Tag

Space Archaeology

All articles tagged with #space archaeology

space9 days ago•14 min saved

Venus's Silent Landers: The Venera probes still sit on Venus, capturing humanity's only non-Mars surface photos

The Soviet Venera landers remain on Venus’ surface, enduring 460°C heat, 90-bar pressure and sulfuric acid, and their 1975–1982 photos are the only surface images humanity has taken of a world other than Mars. A 2025 study suggests several probes are still recognisable as machines, turning Venus into a new kind of cultural heritage and fueling renewed interest as future missions (NASA’s DAVINCI, ESA’s EnVision, India’s Shukrayaan-1) may image them from orbit or descent, potentially revealing the sites where they lie.

via Space Daily|

#planetary-science #space #space-archaeology

science12 days ago•37 min saved

Chemistry Unmasks a Spiral Galaxy’s Ancient History

Astronomers used chemical fingerprints from thousands of star-forming gas clouds in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1365 to reconstruct its 12-billion-year growth by matching observations to about 20,000 galaxy simulations. They found a centrally formed, oxygen-rich core with slower outer-disk growth, likely shaped by mergers with smaller galaxies and late gas inflows. This chemical-archaeology approach opens a new way to study how distant galaxies assembled over cosmic time.

via Yahoo News Australia|

#heavy-elements #ngc-1365 #oxygen

space16 days ago•3 min saved

Venus Surface Relics: Study Suggests At Least Seven Probes Could Survive

A Geoarchaeology study of 15 Venus missions (1965–1985) suggests at least seven probes may have endured Venus’ extreme surface conditions to become long‑lasting space artifacts. NASA’s GEER lab tests indicate titanium and aluminum parts could survive the harsh environment, while seals would fail and sulfuric acid clouds would deform others. The Pioneer Venus Day Probe is highlighted as a prime candidate for future imaging, with upcoming missions DAVINCI and VERITAS planned for 2030–2031.

via Gizmodo|

#geer-lab #pioneer-venus-day-probe #space

science17 days ago•39 min saved

Ancient Venus probes may linger on the surface, study finds

A new space-archaeology study argues Venus’s harsh surface may preserve probe hardware longer than previously thought. Using NASA’s GEER lab to simulate Venus conditions, researchers estimate that seven of twenty landers/probes could still be detectable on the surface, though seals would have failed and metal would show deformation. The Pioneer Venus Day Probe is used as a case study, and the findings suggest future Venus missions—like NASA’s DAVINCI and private ventures—could image surviving artifacts and deepen our understanding of Venus as space heritage.

via Yahoo|

#davinci #pioneer-venus-day-probe #science

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Chemical fingerprints reveal a distant galaxy's 12-billion-year growth

Astronomers map oxygen emission patterns in the face-on spiral galaxy NGC 1365 and compare them with Illustris simulations to reconstruct its 12-billion-year history: rapid early enrichment in the core, growth into a large spiral through mergers with dwarf galaxies, and later outer-arm star formation, offering a concrete example of chemical archaeology and a window into how the Milky Way may have formed.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|

#astronomy #galaxies #galaxy-formation

science6 months ago•6 min saved

Archaeology Insights from 25 Years of the International Space Station

The article celebrates 25 years of continuous habitation on the International Space Station, highlighting its role in scientific research, international cooperation, and the unique insights gained through space archaeology, which studies the social and cultural aspects of life in space using photographic and behavioral analysis. It emphasizes the station's significance as a human habitat and its potential to inform future space missions and societal issues on Earth.

via Space|

#human-interaction #international-space-station #living-in-space

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

Scientists Uncover Identity of Mysterious Space Object Found on Australian Beach

The mystery of an unidentified metal cylinder that washed up on a beach in Australia has been solved. The Australian Space Agency has determined that the object is debris from the third stage of a polar satellite launch vehicle operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation. The cylinder, which is believed to be the fuel containment vessel, survived re-entry due to its resilience to high temperatures. While the chances of space debris hitting populated areas are low, the Australian Space Agency is working with ISRO to determine the object's fate and ensure compliance with international space treaties.

via Newsweek|

#australian-space-agency #indian-space-research-organisation #polar-satellite-launch-vehicle

science-and-technology3 years ago•3 min saved

Mapping Humanity's Frontier: The Work of Space Archaeologists.

Archaeologists are creating the first-ever archaeological record of life aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through a research project called Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE). The project involves analyzing hundreds of photos taken by astronauts throughout the living and work spaces of the ISS, which show everything from anti-gravity hacks to food treats enjoyed by astronauts. The images are useful for social science researchers who want to know how people use the limited tools and material comforts available to them in space. The project aims to learn about the social consequences of a small isolated society so separated from Earth and what kinds of human behavior exist when gravity is stripped away.

via Ars Technica|

#archaeology #international-space-station #research-project