| | Parker Solar Probe acquired this image - 1st-ever taken from inside the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona - on December 8. The bright streak is a coronal streamer. The bright object near the center is the sun's innermost planet Mercury. The dark spots are a result of background correction. Image via NASA/Naval Research Laboratory/Parker Solar Probe. | | |
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Comet gives birth to a baby bow shock | | And a spacecraft sees it happen! Rosetta spacecraft data reveal an infant bow shock - similar to what forms at the bow of a ship - at the comet this craft explored for 2 years. It's the 1st seen forming anywhere in our solar system. Read more. | | |
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Did a supernova kill off the megalodon? | | A new study suggests that a tsunami of cosmic energy from a supernova killed off large ocean animals - including the huge megalodon shark - 2.6 million years ago. Read more. A shower of particles might have spelled doom for the megalodon. Image via University of Kansas | | |