Archive – Page 337 – Astronomy Now

Hubble’s high-definition panoramic view of the Andromeda Galaxy

13 January 2015 Astronomy Now

A large swathe of the Andromeda Galaxy, our galactic next-door neighbour, is mapped in unprecedented detail in the largest NASA Hubble Space Telescope image ever assembled.

NASA’s Mars Rover Opportunity scales new heights

11 January 2015 Astronomy Now

Despite ongoing problems with its flash memory, Opportunity reached the summit of “Cape Tribulation” on the rim of Endeavour Crater during its 3,894th Martian day, pausing to photograph the stunning vista.

See asteroid 1630 Milet occult a star tonight

11 January 2015 Ade Ashford

Observers in China, Western Europe and the southern British Isles get a chance to see tiny asteroid 1630 Milet pass in front of a star visible in binoculars and small telescopes. We show you where and when to see it.

Scientists pinpoint Saturn with exquisite accuracy

9 January 2015 Astronomy Now

Researchers have paired the continent-wide Very Large Baseline Array radio telescope system with NASA’s Cassini spacecraft to determine the position of Saturn and its moons to within two miles — at a range of nearly a billion miles.

NASA’s unprecedented look at superstar Eta Carinae

8 January 2015 Astronomy Now

Eta Carinae is the most luminous and massive stellar system within 10,000 light-years of Earth. A long-term study led by astronomers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center used satellites, ground-based telescopes and theoretical modelling to produce the most comprehensive picture of Eta Carinae to date.

See Comet Lovejoy at its best

6 January 2015 Ade Ashford

With Full Moon past, opportunities to see Comet Lovejoy are improving again. So don’t miss the first bright comet of 2015 with our nightly observing guide.

Hubble Revisits the Iconic ‘Pillars of Creation’

5 January 2015 Astronomy Now

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Hubble Space Telescope has revisited the famous “Pillars of Creation”, providing astronomers with a sharper and wider view.

Dark energy explained by relativistic time dilation?

5 January 2015 Astronomy Now

Dark energy is proposed to drive the accelerated expansion of the universe, but a new study suggests that changing how we think about time dilation in relation to gravity as predicted by Albert Einstein can provide an alternate explanation.

Elusive Mercury and dazzling Venus together as evening stars

2 January 2015 Mark Armstrong

Inner planets Mercury and Venus are currently approaching conjunction, low to the southwest horizon shortly after sunset. If you have an extra clear sky, then Mars completes the scene.

Jupiter’s moon events enthral observers

2 January 2015 Ade Ashford

The continued edgewise orbital aspect of Jupiter’s large moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto means that they still regularly eclipse and occult each other. Multiple shadow transits also continue throughout January.