What's happening?

Did you take your seat for the greatest show in the universe? Last night, people around the world watched the Geminids, nicknamed the "king of meteor showersA celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky.." Sky-watchers could see up to 150 meteors an hour streaking across the sky.

2023 might be seen as a landmark for asteroidA small body in space, made of metal and rock material. Asteroids usually orbit the sun, but if knocked off course they can be drawn into Earth's gravity and fall towards it. exploration. This year has seen a number of new, impressive discoveries.

In autumn, NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme. received its first batch of asteroid matter for study, courtesy of its OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The sample from the 4.5 billion-year old asteroid Bennu contains carbon and water.

NASA also sent off a vesselA ship or boat. named Psyche, which aims to travel to a unique metal-rich asteroid between Mars and Jupiter.

We have long been fascinated by the idea of life on other planets. But we have found very little evidence. 2023 could be the year the tide turns.

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As astronomerA scientist that studies the universe and space. Prof. Catherine Heymans says: "We now have the technology and the capability to answer the question of whether we are alone in the cosmosThe universe, especially when it is understood as an ordered system.."

Not everyone agrees we will, or even that life exists. Some scientists think that if aliens exist, someone would have called us by now. 2023 could be the year we started to realise the search for aliens was a dead end.

Could ET be real?

Yes! It is only a matter of time. From watery asteroids to DMS, the evidence is piling up. We were never going to be alone in the universe.

No! We want there to be life in space. It will bring excitement and help to explain our own existence. But we have no proof.