Once-in-a-lifetime ‘Devil Comet’ is now in view. Here’s how to see it

A huge comet will grace our skies over the next few months, putting on a grand show through binoculars or telescopes, and will even be visible to the naked eye. So how and when can you see it?Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Astronomy, Com… Continue reading Once-in-a-lifetime ‘Devil Comet’ is now in view. Here’s how to see it

Disaster averted! Rogue star will not collide with us in 29,000 years

You can breathe easy and take the sticky tape off the windows because the solar system won’t be hit by the rogue white dwarf WD 0810-353 in 29,000 years. ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) shows that early calculations were a bit off.Continue ReadingCate… Continue reading Disaster averted! Rogue star will not collide with us in 29,000 years

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

Webb confirms water in weird comet, but something else is missing

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected water vapor on an object in the asteroid belt, a region of the solar system where it wasn’t known to survive. The new observations also reveal something missing unexpectedly.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, S… Continue reading Webb confirms water in weird comet, but something else is missing

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

Study links continent creation to 200-million year galactic comet cycle

Geologists have discovered a long-term cycle that may connect the formation of Earth’s continents to increased comet impacts and the planet’s journey through the galaxy. The team connected fluctuations in tiny grains in stable parts of the crust to the… Continue reading Study links continent creation to 200-million year galactic comet cycle

Astronomers size up biggest-known comet as it approaches solar system

An absolutely gigantic comet is currently barreling towards the solar system – and new observations have pinned down just how big it is. A team of astronomers has measured it to be about 150 km (93 miles) wide, making it comfortably the largest comet e… Continue reading Astronomers size up biggest-known comet as it approaches solar system

Largest known comet sprouts tail on its inward journey

A huge comet making its journey towards the solar system has begun to show a tail. A newly released image shows the fuzzy coma, confirming that it is indeed a comet and may be one of the largest ever discovered.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceT… Continue reading Largest known comet sprouts tail on its inward journey

Extremely eccentric minor planet to visit inner solar system this decade

The outskirts of our solar system is teeming with mysterious objects – and now one of them is heading our way. Astronomers have discovered a minor planet that’s about to make its closest pass to the Sun on its 600,000-year orbit.Continue ReadingCategor… Continue reading Extremely eccentric minor planet to visit inner solar system this decade

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