-
Globular star cluster emitting mysterious radio signal
The most sensitive image ever of a globular cluster – and the deepest, most detailed radio image ever produced by an Australian radio telescope – has thrown up a surprise. Globular clusters are round collections of stars bound together by gravity, but usually much smaller and less complex in structure than a typical galaxy. The…
-
‘We do not understand how it can exist’: Astronomers baffled by ‘almost invisible’ dwarf galaxy that upends a dark matter theory
Scientists have discovered an “almost invisible” dwarf galaxy that cannot be explained by our current understanding of the cosmos. The mysteriously faint object, which has evaded detection for years, is so dim that researchers haven’t even been able to pin down exactly where it is. The newfound galaxy, named Nube (or “cloud” in Spanish), was…
-
The strange story of the grave of Copernicus
Nicholas Copernicus was the astronomer who, five centuries ago, explained that Earth revolves around the Sun, rather than vice versa. A true Renaissance man, he also practised as a mathematician, engineer, author, economic theorist and medical doctor. Upon his death in 1543 in Frombork, Poland, Copernicus was buried in the local cathedral. Over the subsequent…
-
Mysterious ‘Big Ring’ found in space ‘must surely be telling us something’
It is 1.3bn light-years in diameter and appears to be roughly 15 times the size of the Moon in the night sky as seen from Earth. Photo: University of Central Lancashire Scientists at the University of Central Lancashire have discovered a gigantic, ring-shaped structure in space. It is 1.3 billion light-years in diameter and appears…
-
UK astronomers discover gigantic ring-shaped structure in space
UK scientists discovered a gigantic ring-shaped structure in space, which may challenge people’s understanding and existing assumptions about the universe. The astronomers named the ring-shaped structure “the Big Ring”, which is 9.2 billion light-years from Earth. It has a diameter of about 1.3 billion light-years, and a circumference of about four billion light-years, made up…
-
Astronomers accidentally discover ‘dark’ primordial galaxy with no visible stars
Astronomers have accidentally discovered a dark galaxy filled with primordial gas untouched that appears to have no visible stars. The researchers behind the discovery say this galaxy, designated J0613+52, could be “the faintest galaxy found to date.” Interestingly, scientists using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) discovered the “dark” galaxy through a complete error. “The GBT…
-
NASA astronomers detect high-energy ‘signal’ from outside our galaxy in ‘serendipitous discovery’
Astronomers have discovered a surprising light “signal” from outside of our galaxy after analysing 13 years of data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Key points: The source of a high-energy burst of light found outside our galaxy is unknown NASA astronomers detected it after analysing data from a powerful gamma ray telescope They were originally…
-
Huge ring of galaxies challenges thinking on cosmos
By Pallab GhoshScience correspondent Stellarium An artist’s impression highlighting the positions of the Big Ring (in blue) and Giant Arc (shown in red) in the sky. Scientists at the University of Central Lancashire have discovered a gigantic, ring-shaped structure in space. It is 1.3bn light-years in diameter and appears to be roughly 15 times the…
-
Ireland’s newest Astronomy Club launches in Drogheda
Once you get bitten by the astronomy bug, it never leaves you, and your whole world suddenly opens up to the most amazing new possibilities and discoveries. The night sky is always there, even in daylight, but it’s only when our position on earth has turned sufficiently enough away from the sun that its light…
-
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to host rave for astronomy geeks with…
This party is sure to be far out. The Kennedy Space Center of Cape Canaveral, Florida is gearing up for a major launch in February — of an after-hours techno rave and costume party among real astronauts at its visitor complex. “The colors of the cosmos come to life” on the evening of February 2…