2021's Biggest , Space Stories. Space.com recently published a list of some of the biggest space stories of 2021. , Here are five highlights:. 1. Scientists discovered the largest-known comet to date. , Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein may be 10 times wider and 1,000 times larger than known comets. . The last time this comet swung around the sun was approximately 3 million years ago. It is reportedly due to pass by again in 2031. . The last time this comet swung around the sun was approximately 3 million years ago. It is reportedly due to pass by again in 2031. . 2. A new moon was discovered orbiting Jupiter by an amateur astronomer. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has at least 79 moons. . Amateur astronomer Kai Ly discovered the latest moon, EJc0061, in a data set from 2003. . 3. In early June 2021, NASA announced two new missions to Venus by 2030. The DAVINCI+ mission will study the planet's atmosphere. . The VERITAS mission will try to map the planet's terrain from orbit. They are the first dedicated missions to Venus by NASA since 1989. . 4. The sun is reawakening as it reaches the active phase of its roughly decade-long cycle. In early November, a series of CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) triggered geomagnetic storms on Earth. . CMEs interact with our planet's magnetic field and can cause satellite disruptions and energy losses. . 5. The James Webb Space Telescope, , a project 30 years in the making, launched on Christmas Day 2021. The successor to the Hubble will orbit at about a million miles from Earth. . 5. The James Webb Space Telescope, , a project 30 years in the making, launched on Christmas Day 2021. The successor to the Hubble will orbit at about a million miles from Earth. . The powerful telescope will help answer questions about the evolution of the universe and our own solar system.
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