Sharmila Kuthunur
Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur.
Latest articles by Sharmila Kuthunur
![illustration of a robotic probe in space with the sphere of earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V2SW35oAZrb2uaPDnpYjyY-320-80.jpg)
Europe's JUICE Jupiter probe flies by Earth on Aug. 20, and it may be visible to some skywatchers
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Europe's JUICE Jupiter spacecraft will swing past Earth on Aug. 20, and some skywatchers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean region may be able to see it.
![A brownish rock close up. There's a strip of lighter material toward the left and darker material toward the right. There are also darker speckles in the reddish brown center material.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jrMryRfFw6qBbcs9fAaSA5-320-80.png)
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover finds possible signs of ancient Red Planet life
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's Perseverance rover stumbled upon a Mars rock. It seems to suggest evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet.
![a grid displays 25 different images of galaxy, nebula and other space phenomeonon, shown brilliantly with many colors. This image shows a collection of 25 new space images celebrating the Chandra X-ray Observatory's 25th anniversary. The images are arranged in a grid, displayed as five images across in five separate rows. Starting from the upper left, and going across each row, the objects imaged are: Crab Nebula, Orion Nebula, The Eyes Galaxies, Cat's Paw Nebula, Milky Way's Galactic Center, M16, Bat Shadow, NGC 7469, Virgo Cluster, WR 124, G21.5-0.9, Centaurus A, Cassiopeia A, NGC 3532, NGC 6872, Hb 5, Abell 2125, NGC 3324, NGC 1365, MSH 15-52, Arp 220, Jupiter, NGC 1850, MACS J0035, SN 1987A.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s2ESjiKRspczniTZM6pfEM-320-80.jpg)
Happy 25th anniversary, Chandra! NASA celebrates with 25 breathtaking images from flagship X-ray observatory
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the flagship Chandra X-ray observatory, NASA has released 25 never-before-seen images of iconic astronomical objects.
![a blurry point of light streaks with a faint tail across a starry black sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qkhRciTidYybEYX3Pthm5U-320-80.jpg)
How to see Comet 13P/Olbers in the night sky this summer
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Comet 13P/Olbers approached close to Earth on July 20. It was last seen from Earth in 1956.
![illustration of astronauts exploring the moon, with earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JCuJGtzCK5pBkNQsNU9G8c-320-80.jpg)
Europe on the moon: ESA targeting 2031 for 1st 'Argonaut' lunar lander mission
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The first robotic Argonaut moon landing mission is targeted for 2031, the European Space Agency noted in a document published last week.
![A reddish rock appears cracked open. There are yellow sections within.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eQR7otcjq3UJ7XAZgSEYjb-320-80.png)
'An oasis in the desert': NASA's Curiosity rover finds pure sulfur in Martian rocks
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's Curiosity rover discovered a rare element on Mars after it drove over a rock and cracked it open.
![three panels: one showing a greenish-white planet, one showing a hexagonal space telescope in orbit, and one showing streaks representing stars while moving at the speed of light](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/km7msWQygcAiT9VRB9e5b7-320-80.jpg)
The greatest astronomical discoveries of the past 25 years
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
As we celebrate Space.com's 25th anniversary, take a look back at the greatest discoveries in astronomy in the past 25 years.
![Several planets are seen in this illustration. The one closest to the viewer is large, and they gradually get smaller as you get farther into the image.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WEzFQXddxB27YL6HEW3BuA-320-80.jpg)
'What exactly is a planet?' Astronomers want to amend the definition
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A newly proposed mass-based definition of a planet reaffirms Pluto as a dwarf planet.
![a giant swirl of red and yellow fire. hints of green are faintly present in the yellows.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LwexwY4Z4tSRRgqoY8v9r5-320-80.jpg)
Watch a supermassive black hole trap a 'fluffy' disk in this simulation
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A new computer simulation flies through tangled galaxies and zooms in on a black hole to dissect how these voids feats on surrounding matter.
![Four side by side images of an earth-like planet in outer space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v5xDL9Z57hW9p9GbcDXBw7-320-80.jpg)
If alien terraforming emits greenhouse gases, our telescopes could detect it
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A new thought experiment reveals how greenhouse gases can be used as a technosignature in the hunt for aliens.
![A swirling storm of white clouds twists over the ocean toward land.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DKTpSsPqyJzdLNEw5rc5va-320-80.gif)
Satellites watch 'extremely dangerous' Hurricane Beryl batter Carriacou island (video)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Monday (July 1) morning, setting the record of strongest hurricane to happen this early in the year.
![A cropped version of the team's panoramic Olympus Mons view. There are bright atmospheric lines above Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nrnufNbgmZcCZeNKBqDhwb-320-80.png)
Mars Odyssey celebrates 100,000 orbits, captures epic view of solar system's largest volcano
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's long-running Mars Odyssey orbiter celebrated its 100,000th orbit with a fresh view of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system.
![The Earth, moon and an asteroid's trajectories are seen in this gif.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3oorv6q4S26DQmJFKWcj7e-320-80.gif)
It's International Asteroid Day, and astronomers have much to celebrate
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
"It's a fun day."
![a white aircraft with no windows or cockpit canopy lands on a runway surrounded by tropical vegetation](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ACASaTCVr957GFdrHCvLgg-320-80.jpg)
Watch India's reusable space plane prototype ace its final landing test (video)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India completed a series of tests for autonomously landing its fully reusable launch vehicle, marking another milestone in the country's pursuit of low cost access to space.
![telescope photo of a dozen satellite galaxies of our milky way, which shines in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BG43CcKKo7ocL2dspsz7DF-320-80.jpg)
Dark matter clue? Mysterious substance may be interacting with itself in nearby galaxy
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A neighbor galaxy of the Milky Way could offer fresh clues in the 90-year-long quest to determine the nature of dark matter.
![a pale gas giant, cut by the shadow of its rings hangs in black space, a large wispy storm in its northern hemisphere.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHfyukSpB9ioM2G5yTEGqC-320-80.jpg)
Saturn's planet-wide storms driven by seasonal heating, Cassini probe reveals
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Saturn pumps into space varying amounts of heat based on its seasons, which drives planet-wide storms, data from NASA's Cassini mission has revealed.
![a misty, dark yellow disc of gas hangs in hazy space, circling a small pin of light at its center.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G2i2jW946Ut84UTEiPdybV-320-80.jpg)
A massive black hole may be 'waking up' in a nearby galaxy
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers have, for the first time, spotted a black hole in a nearby galaxy waking up from a deep slumber.
![illustration showing a base on the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cCCrUzXkj2roMmBdDpUT9B-320-80.jpg)
China selects 4th batch of astronaut candidates as part of 2030 moon landing goal
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
China has selected 10 new astronauts for training as part of its goal to put a crew on the moon by 2030, the country's human spaceflight agency announced last week.
![an explosion of glue and green gasses with yellow orange fringes expands in the black of space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ty59mE3DSj3qfZgtYNWAZX-320-80.jpg)
Iconic Crab Nebula shines in gorgeous James Webb Space Telescope views (video, image)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The famous Crab Nebula gets a closeup from the James Webb Space Telescope.
![a galactic nebula on the left is enlarged on the right to show two lightening bolts striking through gaseous clouds.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N8u9sjyN775B6WCz3oPRMc-320-80.jpg)
This long-studied star is actually a stellar duo: 'We were absolutely stunned'
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A young star that astronomers have studied for decades has been found to be part of a duo, encircled by a disk of material within which planets may have just begun coalescing.
![a spend rocket stage hangs upside down in the black of space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7n2VwCHNmMSB2s2CS8LmmF-320-80.jpg)
Private space-junk-inspection probe spots discarded rocket in orbit up close (photo)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A discarded Japanese rocket was recently imaged up close by the ADRAS-J mission.
![a red-light hued domed observatory beams four lasers, violet, indigo, yellow and green, from an opening in its roof into the night sky which connect to a large satellite in the sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gLbjmYXDZdQnA2qCrSka3o-320-80.png)
To calibrate telescopes on Earth, NASA's launching an 'artificial star' to orbit
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
In 2029, the Landolt satellite launched into Earth's orbit will serve to calibrate telescopes on Earth.
![a wide angle view from the top of a lander on the moon, gazing down a gold foiled landing leg before an outstretched grey barren landscape.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mh78zEFtfZgsqfwRvaMyAa-320-80.jpg)
China's Chang'e 6 spacecraft finds long-sought particles on far side of the moon
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A European experiment aboard China's Chang'e 6 mission has recorded certain charged particles previously undetected on the moon's surface.
![Intuitive Machines' Odysseus moon lander beamed home this selfie on Feb. 16, 2024, a day after launching atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nCxtghU5cjFG5PCA5RG7jC-320-80.jpg)
Private Odysseus moon lander reveals which Earth 'technosignatures' aliens might see
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
By looking at Earth as an exoplanet, astronomers hope to search for similar fingerprints coming from planets around other stars, which would be a potential sign of intelligent life.