2020 – Page 19 – Astronomy Now

Fossil shows days were a half hour shorter during age of dinosaurs

12 March 2020 Astronomy Now

Studying growth rings in a fossilised clam shell, scientists found the length of a day 70 million years ago was a half hour shorter than today.

See the old Moon join a dawn planetary parade, 18–19 March

11 March 2020 Ade Ashford

If you’re an early riser in the British Isles, let the waning crescent Moon be your guide to three naked-eye planets – Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – at dawn on 18 and 19 March 2020. This celestial conjunction occurs in the constellation of Sagittarius where you can see all four Solar System bodies within the span of a fist at arm’s length. Look for attractive binocular conjunctions too.

Cosmic dust up may best explain dimming of Betelgeuse

8 March 2020 Astronomy Now

Taking the temperature of Betelgeuse, astronomers say the supergiant’s recent dimming likely caused by thrown-off gas obscuring the view.

ESO studies impact of mega-satellite constellations on astronomy

5 March 2020 Astronomy Now

A new study by the European Southern Observatory provides a preliminary look at the potential astronomical impact of mega-satellite constellations.

Multi-spectral view of stellar nursery reveals spectacular interplay of stellar winds and supernova shocks

4 March 2020 Astronomy Now

A multi-spectral view of a star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud reveals vast cavities carved out by powerful stellar winds and shock waves from supernova blasts.

GAIA data indicates ongoing collision causing Milky Way’s warp

4 March 2020 Astronomy Now

Data from ESA’s Gaia satellite suggests an ongoing collision with a dwarf galaxy may be responsible for distorting the Milky Way’s disc.

Chandra finds Jekyll and Hyde binary; also detects signs of record blast

1 March 2020 Astronomy Now

The Chandra X-ray Observatory examines an intriguing X-ray binary and, much farther from home, the most powerful explosion yet detected in deep space.

See planets Venus and Uranus get close at dusk on 8 March

29 February 2020 Ade Ashford

Dazzling planet Venus continues to be a useful celestial signpost to other planets at dusk. Having already showcased Neptune and Mercury this year, the brightest planet has a close conjunction with Uranus on the UK evening of Sunday, 8 March. The pair lie just 2.2 degrees apart against the constellation backdrop of Aries, simultaneously visible in typical 10×50 binoculars.

Car-size asteroid found in orbit around Earth; Musk jokes ‘it’s not mine’

27 February 2020 Astronomy Now

A car-size asteroid found orbiting Earth like a mini moon was captured three years ago and will soon escape the planet’s gravitational embrace.

Small black holes in colliding dwarf galaxies may be source of gravity waves

27 February 2020 Astronomy Now

Merging low-mass dwarf galaxies in the distant past could lead black hole collisions that would generate the sort of gravity waves detected to date.