NASA sonification videos reveal the sounds of famous cosmic objects

A new NASA release has converted astronomy data into sounds, allowing the listener to hear musical compositions derived from the structure of the cosmos itself. The process, which the agency describes as “sonification,” takes key data points in images … Continue reading NASA sonification videos reveal the sounds of famous cosmic objects

Missing dark matter mystery reveals a galaxy entering death spiral

Astronomers are a step closer to solving a cosmic mystery, thanks to new Hubble data. Observations from the space telescope show a dwarf galaxy previously found to be missing most of its dark matter is being stripped of this matter by a larger nearby g… Continue reading Missing dark matter mystery reveals a galaxy entering death spiral

Survey of Milky Way yields huge 50,000 x 25,000-pixel zoomable image

A team of astronomers has completed a massive survey of the Milky Way’s central bulge, which captured the light fingerprint of over 250 million stars, and could help provide new insights into our galaxy’s history and creation. A massive 50,000 x 25,000… Continue reading Survey of Milky Way yields huge 50,000 x 25,000-pixel zoomable image

Astronomers isolate stars from which aliens could be observing Earth

Astronomers have identified 1,004 nearby stars from which aliens could detect signs of biological life in Earth’s atmosphere by watching as our planet passes across the disk of the Sun. The study could help provide targets for organizations such as SET… Continue reading Astronomers isolate stars from which aliens could be observing Earth

Betelgeuse is closer to Earth and further from exploding than we thought

The star Betelgeuse has been a bit of a drama queen lately, dimming twice in the past year. Now astronomers say they’ve found what may have caused the latest episode – and in so doing, also discovered that the star is smaller, closer to Earth and furth… Continue reading Betelgeuse is closer to Earth and further from exploding than we thought

Astronomers watch black hole stretch a star into stellar “spaghetti”

Astronomers have witnessed a rare celestial light show – a star being stretched into “spaghetti” by a black hole. The event occurred over 200 million light-years from Earth over the course of six months, as the dying star was ripped to shreds by immens… Continue reading Astronomers watch black hole stretch a star into stellar “spaghetti”

“Ultrahot Neptune” exoplanet discovered orbiting star in under a day

Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet that belongs in a brand new class – an “ultrahot Neptune.” Known as LTT 9779b, the planet orbits extremely close to its star, and raises questions about how such a system came to be.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading “Ultrahot Neptune” exoplanet discovered orbiting star in under a day

Mysterious match-up as giant planet spotted orbiting tiny star

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a strange star system, where a giant gassy planet is tightly orbiting a tiny white dwarf. Not only is this the first time such an arrangement has been seen, but it raises some very odd … Continue reading Mysterious match-up as giant planet spotted orbiting tiny star

Sun’s activity flares up as NASA confirms start of new solar cycle

NASA and NOAA have confirmed that the Sun has entered a new solar cycle, with activity beginning to ramp back up from its minimum in December 2019. This next cycle is forecast to be rather quiet, continuing a long-term trend of reduced activity from ou… Continue reading Sun’s activity flares up as NASA confirms start of new solar cycle

Astronomers detect strongest known magnetic field in the universe

Astronomers have detected the strongest magnetic field ever observed in the universe. Studying powerful X-ray signals coming from a neutron star, the team calculated that its magnetic field is tens of millions of times stronger than any ever created in… Continue reading Astronomers detect strongest known magnetic field in the universe