, and it has been captured by the European Space Agency’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. While it looks like snow, it is not quite like Earth’s snow made of water, but is instead made of carbon dioxide ice, which covers Mars' south pole year-round. With a thickness of about 26 feet (8 meters), it gives a frosty appearance.
In a recent development, an international team of researchers has updated insights into the Moon's tumultuous volcanic history, and hinted how its crust may have melted multiple times soon after its formation. Published in Nature, the research suggests that the Moon would have been formed between 4.43 and 4.51 billion years ago, but its crust is at least 80 million years younger due to intense volcanic activity. The new findings might prove substantial in asserting the Moon's age amid longstanding contradictions.
India is looking forward to establishing Earth observation (EO) satellite constellations after a call from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). With an aim to reduce India’s reliance on foreign satellite data for defense, infrastructure management and more, the groundbreaking initiative has already got interest from thirty Indian companies. As per Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe, the organisation received nine applications, and each of them represents a consortium of companies totaling 30 participants.
According to NASA, an 80-foot asteroid called 2024 YQ2 will safely fly by Earth on December 28. Roughly the size of an airplane, the asteroid will travel at a speed of 58,360 km/h as it approaches Earth. During its flyby, it will be at a distance of 1,030,000 kilometres as it passes at 12:55 PM IST on December 28. Albeit, despite the proximity and size, 2024 YQ2 does not pose any danger to Earth.
