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NASA images: These 6 photos from outer Space will make you fall in love with astronomy
NASA Images: From the backyard of our solar systems to the galaxies located millions of light years away, the Universe is filled with mysteries waiting to be uncovered by humans. National Aeronautics Space Administration keeps sharing images of rare events in the Universe and of distant celestial bodies. Here are the top 6 mysterious images…
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Fitting farewell to ‘Space Gandalf’ who brought astronomy to the people
If it wasn’t looking at the night sky it was in the water off Broome where renowned astronomer Greg Quicke liked to be. In early June, Quicke’s family announced the Broome legend had died at the age of 62. Today, under the phase of a new moon on a bright morning, friends and family of…
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Dragon-shaped aurora and ‘scream of a dying star’ revealed as 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year finalists
From mesmerizing “mythical monsters” to jaw-dropping distant constellations, the shortlisted candidates for Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 showcase the magnificent beauty in the skies around us. Here are this year’s stunning nominees. A Night with the Valkyries — Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis (Image credit: A Night with the Valkyries © Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis) In…
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See Ten Awe-Inspiring Images From the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest
Samuel Sanders For generations, skywatchers and hobbyists around the world have admired the beauty of the cosmos. The Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest channels that wonder into dazzling images, taken by amateur and professional astrophotographers as they vie for a £10,000 ($12,750) grand prize. The contest, arguably the biggest astrophotography competition in the world,…
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LEGO creates ‘space bricks’ made from meteorite dust
Out of this world: the LEGO bricks “space bricks” have been made using a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite. (Courtesy: LEGO) LEGO has teamed up with the European Space Agency (ESA) to create several “space bricks” made from a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite. The particular meteorite was discovered in north-west Africa in 2000 and is a “brecciated stone”…
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Alien ‘warp drives’ may leave telltale signals in the fabric of space-time, new paper claims
“Warp drives” used by super-advanced alien civilizations may create specific space-time ripples in their wake that we can spot from Earth, a new paper argues. However, the jury is still out on whether the faster-than-light technology is even possible to create in the first place. A warp drive is a hypothetical device that enables an…
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SpaceX wins NASA contract to launch gamma-ray astronomy mission
WASHINGTON — NASA has selected SpaceX to launch a small gamma-ray astronomy mission on a Falcon 9 in 2027. NASA announced July 2 that it awarded a contract to SpaceX to launch the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) spacecraft, a small Explorer-class, or SMEX, mission into low Earth orbit. The contract, valued at about $69…
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Scientists finally found 2 of the Milky Way’s missing dwarf galaxies. What could this mean for astronomy?
Astronomers have discovered two new satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, and these findings could help us better understand dark matter — the mysterious stuff that accounts for around 85% of the matter in the universe yet remains effectively invisible to us. The discoveries also move scientists a step closer to solving a lingering problem…
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The Milky Way will be visible without a telescope this summer. Here are the key nights to watch for.
It’s the best time of the year to see the Milky Way. In July and August, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the bright center of our galaxy becomes visible, but only to those in the right place at the right time. If the skies are clear, it’s possible to see billions of stars arching…
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How to fly to the edge of space for $2.50
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off during the NS-25 astronaut mission on May 19. Credit: Blue Origin. The U.S.-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), which describes itself as a “space agency for everyone,” will fly citizens from India, Nigeria, and the small island developing states (SIDS) to the edge of the atmosphere in partnership with…