At the end of 2020, a near-Earth asteroid was discovered that was dubbed 2020 XL5. Further analysis of the asteroid's orbit published last month revealed that this new discovery was actually an Earth Trojan: an asteroid that shares the Earth's orbit around the Sun. ISAS researchers discuss this new discovery, and plans for future exploration.
“Life cannot survive unless it can be born somewhere,” points out Associate Professor Suzuki Shino in the Department of Interdisciplinary Space Science at ISAS. “To discover extraterrestrial life, we must therefore understand the kinds of planetary environment that can produce life. So searching for the origin of life and extraterrestrial life are two sides of the same coin.”
Approximately 13.8 billion years ago, the Universe is believed to have exploded into existence in an event known as the Big Bang. But what happened immediately afterwards has been difficult to determine. Searching for evidence is the task proposed for the ISAS mission LiteBIRD, which is currently scheduled to launch in 2027.
“We need long term and sustainable collaboration, despite societal and political changes. This is what we call a friendship in our private life, and it is our obligation to establish these institutional friendships as well.”
NASA has recently announced that “Humanity has touched the Sun”. But what does this mean? Our researchers take a look at the importance of understanding our nearest star.
Grains from asteroid Itokawa returned to Earth by Hayabusa have provided evidence for a new source for the Earth's water. Our researchers take a look at what this could mean for the habitability of planets.
On Christmas day 2021, NASA launched its newest flagship observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope. ISAS International Top Young Fellow (ITYF), Dr Ryan Lau, is leading one of the first observation projects with the Webb Telescope. He takes us through his hopes for one of the most eagerly anticipated instruments in astronomy.
In November, the National Academies in the United States released the "Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s" decadal survey, colloquially known as Astro2020. Our researchers discuss the international significance of this report.
On October 16, NASA's Lucy mission began its twelve year journey to explore the Jupiter Trojans; two groups of asteroids that cluster in Jupiter's orbit and circle the Sun either side of the giant gas planet. Our researchers discuss the importance of this journey to unexplored territory.