Satellites | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/satellites/RSS feed for SatellitesenWed, 11 Mar 2026 19:45:14 +0000A 1,300-Pound Spacecraft Might Be Plummeting Through Our Atmosphere Right Nowhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-1300-pound-spacecraft-might-be-plummeting-through-our-atmosphere-right-now-180988335/The debris poses minimal risk of harming anyoneWed, 11 Mar 2026 19:45:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-1300-pound-spacecraft-might-be-plummeting-through-our-atmosphere-right-now-180988335/When Human Activity Dropped During Covid-19, Methane Levels Surprisingly Spiked. Now, a Study Points to Two Reasons Whyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-human-activity-dropped-during-covid-19-methane-emissions-surprisingly-spiked-now-a-study-points-to-two-reasons-why-180988166/In a paradox of air pollution, a decrease in man-made pollutants led to more methane in our atmosphere. And natural wetlands released more of the planet-warming gas at the same timeTue, 10 Feb 2026 18:47:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-human-activity-dropped-during-covid-19-methane-emissions-surprisingly-spiked-now-a-study-points-to-two-reasons-why-180988166/What’s Buried Beneath Antarctica's Ice? A New Map Unveils the Continent's Hidden Landscape Like Never Beforehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/whats-buried-beneath-antarcticas-ice-a-new-map-unveils-the-continents-hidden-landscape-like-never-before-seen-180988148/A better understanding of the bedrock can help researchers calculate how quickly the continent's melting glaciers might affect sea-level riseThu, 05 Feb 2026 22:20:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/whats-buried-beneath-antarcticas-ice-a-new-map-unveils-the-continents-hidden-landscape-like-never-before-seen-180988148/Sonic Booms and Earthquake Sensors Can Help Researchers Track Space Junk as It Plummets to Earthhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sonic-booms-and-earthquake-sensors-can-help-researchers-track-space-junk-as-it-plummets-to-earth-180988059/Falling debris can travel at about 30 times the speed of sound, creating sonic booms that shake the groundMon, 26 Jan 2026 17:18:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sonic-booms-and-earthquake-sensors-can-help-researchers-track-space-junk-as-it-plummets-to-earth-180988059/More Than 500,000 Satellites Are Set to Orbit Earth by 2040. They May End Up Photobombing the Images Captured by Space Telescopeshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-500000-satellites-are-set-to-orbit-earth-by-2040-they-may-end-up-photobombing-the-images-captured-by-space-telescopes-180987796/Fleets of satellites interfere with snapshots taken by Earth-bound observatories. But a new study suggests these orbiters will also contaminate observations by four space telescopes, including HubbleFri, 05 Dec 2025 16:58:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-500000-satellites-are-set-to-orbit-earth-by-2040-they-may-end-up-photobombing-the-images-captured-by-space-telescopes-180987796/A Weak Spot in Earth's Magnetic Field Is Growing, but Scientists Say Not to Worry. Here's a Look at What Shields Us From Space Weatherhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-weak-spot-in-earths-magnetic-field-is-growing-but-scientists-say-not-to-worry-heres-a-look-at-what-shields-us-from-space-weather-180987800/Our planet’s magnetosphere has seen dramatic shifts across its history—even total reversals—but this recent wrinkle doesn’t pose a threat to lifeFri, 05 Dec 2025 16:23:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-weak-spot-in-earths-magnetic-field-is-growing-but-scientists-say-not-to-worry-heres-a-look-at-what-shields-us-from-space-weather-180987800/The Astronomical Problem of Space Junkhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-astronomical-problem-of-space-junk-180987782/Chunks of satellites and pieces of debris falling from space are causing trouble down here on EarthThu, 04 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-astronomical-problem-of-space-junk-180987782/Giant Mirrors in Space Could Bring Sunlight After Dark, One Startup Says—and Astronomers Are Concernedhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giant-mirrors-in-space-could-bring-sunlight-after-dark-one-startup-says-and-astronomers-are-concerned-180987781/Critics argue the satellites, billed as a way to harness solar energy at night, could hamper sky observations and may pose a threat to human and animal healthWed, 03 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giant-mirrors-in-space-could-bring-sunlight-after-dark-one-startup-says-and-astronomers-are-concerned-180987781/Miners Discovered a Mysterious Smoking Object in Western Australia. Experts Think It's Likely Unexpected Space Debrishttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/miners-discover-a-mysterious-smoking-object-in-western-australia-experts-think-its-likely-unexpected-space-debris-180987550/Some theorize that it's a piece of a rocket—and part of a growing pile of orbiting space junkTue, 21 Oct 2025 21:25:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/miners-discover-a-mysterious-smoking-object-in-western-australia-experts-think-its-likely-unexpected-space-debris-180987550/'Ultimate Cosmic Carpool' Sends Three New Missions to Monitor Space Weather and the Protective Bubble Around Our Solar Systemhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ultimate-cosmic-carpool-sends-three-new-missions-to-monitor-space-weather-and-the-protective-bubble-around-our-solar-system-180987395/The spacecraft will map the boundaries of the heliosphere, study how Earth’s outer atmosphere reacts to solar activity and provide continuous monitoring of space weatherThu, 25 Sep 2025 12:25:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ultimate-cosmic-carpool-sends-three-new-missions-to-monitor-space-weather-and-the-protective-bubble-around-our-solar-system-180987395/