News – Page 38 – Astronomy Now

British-built solar probe shipping to Florida launch site before Brexit

24 October 2019 Stephen Clark

The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft — assembled in Britain and set for liftoff in February — has completed environmental testing in Germany and is scheduled to ride a cargo plane to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin launch preparations 31 October, several weeks earlier than planned to avoid complications stemming from Brexit.

Telltale signs of a planetary collision in binary star system

24 October 2019 Astronomy Now

Relatively warm clouds of dust swirling around a binary star system may be the result of a cataclysmic collision between two rocky exoplanets.

Supercomputer up to challenge of Square Kilometre Array

23 October 2019 Astronomy Now

Researchers use one of the world’s most powerful computers to make sure they will be able to process a “data deluge” from the Square Kilometre Array.

Huge galaxy found lurking in early Universe may be ‘missing link’

23 October 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers find evidence for a large galaxy lurking behind obscuring dust clouds that may be a “missing link” in galactic evolution.

Panel recommends planetary protection policy reassessment

20 October 2019 Astronomy Now

An independent review board recommends that NASA reassess its planetary protection protocols to reflect current technology and planned missions.

Orbiter spots InSight on Mars as heat probe resumes hammering

17 October 2019 Astronomy Now

After months of troubleshooting, engineers say the InSight Mars lander’s German temperature probe has resumed its hammering into the martian surface.

Hubble observes interstellar visitor

16 October 2019 Stephen Clark

The Hubble Space Telescope has returned an image of a comet that originated outside our Solar System, providing astronomers with their best view yet of an interstellar visitor.

Citizen scientists track down asteroids in Hubble photos

14 October 2019 Astronomy Now

Citizen scientists spot thousands of asteroid trails in archived photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, helping astronomers pin down orbits

Best view yet of flickering jets in black hole feeding frenzy

13 October 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers capture the most detailed view yet of the titanic flickers and millisecond flashes generated by material swirling around a black hole.

Curiosity closing in on Mars’ transition from wet to dry

9 October 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is closing in on finding out when the martian environment transitioned from a habitable era to the inhospitable desert seen today.