Stranger Things in a Stranger World
On a clear night sky, head out to the backyard with star charts or night sky apps and look up. Can you spot the constellation Pisces? Did you know there is a strange world in the direction of this constellation? Astronomers recently found evidence of stranger things happening on this…
When Baby Stars and Dark Clouds Collide
Did you know the clash of matter and energy can create magical fireworks in the sky? On Earth, one can see this as glowing auroras or powerful lightning strikes beaming across the sky. What happens when such clashes take place in space? The two young, low-mass proto-stars HR 5999 and HR 6000…
NASA Cassini Data Reveals Building Block for Life in Enceladus’ Ocean
Using data collected by NASA’s Cassini mission, an international team of scientists has discovered phosphorus – an essential chemical element for life – locked inside salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from Enceladus. The icy crust at the south pole of Enceladus exhibits large fissures that allow water from the…
Tune in to the Supernova Radio!
For the first time ever, astronomers detected radio waves coming from a Type Ia supernova! And it doesn’t end there: this ‘special radio broadcast’ might carry clues to solve a longtime puzzle - how white dwarfs really explode! Artist’s impression of helium-rich material from a companion star accreting onto a white dwarf.…
Watch out, Earth! A Dying Star Just Ate A Planet
For the first time astronomers found direct clues of a dying sun-like star eating an exoplanet. Using the NSF NOIRLab’s Gemini South Telescope in Chile, researchers observed a long burst coming from the star, low in energy – a telltale sign of a planet swimming along near the star's surface. Artist Impression…
