News – Page 22 – Astronomy Now

NASA approves preliminary design of SPHEREx space telescope

5 January 2021 Astronomy Now

NASA presses ahead with SPHEREx space telescope to search for evidence of inflation, to chart galactic history and map organic compounds.

Perseverance landing another “7 minutes of terror” for NASA

28 December 2020 Astronomy Now

Following in Curiosity’s footsteps, NASA’s Perseverance rover will attempt a daring high-speed descent to the surface of Mars on 21 February, depicted in an animation showing what flight controllers refer to as “seven minutes of terror.”

Most distant known galaxy surprises astronomers with heavy elements, gamma ray burst

22 December 2020 Astronomy Now

Astronomers confirm a galaxy 13.4 billion light years away is the most distant object yet found, raising new questions about how soon galaxies appeared in the wake of the Big Bang.

Scientists thrilled with asteroid treasure returned by Japanese spacecraft

16 December 2020 Stephen Clark

Japanese space agency officials said they found a “large number” of pitch black rock and dust particles after opening a capsule returned to Earth earlier this month by the Hayabusa 2 mission, giving eager scientists their first significant specimens ever brought back from an asteroid.

Hubble spies double-star exoplanet in long orbit like hypothetical path of ‘Planet Nine’

14 December 2020 Astronomy Now

Hubble helps astronomers characterise exoplanet orbit that is similar to the path of a hypothesised “Planet Nine” in Earth’s solar system.

Dramatic video shows catastrophic collapse of Arecibo instrument platform

3 December 2020 Astronomy Now

U.S. National Science Foundation releases dramatic video showing dramatic collapse of Arecibo Observatory’s 900-ton instrument platform onto the radio telescope’s huge dish antenna.

SOFIA opens a surprising window on quasars and galactic evolution

30 November 2020 Astronomy Now

Researchers using the airborne SOFIA infrared observatory have found a quasar where star formation has managed to continue despite a torrent of radiation.

Mars rover data indicates ancient megafloods across Gale Crater

24 November 2020 Astronomy Now

Stratigraphy in Gale Crater on Mars indicates the effects of megafloods in the distant past, most likely caused by the heat released in a major impact.

Radioactive elements may be key to exoplanet habitability

22 November 2020 Astronomy Now

The amount of radioactive elements in the core of a rocky exoplanet may be a critical factor in determining its habitability.

Iconic Arecibo Observatory, too unsafe to repair, faces demolition

19 November 2020 Astronomy Now

Engineers conclude the Arecibo Observatory’s 900-ton receiver is too unstable to repair in the wake of a second support cable failure, prompting decision to decommission the facility.