News – Page 34 – Astronomy Now

NASA evaluates four ‘concept studies’ for possible planetary missions

13 February 2020 Astronomy Now

NASA has selected four possible planetary science missions for further evaluation, two focused on Venus, one on volcanic Io and one on icy Triton.

Voyager 1’s famous look back at Earth – a ‘pale blue dot’ – 30 years later

13 February 2020 Astronomy Now

NASA releases a reprocessed version of the iconic “pale blue dot” portrait of Earth as imaged by the Voyager 1 probe in 1990.

IAU offers provisional details of threat due to satellite constellations

12 February 2020 Astronomy Now

The International Astronomical Union raises more red flags about the possible impact of large satellite constellations on Earth-based astronomy.

Solar Orbiter launched, promises first looks at sun’s hidden poles

11 February 2020 Astronomy Now

ESA’s Solar Orbiter begins its mission to study the Sun from a unique vantage point: an eventually tilted orbit that allows a look at the star’s poles.

Transition from red giant to white dwarf interrupted in unusual binary system

5 February 2020 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have found a binary star system in which a swelling red giant swallowed a smaller companion that then spiralled inward, triggering unusual outbursts.

White dwarf in pulsar binary “drags” space as Einstein predicted

5 February 2020 Astronomy Now

Scientists measure spacetime ‘frame dragging’ around white dwarf by measuring its effects on a companion radio pulsar.

NASA pulls the plug on Spitzer, ending trail-blazing mission

31 January 2020 Astronomy Now

NASA pulls the plug on the Spitzer Space Telescope after more than 16 years of trail-blazing infrared observations, finally bringing the mission to a close.

Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope dazzles with first light images

29 January 2020 Astronomy Now

First light images from the 4-metre Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope are the sharpest ever achieved from the ground, hinting at discoveries to come.

Analysis indicates Enceladus’ sub-surface ocean may be habitable

28 January 2020 Astronomy Now

A new analysis incorporating data from the Cassini mission suggests Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus may host a habitable environment in its sub-surface ocean.

Hottest known exoplanet’s dayside atmosphere a toasty 4,300 C

27 January 2020 Astronomy Now

Temperatures in the dayside atmosphere of the hottest known exoplanet reach a record 4,300 C, hotter than the surfaces of some stars.