Exposed core of ancient gas giant discovered orbiting Sun-like star

Astronomers have discovered the intact, exposed core of a gas giant locked in a close orbit around a Sun-like star. The discovery will give astronomers a rare opportunity to probe the heart of an ancient alien world, and their findings could tell us mo… Continue reading Exposed core of ancient gas giant discovered orbiting Sun-like star

One of the most massive stars in local universe may have disappeared

A star that shined with 2.5 million times the light of our Sun has disappeared from the night sky. It is possible that the star collapsed into a black hole without first triggering a supernova – a rare event, even in the context of dying stars.Continue… Continue reading One of the most massive stars in local universe may have disappeared

Images with a “twist” could be first showing birth of an exoplanet

An international team of astronomers led by Anthony Boccaletti of the Observatoire de Paris has found what may be the first images of a planet being born. Based on observations by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), im… Continue reading Images with a “twist” could be first showing birth of an exoplanet

Nearest black hole discovered has companion stars visible from Earth

The closest black hole to our solar system has been discovered a mere 1,000 light-years from Earth. The black hole – which has a mass the equivalent to at least four suns – is completely invisible even to the most powerful of observatories, but orbits … Continue reading Nearest black hole discovered has companion stars visible from Earth

Star spotted with spirograph orbit around supermassive black hole

In space, most orbiting objects will have circular- or elliptical-shaped orbits. But now, almost 30 years of observations has revealed that a star in the center of our galaxy orbits the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) in a rosette, or s… Continue reading Star spotted with spirograph orbit around supermassive black hole

Scientists may have identified a world where it rains liquid iron

Astronomers may have discovered an alien world where it rains iron, according to a newly published study. The massive exoplanet is exposed to thousands of times the radiation that the Earth receives from the Sun, rendering the surface hot enough to vap… Continue reading Scientists may have identified a world where it rains liquid iron

Satellite swarms may impact exploration of the night sky

The introduction of 26,000 new megaconstellation satellites could have a significant effect on ground-based astronomy, according to a new study commissioned by the European Southern Observatory. Twice as many satellites could be visible to the naked ey… Continue reading Satellite swarms may impact exploration of the night sky

Asteroid that had a chance to hit Earth in September is a no-show

A few months ago, the asteroid 2006 QV89 grabbed headlines thanks to it having a slim chance of striking Earth this September. But now it seems that the potentially-hazardous space rock has missed its appointment. ESA has confirmed that the a… Continue reading Asteroid that had a chance to hit Earth in September is a no-show

Astronomers Find Strong Evidence There is a Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy

Astronomers watched as gas approached 30 percent the speed of light during the most detailed observation ever made of material orbiting so close to a black hole. Continue reading Astronomers Find Strong Evidence There is a Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy