Archive – Page 35 – Astronomy Now

NASA pleased with initial Webb images as mirror alignment begins

13 February 2022 Astronomy Now

In another major milestone, the James Webb Space Telescope has captured first-light images of a star to help engineers align the 18 segments making up its primary mirror.

Two galaxies with active galactic nuclei interact in dramatic fashion

13 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Hubble captures a dramatic view of two galaxies, both with active galactic nuclei, interacting in a close encounter that is pulling gas, dust and entire star systems from one toward the other.

A third planet found orbiting nearest star to Sun

11 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have found the gravitational signature of a third planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun.

IAU “deeply concerned” about satellite mega-constellations

8 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Amid increasing concern about the impact of satellite mega-constellations, the IAU selects hosts to coordinate public and government awareness.

The Hubble Space Telescope checks up on an oddball galaxy

8 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Taking a second look with a more powerful camera, Hubble reveals thousands of emission nebulae in an oddball irregular dwarf galaxy 17 million light years from Earth

Catch up with comet 19P/Borrelly

31 January 2022 Mark Armstrong

Comet 19P/Borrelly is presently the brightest and best looking comet on show at mid-northern latitudes. It passes through perihelion passage on Tuesday, 1 February, when it lies around 195.4 million kilometres (1.306 AU) from the Sun.

Venus burns bright with a lowly Mercury and Mars

31 January 2022 Mark Armstrong

At the start of February, Venus is a brilliant and beautiful ‘morning star’ that’s reasonably well placed in the pre-dawn sky on the south-eastern horizon.

MeerKAT paints a mesmerising portrait of the Milky Way

26 January 2022 Astronomy Now

The MeerKAT radio telescope has produced a stunning mosaic of the Milky Way’s central regions, providing a new view of known and newly-discovered phenomena.

Webb reaches Lagrange Point 2, setting stage for mirror alignment

25 January 2022 Astronomy Now

The James Webb Space Telescope slips into orbit around Lagrange Point 2, setting the stage for the next critical step in its commissioning: mirror alignment.

Astronomers mining an increasingly rich trove of TESS exoplanet data

24 January 2022 Astronomy Now

NASA’s TESS spacecraft has now found more than 5,000 exoplanet candidates, including three newly-confirmed worlds that face uncertain futures.