News – Astronomy Now

31 May 2023

Seeing the universe in X-rays, optical and infrared, all at once

26 May 2023 Astronomy Now

New images of two galaxies, a star cluster and the famed “Pillars of Creation” showcase the value of multi-wavelength astronomy when it comes to seeing the Big Picture.

A record-setting explosion as a supermassive black hole gorges on gas

15 May 2023 Astronomy Now

A supermassive black hole gorging on surrounding gas produces the brightest ongoing explosion yet observed.

Globular cluster mystery may be explained by short-lived ultra-massive suns

13 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Webb telescope observations indicate super-massive stars in an infant galaxy that may explain the elemental abundances in globular clusters.

Jammed radar boom on Jupiter-bound Juice probe finally freed

12 May 2023 Astronomy Now

After weeks of troubleshooting, ESA engineers finally free a jammed radar antenna boom on the Jupiter-bound Juice probe.

NASA developing a robotic snake to slither on – and into – icy moons

11 May 2023 Astronomy Now

To explore hard-to-reach places on other worlds, NASA is developing a slithering snake-like robot to boldly go where traditional rovers cannot.

Water, water everywhere, including the icy moons of Uranus

10 May 2023 Astronomy Now

A re-analysis of Voyager data, along with computer modelling, suggests four of Uranus’ moons may harbour oceans beneath their icy crusts.

Webb finds more debris rings around Fomalhaut suggesting unseen planets

9 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Webb telescope discovers nested rings of debris around the hot young star Fomalhaut, an apparent indicator of unseen planets amid the chaos of their formation.

Rubin Observatory reaches major construction milestone

8 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Rubin Observatory telescope structure ready for integrated tests with replica 8.4-metre mirror and mock instruments in major milestone.

‘Death star’ caught in the act of devouring one of its own

4 May 2023 Astronomy Now

For the first time, astronomers catch an aging star in the act of devouring one of its own, brightening as it consumed a Jupiter-size world

Webb serves up baby pictures of galaxy cluster in infant cosmos

4 May 2023 Astronomy Now

In another startling discovery, the James Webb telescope has confirmed a galaxy cluster shining just 650 million years after the Big Bang.