2023 – Page 9 – Astronomy Now

Balloon-borne telescope captures Tarantula Nebula in first research images

21 April 2023 Astronomy Now

A small telescope operating in the near-space environment brings sharp vision and a wide field of view to the search for subtle signs of dark matter.

Lyrids meteor shower makes a welcome return

17 April 2023 Mark Armstrong

The April Lyrids meteor shower makes its very welcome annual return this week, as always breaking the roughly 15-week hiatus since the maximum of the past significant shower, the Quadrantids back in January.

Meet monstrous Messier 87

17 April 2023 Mark Armstrong

Lurking close to the centre of the massive agglomeration of galaxies which straddle the boundary between Virgo and Coma Berenices lies a circular, ninth-magnitude spot of light seen through binoculars and a small telescope on the Virgo side of the border.

Webb takes a “deep field” look at the Pandora Cluster, a vast galactic smash up

15 April 2023 Astronomy Now

James Webb Space Telescope provides a mesmerising look into Pandora’s Cluster, where multiple groups of galaxies are in the process of merging into a single megacuster.

ESA’s ‘JUICE’ spacecraft takes off on epic voyage to Jupiter

14 April 2023 Astronomy Now

One of Europe’s most ambitious planetary missions is on its way to Jupiter to study the planet, its icy moons and possibly habitable sub-surface seas.

Webb provides a spectacular hint of future “Deep Field” images while probing the distant past

14 April 2023 Astronomy Now

The James Webb Space Telescope is spotting “deep field” galaxies in a fraction of the time required by Hubble, providing a tantalizing hint of things to come.

A sharper image of the massive black hole lurking at the heart of M87

13 April 2023 Astronomy Now

Using machine learning, researchers have sharpened the Event Horizon Telescope’s iconic view of the black hole lurking at the heart of galaxy M87

Five deep-sky challenges for spring

11 April 2023 Mark Armstrong

Local Group member Leo 1 is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy that’s a distant satellite of our own Milky Way Galaxy. It’s one of a number of observing challenges that Leo offers up, though it presents unique difficulties.

X-ray studies reveal new details about the pulsar-powered Crab Nebula

10 April 2023 Astronomy Now

A detailed map of the Crab Nebula’s magnetic field shows areas of turbulence are more patchy and asymmetrical than previously expected, an indication current models need refinement.

Hubble spots an unusual globular cluster that defies accepted models

10 April 2023 Astronomy Now

The Hubble Space Telescope finds a globular cluster with a population of helium-rich red giants that raises questions about currently accepted theories regarding how such clusters form.