Solar Flares and Stellar Flares Hit Different
Sunspots and solar flares go hand in hand. They generally occur in the same region of the Sun around the same time. We’ve long thought the same would be true…
The Quadrantid Meteors and Earth at Perihelion Usher in the New Skywatching Year
It sneaks up on us, every annual flip of the calendar into the new year. If skies are clear, keep an eye out for the brief but strong Quadrantid meteors…
Why Astronomy Needs a Giant in the Canary Islands
Size matters when it comes to telescopes. The bigger they are, the farther they can see. Prioritizing constructing large ones is therefore high on the priority list for many observational…
The ALMA Array is Completed With 145 New Low-Noise Amplifiers
The Atacama Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), the world’s most powerful radio telescope, has received 145 new low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) that will increase its range and sensitivity.
One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks at the worst possible time this week
A daylight peak and a full moon combine to sabotage the powerful Quadrantid meteor shower in 2026.
Playmobil versus Lego: Which is the best USS Enterprise set?
Lego has recently released their first-ever Star Trek set, the 3600-piece U.S.S Enterprise, but is it better than Playmobil’s model?
When Stars Blow Bubbles
For the first time, astronomers have caught a stellar nursery in the act of blowing giant celestial bubbles, revealing a massive outflow of gas stretching over 650 light-years from one…
The Sticky Problem of Lunar Dust Gets a Mathematical Solution
Lunar dust poses one of the most persistent challenges for spacecraft operations on the Moon, clinging stubbornly to surfaces and infiltrating equipment with potentially devastating consequences. Now, researchers have developed…
The Interstellar Comet That’s Spilling Its Secrets
Astronomers have measured water streaming from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS for the first time since it passed closest to the Sun. Using a spacecraft that’s been watching the Sun for nearly…
Nebula nights: Award-winning sci-fi literature through the ages
Think you know your Le Guin from your Liu? Let’s find out