Astronomy
John Dobson, Inventor of the Popular Dobsonian Telescope, Dead at 98
The cosmos lost a good soul Wednesday. John Dobson, famous as the creator of the simple, low-cost Dobsonian telescope, passed…
An Amazing Capture of Jupiter and its Moons
It’s always a thrill to watch the action at Jupiter, as its moons pass in front of and behind the…
A Possible Meteor Shower from Comet ISON?
Hey, remember Comet C/2012 S1 ISON? Who can forget the roller-coaster ride that the touted “Comet of the Century” took…
Why Einstein Will Never Be Wrong
One of the benefits of being an astrophysicist is your weekly email from someone who claims to have “proven Einstein…
See the Smallest Full Moon of 2014: It’s the “Return of the Mini-Moon”
Last month, (and last year) we wrote about the visually smallest Full Moon of 2013. Now, in a followup act, our…
LEDs: Light Pollution Solution or Night Sky Nemesis?
You may have noticed a change underway in your city lighting. High pressure sodium lights, with their familiar orange glow,…
One Percent Measure of the Universe
When it comes to accuracy, everyone strives for a hundred percent, but measuring cosmic distances leaves a bit more to…
New Findings from NuSTAR: A New X-Ray View of the “Hand of God” and More
One star player in this week’s findings out of the 223rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society has been the…
Selling Rocks from Outer Space: an Interview with ‘Meteorite Man’ Geoff Notkin
What's the oldest thing you've ever held in your hand? A piece of petrified wood? A fossilized trilobite? A chunk…
Millisecond Pulsar Discovered In Rare Triple Star System
If you’re looking for something truly unique, then check out the cosmic menage aux trois ferreted out by a team…