June 2021 – Astronomy Now

Gravity waves show black hole-neutron star mergers

30 June 2021 Astronomy Now

Gravitational wave detectors confirm two instances of black holes consuming neutron stars in cataclysmic mergers.

Supermassive black hole triggers blazing ring of star formation around galactic core

24 June 2021 Astronomy Now

A supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy NGC 1097 powers a brilliant nuclear ring of run-away star formation as imaged by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.

Earth detectable, in theory, from more than 2,000 nearby star systems

24 June 2021 Astronomy Now

More than 2,000 star systems found within 326 light years that have been or will be in position to detect Earth as it transits the Sun.

A galactic mystery: The case of the missing dark matter

23 June 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers find an unusual “oddball” galaxy with much less dark matter that would be expected based on current ideas about galaxy formation.

NASA optimistic about Hubble repair, but more time needed

20 June 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA managers are optimistic about fixing a computer glitch and restoring the Hubble Space Telescope to operation, but say it could take several weeks.

Nova in Hercules fades sharply

18 June 2021 Mark Armstrong

The nova spotted in the constellation Hercules on 12 June has faded dramatically but should still be easily visible through a small telescope.

Nova in Hercules brightening fast

14 June 2021 Mark Armstrong

A relatively bright nova was discovered on 12 June in the northern constellation of Hercules (Nova Her 2021) and within just a few hours of its discovery it had brightened by around two magnitudes.

16 Psyche may not be as metallic as previously thought

11 June 2021 Astronomy Now

Lab-based experiments suggest the asteroid 16 Psyche may be more rubble pile than metallic remnant of a dense planetary core.

Another look at the densely packed stars of Omega Centauri

11 June 2021 Astronomy Now

The magnificent Omega Centauri globular cluster is a riveting sight in even small telescopes, but it takes the Hubble Space Telescope to provide the jaw-dropping vista seen here.

Why do eclipses happen?

9 June 2021 Keith Cooper

Solar eclipses are relatively rare; they happen when the Moon moves directly and precisely in front of the Sun. Why are they so infrequent, and why do solar eclipses always come in pairs with lunar eclipses?