The Official @labroots.bsky.social Space & Astronomy Page! We post recent space news, along with images, videos, polls, and more! Please join our community!https://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mrnmz5nln22l“The different rock layers are a record of variable-sized impacts occurring at different distances from where this rock sequence was accumulating,” said Alex Jones. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30802/nasa-rover-reads-4-billion-year-impact-record-mars-227 Jul 2026 19:29 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrnmz5nln22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mrnmyogrj22lScientists have discovered a solar "switch-off" point that predicts future space weather cycles up to seven years in advance. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30805/solar-switch-off-helps-forecast-activity-cycle-227 Jul 2026 19:29 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrnmyogrj22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mrnkchogsk2lUK researchers secured £3 million ($3.99 million) from the UK Space Agency to develop key instruments for NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory to search for life on Earth-like exoplanets. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30827/uk-researchers-target-leading-role-nasa-s-flagship-227 Jul 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrnkchogsk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mr3uzl3z4223By detecting helium escaping into space, astronomers have found the first direct evidence of an atmosphere on LHS 1140 b, a rocky exoplanet located in its star's habitable zone. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30801/astronomers-escaping-helium-rocky-world-lhs-220 Jul 2026 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3uzl3z4223https://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mqunvhquhk2s https://static.klipy.com/ii/6b3a6ab13999af763b4db87b91ee67d0/ee/ae/hqwZ2xFgLTkk505o.gif?hh=498&ww=498&mp4=vWvcNasq9dZ3tA&webm=SIkuV5ovciDu17 Jul 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqunvhquhk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mqkrcbj4hk2zA new study warns that rocket exhaust from lunar landers could quickly spread and contaminate polar water ice, potentially destroying pristine chemical clues about the origins of life on Earth. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30774/rocket-exhaust-threatens-clues-life-s-origins-moon-213 Jul 2026 22:43 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkrcbj4hk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mqkmje4y5k2zA new study shows that lunar and Martian regolith-based binders successfully withstood six months of harsh space exposure outside the ISS, with some even increasing in strength. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30759/ai-predicts-strength-moon-based-building-materials-213 Jul 2026 21:17 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkmje4y5k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mqkloaqj4k2zA new study reveals that simulated microgravity and space radiation accelerate aging and tissue inflammation in mouse livers, mirroring data from human astronauts. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30758/spaceflight-linked-accelerated-aging-213 Jul 2026 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkloaqj4k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mq3bwop5fs2sJWST data shows a giant planet migrated toward its dead star billions of years after it died, offering a preview of our solar system's future. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30751/giant-planet-escaped-star-s-violent-207 Jul 2026 18:58 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq3bwop5fs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mpjmmbpkhk2uData from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft reveals that the solar wind slows down by up to 15% near the edge of the solar system due to interactions with interstellar matter. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30726/solar-wind-slows-near-edge-solar-system-230 Jun 2026 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpjmmbpkhk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mphgu7sgms27“In-orbit cryogenic refueling between two spacecraft has yet to be done and remains one of the toughest engineering challenges in spaceflight,” said Travis Belcher. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30720/space-refueling-tech-takes-leap-forward-testing-229 Jun 2026 21:33 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mphgu7sgms27https://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mphfu2os4s27"This system offers a unique laboratory for understanding how super-puff planets form and evolve,” said Dr. Amaury Triaud. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30719/rare-cotton-candy-planets-found-orbiting-distant-star-229 Jun 2026 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mphfu2os4s27https://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mp7u3lofz22mNASA InSight data reveals ancient Mars had a complex, long-lived underground volcanic system that reprocessed molten rock, challenging simpler previous models. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30714/ancient-mars-hosted-complex-deep-earth-volcanism-226 Jun 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp7u3lofz22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mp2yzw7ipk27"The results from 3I/ATLAS show how realistic it is to detect a signal with the technology we have today,” said Valeria Garcia Lopez. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30705/seti-radio-sweep-alien-signals-3i-atlas-224 Jun 2026 22:53 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2yzw7ipk27https://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3movi2qxbdc2qDr. Aneesh Baburaj: “We ran simulations with clouds, and the results aligned with what we know about cold planets.” https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30691/scientists-discover-exotic-salt-clouds-cold-pink-planet-222 Jun 2026 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3movi2qxbdc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mogui3had22sBy detecting an unusually high concentration of lithium in its atmosphere, astronomers have confirmed that a Sun-like star recently engulfed one of its planets. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30672/sun-like-star-eats-planet-rare-cosmic-event-216 Jun 2026 22:39 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mogui3had22shttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mogtihsbqs2sA massive ancient impact sprayed deep lunar mantle rocks onto the Moon's south pole, allowing Artemis astronauts to collect internal samples right from the surface. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30670/artemis-astronauts-moon-mantle-rocks-landing-zone-216 Jun 2026 22:21 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mogtihsbqs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mogsamoi322sVolcanic outgassing can replenish the TRAPPIST-1 planets with thin, water-rich secondary atmospheres after their original ones are stripped by stellar flares. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30668/trappist-1-planets-sustain-thin-outgassed-atmospheres-216 Jun 2026 21:59 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mogsamoi322shttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mnxuagc2wk2jFuture Mars rovers could map shallow water in days using a new cosmic ray scanning technique. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30650/future-mars-rovers-detect-shallow-ice-days-210 Jun 2026 23:24 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnxuagc2wk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mnxild6vac2o“WASP-121b is particularly extreme, with average temperatures on the dayside hemisphere being around 2770 Kelvin, while those on the nightside are closer to about 1000 Kelvin,” said Dr. Tom Evans-Soma. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30649/ultra-hot-jupiter-wasp-121b-reveals-atmospheric-secrets-210 Jun 2026 19:56 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnxild6vac2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mnvbh2ebjc2w“This is totally counter intuitive because, all things being equal, hot planets have more energy to accelerate the winds!” said Dr. Vivien Parmentier. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30646/magnetic-fields-explain-slow-winds-hot-exoplanets-209 Jun 2026 22:43 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnvbh2ebjc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mnusj7vor22iScientists have successfully tested a non-destructive method to harvest life-saving medicines from plants under simulated space conditions, enabling on-demand drug production for long-duration missions. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30644/space-plants-future-pharmacies-astronauts-209 Jun 2026 18:15 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnusj7vor22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mnsp4cvzls2fA new study suggests that coronae—massive, crown-like volcanic features formed by upwelling magma—are responsible for up to 27 percent of Venus' volcanic resurfacing. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30598/venus-resurface-volcanic-coronae-208 Jun 2026 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsp4cvzls2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mnsp3zf6pk2fFuture spacecraft could use electromagnetic sounding to measure Enceladus' magnetic conductivity, revealing its subsurface ocean's salinity and temperature. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30597/enceladus-ocean-studied-using-electromagnetic-sounding-208 Jun 2026 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsp3zf6pk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mmwxykaxrk2hA thick, insulating crust of methane ice warms Titan's interior, softening the underlying ice and causing impact craters to rapidly flatten and heal over time. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30592/titan-s-shallow-craters-deep-methane-crust-228 May 2026 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwxykaxrk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mmwwne63z22hComputer models show that a planet-induced pressure bump near Jupiter trapped cosmic dust, creating a "factory" that formed the solar system's diverse carbonaceous meteorites. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30591/jupiter-ring-factory-diverse-meteorites-228 May 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwwne63z22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mmwvv3iy7c2hUsing the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers discovered that the "hot Jupiter" exoplanet WASP-94A b experiences a daily weather cycle where rock-mineral clouds form in the morning and vaporize by evening. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30590/jwst-maps-daily-cloud-cycle-hot-jupiter-exoplanet-228 May 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwvv3iy7c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mmcv4eyq3k2xUsing a technique called Shape-from-Shading, scientists created detailed 3D lunar maps to help mission planners select safe landing sites for Artemis astronauts at the Moon's south pole. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30570/3d-lunar-maps-reveal-safe-artemis-landing-sites-220 May 2026 21:49 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmcv4eyq3k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mmac4qdoq22tNew images of Shalbatana Vallis from ESA's Mars Express orbiter reveal well-preserved geological clues of past water and lava activity on ancient Mars. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30564/ancient-martian-valley-holds-major-clues-past-ocean-219 May 2026 21:04 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmac4qdoq22thttps://bsky.app/profile/space-lr.bsky.social/post/3mma2i5chz22tResearchers have developed customizable omega-3 nanoemulsion drinks to protect astronauts' bones and muscles from space radiation. https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30563/tailored-drinks-provide-space-nutrition-219 May 2026 18:47 +0000at://did:plc:j2p5mem2lbenpyp2nnab2eda/app.bsky.feed.post/3mma2i5chz22t