Astronomy Now – Page 81

Mars orbiter photographs still-silent Opportunity rover

25 September 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has spotted the Opportunity rover on the surface of the red planet where it remains out of contact with Earth in the wake of a global dust storm in June.

Cassini data show dust storms blowing across Titan

24 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Researchers studying the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan using archived data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft have spotted infrared signatures of what appear to be giant dust storm blowing across the large moon’s surface.

SDO captures impressive view of holes in the Sun’s super-heated corona

24 September 2018 Astronomy Now

The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a spectacular view of two coronal holes on the surface of the Sun, one already well formed and another developing nearby, cooler regions where open magnetic field lines facilitate the movement of the solar wind.

Ancient Mars could have supported sub-surface biosphere

24 September 2018 Astronomy Now

A new study indicates Mars had more than enough sub-surface hydrogen, from the breakdown of water due to radioactive decay, to support a global microbial biosphere that could have persisted for hundreds of millions of years.

Japan’s Hayabusa2 lands two rovers on asteroid Ryugu

24 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Japan’s Hayabusa2 sample return spacecraft successfully deployed two small landers that dropped to the surface of an astroid known as Ryugu and then began hopping about in a major milestone for the ambitious mission.

Astronomers use novel technique to probe stellar rotation

21 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have measured differential rotation in 13 Sun-like stars where equatorial zones rotate faster than higher latitudes, a phenomenon thought to play a major role in the generation of sunspots and magnetic fields.

Seeing matter sucked into a black hole at 30 percent lightspeed

20 September 2018 Astronomy Now

For the first time, astronomers have observed dust being sucked directly into a supermassive black hole, evidence of “chaotic accretion” that may have helped supermassive holes rapidly gain mass in the early universe.

NASA troubleshooting data transmission glitch with Curiosity Mars rover

19 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Engineers are troubleshooting a data transmission glitch aboard the Curiosity Mars rover that has interrupted science operations. They are studying real-time telemetry, which is not affected, to diagnose the problem.

Hubble sees unusual features around ‘magnificent seven’ neutron star

19 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Beams from rotating neutron stars – pulsars – are normally seen in X-rays, gamma rays and radio waves. The Hubble Space Telescope has now seen unusual infrared emissions, possibly from “pulsar winds” or surrounding dust.

Phoenix dwarf galaxy, rocked by supernova blasts

19 September 2018 Astronomy Now

The Phoenix dwarf galaxy defies easy classification, without enough mass to form new stars but. But gas ejected from supernova blasts indicates star formation in the recent past with the possibility of more int the future.