Astronomy
- All
- News
- Videos
- Web Stories
-
Full Moon in November 2024: Beaver Moon is the Last Supermoon of the Year
The Beaver Moon on November 15, 2024, marks the final supermoon of the year. It will be brighter and larger than the August supermoon. The full moon, known for its connection to beaver hunting, will remain full for three days, from Nov 15-17. Other notable events include the Leonids meteor shower and Mercury's greatest elongation.
-
NASA's Swift Observatory Discovers Twin Black Holes Disturbing Galactic Gas Clouds
NASA's Swift Observatory has recorded a unique signal from two orbiting black holes interacting with a gas cloud in a distant galaxy. This phenomenon, called AT 2021hdr, is marked by recurring gas disturbances due to the black holes' orbit, which astronomers believe could eventually lead to their merger. Observations continue, promising insights in...
-
North Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks, Bringing Fireballs to US Night Skies
The North Taurid meteor shower, peaking November 11, offered skywatchers in the US a view of rare bright fireballs across the sky. Part of the Taurid meteor system, these meteors are known for their intensity and visibility, even under strong moonlight. Though fewer meteors occur in these showers, their brightness will make for a striking display o...
-
NASA’s Chandra Telescope Observes Mysterious 'Knots' Blasting from Nearby Black Hole Jets
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has unveiled mysterious "knots" in the jet of a supermassive black hole in Centaurus A, a nearby galaxy. These bright, fast-moving features exhibit a higher speed in X-rays than in radio wavelengths, hinting at unexplored physics in black hole jets. Despite financial uncertainties surrounding Chandra's operations,...
-
New 3D Map of Local Hot Bubble Reveals Interstellar Tunnel to Superbubble
Using data from the eROSITA All-Sky Survey, astronomers mapped the Local Hot Bubble in 3D, finding a new interstellar tunnel leading towards Centaurus. This tunnel may link the bubble with another galactic superbubble, hinting at a broader network of gas corridors. The eROSITA data also unveils temperature variations within the bubble, supporting t...
-
Astrophotographer Captures Milky Way Over Easter Island's Moai During Eclipse
Astrophotographer Josh Dury captured the vibrant Milky Way over Easter Island’s ancient Moai statues during his trip to witness an annular eclipse. His photograph, titled Aringa Ora O Te Tupuna, pays homage to the island’s ancestral legacy and culture. Recognised by NASA as an Astronomy Photo of the Day, this image highlights the island's dark ...
-
Discovery of Hidden Ninth Planet in Solar System Could Reshape Astronomy, Claims New Study
Scientists are exploring the possibility of a hidden ninth planet in our solar system. The planet, dubbed Planet Nine, is believed to exist beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt. Researchers have noticed unusual gravitational effects on distant objects in this region, which may be influenced by the presence of a large, unseen planet. While it has not b...
-
Chandra X-ray Observatory Spots Unusual Knots in Black Hole Jets
Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found knots moving at different speeds within jets blasted by the black hole at the centre of the Centaurus A galaxy. The X-ray data revealed that these knots travel faster in X-ray wavelengths than in radio wavelengths. This discovery raises questions about how these jets work, with astronome...
-
Astronomers Identify Black Hole Consuming Matter 40 Times Its Theoretical Limit
Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have discovered LID-568, a black hole that is consuming matter at a rate over 40 times the theoretical Eddington limit. This discovery, made in a galaxy formed only 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, sheds light on how supermassive black holes might have evolved rapidly in the early universe. R...
-
Two Black Holes With Unusual Behaviour Disrupt Traditional Theories About Their Formation
Astronomers are observing two unique black holes defying established cosmic theories. One, known as the "serial killer" black hole, is preparing to consume its second star in five years, an event that rarely occurs within such a timeframe. The other black hole, part of a triple system called V404 Cygni, has a structure that defies traditional black...
-
November Night Sky 2024: Check Out the Brightest Planets and How to Watch Them?
November's night sky features a spectacular lineup of planets, including Venus, which becomes increasingly prominent in the west. Mars glows brightly as it approaches Earth, while Jupiter rises in the east, captivating observers with its brilliance. Saturn, with its magnificent rings, is also visible high in the southern sky. This month presents id...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Massive Black Hole With Half the Mass of Its Surrounding Galaxy
A groundbreaking discovery has been made with the identification of a remarkably massive black hole in the quasar ULAS J1120+0641. This black hole, with a mass of 1.4 billion solar masses, constitutes nearly half of the total mass of its host galaxy. Observations were made using the James Webb Space Telescope, which provided unprecedented detail in...
-
Study Claims Black Holes Could be Driving Universe's Expansion
A new study proposes that black holes could hold the key to dark energy, which fuels the accelerating expansion of the universe. Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), astronomers observed a possible correlation between the growth of black holes and an increase in dark energy. The study's co-authors, Gregory Tarlé and Duncan Farrah...
-
Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit
On 29 September 2024, Earth briefly welcomed asteroid 2024 PT5 as a second moon. Discovered by NASA's ATLAS, this small asteroid will exit Earth's orbit by mid-November 2024. Its fleeting presence offers astronomers valuable insights into tracking mini-moons and potential asteroid threats. As scientists explore these transient companions, they unco...
-
NASA's Perseverance Rover Observes Googly Eye Eclipse on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has captured a rare astronomical event in which the Martian moon Phobos passed in front of the Sun, creating a visual reminiscent of a "googly eye." This event, observed from the Jezero Crater, provided insights into the dynamics of Mars' moons. Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, obscured the Sun's disc for approximate...
-
Full Moon in November 2024: Beaver Moon is the Last Supermoon of the Year
The Beaver Moon on November 15, 2024, marks the final supermoon of the year. It will be brighter and larger than the August supermoon. The full moon, known for its connection to beaver hunting, will remain full for three days, from Nov 15-17. Other notable events include the Leonids meteor shower and Mercury's greatest elongation.
-
NASA's Swift Observatory Discovers Twin Black Holes Disturbing Galactic Gas Clouds
NASA's Swift Observatory has recorded a unique signal from two orbiting black holes interacting with a gas cloud in a distant galaxy. This phenomenon, called AT 2021hdr, is marked by recurring gas disturbances due to the black holes' orbit, which astronomers believe could eventually lead to their merger. Observations continue, promising insights in...
-
North Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks, Bringing Fireballs to US Night Skies
The North Taurid meteor shower, peaking November 11, offered skywatchers in the US a view of rare bright fireballs across the sky. Part of the Taurid meteor system, these meteors are known for their intensity and visibility, even under strong moonlight. Though fewer meteors occur in these showers, their brightness will make for a striking display o...
-
NASA’s Chandra Telescope Observes Mysterious 'Knots' Blasting from Nearby Black Hole Jets
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has unveiled mysterious "knots" in the jet of a supermassive black hole in Centaurus A, a nearby galaxy. These bright, fast-moving features exhibit a higher speed in X-rays than in radio wavelengths, hinting at unexplored physics in black hole jets. Despite financial uncertainties surrounding Chandra's operations,...
-
New 3D Map of Local Hot Bubble Reveals Interstellar Tunnel to Superbubble
Using data from the eROSITA All-Sky Survey, astronomers mapped the Local Hot Bubble in 3D, finding a new interstellar tunnel leading towards Centaurus. This tunnel may link the bubble with another galactic superbubble, hinting at a broader network of gas corridors. The eROSITA data also unveils temperature variations within the bubble, supporting t...
-
Astrophotographer Captures Milky Way Over Easter Island's Moai During Eclipse
Astrophotographer Josh Dury captured the vibrant Milky Way over Easter Island’s ancient Moai statues during his trip to witness an annular eclipse. His photograph, titled Aringa Ora O Te Tupuna, pays homage to the island’s ancestral legacy and culture. Recognised by NASA as an Astronomy Photo of the Day, this image highlights the island's dark ...
-
Discovery of Hidden Ninth Planet in Solar System Could Reshape Astronomy, Claims New Study
Scientists are exploring the possibility of a hidden ninth planet in our solar system. The planet, dubbed Planet Nine, is believed to exist beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt. Researchers have noticed unusual gravitational effects on distant objects in this region, which may be influenced by the presence of a large, unseen planet. While it has not b...
-
Chandra X-ray Observatory Spots Unusual Knots in Black Hole Jets
Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found knots moving at different speeds within jets blasted by the black hole at the centre of the Centaurus A galaxy. The X-ray data revealed that these knots travel faster in X-ray wavelengths than in radio wavelengths. This discovery raises questions about how these jets work, with astronome...
-
Astronomers Identify Black Hole Consuming Matter 40 Times Its Theoretical Limit
Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have discovered LID-568, a black hole that is consuming matter at a rate over 40 times the theoretical Eddington limit. This discovery, made in a galaxy formed only 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, sheds light on how supermassive black holes might have evolved rapidly in the early universe. R...
-
Two Black Holes With Unusual Behaviour Disrupt Traditional Theories About Their Formation
Astronomers are observing two unique black holes defying established cosmic theories. One, known as the "serial killer" black hole, is preparing to consume its second star in five years, an event that rarely occurs within such a timeframe. The other black hole, part of a triple system called V404 Cygni, has a structure that defies traditional black...
-
November Night Sky 2024: Check Out the Brightest Planets and How to Watch Them?
November's night sky features a spectacular lineup of planets, including Venus, which becomes increasingly prominent in the west. Mars glows brightly as it approaches Earth, while Jupiter rises in the east, captivating observers with its brilliance. Saturn, with its magnificent rings, is also visible high in the southern sky. This month presents id...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Massive Black Hole With Half the Mass of Its Surrounding Galaxy
A groundbreaking discovery has been made with the identification of a remarkably massive black hole in the quasar ULAS J1120+0641. This black hole, with a mass of 1.4 billion solar masses, constitutes nearly half of the total mass of its host galaxy. Observations were made using the James Webb Space Telescope, which provided unprecedented detail in...
-
Study Claims Black Holes Could be Driving Universe's Expansion
A new study proposes that black holes could hold the key to dark energy, which fuels the accelerating expansion of the universe. Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), astronomers observed a possible correlation between the growth of black holes and an increase in dark energy. The study's co-authors, Gregory Tarlé and Duncan Farrah...
-
Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit
On 29 September 2024, Earth briefly welcomed asteroid 2024 PT5 as a second moon. Discovered by NASA's ATLAS, this small asteroid will exit Earth's orbit by mid-November 2024. Its fleeting presence offers astronomers valuable insights into tracking mini-moons and potential asteroid threats. As scientists explore these transient companions, they unco...
-
NASA's Perseverance Rover Observes Googly Eye Eclipse on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has captured a rare astronomical event in which the Martian moon Phobos passed in front of the Sun, creating a visual reminiscent of a "googly eye." This event, observed from the Jezero Crater, provided insights into the dynamics of Mars' moons. Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, obscured the Sun's disc for approximate...
