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.....»»
Beyond the periodic table: Superheavy elements and ultradense asteroids
Some asteroids have measured densities higher than those of any elements known to exist on Earth. This suggests that they are at least partly composed of unknown types of "ultradense" matter that cannot be studied by conventional physics......»»
Astronomers discover M87"s jet is triggering novae
Everyone loves a good mystery, and astronomers have just uncovered a new one in a nearby supermassive galaxy called M87. Like most galaxies, M87 regularly plays host to a smattering of stellar explosions called novae, each the result of a star steali.....»»
Large-scale bent radio jet detected in galaxy cluster Abell 514
Astronomers have conducted deep low-frequency radio observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 514, using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT). In their results, they detected a large-scale bent radio jet in this cluster. The finding is.....»»
Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites add to astronomers’ light-pollution woes
Scientists search for solutions as Amazon plans to launch 3,200 satellites. Enlarge (credit: Alan Dyer/Getty Images) Amazon is set to launch two satellite prototypes for its Project Kuiper network, which will eventually.....»»
5 great Robin Williams movies you should watch right now
You should watch these five great Robin Williams movies, including Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, and more......»»
Amazon Is Going to Fill the Sky With Satellites. Astronomers Aren’t Happy
Large constellations of satellites interfere with telescope observations, and Amazon will eventually add another 3,200 of them to the night sky. Scientists are concerned and searching for solutions......»»
Can JWST tell the difference between an exoEarth and an exoVenus?
As of October 2023, astronomers have discovered 5,506 exoplanets orbiting other stars. That number is growing daily, and astronomers are hoping, among other things, to find Earth-like worlds. But will we know one when we see it? How might we be able.....»»
Astronomers discover first step toward planet formation
Solving the mystery of how planets like Earth were formed is an important question for understanding the origin of life. Planets are thought to form when interstellar dust and gas collect in a protoplanetary disk surrounding a protostar, but it has b.....»»
As Amazon Launches Project Kuiper, Astronomers Debate How to Fix a Satellite-Filled Sky
Large constellations interfere with telescope observations, and Amazon will eventually add another 3,200 satellites to the night sky. Scientists are concerned and searching for solutions......»»
Lion protection fee paid by tourists could help stop trophy hunting, says South African study
Trophy hunting is contentious. It typically involves paying for and pursuing a specific wild animal, often a large or iconic species, with the goal of killing it to obtain a trophy, such as the animal's head, horns, or hide......»»
Indian astronomers investigate star-forming complex S193
Astronomers from the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, India and elsewhere, have inspected a star-forming complex known as S193, using multiwavelength observational data. Results of the study, published Sept. 21 on the pre-print server arXiv.....»»
Pandemic found to have boosted gardening, hunting in New York State
A survey of New York state residents found that nearly half of respondents increased the amount of time they spent on wild and backyard food in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic—confirming anecdotes about increases in activities such as sou.....»»
Study investigates the population of young low-mass stars in Trumpler 14
Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT), European astronomers have performed spectroscopic observations of an open cluster known as Trumpler 14. Results of the observational campaign, published September 25 on the pre-print server arXiv, shed more light.....»»
Dark matter could be annihilating inside white dwarfs
As the search for dark matter particles continues to yield nothing, astronomers continue to look at ways these elusive particles might be found. One general method is to look for evidence of dark matter particle decay. Although dark matter doesn't in.....»»
A new planet-hunting instrument has been installed on the Very Large Telescope
Exoplanet studies have come a long way in a short time. To date, 5,523 exoplanets have been confirmed in 4,117 systems, with another 9,867 candidates awaiting confirmation. With all these planets available for study, exoplanet researchers have been s.....»»
Observations explore the properties of Type Ic supernova SN 2022jli
An international team of astronomers has performed multi-wavelength photometric and spectroscopic observations of a recently discovered Type Ic supernova known as SN 2022jli. Results of the observational campaign, published September 22 on the pre-pr.....»»
Dark matter hunting telescope Euclid has a problem with its guidance system
The Euclid space telescope, launched in July this year to investigate the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, has run into issues during commissioning......»»
Keck Cosmic Web Imager offers best glimpse yet of the filamentous network that connects galaxies
Like rivers feeding oceans, streams of gas nourish galaxies throughout the cosmos. But these streams, which make up a part of the so-called cosmic web, are very faint and hard to see. While astronomers have known about the cosmic web for decades, and.....»»
Pre-pilot survey explores dozens of candidate ultra-diffuse galaxies
By analyzing the data from the WALLABY pre-pilot survey, astronomers from the University of Western Australia and elsewhere, have inspected 78 candidate ultra-diffuse galaxies in the Eridanus supergroup. The study was detailed in a paper published Se.....»»
Extreme weight loss: Star sheds unexpected amounts of mass just before going supernova
A newly discovered nearby supernova whose star ejected up to a full solar mass of material in the year prior to its explosion is challenging the standard theory of stellar evolution. The new observations are giving astronomers insight into what happe.....»»