Brightest object in the universe swallows a Sun every day

You’d assume that the brightest object in the known universe would be a pretty easy thing to discover, but astronomers have only just spotted it. This overlooked show-off is a supermassive black hole with the mass of 17 billion Suns, and counting – it … Continue reading Brightest object in the universe swallows a Sun every day

“Old Smokers”: Astronomers discover previously unknown type of star

“Astronomers discover a completely unknown object floating around in space” is a common news theme, but it’s fun every time. The latest is a brand new type of star – ancient red giants the team has nicknamed “Old Smokers.”Continue ReadingCategory: Spac… Continue reading “Old Smokers”: Astronomers discover previously unknown type of star

300 Earths’ worth of heavy metals forged in powerful cosmic explosion

Astronomers have detected one of the most energetic explosions in the history of the universe – a gamma ray burst thrown off by two neutron stars colliding. And for the first time ever, heavy metals were detected being produced in the explosion, totali… Continue reading 300 Earths’ worth of heavy metals forged in powerful cosmic explosion

Exoplanet with iron rain puzzles with even heavier atmospheric element

The exoplanets WASP-76 b and WASP-121 b are already known to be peculiar places, but a new discovery has raised even more questions about the composition of these celestial bodies. Astronomers studying the pair have discovered the heaviest element ever… Continue reading Exoplanet with iron rain puzzles with even heavier atmospheric element

First quadruple asteroid discovered in the solar system

Astronomers have discovered the first known quadruple asteroid system. A team from Thailand and France spotted a third moon orbiting the main-belt asteroid Elektra, moving the object into the record books.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: A… Continue reading First quadruple asteroid discovered in the solar system

Individual isotopes measured in exoplanet atmosphere for first time

Astronomers have counted the number of neutrons inside carbon atoms from 2.8 quadrillion km away. The team managed to measure the ratios of carbon isotopes in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time, which can tell us about how it formed.Cont… Continue reading Individual isotopes measured in exoplanet atmosphere for first time

Individual isotopes measured in exoplanet atmosphere for first time

Astronomers have counted the number of neutrons inside carbon atoms from 2.8 quadrillion km away. The team managed to measure the ratios of carbon isotopes in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time, which can tell us about how it formed.Cont… Continue reading Individual isotopes measured in exoplanet atmosphere for first time

Astronomers conclude Betelgeuse isn’t dying, it’s just dusty

Astronomers say they’ve closed the case on the mysterious and unprecedented dimming of the supergiant star Betelgeuse in 2019 and 2020. A new study says that the event was caused by a combination of a big dust cloud and a drop in temperature.Continue R… Continue reading Astronomers conclude Betelgeuse isn’t dying, it’s just dusty

First known interstellar comet is most pristine ever discovered

The first comet known to visit our Sun after being born around an alien star may also be the most pristine comet ever discovered, according to the results of a new study. The research sheds light on the distant solar system in which the wandering body,… Continue reading First known interstellar comet is most pristine ever discovered