Astronomy
Light-travel-time Effect Finds New Astronomical Applications
Sometimes the tried and true methods are still the best, even in observational astronomy. Researchers at the University of Prague…
European Asteroid Smasher Could Bolster Planetary Defense
Planetary Defense is a concept very few people heard of or took seriously - that is until last week’s humongous…
Nearby Ancient Star is Almost as Old as the Universe
A metal-poor star located merely 190 light-years from the Sun is 14.46+-0.80 billion years old, which implies that the star is…
Satellite Swarm — Including an Asteroid Hunter — Readies For Spaceflight
Early next week, an Indian rocket will launch into space carrying seven satellites on board. Among them will be a…
In Reality, Nebulae Offer No Place for Spaceships to Hide
In the Battlestar: Galactica universe, nebulas are a nifty spot to hide from the Cylons that are plotting to kill…
Milky Way Leftover Shell Stars Discovered In Galactic Halo
Like tantalizing tidbits stored in the vast recesses of one's refrigerator, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have evidence of…
Adaptive Optics Explained! In Comic Form
Emily Coren is an accomplished illustrator and scientist, and she's figured out how to bring those two skills together to…
In Search of Darkness: the Battle Against Light Pollution
A good majority of modern Americans have never seen truly dark skies. I was fortunate to grow up in northern Maine in…
Portrait Of NGC 5189: New Light On An Old Planetary Nebula
Stretching across three light years of space and located about 3,000 light years away in the direction of the constellation…
Naming Pluto’s Moons: Will it Come Down to Trekkies Versus the IAU?
As reported here on Universe Today last week, the SETI Institute has invited the public to vote on the names…