Astronomy Now – Page 46

Nearby pulsar a likely source of high-energy antimatter cosmic rays

31 December 2019 Astronomy Now

A decade of data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope shows a nearby pulsar is the likely source of an excess of antimatter cosmic rays.

A face-on barred spiral that hints at Milky Way’s structure

30 December 2019 Astronomy Now

If one could fly to a point directly above the Milky Way, the vista might look something like NGC 986, a face-on barred spiral in the constellation Fornax that is often overlooked due to is proximity to the Fornax galaxy cluster.

Supermassive black holes feast on vast reservoirs of hydrogen

30 December 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have found a likely source of “food” – vast reservoirs of hydrogen – fueling the growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe

Thick, persistent dust disc challenges planet formation theory

29 December 2019 Astronomy Now

Protoplanetary discs are expected to dissipate as planets form and solar winds push debris away, but some stars defy current theory.

Cotton-candy worlds may be steps on planetary evolution ladder

26 December 2019 Astronomy Now

The three lowest-density exoplanets yet discovered may be steps on the planetary evolution ladder, shrinking to resemble more commonplace worlds over time.

Perseus Molecular Cloud comes to life in Spitzer image

24 December 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope captures stunning infrared views of the cosmos, including repeated observations of the vast Perseus Molecular cloud where star clusters defy models with closely packed multi-generational suns.

NASA’s Mars 2020 rover passes first driving test on road to red planet

21 December 2019 Astronomy Now

In another major milestone on the road to launch next year, NASA’s Mars 2020 rover passed its first weight-on-wheels driving test with flying colours.

A titanic burst of star formation in Milky Way’s recent past

17 December 2019 Astronomy Now

Peering into the heart of the Milky Way with a powerful infrared camera, astronomers see evidence for a titanic burst of star formation in the relatively recent past.

OSIRIS-REx sample collection site selected on asteroid Bennu

16 December 2019 Astronomy Now

Mission planners with NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft have selected a challenging but scientifically rich sample collection site on the asteroid Bennu.

Seeing beyond the horizon of a space-warping pulsar

15 December 2019 Astronomy Now

The NICER telescope array aboard the International Space Station has made the most accurate measurements yet of a pulsar’s mass and size.