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Far from the bright lights of cities and suburbs, amateur astronomers gather to stargaze in the dark at events known as “star parties.” Stargazers enjoy sharing the experience with others who are passionate about dark skies and the faraway places they make visible. Listen to hear about what happens at star parties and what amateur astronomers are viewing in the dark night sky.
Read MoreNASA Helicopter Roaming on Mars
Flying drones has become increasingly common. NASA is conducting experiments on Mars with a drone helicopter named Ingenuity. The helicopter may be useful for deeper scientific exploration of previously unseen parts of the planet. Listen to hear about this leap forward in drone technology and to find out how a helicopter is taking the study of Mars to potentially greater heights.
Read MoreUnderstanding Why Dinosaurs Went Extinct
The asteroid that hit Earth 66 million years ago caused most of the world’s living things, including dinosaurs, to go extinct. Not every species died out, however, and scientists are trying to figure out why certain animals survived while others perished. Researchers looking at the fossil record are starting to uncover clues. Listen to learn what happened on Earth when the massive asteroid hit and which clues are helping researchers solve the scientific mystery.
Read MoreJames Webb Telescope Shows Ancient Galaxies
The James Webb Space Telescope, launched in December 2021, recently transmitted its first set of images back to Earth. The clear, stunning photographs of distant galaxies and newly formed stars have thrilled the public and scientists, who hope to use them to learn more about the origins of the universe. Listen to an astrophysicist explain how Webb’s advanced technology helped capture the images and what the photos suggest to him about the possibility of intelligent life in the universe.
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | October 3, 2022
A spacecraft sent by NASA has successfully hit a football stadium-sized asteroid in hopes of altering the asteroid’s path through space. The giant asteroid was not a threat to Earth, but from this mission, scientists can learn how to best protect the Earth from any future asteroids that might be headed toward it. Listen to hear scientists' reactions as the spacecraft hit the asteroid, find out what the asteroid looked like, and learn how space telescopes will help scientists learn more from the mission.
Story Length: 3:24
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09/22/2022
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/2395-planetary-defense-spacecraft-hits-asteroid
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