News – Page 2 – Astronomy Now

23 October 2019

Record rocket firing avoids mission-ending eclipse for Juno

2 October 2019 Astronomy Now

A record 10.5-hour thruster firing nudged the solar-powered Juno spacecraft’s orbit just enough to avoid a mission-ending eclipse.

Astronomers spot three supermassive black holes on collision course

30 September 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers using X-ray, optical and infrared telescopes have spotted three galaxies – hosting three supermassive black holes – in the process of merging.

New computer simulation brings black holes to life

26 September 2019 William Harwood

A new computer simulation shows how a black hole’s titanic gravity warps space and bends the light emitted by super-heated debris in a surrounding accretion disc.

Study shows Venus may have once enjoyed a temperate climate

23 September 2019 Astronomy Now

Computer simulations indicate Venus may have been a temperate, possibly habitable, planet for two to three billion years before evolving into the hellish hothouse seen today.

Bouncing boulders and collapsing cliffs on comet 67P

20 September 2019 Astronomy Now

Sifting through images from ESA’s Rosetta mission, researchers are learning more about the properties of comet 67P by studying where boulders fall and cliffs collapse.

Caught in the act: galaxies turning into quasars

19 September 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have caught normally mild-mannered galaxies in the process of turning into quasars, a faster-than-expected transition that flies in the face of current theory.

Most massive neutron star near black hole tipping point

18 September 2019 Astronomy Now

The most massive neutron star yet discovered appears to be at the tipping point defining the limits of mass versus gravity.

Milky Way’s central black hole flares as it feasts

14 September 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers monitoring the supermassive black hole at the core of the Milky Way have noted three unprecedented flare ups this year as it gobbles stellar debris.

Newly discovered comet likely from interstellar space

13 September 2019 Astronomy Now

A newly-discovered comet is barreling into the solar system at a velocity that indicates it likely came in from interstellar space. Researchers are working on confirmation.

NASA lunar orbiter to image Chandrayaan 2 landing site

13 September 2019 Stephen Clark

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will try to locate India’s Vikram lander on the moon during a flyover of the landing site Tuesday. Indian space officials said they found the disabled spacecraft on the moon using the country’s own Chandrayaan 2 orbiter, but declined to release any images.