NASA Identifies Near-Earth Asteroid as a Comet After Precise Tracking

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NASA scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California have determined that a puzzling near-Earth object is actually a comet. Researchers reached this conclusion by precisely tracking the object's motion through space and using powerful observatories capable of imaging faint celestial bodies. The object had previously shown no obvious comet-like activity in past images, leading to its initial classification as an asteroid. The new findings reveal its dual nature, reclassifying it within the broader category of near-Earth objects.

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Webb Telescope Captures 4.4-Billion-Year-Old Merging Galaxy Cluster

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured a striking image of a young galaxy cluster, MACS J0553.4-3342, released on July 3, 2026. The observation peers back 4.4 billion years into the universe's past. The cluster consists of two sub-clusters of roughly equal mass that are actively in the process of merging. Each sub-cluster is anchored by a large, luminous elliptical galaxy that stands out prominently in the image.

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Canadian Wildfire Smoke Blankets Ontario, Quebec and Parts of US

Wildfires burning in Canada have generated large plumes of smoke spreading across wide regions of the country and beyond. The smoke has moved over the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, affecting air quality in those areas. Parts of the U.S. Midwest and Northeast have also been impacted as the smoke drifted southward. NASA tracked and reported the movement of the smoke plumes across the affected regions.

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NASA Uses Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft to Test Cutting-Edge Aerospace Concepts

NASA's Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory, located at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, uses small remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft to test new aerospace concepts. The facility serves as a cost-effective platform for maturing innovative ideas before they advance to full-scale development. Flight testing remains one of NASA's most reliable methods for expanding aeronautical knowledge and reducing technical risk. By using subscale aircraft, researchers can accelerate the learning process while keeping costs and risks manageable.

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Freshly Recovered 2024 Meteorite Reveals Clues About Early Solar System Water

A meteorite that fell to Earth on July 16, 2024, is providing NASA scientists with rare insights into the ancient solar system. Because it was recovered immediately after landing, the sample remained largely uncontaminated, making it especially valuable for research. Scientists are using it to study the presence of ancient water and the chemical changes that occurred on primitive asteroids billions of years ago. The findings may also shed light on the organic ingredients that could have contributed to the origins of life in the early solar system.

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