Archive – Page 44 – Astronomy Now

In major milestone, James Webb Space Telescope testing complete

30 August 2021 Astronomy Now

Engineers have completed testing of the James Webb Space Telescope and are preparing the observatory for shipment to Kourou, French Guiana, for launch.

Fastest-moving asteroid flies closer to Sun than Mercury

23 August 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have found an asteroid, or possibly an extinct comet, in a high-stress orbit carrying it closer to the Sun than any other body in the solar system.

A flawless spiral galaxy in Aries an oasis of light in a spiralling sea of stars

20 August 2021 Astronomy Now

A tilted spiral galaxy, showing off beautifully symmetric arms tightly wrapped around a brilliant core, provides a spectacular target for the Hubble Space Telescope.

A stunning vista from the Curiosity Mars rover captures changing environment

20 August 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Curiosity rover beams back a stunning panorama from the slopes of Mount Sharp showing signs of transition between past and present environments.

Everything you need to know about planet Venus

18 August 2021 Astronomy Now

The second planet from the Sun, Venus is often described as Earth’s evil twin, with a climate that has dramatically diverged from Earth’s.

Everything You Need to Know About Planet Mercury

18 August 2021 Astronomy Now

The innermost planet, Mercury, may be the smallest in the Solar System, but it’s also home to some big surprises.

Dominant Jupiter comes to opposition

17 August 2021 Mark Armstrong

Mighty Jupiter, the king of the planets and the most observer-friendly planet of all, comes to opposition on the night of 19/20 August (Thursday night/Friday morning).

M61, a face-on titan of the Virgo galaxy cluster, reveals its star-studded structure

17 August 2021 Astronomy Now

One of the largest members of the Virgo galaxy cluster, M61 presents a spectacular face-on view of densely populated spiral arms and a brilliant stellar nucleus hosting a supermassive black hole.

Sodium jets may explain asteroid Phaethon’s comet-like brightening

17 August 2021 Astronomy Now

When does an asteroid behave like a comet? Perhaps when sub-surface sodium heats up and fizzes into space during a close pass by the Sun.

Ripples in innermost rings show Saturn’s ‘fuzzy’ core wobbles

16 August 2021 Astronomy Now

Ripples in Saturn’s innermost rings indicate the planet’s core is a thick “soup” of material that sloshes about slightly, creating detectable gravitational fluctuations.