October 2018 – Page 2 – Astronomy Now

Using pulsars to precisely weigh planets and asteroids

26 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Ultra-precise signals from millisecond pulsars are being used to help astronomers more accurately measure the masses of bodies in Earth’s solar system, a technique that is remarkably sensitive to small changes.

A dusty and ‘mysterious galaxy’ wins photo contest recognition

25 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Taking top honours in the galaxy division of the 2018 Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, Steven Mohr’s image of NGC 3521 shows a gem embedded in vast clouds of gas, dust and stray stars glowing far out into the surrounding space.

As New Horizons closes in on Ultima Thule, scientists propose a Pluto orbiter

25 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Three years outbound from Pluto, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is homing in on a Kuiper Belt object dubbed Ultima Thule for a dramatic New Year’s Day flyby, the first by any space probe in the extreme outer solar system.

Slow-motion neutron star challenges theoretical predictions

24 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers using the LOFAR radio telescope have discovered the slowest-spinning pulsar yet detected, a highly magnetized stellar remnant that takes more than 23 seconds to complete one revolution.

Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year winner announced

24 October 2018 Astronomy Now

American photographer Brad Goldpaint’s image of the Milky Way arcing above a rocky canyon in Utah won the top prize at this year’s Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition organised by the Royal Observatory Greenwhich. Goldpaint’s photo and others in the competition are on display at the National Maritime Museum.

Spitzer images the Cat’s Paw Nebula in all its infrared glory

23 October 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope captures a spectacular view of the Cat’s Paw Nebula some 5,000 light years away, showing vast clouds of gas warmed by hot young stars creating huge reddish bubbles that may someday burst into the surrounding space.

ALMA takes Europa’s temperature; heat signatures not seen at plume sites

23 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have created a thermal map of Jupiter’s moon Europa, showing temperature variations across its surface. But another team has found no signs of hot spots where suspected plumes are located.

NASA prepares Hubble for return to service after gyro work

23 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Engineers have cleared a problem with one of the Hubble Space Telescope’s critical gyroscopes and plan to return the observatory to normal science operations after final tests to verify healthy performance.

Ariane 5 launches two satellites on 7-year voyage to Mercury

21 October 2018 William Harwood

A powerful European Ariane 5 rocket blasted off from French Guiana late Friday and boosted a pair of satellites into space for a seven-year plunge into the inner solar system, a voyage requiring seven planetary flybys to slow down enough in the sun’s gravitational clutches to slip into orbit around hellish Mercury.

Red dwarf superflares pose threats to exoplanet atmospheres

19 October 2018 Astronomy Now

New observations indicate young red dwarf stars are much more likely to experience extremely powerful flares, possibly affecting exoplanet habitability.