Astronomy - Part 4
207 reports
Inouye Solar Telescope Resolves Unprecedented Detail on Sun's Surface
The Inouye Solar Telescope has produced the highest-resolution images yet of the Sun's surface, revealing dynamic plasma structures and confirming a long-suspected fluid instability in solar plasma
Long March 7A Rocket Explodes 85 Seconds After Launch in China
A Long March 7A rocket carrying the Zhongxing-4B satellite exploded less than two minutes after liftoff from Wenchang, raising questions about the reliability of China's medium-lift launch vehicles and the impact on future missions
Hubble Data Links Andromeda's Star Formation Slowdown to Nearby Galaxy
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have mapped a sharp decline in star formation across the Andromeda galaxy, with evidence pointing to gravitational influence from its smaller neighbor, M32
Partial Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteor Shower Align on August 12
On August 12, skywatchers in North America and Europe will witness a partial solar eclipse by day and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower by night, offering a rare opportunity for coordinated solar and meteor observations under optimal conditions
Pluto's Atmosphere Shows Signs of Collapse as It Moves Away from the Sun
Astronomers tracking Pluto's atmosphere with stellar occultation techniques report a measurable drop in atmospheric pressure, suggesting the dwarf planet's nitrogen-rich envelope is beginning to freeze out as Pluto recedes from the Sun
Could Northern Lights Appear During the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse
Astronomers assess whether auroras could be visible during the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, as the path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, and explain the physical limits on simultaneous observation
Luna 24's 1976 Moon Sample Return Marked End of Soviet Lunar Missions
On August 9, 1976, the Soviet Luna 24 probe launched from Baikonur, aiming to collect and return lunar soil. The mission's samples revealed traces of water and closed a chapter in robotic Moon exploration.
What to Expect During the Five Stages of the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross parts of Europe and the Arctic, offering a rare opportunity to observe the Sun's atmosphere and dynamic eclipse phenomena as the Moon's shadow sweeps across Earth's surface
Crescent Moon and Mars Align Over Taurus Before Dawn on August 9
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will see the crescent Moon pass close to Mars in the constellation Taurus before sunrise on August 9, offering a preview of the winter starscape and a rare opportunity for binocular viewing.
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mount Tracks the Sun for Solar Observing
The Sky-Watcher SolarQuest mount uses GPS and a solar sensor to automatically locate and track the Sun, offering a streamlined solution for small solar telescopes and eclipse viewing with minimal manual adjustment
Webb Telescope Reveals Young Star Cluster in Carina Nebula
A new image from the James Webb Space Telescope's NIRCam instrument captures a dense cluster of young stars in the Carina Nebula, offering fresh insight into stellar formation and the evolution of massive star groups
NASA's IXPE Observes Magnetar and Tests Quantum Vacuum Theory
NASA's IXPE telescope spent over 140 hours observing magnetar 1E 1547-5408, collecting X-ray polarization data that may reveal how empty space behaves in extreme magnetic fields
UK Set for Deepest Solar Eclipse in Over a Decade on August 12
On August 12, 2026, the UK will witness its most significant partial solar eclipse since 2015, with up to 98% of the Sun obscured in some regions. The event will be visible nationwide, though totality will not occur over British soil.
NASA Astronauts Complete Spacewalk to Prepare ISS for Solar Array Upgrade
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon spent 6.5 hours outside the International Space Station installing the final mounting hardware for new roll-out solar arrays, a step toward boosting the station's power supply later this year
Solar Telescope Reveals Long-Predicted Plasma Vortices on Sun's Surface
High-resolution images from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope have captured thousands of plasma whirlpools on the Sun's surface, providing direct evidence for a phenomenon predicted over a century ago and offering new insight into solar atmospheric heating
Perseverance Rover Captures Earth Passing Behind Mars' Moon Phobos
NASA's Perseverance rover has recorded a rare occultation event, imaging Earth as it briefly disappeared behind Mars' innermost moon Phobos using its Mastcam-Z camera system
NASA's IXPE Detects Signs of Quantum Vacuum Effect Near Magnetar
NASA's IXPE telescope has measured X-ray polarization from a magnetar, providing evidence consistent with a quantum electrodynamics effect predicted for nearly a century but never directly observed in space
How Map Projections Distort the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse Path
Astronomers explain why the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse appears to reverse direction on flat maps as it crosses the Arctic, despite the Moon's shadow always moving from west to east across Earth
NASA's Juno Mission Transformed Jupiter Science After 2011 Launch
NASA's Juno spacecraft, launched in 2011 on an Atlas V rocket, reached Jupiter in 2016 and has since delivered unprecedented data and images, reshaping our understanding of the giant planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and moons
Curiosity Rover Detects Extensive Polygon Patterns in Martian Valley
NASA's Curiosity rover has imaged a vast field of honeycomb-like polygonal fractures in Mars' Valle Grande, raising new questions about the planet's surface processes and past water activity
Faint X-ray Flash Reveals Unusual Supernova in Nearby Galaxy
A brief X-ray signal detected by China's Einstein Probe in March 2026 has allowed astronomers to observe the earliest moments of a rare Type Ic supernova, offering new insight into how massive stars end their lives
SpaceX Launches Three BlueBird Satellites for Direct-to-Cell Network
A Falcon 9 rocket is set to deploy three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral, expanding a low Earth orbit constellation designed to deliver broadband directly to standard smartphones.
Radio Surveys Reveal Millions More Milky Way Stars Searched for SETI
A new analysis using the Besançon Galactic Model suggests that radio telescopes have surveyed over 6 million stars for extraterrestrial signals, far exceeding previous estimates based on star catalogues
Neptune's Inner Moons May Preserve Debris From Ancient Ice Worlds
Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal unexpected clay minerals on two small Neptunian moons, supporting a debris-origin scenario while leaving the fate of their original ice unresolved
Europa Clipper May Miss Ocean Water Rising Through Europa's Ice
Computer simulations suggest turbulent water rising through Europa's ice would freeze its pathways shut, making shallow surface pools poor indicators of the moon's buried ocean
How a Falcon 9 Upper Stage Ended Up Bound for the Moon
A Falcon 9 upper stage abandoned in a high Earth orbit is expected to hit the Moon on August 5, 2026, after gravity and solar activity gradually altered its trajectory
Hubble Finds Andromeda's Star Formation Is Winding Down
A Hubble analysis of about 200 million stars shows Andromeda has sharply reduced its star-making rate over the past 500 million years, while NASA's Roman telescope prepares to map the galaxy more completely
Aug. 12, 2026, brings an unusually complete night of skywatching
On Aug. 12, 2026, observers can follow a solar eclipse by day, then watch Venus, the Perseid meteor shower and the Milky Way under a nearly moonless sky
NASA's Roman Telescope Will Carry 1.35 Million Names to L2
A memory card carrying 1,350,144 names has been mounted on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope ahead of its planned launch to an orbit about one million miles from Earth
Mercury and Jupiter Meet as Venus Rules August Skies
Venus reaches its widest evening separation from the Sun on Aug. 15, while Mercury and Jupiter pass within 0.6 degrees before dawn in a difficult but rewarding conjunction
How to Watch the 2026 Solar Eclipse Safely in the UK
The August 12, 2026, eclipse will cover about 90% of the Sun in parts of the UK. Here is how to choose certified eye protection and compare viewing options without risking permanent damage
Apollo 15's Lunar Rover Turned Moonwalking Into Exploration
Apollo 15's Lunar Roving Vehicle gave astronauts their first way to travel extensively across the moon's surface, extending scientific exploration beyond the immediate landing site in July 1971
Triple-Lobed Asteroid 44 Nysa Imaged With Orbiting Moon in Asteroid Belt
Astronomers have resolved asteroid 44 Nysa as the first known triple-lobed body in the main belt, using adaptive optics on major ground-based telescopes. The object also hosts a small moon, raising new questions about asteroid formation and evolution.
Astronomers Link Two Supernova Remnants to a Single Binary Star System
A faint supernova remnant near the Jellyfish Nebula has been identified as the likely companion explosion from a binary star system, based on 16 years of gamma-ray data and multiwavelength observations
Galileo's 1610 Observation of Saturn's Rings Changed Planetary Science
In July 1610, Galileo Galilei used a newly invented telescope to observe Saturn, recording features that would later be identified as the planet's rings-a finding that reshaped our understanding of planetary systems
Part 4 of 6