Universe Today (Page 178)

The Solar Eclipse Caused a Bow Wave in Earth's Atmosphere

By Evan Gough - January 23, 2018 04:49 PM UTC | Solar Astronomy

Scientists have long predicted that an eclipse can create a bow wave in the ionosphere. The August 2017 eclipse, called the Great American Eclipse, gave researchers an opportunity to look for it.

This is Ice in Antarctica, Flowing in Slow Motion Like Water Going Through River Rapids

By Matthew Williams - January 22, 2018 07:37 PM UTC | Planetary Science

As part of their ninth year monitoring the Antarctic peninsula, Operation IceBridge recently flew above the ice sheet and took some stunning pictures

A New Kind of Propulsion System That Doesn't Need Propellant. It Converts Electricity into Thrust and Vice Versa.

By Evan Gough - January 22, 2018 06:52 PM UTC | Physics

Long aluminum tethers attached to satellites could revolutionize satellite propulsion systems, and help eliminate space junk.

Upcoming Telescopes Should be Able to Detect Mountains and Other Landscapes on Extrasolar Planets

By Matthew Williams - January 22, 2018 03:35 PM UTC | Telescopes

According to a new study by a team from Columbia University, the upcoming super telescopes might be able to detect mountains and other features on exoplanets

Astronomy Cast Ep. 475: Fast Radio Bursts

By susie - January 22, 2018 03:32 PM UTC | Cosmology

Here's Something Strange, the Afterglow From Last Year's Kilonova is Continuing to Brighten

By Matthew Williams - January 22, 2018 01:29 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Contrary to what was expected, a team of astronomers has discovered that kilonova event has been brightening ever since it first appeared

Carnival of Space #545

By susie - January 22, 2018 01:01 PM UTC | Site News

A Black Hole is Pushing the Stars Around in this Globular Cluster

By Matthew Williams - January 19, 2018 07:16 PM UTC | Black Holes

An international team of astronomers recently made the first-ever observation of a black hole in a nearby globular cluster

Researchers Develop a New Low Cost/Low Weight Method of Searching for Life on Mars

By Evan Gough - January 19, 2018 07:03 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Researchers at McGill University are developing what they call the Life Detection Platform, a compact, robotic, energy-efficient system for detecting life on other worlds.

Just Like Earth, Titan Has a "Sea Level" for its Lakes and Seas

By Matthew Williams - January 19, 2018 03:18 PM UTC | Planetary Science

Based on Cassini data, two new studies have been produced that reveal some new and interesting things about Saturn's largest moon, Titan

Astronomers Set the Limit for Just How Massive Neutron Stars Can Be

By Matthew Williams - January 18, 2018 02:49 PM UTC | Stars

Based on recent gravitational wave research, a team of scientists from the University of Frankfurt have placed an upper limit on the mass of neutron stars

Physicists Have Created an Artificial Gamma Ray Burst in the Lab

By Matthew Williams - January 18, 2018 01:23 PM UTC | Physics

For the first time, a team of researchers have managed to recreate gamma ray bursts (GRBs) in the lab, opening new venues for research into cosmic phenomena

Weekly Space Hangout - Jan 17, 2018: Dr. Bram Venemans and Distant Quasars

By Fraser Cain - January 17, 2018 04:19 PM UTC | Extragalactic

James Webb Wraps up 3 Months in the Freezer. It's Ready for Space

By Matthew Williams - January 17, 2018 03:43 PM UTC | Telescopes

The James Webb Space Telescope just emerged from 3 months of vacuum-chamber testing, another milestone on the road towards its deployment next year

Carnival of Space #544

By susie - January 17, 2018 02:28 PM UTC | Site News

Asteroid Mining is Getting Closer to Reality. Planetary Resources Arkyd-6 Satellite Just Launched

By Matthew Williams - January 17, 2018 01:52 PM UTC | Space Exploration

With the deployment of the Arkyd-6 spacecraft, Planetary Resources just took a major step towards making asteroid mining a reality

China Has a Plan to Clean Up Space Junk with Lasers

By Matthew Williams - January 16, 2018 04:28 PM UTC | Space Policy

A new study by a team of Chinese researchers considers whether a space-based laser station would be a good way to remove space junk

Lava Tube Openings Found Near the Moon's North Pole

By Matthew Williams - January 16, 2018 03:03 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A series of possibly "skylights" have been spotted in the Moon's norther polar region, offering possibilities for future exploration and maybe even a lunar base someday.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 474: Predictions for 2018

By susie - January 15, 2018 03:01 PM UTC | Site News

Huge Sheets of Ice Found Hidden Just Beneath the Surface of Mars

By Matthew Williams - January 13, 2018 06:25 PM UTC | Planetary Science

A recent study based on data from multiple orbiters indicates that Mars has multiple sheets of subsurface ice, and they run deep!

Astronomers Figure Out How Black Holes Can Blast Out Relativistic Jets of Material Across Light Years of Space

By Matthew Williams - January 12, 2018 10:58 PM UTC | Black Holes

Thanks to a recent study by an international team of researchers, scientists now know why rapidly-spinning black holes blast out jets of charged particles.

China Says it Still has Control Over Tiangong-1 and Can Decide Where It'll Crash

By Matthew Williams - January 12, 2018 04:18 PM UTC | Space Policy

According to a recent statement by a top engineer from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China is still in control of the Tiangong-1 space station.

Carnival of Space #543

By susie - January 11, 2018 04:25 PM UTC | Site News

I Didn't Realize the Scale of Their Rocket Program. China is Planning More than 40 Space Launches in 2018

By Matthew Williams - January 10, 2018 10:35 PM UTC | Space Exploration

The Chinese National Space Administration is going to have a busy year, with more than 40 launches to space scheduled for 2018

Weekly Space Hangout - Jan 10, 2018: Tim Dodd, Everyday Astronaut

By Fraser Cain - January 10, 2018 08:03 PM UTC | Space Exploration

The Ozone Hole is Definitely Recovering

By Matthew Williams - January 10, 2018 02:15 PM UTC | Planetary Science

According to recent study by a team of NASA scientists, ozone depletion around the south pole has decreased by 20 percent in the past 12 years.

The Night Sky Magic of the Atacama

By Paul Sutter - January 10, 2018 10:00 AM UTC | Observing

Messier 65 - the NGC 3623 Intermediate Spiral Galaxy

By tammy-plotner - January 08, 2018 07:13 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Located in the Leo constellation, roughly 35 million light-years from Earth, is the intermediate spiral galaxy known as Messier 65 - one of three small galaxies that make up the Leo Triplet.

This is the Year Internet From Space Gets Really Serious

By Matthew Williams - January 08, 2018 03:48 PM UTC | Space Policy

This year, a number of companies will begin deploying constellations of internet satellites to space with the intent of providing global internet

Astronomy Cast Ep. 472: Best Modern Sci Fi for the Science Lover - Part 4: Bioscience

By susie - January 08, 2018 03:13 PM UTC | Astrobiology

Astronomy Cast Ep. 473: Remembering the Best Space Science of 2017

By susie - January 08, 2018 02:59 PM UTC | Site News

The Gaia Mission Could Moonlight as a Gravitational Wave Detector

By Matthew Williams - January 05, 2018 04:10 PM UTC | Missions

A team of astronomers from the University of Cambridge recently showed how the Gaia mission could also help in the search for gravitational waves.

Upcoming Chinese Lander Will Carry Insects and Plants to the Surface of the Moon

By Matthew Williams - January 04, 2018 05:04 PM UTC | Astrobiology

This year, China's Chang'e 4 mission will head to the far side of the Moon to study the local geology and the effects of lunar gravity on insects and plants.

Here's the Earth and Moon Seen from OSIRIS-REx

By Matthew Williams - January 04, 2018 03:05 PM UTC | Planetary Science

As it makes its way towards the asteroid Bennu, the OSIRIS-REx mission continues to provide us with breathtaking images of our planet.

You Knew This Day Was Coming. Alien Megastructures Ruled Out for Tabby's Star. Dust is the Culprit

By Matthew Williams - January 03, 2018 05:22 PM UTC | Astrobiology

A new study from Tabetha Boyajian and a team of over 100 astronomers has ruled out the possibility of an alien megastructure around "Tabby's Star".

In mid-March, the Chinese Tiangong-1 Space Station is Going to Come Crashing Back Down to Earth... Somewhere

By Matthew Williams - January 03, 2018 03:00 PM UTC | Space Policy

According to the latest predictions, China's Tiangong-1 space station is going to come crashing to Earth in March - but residents of Earth need not worry!

Weekly Space Hangout - Jan 3, 2018: Dr. Jeyhan Kartaltepe of the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey

By Fraser Cain - January 03, 2018 01:37 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Supermassive Black Holes can Turn Star Formation On and Off in a Large Galaxy

By Matthew Williams - January 02, 2018 05:10 PM UTC | Black Holes

A new study by a team of international astronomers has provided the first direct evidence that supermassive black holes affect star formation in their galaxies.

What is the Gravitational Microlensing Method?

By Matthew Williams - January 02, 2018 03:07 PM UTC | Physics

The Gravitational Microlensing method relies on rare events (one star passing in front of another) to focus light and search for exoplanets.

Carnival of Space #542

By susie - January 02, 2018 02:05 PM UTC | Site News

Astronomy Cast Ep. 471: Best Modern Sci Fi for the Science Lover - Part 3: Human Computer Relations

By susie - January 01, 2018 03:13 PM UTC | Space Policy

Messier 64 - The Black Eye Galaxy

By tammy-plotner - January 01, 2018 03:00 PM UTC | Extragalactic

Located in the Coma Berenices constellation, roughly 24 million light years from Earth, is the spiral galaxy known as Messier 64 (aka. The Black Eye Galaxy).

Top 2018 Astronomy Events

By David Dickinson - January 01, 2018 12:59 PM UTC | Observing

Happy New Year 2018. One of the toughest choices we made last year was to not write a full astronomical guide for 2018. We've done this in one iteration or another now for about a decade, but an ongoing project (also astronomical in nature) has consumed most of our writing hours... but we recently realized that we can still take stock in what's in the sky for the year ahead... and give you a sneak peek at part of our project for the end of 2018.

In Preparation for its Inaugural Launch, the Falcon Heavy Receives its Special Cargo - Musk's Tesla Roadster!

By Matthew Williams - December 29, 2017 05:59 PM UTC | Space Exploration

In preparation for the inaugural launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket, SpaceX recently released pictures of Musk's Tesla Roadster being loaded aboard the rocket's payload fairing.

Carnival of Space #541

By susie - December 26, 2017 02:00 PM UTC | Site News

Mysterious Filament is Stretching Down Towards the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole

By Matthew Williams - December 23, 2017 05:45 PM UTC | Milky Way

Looking to the center of our galaxy, astronomers noted the presence of a mysterious filament extending from the supermassive black hole located there.

Just a Billion Years After the Earth Formed, Life had Already Figured out Plenty of Tricks

By Matthew Williams - December 22, 2017 09:08 PM UTC | Astrobiology

According to a recent study, multi-celled lifeforms lived on Earth as early as 3.5 billion years ago - a good indication that life exists elsewhere in the Universe.

What is the Radial Velocity Method?

By Matthew Williams - December 22, 2017 06:46 PM UTC | Physics

The Radial Velocity (aka. Doppler Spectroscopy) Method relies on measurements of a planet's "wobble" to determine the presence of one or more planets around it.

Yes Please! NASA is Considering a Helicopter Mission to Titan

By Evan Gough - December 22, 2017 06:29 PM UTC | Missions

NASA has chosen the Dragonfly mission concept as a finalist in its New Frontiers program. The double-quadcopter drone is designed to explore Titan and study habitability.

Astronomers Figure Out a New Way to Search for Planets at Alpha Centauri

By Matthew Williams - December 22, 2017 06:14 PM UTC | Exoplanets

A mew study by a team of exoplanet scientists has revealed what kinds of planets are likely to lurk around Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to our own.