Mysteries of Space

Opinion Brief

Did NASA spot an alien spaceship near Mercury?

A massive flying object flashes near the planet and then vanishes — sending UFO enthusiasts into a frenzy

The bright spot just below Mercury has some conspiracy theorists convinced that there's a giant alien spacecraft hanging out in our solar system.

The bright spot just below Mercury has some conspiracy theorists convinced that there's a giant alien spacecraft hanging out in our solar system. Photo: YouTube SEE ALL 111 PHOTOS

Best Opinion:  Gawker, Discover

The video: UFO believers are touting new evidence that E.T. is out there. Video taken by NASA's STEREO spacecraft (watch it below) shows a giant, glowing object mysteriously appearing alongside Mercury before vanishing completely. Some viewers are convinced that what NASA cameras captured is actually a gigantic alien spaceship. "It definitely looks like a ship to me, and very obviously, it's cloaked," says YouTube user siniXster in a viral video.

The reaction: "Is that a giant alien death star ship parked over by Mercury? asks Hamilton Nolan at Gawker. No, it's not. "Professional scientists" explain that it's "actually an image of Mercury itself, which appears due to the way the telescope imagery is double-processed to enhance its clarity." Yes, sorry to be a killjoy, says Ian O'Neill at Discovery News. But "sadly for siniXster, conspiracy theorists, ufologists, and Star Trek buffs, there's no Klingons off Mercury's starboard bow." I blame those "pesky scientists." Why must "they have an answer for everything? So annoying." See for yourself:

 

 
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opinion brief

The 'mesmerizing' view of Earth from an orbiting space station 

A gorgeous new timelapse video lets you virtually soar above our planet, gazing at the shimmering cities and violent storms miles below

New footage shot by astronauts aboard the International Space Station is dazzling viewers with an in-orbit view of the pulsing lights of life on Earth.

The video: Using a special video camera capable of capturing sharp images even in low light, a crew of astronauts aboard the International Space Station recently shot beautiful footage of the Earth, featuring glittering cities, the northern lights, and flashing... More

opinion brief

Emergency call: The man who mistook the moon for a UFO

A patient operator calms a confused Briton who reports an "enormous light blazing" in the sky above his house

The moon: A distinctly identified flying object (D.I.F.O.).

The audio: Our place in the cosmos can be a bit disorienting, which might partially explain why a British man recently dialed his country's version of 911 to report an unidentified flying object above his house. Confused and nervous, he told the rather steely... More

opinion brief

Russia's $165,000 per night space hotel

Russia may have come in second in the race to the moon, but it plans on being first in the race for boutique space hotels

Russia's planned Commercial Space Station hotel may be a steal at $165,000 per night, but you may want to consider the $410,000 travel costs.

The image: Russian company Orbital Technologies wants to take luxury hotels to new hights — orbiting 217 miles above the Earth — by 2016. The proposed Commercial Space Station (CSS) would house seven guests in four cabins, including such space... More

opinion brief

The 'dazzling' necklace in space

At 12 trillion miles wide, the colorful Necklace Nebula is some serious space bling

The Necklace Nebula, pictured here in an image taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, is located 15,000 light-years away.

The image: NASA has just released a photograph that’s sure to have astronomy-minded divas around the world swooning: A glittering "necklace" that’s 12 trillion miles wide. The celestial phenomenon, a glowing cloud made up of gas and dust, is called... More

opinion brief

Is an asteroid stalking Earth?

We are not alone: A newly discovered asteroid is following Earth, tracing our orbit as we circle the Sun

An asteroid (circled in green) is tracking Earth from 50 million miles away, according to astronomers.

The image: Scientists have known for many years that asteroids often follow planets, moving in the same orbit around the sun. These so-called "Trojan asteroids" have been spotted tagging alongside Jupiter, Mars, and Neptune. Earth, however, was believed to be free... More

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