March 2021 – Astronomy Now

Interstellar comet 2I/Borisov may be most pristine ever seen

31 March 2021 Astronomy Now

The interstellar comet 2I/Borisov may be the most pristine ever observed, astronomers say, an untarnished remnant of another star’s nursery.

X-rays from Uranus caused by sunlight and, possibly, complex auroras

31 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have detected X-rays from Uranus for the first time, likely caused by sunlight scattering off the ice giant’s atmosphere. But there are hints of complex auroral emissions.

Asteroid Apophis impact ruled out for at least a century

26 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Recent radar observations have ruled out any chance of asteroid Apophis impacting Earth for at least the next century.

Polarised light shows magnetic field around M87’s black hole

24 March 2021 Astronomy Now

The Event Horizon Telescope collaborations provides a fresh look, in polarised light, at M87’s supermassive black hole.

Three more space vistas turned into sonic tapestries

24 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes is turned into sound in NASA’s latest data sonification series.

Using Hubble to monitor changing seasons on Saturn

23 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are monitoring seasonal transitions in Saturn’s turbulent atmosphere.

Gravitational waves shed light on maximum neutron star mass

22 March 2021 Astronomy Now

What is the maximum mass for a neutron star, the point beyond which a black hole forms? Gravity waves may hold clues.

Perseverance Mars rover goes for a test drive amid detailed checkouts

22 March 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover will begin science operations after initial check out operations are complete, including deployment of an experimental drone.

New nova in Cassiopeia brightens rapidly

19 March 2021 Mark Armstrong

There’s a ‘new star’ – a classical nova – on show among the stars of the far-northern constellation of Cassiopeia. Nova Cas 2021 was discovered on 18 March shining at around magnitude +9.6, but it appears to have brightened rapidly to around magnitude +7.5 on 19 March.

Watch as the Moon muscles in on Mars’ Taurus action

19 March 2021 Mark Armstrong

Mars, the red planet, is putting on a good showing among the stars of Taurus, the Bull and lies not far from the splendid Pleiades open cluster.