New research suggests that dark comets, which make up up to 60% of near-Earth objects, may originate in the asteroid belt and may carry subsurface ice that may have contributed to Earth’s water. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Research from the University of Michigan shows that as many as 60% of objects near Earth are dark comets. These … Read more
Temperate exoplanet LHS 1140 b may be a world completely covered in ice (left), similar to Jupiter’s moon Europa, or an icy world with a liquid substellar ocean and a cloudy atmosphere (center). LHS 1140 b is 1.7 times the size of Earth (right) and is the most promising exoplanet in the habitable zone found … Read more
An exoplanet in its star’s habitable Goldilocks zone is now suspected of having a liquid water ocean and an atmosphere. The planet, called LHS 1140 b, is about 1.7 times the size of Earth and is located about 48 light-years away. This distant world, first discovered in 2017, now turns out to be a rocky … Read more
Each year, Greenwich’s Royal Observatory considers photographs of the cosmos for its Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. The 16th edition of the competition does not disappoint. From distant spinning galaxies to dazzling auroras on our own planet, this year’s entrants show off everything the heavens have to offer. If you’re in the London area, … Read more
NASA has captured photos and videos of the two massive asteroids that passed by our planet a few weeks ago. The two asteroids, 2011 UL21 and 2024 MK, passed by Earth on June 27 and 29 respectively and were captured by NASA’s Deep Space Network’s Goldstone planetary radar. While 2011 UL21 flew past us at … Read more
The crew of a NASA mission to Mars left the spacecraft after a year-long journey, never leaving Earth. The four volunteer crew members spent more than 12 months in NASA’s first simulated Mars environment at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. They left the artificial alien environment around 5 p.m. Saturday. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, … Read more
Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have studied the interaction of a quasar with satellite galaxies, gaining crucial insights into the growth of galaxies in the early universe, the mass of black holes, and chemical evolution. (Artistic concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.com An international research group used the James Webb Space Telescope to witness the dramatic … Read more
From mesmerizing “mythical monsters” to stunning distant constellations, the nominees for Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 showcase the exquisite beauty of the skies around us. Here are this year’s stunning nominees. A Night with the Valkyries — Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis (Image credit: A Night with the Valkyries © Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis) In … Read more
Astronomers have discovered that our galaxy may be bigger than we first thought. A new model of the Milky Way has revealed that our galaxy is wider than we thought, according to a new paper in the journal Natural astronomy. The researchers found that the bulge at the center of our galaxy is less densely … Read more
This new image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows a young protostar in the process of forming inside a fiery, hourglass-shaped molecular cloud. Captured with the MIRI instrument, the scene reveals dynamic outflows and bright regions caused by interactions with surrounding gases and dust. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Webb’s latest mid-infrared image shows … Read more