News – Page 49 – Astronomy Now

Hubble constant mismatch no fluke; new physics may be needed

27 April 2019 Astronomy Now

More precise observations of pulsating Cepheid variable stars confirms a major discrepancy in values of the Hubble constant.

French seismometer detects first likely “marsquake”

24 April 2019 Astronomy Now

An ultrasensitive French seismometer carried to Mars by NASA’s InSight lander has detected its first “marsquake.”

Five long-period exoplanets found after 20 years of observation

23 April 2019 Astronomy Now

Persistence pays off as University of Geneva researchers confirm five long-period exoplanets after 20 years of observations

Mercury has a heart of iron; literally

22 April 2019 Astronomy Now

Mercury’s molten metal outer core surrounds a solidified solid iron inner core, according to an analysis of data collected by the MESSENGER orbiter.

Jupiter-size star generates titanic white-light ‘superflare’

20 April 2019 Astronomy Now

An enormously powerful superflare from a star the size of Jupiter challenges theories about how magnetic fields in such small suns store energy.

A third planet found in binary star system

19 April 2019 Astronomy Now

Astronomers studying data from the Kepler Space Telescope have found a third planet orbiting a binary star system in Cygnus.

SOFIA detects long-sought primeval molecule

18 April 2019 Astronomy Now

Using the SOFIA airborne observatory, scientists have finally detected helium hydride, the first molecule formed in the wake of the Big Bang.

Cassini’s last look at Titan reveals more surprises

17 April 2019 Astronomy Now

During the Cassini spacecraft’s final close flyby of Saturn’s moon Titan, small-but-deep lakes of pure methane were found atop mesa-like landforms.

Mars methane mystery deepens with ExoMars data

16 April 2019 Astronomy Now

In contrast to earlier observations, the ESA-Rososmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has found a surprising absence of methane in the martian atmosphere.

TESS finds its first Earth-size planet and a sub-Neptune sibling

15 April 2019 Astronomy Now

NASA’s planet-hunting TESS spacecraft has found its first Earth-size planet orbiting a star 53 light years away, along with a larger sub-Neptune sibling.