May 2023 – Astronomy Now

Galaxy NGC 4565: Coma’s edge-on wonder

29 May 2023 Mark Armstrong

It’s quite an accolade for NGC 4565, a stunning edge-on galaxy in Coma Berenices that’s also known as Caldwell 38 and the Needle Galaxy, to be widely regarded as the finest in its class.

Seeing the universe in X-rays, optical and infrared, all at once

26 May 2023 Astronomy Now

New images of two galaxies, a star cluster and the famed “Pillars of Creation” showcase the value of multi-wavelength astronomy when it comes to seeing the Big Picture.

Call on the Coma Star Cluster

23 May 2023 Mark Armstrong

Melotte III is a sprawling open cluster that can be spotted with the naked eye tucked away in far north-west of Coma Berenices.

Searching for hidden black holes in the hearts of densely-packed globular clusters

23 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Some tightly-packed globular clusters show signs of unseen black holes affecting the movements of their stars. Astronomers are using the Hubble Space Telescope to look for evidence of such hidden monsters.

Make eyes at Messier 64, the Black Eye Galaxy

15 May 2023 Mark Armstrong

There are so many bright galaxies to choose from in springtime, but one you definitely shouldn’t miss is the marvellous ‘Black Eye Galaxy’, or Messier 64.

A record-setting explosion as a supermassive black hole gorges on gas

15 May 2023 Astronomy Now

A supermassive black hole gorging on surrounding gas produces the brightest ongoing explosion yet observed.

Globular cluster mystery may be explained by short-lived ultra-massive suns

13 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Webb telescope observations indicate super-massive stars in an infant galaxy that may explain the elemental abundances in globular clusters.

Hubble Space Telescope probes a massive light-bending galaxy cluster

13 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Galaxy clusters serve as gravitational zoom lenses for the Hubble Space Telescope, magnifying the light from more remote background galaxies to shed light on the nature of such lenses and the distribution of dark matter.

Jammed radar boom on Jupiter-bound Juice probe finally freed

12 May 2023 Astronomy Now

After weeks of troubleshooting, ESA engineers finally free a jammed radar antenna boom on the Jupiter-bound Juice probe.

NASA developing a robotic snake to slither on – and into – icy moons

11 May 2023 Astronomy Now

To explore hard-to-reach places on other worlds, NASA is developing a slithering snake-like robot to boldly go where traditional rovers cannot.