Astronomy Now – Page 95

Interstellar asteroid captured by Sun in distant past

23 May 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers analyzing the retrograde motion of an asteroid orbiting the Sun at Jupiter’s distance shows the body most likely originated in another star system and was captured by the gravity of the Sun and its planets at some point in the distant past.

Citizen-scientists fine tune Juno shots of Jupiter

22 May 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Juno spacecraft is helping scientists learn more about the giant planet’s interior structure and the dynamo that powers its magnetic field, but citizen scientists are keeping the public up to date with stunning images providing unique views of the planet’s mesmerising clouds.

Viewed from Saturn, nearest stellar neighbors offer compelling target

21 May 2018 Astronomy Now

Viewed from Saturn, Earth’s nearest stellar neighbors, the trinary Alpha Centauri system, offer a compelling view as they pass just above the ringed planet’s cloudtops in a 2008 occultation experiment to learn more about Saturn’s atmosphere.

Hubble catalogues star-forming regions in nearby galaxies

19 May 2018 Astronomy Now

To learn more about the processes behind star formation, the Hubble Space Telescope has examined 50 relatively nearby galaxies to compile the most comprehensive ultraviolet-light look at active star-birth regions.

TESS planet hunter snaps test photo showing 200,000 stars

18 May 2018 Astronomy Now

NASA’s planet-hunting TESS satellite has completed a gravity assist flyby of the moon and sent back an initial test image from one of its four cameras showing about 200,000 stars. Science operations are expected to begin in mid June.

Multiverse more hospitable than previously thought?

18 May 2018 Astronomy Now

A new computer analysis suggests much higher levels of dark energy would not, as many believe, prevent the formation of stars and planets, implying life might be more common across the Multiverse – assuming it exists – than previously believed.

Edge-on view highlights galaxy’s dust lanes, hides spiral structure

18 May 2018 Astronomy Now

As seen from Earth, galaxies can appear in any number of orientations, from face on, with spiral arms on glorious display, to edge on, with the arms hidden from view behind a flattened plane of stars and dust. While not as spectacular, perhaps, edge-on views provide key insights into galactic structure.

Articles by Astronomy Now

Interstellar asteroid captured by Sun in distant past

Citizen-scientists fine tune Juno shots of Jupiter

Viewed from Saturn, nearest stellar neighbors offer compelling target

Hubble catalogues star-forming regions in nearby galaxies

TESS planet hunter snaps test photo showing 200,000 stars

Multiverse more hospitable than previously thought?

Edge-on view highlights galaxy’s dust lanes, hides spiral structure

Star formation underway 250 million years after Big Bang

More evidence for water vapour jetting from icy Europa

The gift that goes on giving – Cassini at Saturn