Universe Today
The Constellation Ara
Don't Want Aliens Dropping By? Engage Laser Cloaking Device
Powerful arrays of lasers could hide our presence from the prying eyes of aliens.
Continue reading
Andromeda's First Spinning Neutron Star Found
Astronomers combing through data from the ESA's XMM Newton telescope have found the Andromeda Galaxy's first spinning neutron star.
Continue reading
ALMA Captures Never-Before-Seen Details of Protoplanetary Disk
ALMA, a network of radio telescopes, creates the most detailed images ever of a solar system forming around a nearby star.
Continue reading
Russian Space Freighter Hauling Fresh Fruit Blasts Off for ISS Crew
An unmanned Russian space freighter hauling fresh fruit and over three tons of food, water, supplies and science experiments blasted off today, Thursday, March 31, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, commencing a two-day orbital trek to the six person crew living aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Continue reading
How Do We Terraform The Moon?
Given its proximity to Earth and our history of exploring it, colonizing and terraforming the Moon could be much easier than other Solar bodies
Continue reading
Kennedy's Modernized Spaceport Passes Key Review Supporting SLS/Orion Launches
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Modernization of NASA's launch infrastructure facilities at the Kennedy Space Center supporting the new SLS/Orion architecture required to send astronauts on a Journey to Mars in the 2030s, has passed a comprehensive series of key hardware reviews, NASA announced, paving the path towards full scale development and the inaugural liftoff by late 2018.
Continue reading
Mars Colony Will Have To Wait, Says NASA Scientists
Despite NASA's proposed mission to Mars in the 2030s, two NASA scientists recently indicated that a permanent colony is still a long ways away
Continue reading
Inflatable Space Habitat To Be Tested On The ISS
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, an inflatable space habitat, will be launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon then attached to the ISS for a 2-year study.
Continue reading
A Challenging Daytime Occultation of Venus for Europe
Up for a challenge? The Moon occults Venus for Europe, the UK and northern Asia on April 6th, though it'll be a tough daytime catch. Get ready to stretch those visual skills to the limit, with our complete guide to this event.
Continue reading
Jupiter Just Got Nailed By Something
Video from Austrian and Irish amateur astronomers points to a new impact on Jupiter by either a comet or asteroid.
Continue reading
Carnival of Space #451
Messier 9 (M9) - The NGC 6333 Globular Cluster
Japan's Black Hole Telescope Is In Trouble
Astronomy Cast Ep. 408: Universe Cannibalism
Astronomy Cast Ep. 408: Universe Cannibalism
Welcome to Astronomy Cast, our weekly facts based journey through the cosmos. Where we help you understand not only what we know, but how we know what we know.
My name is Fraser Cain, I'm the publisher of Universe Today. With me is Dr. Pamela Gay, a professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the director of Cosmoquest.
Hi Pamela, how are you doing?
We've talked about stellar cannibalism and galactic cannibalism, but now it's time to take this concept to its logical extreme - universe cannibalism. In the multiverse theory of physics we live in just one of a vast range of universes which might interact with each other. Let's look for the evidence.
Continue reading
Teasing the Galactic Ghoul, Past and Present
The close call experienced by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is only one of the most recent brushes with catastrophe that spaceflight has experienced en route to Mars.
Continue reading
What is the Earth's Mantle Made Of?
Cygnus Commercial Space Freighter Arrives at Space Station with 3.5 Tons of Supplies
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Following a perfectly executed three day orbital rendezvous, NASA astronaut and Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra successfully reached out with the International Space Station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, grabbed hold and captured Orbital ATK's commercial Cygnus cargo freighter at 6:51 a.m. EDT, this morning, Saturday, March 26, 2016.
Continue reading
Atlas V Engine Anomaly Forces Thrust Makeup During Cygnus Launch, Next Flight Delayed
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - This week's Atlas V rocket launch of a Cygnus cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS) apparently experienced a first stage engine anomaly during the climb to space that required a longer firing of the boosters upper stage engine so the payload could successfully achieve the required orbit
Continue reading
What is the Rotation of the Earth?
We all know that planet Earth rotates on its axis as well as around the Sun. But this period yields some different results, depending on how you measure it.
Continue reading
Weekly Space Hangout - Mar. 25, 2016: Andrew Helton & Ryan Hamilton of SOFIA
See Historic Comet BA14 Up Close In These New Radar Images
During its recent flyby of Earth, astronomers used the Goldstone radar antenna to create a remarkable series of images of a comet never seen up close before.
Continue reading
Streaks Galore as Cygnus Soars Chasing Station for Science; Photos, Videos
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Tuesday evening, March 22, turned into 'streaks galore' on Florida's space coast, as the nighttime launch of an Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo freighter atop an Atlas V rocket was captured in unforgettable fashion by talented space photographers as it chases down the International Space Station (ISS), loaded with hundreds of science experiments.
Continue reading
ExoMars Mission Narrowly Avoids Exploding Booster
The final booster that sent the ExoMars spacecraft to Mars exploded not long after the two parted. Luckily, the probe appears to be safe.
Continue reading
The Moon's Other Axis
The Moon had a different axis of rotation billions of years ago. The culprit? Volcanoes.
Continue reading
Book Review: The Chang'E-1 Topographic Atlas of the Moon
Most 'Outrageous' Luminous Galaxies Ever Observed
A team of astronomers have discovered 8 of the brightest galaxies ever observed. And their luminosity could tell us a lot about the early Universe.
Continue reading
Moonbase by 2022 For $10 Billion, Says NASA
According to a series of articles produced by NASA and industry specialists, a lunar base could be built in a few years for just $10 billion
Continue reading
Solar Storms Ignite Aurora On Jupiter
In 2011, a coronal mass ejection reached Jupiter and produced x-ray auroras hundreds of times brighter than Earth's auroras.
Continue reading
Carnival of Space #450
High Albedo Points To Huge Collision Forming Plutonian System
Pluto's moons were likely formed as a result of a collision between Pluto and a Pluto-sized object, about 4 billion years ago.
Continue reading
Stunning Nighttime Cygnus Freighter Rockets to ISS Stocked with Science Mesmerizing Spectators
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - A stunningly beautiful nighttime launch mesmerized delighted spectators as it roared off a Florida space coast launch pad late Tuesday night, March 22, on a mission for NASA stocked with over three tons of science and supplies bound for the multinational crews working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Continue reading
Best NASA Images Yet Of Ceres' Brightest Spot
New images from NASA's Dawn spacecraft reveal spectacular new details in Ceres' intriguing "bright spots".
Continue reading
Ancient Pluto May Have Had Lakes And Rivers Of Nitrogen
New Horizons data shows that Pluto may once have had a warm enough climate for liquid nitrogen to form on its surface. And it may get that warm again.
Continue reading
Kepler Catches Early Flash Of An Exploding Star
The Kepler spacecraft has captured the "shock breakout" of a distant supernova, a twenty minute event that signals the end of a stars life.
Continue reading
Full Moon Offers Spectacular Nighttime Launch Outlook for Orbital ATK Cygnus Resupply to ISS on Atlas V on March 22 - Watch Live
A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Leads the Way to Easter Weekend
The first Full Moon after the vernal equinox not only sets us up for Easter this weekend, but features an extra treat: a penumbral lunar eclipse.
Continue reading
Messier 8 (M8) - The Lagoon Nebula
Messier 8, also known as the Lagoon Nebula, is one of only two star-forming nebulae that is visible to the naked eye at mid-northern latitudes
Continue reading
Beyond WIMPs: Exploring Alternative Theories Of Dark Matter
A team of scientists are looking beyond WIMPs in the search for Dark Matter, one which could be confirmed in the near future
Continue reading
Book Review and Giveaway: Ask the Astronaut
Imagine yourself sitting in front of a veteran astronaut. You are able to ask him or her all the space related questions floating about in your head, with no interruptions and no time limit. 'Ask the Astronaut,' by 4-time shuttle astronaut Tom Jones, is that virtual astronaut sitting across from you - the answer to your curiosity.
Continue reading
What Are The Benefits Of Volcanoes?
Despite being an incredibly powerful and destructive force of nature, volcanoes actually have a number of positive effects
Continue reading
First American to Live on ISS for 3 Long Missions Arrives after Soyuz Night Launch and Docking
The first American to become a three-time, long-term resident of the International Space Station (ISS) has just arrived at the orbiting outpost this evening, Friday, March 18 after blasting off with two Russian crewmates in a Soyuz spacecraft barely six hours ago and successfully completing a fast-track four orbit rendezvous.
Continue reading
The Aquila Constellation
New Horizons Team Releases First Papers On Pluto And Its Moons
The New Horizons team has released their first set of papers which they say will "completely transform our view of Pluto."
Continue reading
Where is the Closest Black Hole?
Black holes are pretty dangerous, so it's a good idea to keep an idea on where all the nearby ones are. How close is the closest one, anyway?
Continue reading
Weekly Space Hangout - Mar. 18, 2016: Song of the Stars
New Lenses To Help In The Hunt For Dark Energy
With the arrival of two special lenses, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is on its way to exploring the Universe for dark matter
Continue reading
VLA Shows Early Stages Of Planet Formation In Unprecedented Detail
Astronomers have captured the earliest image yet of the formation of planets around a young star.
Continue reading
Next Cygnus Cargo Freighter Named in Honor of Columbia's Last Commander Rick Husband
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The next Cygnus cargo resupply ship targeted to blastoff for the International Space Station (ISS) on March 22, has been named the S.S. Rick Husband in honor of Col. Rick Husband, the late commander of Space Shuttle Columbia, which was tragically lost with its crew of seven NASA astronauts during re-entry on its final flight on Feb. 1, 2003.
Continue reading
Sun-Like Star Shows Magnetic Field Was Key For Early Life On Earth
By studying the star Kappa Ceti, researchers have determined that the young Sun in our solar system was a much more energetic star than it is now.
Continue reading