NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has topped itself once again, delivering on its promise to push the boundaries of the observable universe closer to cosmic dawn with the confirmation of a bright galaxy that existed 280 million years after the big bang.
Astronomers have found thousands of exoplanets around single stars, but few around binary stars—even though both types of stars are equally common. Physicists can now explain the dearth.
Using data collected by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe during its closest approach to the sun, a University of Arizona-led research team has measured the dynamics and ever-changing “shell” of hot gas from where the solar wind originates.
Scientists using JWST have created the largest and highest-resolution map of dark matter ever, shedding light on the universe’s evolution.
Our great hope is that today’s indirect, astrophysical evidence will someday lead to successful direct detection. What if that’s impossible?
The Ring Nebula in Lyra, also known as Messier 57, is the most famous planetary nebula in the sky. It’s also one of the most imaged and studied objects of its class. But when Roger Wesson (Cardiff University, UK) and his colleagues analyzed a series of spectra taken between May and June 2023, they found something completely new: An oddly shaped “bar” of ionized iron gas that crosses the nebula roughly from west to east along the elliptical ring’s major axis.
Chief Astronomer Chuck Wraith is organizing an astrophotography special interest group within the BPAA membership.
Planetarium Shows at Battle Point Observatory. Shows offered at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm on the following Saturdays in January – 3 (12:30 show only), 17, and 31.
We’re teaming up with Parks and Rec once again for out-of-this-world classes! Introduction to Astronomy 101 (ages 16+) is back with another fantastic lineup of classes to get you off to a great start in astronomy.