Archive – Page 51 – Astronomy Now

Ingenuity drone released from Perseverance Mars rover in preparation for test flight

2 April 2021 Astronomy Now

The Ingenuity Mars drone has been released from the belly of the Perseverance rover and is now standing alone on the surface in preparation for a long-awaited “Wright brothers moment” in the red planet’s ultra-thin atmosphere.

RAS warns of growing light pollution as satellite fleets expand

1 April 2021 Astronomy Now

Growing fleets of satellites in low-Earth orbit threaten to increase overall skyglow, a new study concludes, raising the prospect of light pollution across large areas.

InSight lander detects two more sizeable marsquakes

1 April 2021 Astronomy Now

An ultra-sensitive seismometer deployed by the Mars InSight lander has detected two more sizable marsquakes, data helping scientists map the planet’s interior.

Interstellar comet 2I/Borisov may be most pristine ever seen

31 March 2021 Astronomy Now

The interstellar comet 2I/Borisov may be the most pristine ever observed, astronomers say, an untarnished remnant of another star’s nursery.

X-rays from Uranus caused by sunlight and, possibly, complex auroras

31 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have detected X-rays from Uranus for the first time, likely caused by sunlight scattering off the ice giant’s atmosphere. But there are hints of complex auroral emissions.

Asteroid Apophis impact ruled out for at least a century

26 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Recent radar observations have ruled out any chance of asteroid Apophis impacting Earth for at least the next century.

Polarised light shows magnetic field around M87’s black hole

24 March 2021 Astronomy Now

The Event Horizon Telescope collaborations provides a fresh look, in polarised light, at M87’s supermassive black hole.

Three more space vistas turned into sonic tapestries

24 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes is turned into sound in NASA’s latest data sonification series.

Using Hubble to monitor changing seasons on Saturn

23 March 2021 Astronomy Now

Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are monitoring seasonal transitions in Saturn’s turbulent atmosphere.

Gravitational waves shed light on maximum neutron star mass

22 March 2021 Astronomy Now

What is the maximum mass for a neutron star, the point beyond which a black hole forms? Gravity waves may hold clues.