Astronomers want your help hunting for asteroids
Anyone can become an asteroid hunter thanks to a new program launched by astronomers at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. As part of the Catalina Sky Survey, the scientists created an online portal that opens their mission—t.....»»
Astronomers find first strong evidence of neutron star remnant of exploding star
An international team of astronomers including UCL's (University College London's) Professor Mike Barlow has discovered the first conclusive evidence that a neutron star exists at the center of Supernova 1987A, a star explosion observed 37 years ago......»»
Astronomers observe the effect of dark matter on the evolution of the galaxies
Dark matter comprises around 85% of all the matter in the universe. Although ordinary matter absorbs, reflects and emits light, dark matter cannot be seen directly, which makes its detection difficult. Its existence is inferred from its gravitational.....»»
Study investigates chemical composition of metal-poor star HD 1936
Using the Ankara University Kreiken Observatory (AUKR) in Turkey, astronomers have performed high-resolution spectroscopic observations of a metal-poor star known as HD 1936. Results of the observations campaign, published February 15 on the preprint.....»»
Black hole fashions stellar beads on a string
Astronomers have discovered one of the most powerful eruptions from a black hole ever recorded. This mega-explosion billions of years ago may help explain the formation of a striking pattern of star clusters around two massive galaxies, resembling be.....»»
Smallest star ever observed is part of an exotic binary system
A large international team of astronomers has discovered the smallest known star to date, and found that it is paired with another, somewhat larger star. Their paper is published in the journal Nature Astronomy,......»»
Newly spotted black hole has mass of 17 billion Suns, adding another daily
An accretion disk 7 light-years across powers an exceptionally bright galaxy. Enlarge (credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser) Quasars initially confused astronomers when they were discovered. First identified as sources of radio-fre.....»»
Astronomers are figuring out what causes incredibly bright flashes in space
Some of the oddest cosmic phenomena are short but powerful flashes called fast radio bursts. Now astronomers have observed one before and after it occurred,.....»»
Can astronomers use radar to spot a cataclysmic asteroid?
How can humans protect the Earth from "devastating asteroid and comet impacts?" According to the National Academies and their 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, ground-based astronomical radar systems will have a "unique rol.....»»
Astronomers investigate the atmosphere of a nearby cold brown dwarf
Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have observed a nearby cold brown dwarf designated WISEPA J182831.08+265037.8 (or WISE 1828 for short). The observations delivered important insights into the composition of the object's atmosp.....»»
Water is discovered on asteroids — by a defunct NASA mission
Astronomers used data from NASA's SOFIA mission, which ended in 2022, to spot water on the surface of two asteroids located in the asteroid belt of our solar system. A pioneering NASA 747 aircraft outfitted with a big telescope was retired a co.....»»
NASA telescopes find new clues about mysterious deep space signals
What's causing mysterious bursts of radio waves from deep space? Astronomers may be a step closer to providing one answer to that question. Two NASA X-ray telescopes recently observed one of such events—known as a fast radio burst—mere minutes be.....»»
Passing stars altered orbital evolution of Earth and other planets, astronomers find
Stars that pass by our solar system have altered the long-term orbital evolution of planets, including Earth, and, by extension, modified our climate......»»
Study of Mars morphology and mineralogy suggests it may have once had active volcanism and crustal recycling
A small international team of Earth scientists, geologists and astronomers has conducted a study of Mars morphology and mineralogy and discovered that the planet may have experienced volcanism and crustal recycling during its formative years. For the.....»»
J0526+5934 is an ultra-short period double white dwarf, observations show
Using ground-based telescopes, an international team of astronomers has observed a binary system containing at least one white dwarf, designated J0526+5934. The observational campaign has revealed that the binary is composed of two white dwarfs on an.....»»
Discovery of unexpected ultramassive galaxies may not rewrite cosmology, but still leaves questions
Ever since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured its first glimpse of the early universe, astronomers have been surprised by the presence of what appear to be more "ultramassive" galaxies than expected. Based on the most widely accepted cosm.....»»
Astronomers discover Jupiter-sized objects drawn into each other"s orbit
In our most basic understanding of our solar system, planets are drawn into the orbit of our massive star, the sun. But what happens to planet-sized objects that don't have a star? A team of astronomers studying Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs) i.....»»
Scientists identify water molecules on asteroids for the first time
Using data from the retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)—a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR—Southwest Research Institute scientists have discovered, for the first time, water molecules on the su.....»»
Dracula"s Chivito: New protoplanetary disk discovered with Pan-STARRS
By analyzing the images obtained with the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), astronomers have serendipitously discovered a new protoplanetary disk located some 800 light years away. The finding was reported in a paper.....»»
Saturn"s Death Star-looking moon may have vast underground ocean
Astronomers have found the best evidence yet of a vast, young ocean beneath the icy exterior of Saturn's Death Star lookalike mini moon......»»
Chinese astronomers find radio pulsar in a supernova remnant
Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), astronomers from the Nanjing University in China and elsewhere, have detected a radio pulsar in a supernova remnant known as CTB 87. The finding is reported in a paper published.....»»