Astronomy - Page 36

Cosmic gatekeeper divides Solar System in two

January 16, 2020

Cosmic gatekeeper divides Solar System in two

The rocky planets closest to the sun are made up of very different materials than the gas giants in the outer solar system. That's because billions of years ago, our baby solar system was divided in two by a cosmic gatekeeper that prevented materials in the inner and outer regions from mixing.

Newly discovered asteroid inside Venus' orbit is second closest object to the sun

January 14, 2020

Newly discovered asteroid inside Venus' orbit is second closest object to the sun

Astronomers have discovered an asteroid inside Venus' orbit that not only circles the sun, but is also the second closest object to the star in the solar system, surpassing Venus itself.

17-year-old NASA intern makes stunning discovery

January 10, 2020

17-year-old NASA intern makes stunning discovery

Wolf Cukier, a student from Scarsdale High School in New York was just three days into a summer internship at NASA when he made a remarkable discovery.

'Wolf' Moon set to light up the sky: What you need to know

January 10, 2020

'Wolf' Moon set to light up the sky: What you need to know

Skywatchers are in for a treat Friday when the January full Moon, known as the wolf Moon, appears in the sky.

Cosmic rays are starting to tear apart this Milky Way satellite galaxy

January 10, 2020

Cosmic rays are starting to tear apart this Milky Way satellite galaxy

Cosmic rays are tiny charged particles accelerated to nearly the speed of light through some of the most violent events in the universe. By themselves they're not too awful, but in big enough numbers they can start to wreak havoc on entire galaxies.

Galaxy group 13 billion light-years from Earth causing 'cosmic makeover'

January 9, 2020

Galaxy group 13 billion light-years from Earth causing 'cosmic makeover'

Astronomers have detected the farthest ever galaxy group so far, three galaxies that have helped to alter the universe by resulting in a "sweeping cosmic makeover."

This image could help explain the Milky Way's strange creamy center

January 9, 2020

This image could help explain the Milky Way's strange creamy center

A gorgeous, incredibly detailed new image of the Milky Way's center could help explain one of the enduring mysteries of our galaxy — why its heart is missing stars.

NASA's alien planet hunter shows Egyptian pyramids may align with ancient north star, researcher says

January 8, 2020

NASA's alien planet hunter shows Egyptian pyramids may align with ancient north star, researcher says

Researchers using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have discovered that an ancient star undergoes eclipses, which may have guided the ancient Egyptians when they were building the pyramids.

Origin of deep-space radio flash discovered, and it's unlike anything astronomers have ever seen

January 8, 2020

Origin of deep-space radio flash discovered, and it's unlike anything astronomers have ever seen

HONOLULU — Mysterious ultra-fast pinpricks of radio energy keep lighting up the night sky and nobody knows why. A newly discovered example of this transient phenomenon has been traced to its place of origin — a nearby spiral galaxy — but it's only made things murkier for astronomers.

NASA finds 'Godzilla galaxy,' 2.5 times wider than Milky Way, in deep space

January 7, 2020

NASA finds 'Godzilla galaxy,' 2.5 times wider than Milky Way, in deep space

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a massive galaxy known as UGC 285, 232 million light-years from Earth, that could be nicknamed the "Godzilla galaxy" due to its massive size.