Space

Japan’s ispace aims for 2022 moon landing for private Hakuto-R spacecraft 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 15, 2020
It’s a one-year delay from a previous 2021 target

By David Aragorn
Betelgeuse’s Mysterious Dimming Likely Caused by Huge Outburst 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 15, 2020
The red supergiant Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and appears even more luminous because it is so close to Earth, only 650 light-years away. But the star also periodically changes in brightness, which was first noted in the 1830s by the British astronomer John Herschel. Betelgeuse experienced an unexpected dimming during December 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, reaching an historic minimum on February 7-13. This dimming has mystified astronomers, who scrambled to develop several theories for the abrupt change. Ultraviolet observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope suggest that the dimming was probably caused by an immense amount of superhot material ejected into space. The material cooled and formed a dust cloud that blocked the starlight coming from about a quarter of Betelgeuse’s surface.

By David Aragorn
Mars becomes Planet Hulk in eerie nightglow animation of UV-emitting atmospheric phenomenon 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 15, 2020
If ever there might be a suitable world that Marvel’s Jade Giant might want to settle down on, it’s this spooky, green-tinted rendering of Mars’ nightside atmosphere delivered by the enterprising folks at NASA.

By David Aragorn
Record-Breaking Stars Discovered Around The Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 14, 2020
Astronomers looking at the core of the Milky Way have discovered some of the most extreme stars in our galaxy. Orbiting the central supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A*, one of these stars is now the fastest ever discovered in the galaxy, moving at around 8 percent of the speed of light.

By David Aragorn
‘Black dwarf supernova’: Physicist calculates when the last supernova ever will happen 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 14, 2020
The end of the universe as we know it will not come with a bang. Most stars will very, very slowly fizzle as their temperatures fade to zero.

By David Aragorn
Milky Way-like galaxy found in deep space puzzles astronomers 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 13, 2020
Using a clever gravity trick, researchers locate a distant galaxy reminiscent of our own. Current theories say it shouldn’t be there.

By David Aragorn
NASA’s Planet Hunter Completes Its Primary Mission 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 13, 2020
On July 4, NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) finished its primary mission, imaging about 75% of the starry sky as part of a two-year-long survey.

By David Aragorn
Paradoxically, white dwarf stars shrink as they gain mass 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 13, 2020
Telescope observations of thousands of these stripped-down stars confirm the trend

By David Aragorn
There’s still a chance to see the Perseid Meteor Shower! Here’s how to watch 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 13, 2020
Still good for watching one of the best meteor showers of the entire year? The Perseid Meteor Shower is going on right now, and there are more chances to catch the show, even after its Tuesday night peak.

By David Aragorn
Rocket Lab ready to attempt Electron booster recovery 0
- From Around the Web, Space
- August 12, 2020
Rocket Lab says it’s on track to test recovering an Electron booster later this year as it also improves the payload performance of the small launch vehicle.

By David Aragorn