India launches its first solar mission as lunar rover goes to sleep

India is furthering its bid to become a major spacefaring power with the launch of its first mission to the Sun, just as it winds down its first successful robotic Moon landing. On September 2, 2003, the Aditya-L1 solar probe lifted off atop the (PSLV-… Continue reading India launches its first solar mission as lunar rover goes to sleep

Newly discovered Sun “nanoflares” could be source of solar wind

There may not be any air in space, but there’s wind – solar wind, made up of charged particles thrown off by the Sun. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon remains murky, but now ESA’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft has observed previously unknown “tiny… Continue reading Newly discovered Sun “nanoflares” could be source of solar wind

Gamma ray detection marks highest energy light from the Sun

Scientists have discovered that the Sun produces higher energy light than was thought possible. An unusual type of telescope detected gamma rays with energies of over 1 tera electron volt (TeV), at least five times more energetic than previously known…. Continue reading Gamma ray detection marks highest energy light from the Sun

Billion-year conspiracy between Sun and Moon prevented 60-hour days

If you’ve ever felt like you need more hours in the day, well how does 60 sound? A new study suggests we’d have 60-hour days by now if a stalemate between the Sun and Moon hadn’t interfered with Earth’s rotation for over a billion years.Continue Readin… Continue reading Billion-year conspiracy between Sun and Moon prevented 60-hour days

A supernova went off right next to the young Sun – how did it survive?

Meteorites can act as time capsules, preserving molecules from the solar system’s infancy. Certain fingerprints have been detected in these ancient space rocks that suggest a supernova went off right near our neighborhood – but that should have blasted… Continue reading A supernova went off right next to the young Sun – how did it survive?

Night sky shines in 15th Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist

There are few photography subjects more fascinating and beautiful than the cosmos itself, and the annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition highlights that. The shortlist for 2023 has now been published, starring some stunning shots of the … Continue reading Night sky shines in 15th Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist

This strange blue asteroid has another big surprise for us

This space-rock oddity has long puzzled scientists for its rather non-asteroid-like behaviors, and it’s just revealed yet another curious characteristic.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Asteroid, NASA, California Institute of Technology, S… Continue reading This strange blue asteroid has another big surprise for us

Atomic clocks orbiting near the Sun could detect dark matter

While many Earth-based experiments have been run to try to detect dark matter, the mysterious substance remains elusive. Now physicists have proposed a new experiment that would try to find signals by sending atomic clocks to where dark matter should b… Continue reading Atomic clocks orbiting near the Sun could detect dark matter