News – Page 5 – Astronomy Now

NASA developing a robotic snake to slither on – and into – icy moons

11 May 2023 Astronomy Now

To explore hard-to-reach places on other worlds, NASA is developing a slithering snake-like robot to boldly go where traditional rovers cannot.

Water, water everywhere, including the icy moons of Uranus

10 May 2023 Astronomy Now

A re-analysis of Voyager data, along with computer modelling, suggests four of Uranus’ moons may harbour oceans beneath their icy crusts.

Webb finds more debris rings around Fomalhaut suggesting unseen planets

9 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Webb telescope discovers nested rings of debris around the hot young star Fomalhaut, an apparent indicator of unseen planets amid the chaos of their formation.

Rubin Observatory reaches major construction milestone

8 May 2023 Astronomy Now

Rubin Observatory telescope structure ready for integrated tests with replica 8.4-metre mirror and mock instruments in major milestone.

‘Death star’ caught in the act of devouring one of its own

4 May 2023 Astronomy Now

For the first time, astronomers catch an aging star in the act of devouring one of its own, brightening as it consumed a Jupiter-size world

Webb serves up baby pictures of galaxy cluster in infant cosmos

4 May 2023 Astronomy Now

In another startling discovery, the James Webb telescope has confirmed a galaxy cluster shining just 650 million years after the Big Bang.

ESA works to free jammed radar boom on Jupiter-bound Juice probe

29 April 2023 Astronomy Now

A stuck radar boom threatens a critical element of the Juice mission, but engineers optimistic about a fix.

UAE’s ‘Hope’ probe begins close encounters with martian moon Deimos

24 April 2023 Astronomy Now

The United Arab Emirates “Hope” probe is now making repeated close flybys of the martian moon Deimos – and snapping spectacular pictures.

ESA’s ‘JUICE’ spacecraft takes off on epic voyage to Jupiter

14 April 2023 Astronomy Now

One of Europe’s most ambitious planetary missions is on its way to Jupiter to study the planet, its icy moons and possibly habitable sub-surface seas.

Webb provides a spectacular hint of future “Deep Field” images while probing the distant past

14 April 2023 Astronomy Now

The James Webb Space Telescope is spotting “deep field” galaxies in a fraction of the time required by Hubble, providing a tantalizing hint of things to come.