Collaborate Disseminate
Our solar system might still bear the scars from an extremely close shave with an alien star. Such an encounter – the closest pass we know of – would have shaken up objects on the outskirts and might even mean there’s no Planet Nine after all.Continue … Continue reading Alien star could have side-swiped our solar system closer than Voyager
Astronomers have watched a supermassive black hole take two bites of a star, and predicted when it might go back for a third. If it does, this should make for an intriguing stellar light show.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Astronomy, Bla… Continue reading Stellar light show predicted for next year as black hole swallows star
The official definition of a “planet” could be set to change again soon. Last time that happened, Pluto was kicked out of the club, but the new proposed definition is designed to be more inclusive.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Planet, D… Continue reading The official definition of a planet could soon change again
Tycho Brahe is best known as a Danish Renaissance astronomer. But he was also a bit of an alchemist, and a first-ever analysis on shards found at his former home from the 1500s has shed some light on just what he was up to in his basement lab.Continue … Continue reading Shards from famed astronomer’s garden show secret alchemy lab details
Tycho Brahe is best known as a Danish Renaissance astronomer. But he was also a bit of an alchemist, and a first-ever analysis on shards found at his former home from the 1500s has shed some light on just what he was up to in his basement lab.Continue … Continue reading Shards from famed astronomer’s garden show secret alchemy lab details
From a dragon-shaped aurora to the Milky Way framing the Isaac Newton Telescope in Spain, the 16th Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition has released its stunning shortlisted finalists ahead of winners being announced on September 12.Continue … Continue reading Aurora dragon lights up 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist
Gazing at the night sky and pointing out constellations is all well and good, but the arrival of smart digital telescopes has given stargazers the power to capture and share celestial majesty with relative ease. At under 3 lb, the Dwarf III is one of t… Continue reading Book-sized smart telescope captures the night sky with ease
Something seems to be missing from the universe, and the favored model of physics calls it “dark matter” – but despite a century of searching, it remains a no-show. A new paper proposes an alternative hypothesis, showing how gravity could exist without… Continue reading Spacetime defects uncouple gravity from mass in dark matter alternative
The universe is awash with strange radio signals, but astronomers have now detected a really bizarre one that repeats every hour, cycling through three different states. While they have some ideas about its origin it can’t be explained by our current u… Continue reading Radio signal from space repeats every hour, defying explanation
The seventh annual Milky Way Photographer of the Year collection has been released, featuring ever more stunning shots of our home galaxy, contrasted against our home planet. This year’s gallery is sure to inspire awe and just a touch of existential dr… Continue reading Gallery: Our glorious galaxy stars in Milky Way photo competition