Watch More Events Live from AAS on Tuesday Jan. 6

Once again our sister site Astronomy Cast LIVE will be providing live video coverage of press events at the 213th AAS meeting being held in Long Beach CA. The video streams can be found at Astronomy Cast's UStream Channel. You can join the chat to suggestion questions to ask at the news [...]

Triple Whammy: Milky Way More Massive, Spinning Faster and More Likely to Collide

For many of us, looking closely in the mirror and stepping on the bathroom scale just after the holidays can reveal a substantial surprise. Likewise, astronomers looking closely at the Milky Way have found our galaxy is more massive than previously thought. High-precision measurements of the Milky Way disclose our galaxy is rotating [...]

Hubble, Spitzer Collaborate for Stunning Panorama of Galactic Center

Two of the biggest space telescopes have combined forces to create a HUGE panorama of the center of the Milky Way galaxy. This sweeping, composite color panorama is the sharpest infrared picture ever made of the Galactic core. Revealed in the image are a new population of massive stars and new details of complex [...]

Broken-up Asteroids Found Orbiting White Dwarfs

Astronomers studying white dwarfs have found the remains of "shredded" asteroids around some of these dead stars. This finding suggests that the same materials that make up Earth and our solar system's other rocky bodies could be common in the universe. If the materials are common, then rocky planets could be, too. "If you [...]

The Case of the Disappearing Planetary Disks

After examining the 5-million-year old star cluster NGC 2362, astronomers say that planets like Jupiter must form quickly because the material that form giant gas planets disappears in just few million years in young protoplanetary (planet forming) systems. Using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers from the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics found that all stars [...]

Young Stars Forming Near Galactic Black Hole

Just as young children need safe, nurturing environments to develop and grow, young stars, too need just the right environment to get their start in life. Or do they? At the center of our galaxy is a 4 million solar-mass black hole. If molecular clouds that form stellar nurseries were nearby, they [...]

Live Video Coverage from AAS

This just in from Scott Miller at Astronomy Cast LIVE. Once again we will be providing live video coverage of press events at the 213th AAS meeting being held in Long Beach CA Jan 5-8th. The video streams can be found here. If for some reason this link does not work try searching for [...]

AAS Meeting Coverage This Week

Prepare for a week of breaking astronomical news as the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is holding its 213th meeting all this week in Long Beach, California. Thousands of astronomers will be coming together to share their research and report their recent findings. Universe Today's Fraser Cain and Ian O'Neill will be in attendance [...]

Happy Birthday Spirit!

What were you doing five years ago today? I remember trying to watch NASA TV on my computer in an effort to monitor the status of the Spirit rover that was on its way to land in Gusev Crater on Mars. The feed kept cutting out, and I know it was way behind [...]

Did Dark Matter Power Early Stars?

The first stars to light the early universe may have been powered by dark matter, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor call these very first stars "Dark Stars," and propose that dark matter heating provided the energy for these stars instead of fusion. The researchers [...]

The Universe Today Top 10 Scientific Endeavours of 2008

The nominations are in, the votes have been counted and the Universe Today writers have been consulted; the Top 10 Scientific Endeavours of 2008 are decided! After much consideration by the readers of the Universe Today, it became quickly apparent what the popular choice would be, and some of the Top 10 may not come [...]

Phoenix Not Covered With Ice ? Yet

The HiRISE Camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is keeping an eye on the Phoenix lander, and took the above image of the landing site on Dec. 21, 2008. Phoenix, its heatshield, parachute and backshell are still visible on the Martian arctic plains, providing evidence that the spacecraft hasn't been covered with ice [...]

Where In the Universe Answer Now Posted

Don't forget to check how you did in this week's Where In The Universe Challenge. The answer is now posted. © nancy for Universe Today, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Listen In to the International Year of Astronomy

Just wanted to wish all the Universe Today readers a happy 2009, and invite all of you to listen to the first episode of the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast. The first voice you'll hear will be … me! (well, after Pamela Gay's introduction and George Hrab's incredibly rockin' theme song!) I'm [...]

The Return of (Little) Bigfoot on Mars

Some urban legends just won't die, and sometimes, unfortunately, they are given new life. We've already discussed and dismissed the rock on Mars that looks like a Bigfoot ? a teeny, tiny little Bigfoot (Jan. 25, 2008). And now it's back. And it's completely ridiculous. Amazingly, this guy thinks a [...]

Best Space Images of 2008

I've been meaning to put together an article highlighting the best space images of 2008, but I see time is slowly slipping away from me to get this out before 2008 turns into 2009. However, I'm in luck! A few people have already done the work for me, and so I'll just link [...]

More Evidence Earth is Not Center of Universe

If you're certain the Universe revolves around you, I have some bad news for you. Researchers from the University of British Columbia say Earth's location in the Universe is utterly unremarkable, despite recent theories that propose Earth is at the center of a giant void in space. A decade ago, it was discovered [...]

New Year's Eve Where In The Universe Challenge

We'll squeeze in one more WITU Challenge for 2008! The goal of this challenge is to test your skills and knowledge of the cosmos. Guess where in the Universe this image is from, and give yourself extra points if you can guess which spacecraft is responsible for the image. Post your guess in the [...]

Stunning New Images of Saturn's Rings

The Cassini Equinox Mission released new images of Saturn, revealing stunning detail of the planet's rings. As Saturn advances in its orbit toward equinox and the sun gradually moves northward on the planet, the motion of Saturn's ring shadows and the changing colors of its atmosphere continue to transform the face of Saturn as [...]

New Report Details Columbia Accident, Recommends Improvements

NASA released a detailed and sometimes graphic new report outlining what happened during the break-up of the Columbia space shuttle on Feb. 1, 2003. The purpose of the report is to specify what was learned from the Columbia accident in regards to crew safety and survivability for future spaceflight. The extensive 400 page [...]

The International Year of Astronomy is Almost Here!

January 1 of 2009 brings with it the International Year of Astronomy, a worldwide celebration commemorating Galileo Galilei's first astronomical observation through a telescope. 135 nations are collaborating to promote astronomy and its contribution to society and culture, with events at regional, national, and global levels, to bring the Universe closer to more people on [...]

Ice on the Moon? Debate Resumes

Ice on the moon or no ice? That is the question. It's long been thought that water ice could be hiding in deep, dark craters near the Moon's poles. However in October, 2008 Japan's Kaguya spacecraft took the best look yet inside the Shackelton Crater at the lunar south pole and didn't see [...]

Studying Black Holes Using a PlayStation 3

If you're a PlayStation 3 fan, or if you just received one as a holiday gift, you may be able to do more with the system than just gaming. A group of gravity researchers have configured 16 PlayStation 3's together to create a type of supercomputer that is helping them estimate properties of the [...]

Weekend SkyWatcher's Forecast - December 26-28, 2008

Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! I trust everyone had a pleasant holiday? If you received new binoculars, a telescope or an eyepiece as a present - then why don't we put them to a workout with some great new targets to have a look at? Why stop at just one galactic star cluster when [...]

Podcast: The Christmas Star

With Christmas just around the corner, we thought we'd investigate a mystery that has puzzled historians for hundreds of years. In the bible, the birth of Jesus was announced by a bright star in the sky that led the three wise men to his birthplace. What are some possible astronomical objects that might look like [...]

moon

wbrogdo1 posted a photo:

Moon Face

0512 posted a photo:

Sol

chonchi posted a photo:

Photo taken with small digital camera.

sol#2

chonchi posted a photo:

A photo of the sun taken by a smell camera.

sun rise 1/3/08

0512 posted a photo:

Jupiter Eclipsing Ganymede

How hazy is Jupiter's upper atmosphere?

Comet and Meteor

This meteor streaking toward the horizon through the early

Breaking Distant Light

In the distant universe,

Double Cluster in Perseus

Some 7,000 light-years away, this pair of open or galactic

Alpine Conjunction

Did you see it?

Welcome to the International Year of Astronomy

Astronomers all over planet Earth invite you to experience the night sky as part of the

The Sky in Motion

Still need to come up with a good new year's resolution?

Worlds in Collision

SPACE.com Image of the Day

A galaxy cluster merger is seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

To Dig the Impossible Trench

SPACE.com Image of the Day

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander uncovers an ice layer in this 3D image.

There Is No Comet

SPACE.com Image of the Day

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope takes two views of Comet Holmes.

October Sky

SPACE.com Image of the Day

A second-generation spaceflyer blasts off on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Make Me a Star

SPACE.com Image of the Day

A star-forming cloud is revealed in infrared, visible light and X-ray.

Show 194: Space Debris

Humanity has filled the space near Earth with satellites — and debris. The flotsam, ranging from large satellite pieces to small nuts and bolts, can impact and severely damage functioning satellites and the International Space Station. What can be done? Since satellites are launched by nations, commercial companies and other private entities, all these organizations need to come together globally to look at how to map and control debris.

Show 193: HubbleWatch for November 2008

Hubble has spied a planet outside the solar system for the first time. The strangely bright planet, three times as big as Jupiter, will likely be a target of future telescopes as well. Astronomers have solved the mystery of an oddly active galaxy. And Hubble is back to work after a temporary technical setback.

Show 192: Life on Enceladus?

In 2005, NASA’s Cassini probe revealed a plume of ice particles and water vapor shooting out from the south pole region of Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. It’s thought the moon may hold ocean of liquid water beneath surface and be a potential habitat for extraterrestrial life. Cassini could be used to look for organic chemicals in the plume.

Show 191: Hubble Spies a Planet

Hubble recently took the first image of a planet around another star. Planets are typically found by looking for changes in their parent stars that indicate the presence of a planet — a wobble that shows a gravitational tug, a dimming that shows something is passing in front of the star. But this giant planet was bright enough, and far enough away from its star, for Hubble to capture a picture.

Show 190: Building on the Moon

Future lunar bases could be built from concrete made directly from Moon dust, which would be much cheaper than transporting materials from Earth to Moon. NASA hopes to send four astronauts to Moon for seven days by 2020. The plan is to eventually build long-term Moon bases.

Show 189: Dead planets -- or Not?

We talk about “habitable zones” around stars being confined to predictable regions, where temperatures are not too cold and not too hot, so that planets can retain liquid water and support life as we know it. But perhaps there’s more leeway than we thought. A new study has discovered that some extrasolar planets that we assumed were too cold to host life could in fact be livable.

Show 188: Meteorites and Molecules

Amino acids are organic molecules that form proteins. Proteins, essential to cells, are one of the first steps in the creation of life. Several — but not all — types of amino acids have also been found in meteorites – chunks of rock that reached Earth from space. Scientists are studying meteorites, like the Murchison meteorite that fell in Australia in 1969, to see if they can give clues to how amino acids link to form the structure of proteins.

Show 187: Space Tourist

Game developer Richard Garriott recently paid $30 million to spend some time on the International Space Station, where he participated in NASA experiments. Creator of the Ultima gaming series, Garriott is the son of retired astronaut Owen Garriott. Part of his 12 days on the space station was spent undergoing a series of microgravity experiments, including analysis of sleep patterns.

Show 186: Cosmic Conundrum

Astronomers using Hubble recently came across a mysterious object in the direction of the constellation Boötes that slowly brightened over 100 days then dimmed back to invisibility. Astronomers are used to supernovae — exploding stars — brightening the sky, but that flash happens quickly. This slow change in brightness doesn’t match anything on the books. Nor does the object’s spectrum line up with anything that could help identify it.

Show 185: Dust Devils in Martian Arctic

Dust devils have been photographed raging across the arctic plains of Mars. They were captured by NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander, which saw at least six of the whirlwinds. The dust devils often occur when the Sun warms Mars’ surface.

Show 184: Possible planet?

Astronomers have found almost 300 planets outside our solar system, but they haven’t been able to take pictures of any of them — the planets are too small, dim and distant. But the Gemini Observatory recently took a picture of a star and a nearby object — could it be the first picture of an extrasolar planet?

Show 183: Venus Rising

The planet Venus is now visible very low in western sky right after sundown. This evening appearance of Venus will become even better in coming weeks as the planet rises higher and higher each night throughout the fall and winter. The brilliant “evening star” will be at its brightest on Feb. 19.

Show 182: Stellar Streams

The Milky Way galaxy is part of a group of galaxies, including several small “dwarf galaxies,” that interact with one another. The outer portion of the Milky Way, called its “halo,” is filled with clouds of gas, star clusters, dark matter and streams of stars gathered from those dwarf galaxies by the power of the Milky Way’s gravity. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) revealed these multiple, previously unknown streams.

Show 181: Clusters in a Cluster

About 54 million light-years from Earth, roughly 2,000 galaxies have ganged up in a gravitational grouping called the Virgo Cluster. Centering that cluster is a massive galaxy that is itself surrounded by many clusters-in this case, star clusters. But this massive galaxy has more of these star clusters than astronomers expected it to have. Could it be stealing from its neighbors?