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Earth and Universe

Climate, geology, oceans, atmosphere, astronomy and space phenomena.

19articles
Telescópio espacial diante de várias galáxias, com uma fonte azul de raios X ampliada em um quadro lateral.
Earth and Universe10/09/20266 min read

Chandra found 84 hypersoft X-ray sources: what they might be and the two mysteries they could illuminate

The study identifies 84 sources dominated by very low-energy X-rays. They may include different binaries and offer clues about Type Ia supernovae and galactic ionization.

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Dois satélites orbitam sobre a Terra; um projeta feixes verdes sobre uma floresta e o outro feixes azulados sobre oceano, gelo e nuvens.
Earth and Universe08/09/20266 min read

FLEX + Sentinel-3C: why they launch together and what each satellite will measure

Vega-C will carry FLEX and Sentinel-3C on the same flight. Learn the Brazil launch time, what FLORIS measures and how Sentinel-3C observes oceans, land, ice and atmosphere.

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Sonda BepiColombo se aproxima de Mercúrio enquanto um módulo separado se afasta ao fundo
Earth and Universe04/09/20265 min read

Separation is not arrival: when BepiColombo enters orbit around Mercury

MTM separation on September 3 started the arrival phase. See what happens on November 21, December 9–10 and through the start of science in April 2027.

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Saturno com anéis em destaque, hexágono azulado no polo norte e padrão atmosférico decagonal dourado no polo sul sobre fundo estrelado.
Earth and Universe03/09/20266 min read

Saturn has a south-polar decagon: what Hubble found and how it differs from the northern hexagon

Hubble revealed a ten-sided atmospheric wave at Saturn’s south pole. Here is what was observed, how it differs from the northern hexagon and what remains uncertain.

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Telescópio espacial Roman em viagem entre a Terra e o ponto L2, com campo estrelado, luz solar ao fundo e trajetória pontilhada marcada até L2.
Earth and Universe03/09/20266 min read

Roman Space Telescope has launched: what happens during its three-month commissioning and when the first images arrive

Roman is already on its way to L2. Learn what tests, activations, and calibrations come next and why NASA expects the first images in early 2027.

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Roman à esquerda projeta um amplo campo estrelado, enquanto Hubble à direita enquadra uma pequena região, com painéis comparando a diferença de campo de visão.
Earth and Universe01/09/20265 min read

Roman vs. Hubble: how the same-size mirror photographs about 100 times more sky

Roman and Hubble have 2.4 m mirrors, yet Roman sees a much larger area per exposure. Learn how focal length, optical design, and the WFI change the field of view.

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Duas pessoas observam meteoros sob um céu estrelado, com a Lua gibosa brilhante baixa sobre montanhas ao horizonte.
Earth and Universe31/08/20266 min read

2026 Orionid meteor shower in Brazil: best time, Moon impact and realistic meteor counts

The peak comes on the night of October 21–22. See how the waxing gibbous Moon shortens the useful window, when to watch and why 10–20 meteors per hour is not a promise.

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Ilustração editorial de duas pessoas usando um telescópio sob um céu estrelado, com Saturno e seus anéis em destaque sobre uma paisagem montanhosa.
Earth and Universe30/08/20269 min read

Saturn at opposition on October 4, 2026: how to observe it from Brazil and what changes in brightness and the rings

On October 4, Saturn reaches opposition: it stays visible for nearly the entire night and climbs high in the Brazilian sky. See where to look and what each type of equipment shows.

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Sismógrafo registra ondas sísmicas diante de uma fissura no solo, enquanto monitores mostram dados e um celular exibe um alerta precoce de terremoto.
Earth and Universe17/08/20268 min read

Can earthquakes be predicted? The difference between prediction, probability, detection and early warning

Science still does not predict the exact moment of an earthquake. Understand what probabilities, seismic detection, and early warnings really can tell you.

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Campo de pequenas fraturas poligonais cobrindo o terreno de Valle Grande, em Marte, observado pelo rover Curiosity.
Earth and Universe08/08/20266 min read

Mars’ “sea of ​​beehives”: what Valle Grande’s fractures can reveal — and why its origin is still uncertain

Curiosity found an extensive field of 4 to 8 cm polygonal fractures in Valle Grande. The shape resembles beehives, but the origin is still under investigation.

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Comparação editorial da Lua junto ao horizonte e mais alta no céu, representada com diâmetros aparentes semelhantes.
Earth and Universe08/08/20266 min read

Why does the Moon appear huge on the horizon if the photograph shows it to be almost the same size?

The Moon appears larger on the horizon due to an illusion of perception. Photographs with the same focal length show that its diameter changes very little.

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Modelo da plataforma de pouso da missão ExoMars com suas quatro pernas abertas para testes em solo
Earth and Universe07/08/20265 min read

ExoMars Tested Landing Pad Legs: Why This Mechanism Matters for the Rosalind Franklin Mission

On August 6, ESA showed the legs of the ExoMars platform opening in pairs. Understand how they absorb impact, detect the ground and help stabilize the landing.

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