We’re a greasy galaxy
Science Daily reveals that the Milky Way is more like the Greasy Way, with the discovery of lots of “grease-like molecules” floating in the void between the stars:
… Read the rest “We’re a greasy galaxy”Astronomers
astronomy
What the last eclipse taught us.
Science News looks back at last year’s dramatic solar eclipse and shows us why it was a big deal research-wise, too:
… Read the rest “What the last eclipse taught us.”While thousands of eclipse watchers gathered across the country
Outperforming black holes get too big, too fast.
Science News has a metaphor for our times playing out in deep space, where we’ve been watching black holes defy expectations by getting much bigger, much faster than we figured:
… Read the rest “Outperforming black holes get too big, too fast.”Sightings
Jupiter’s cyclone-clusters have a geometry. They make shapes.
Science News looks over data from the Juno space probe and marvels at some of the strange things that are being revealed about the giant planet – including the clusters of cyclones … Read the rest “Jupiter’s cyclone-clusters have a geometry. They make shapes.”
Science Art: The Great Telescope, Melbourne Observatory
Click to embiggenLook up!
I’m not sure exactly what the story is behind this image, because it’s part of the bewildering-but-great (and partially mechanically curated) … Read the rest “Science Art: The Great Telescope, Melbourne Observatory”
China’s ready to make first contact with aliens.
The Atlantic has a great piece on the E.T.-hunting radio telescope that China just built (it’s twice the size of Arecibo) with a little input from China’s greatest living science… Read the rest “China’s ready to make first contact with aliens.”
Science Art: Jupiter: A New Point of View, by Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran
Click to embiggenThis is a sidelong look at the king of planets from NASA’s Image of the Day gallery.
The NASA folks say:
… Read the rest “Science Art: Jupiter: A New Point of View, by Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran”This striking Jovian vista was created by citizen scientists
We just sent a message to a habitable planet.
New Scientist explains that the recipients, if there are any, could answer in about 25 years – enough time for a radio message to travel the 12 light years to GJ 273b, a habitable planet… Read the rest “We just sent a message to a habitable planet.”
Science Art: When (Neutron) Stars Collide, by NASA
Click to embiggenThere’s not much information on the NASA Image of the Day site explaining how this visualization was made. It’s meant to show what it looks like in space when… Read the rest “Science Art: When (Neutron) Stars Collide, by NASA”
It’s a comet. It’s an asteroid. It’s twins. It’s… weird.
Science Daily struggles to define a strange thing the Hubble telescope found between Jupiter and Mars:
… Read the rest “It’s a comet. It’s an asteroid. It’s twins. It’s… weird.”With the help of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, a German-led group of astronomers
Science Art: Theorica Eclipsis Solaris, by Georg von Peurbach.
This is a diagram of how a solar eclipse works, or at least how they thought one worked in the 14th century. It might be one of the very first illustrations of its kind. As explained by the book’s… Read the rest “Science Art: Theorica Eclipsis Solaris, by Georg von Peurbach.”
Good picture of dark matter.
Science Daily gets us a better look than ever before at how much dark matter is out there, where it is, and what it’s doing out there:
… Read the rest “Good picture of dark matter.”In a presentation today at the American Physical
Amateurs find a nearby star by looking through pro astronomers’ old data.
There’s a thing in Australia called “noodling,” where hobbyists look through opal mine spoil piles and find overlooked bits of precious stones. Syfy Wire has a report… Read the rest “Amateurs find a nearby star by looking through pro astronomers’ old data.”
Science Art: Cassini’s view of Jupiter’s southern hemisphere, 2014
Click embiggenSo much depends on perspective.
Image from the European Space Agency – taken by Cassini on its way to Saturn, and doing a little prep work, a little early investigating,… Read the rest “Science Art: Cassini’s view of Jupiter’s southern hemisphere, 2014”