Astronomy - Page 117

Cosmic crumbs reveal Umbrella Galaxy's eating habits

October 20, 2015

Cosmic crumbs reveal Umbrella Galaxy's eating habits

Astronomers are studying the feeding habits of a cosmic cannibal to learn how galaxies grow.

Trio of monster black holes rumble spacetime

October 20, 2015

Trio of monster black holes rumble spacetime

For the first time, three supermassive black holes have been discovered in a tight orbital dance inside the center of a galaxy 4 billion light-years away.

Space oddity: Bizarre hybrid star found after 40-year search

October 20, 2015

Space oddity: Bizarre hybrid star found after 40-year search

Astronomers have apparently discovered the first of a class of strange hybrid stars, confirming theoretical predictions made four decades ago.

Supernova discovery reveals how the biggest, brightest stars die

October 20, 2015

Supernova discovery reveals how the biggest, brightest stars die

The most massive and luminous stars were long suspected to explode when they die, and astronomers now have the most direct evidence yet that these cosmic behemoths go out with a bang.

Astronomers discover most 'habitable,' Earth-like planet yet

October 20, 2015

Astronomers discover most 'habitable,' Earth-like planet yet

Astronomers have discovered what they say is the most Earth-like planet yet detected — a distant, rocky world that's similar in size to our own and exists in the Goldilocks zone where it's not too hot and not too cold for life.

Huge 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster packs mass of 3 quadrillion suns

October 20, 2015

Huge 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster packs mass of 3 quadrillion suns

The most massive galaxy cluster ever observed in the early universe is quite a bit bigger than astronomers had thought.

Who in the universe is listening to The Beatles?

October 20, 2015

Who in the universe is listening to The Beatles?

On Feb. 9, 1964, The Beatles took the state at the Ed Sullivan Theater for their first U.S. show. The waves of that TV broadcast are now nearly 300 trillion miles away -- and still traveling.

Best time to see Perseid meteor shower: now

October 20, 2015

Best time to see Perseid meteor shower: now

Every August, just when many people go vacationing in the country where skies are dark, the best-known meteor shower, makes its appearance.

Four asteroids buzz Earth in single week

October 20, 2015

Four asteroids buzz Earth in single week

In the last seven days, an asteroid the size of a city block and three smaller space rocks have zoomed safely by Earth, the latest demonstration that we live in a solar system that some scientists have dubbed a "cosmic shooting gallery."

Asteroid Apophis to whiz past Earth tonight -- and return for more in 2036

October 20, 2015

Asteroid Apophis to whiz past Earth tonight -- and return for more in 2036

A European space telescope has captured new images of the huge asteroid Apophis, revealing that the potentially hazardous object is actually bigger than previously thought.