A FAST RESPONSE INTERCEPTOR SPACECRAFT TO STUDY INTERSTELLAR VISITORS LIKE OUMUAMUA

OUMUAMUA

Oumuamua is the first known interstellar object detected passing through the solar system. When Astronomers first detected it in the year 2017, it was too late to study it properly. But within that brief period, it exhibited some unexpected properties which left astronomers scratching their heads. Its elongated shape, lack of coma and facts that … Read more

The give and take of mega-flares from stars

The give and take of mega-flares from stars

The long relationships between stars and the planets around them—including the Sun and the Earth—maybe even more complex than previously thought. This is one conclusion of a new study involving thousands of stars using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. By conducting the largest survey ever of star-forming regions in X-rays, a team of researchers has helped … Read more

Image: Hubble sees a spiral in good company

Hubble sees a spiral in good company

This image, taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3, features the spiral galaxy NGC 4680. Two other galaxies, at the far right and bottom centre of the image, flank NGC 4680. NGC 4680 enjoyed a wave of attention in 1997, as it played host to a supernova explosion known as SN 1997bp. Australian amateur astronomer … Read more

What mission could detect oceans at Uranus’ moons?

Highest resolution image we have of Miranda, one of Uranus’ most interesting moons

Exploration of ocean worlds has become a hot topic of late, primarily due to their role as a potential harbour for alien life. Moons that have confirmed subsurface oceans garner much of the attention, such as Enceladus and Europa. But they may not be the only ones. Uranus’ larger moons—Miranda, Ariel and Umbriel could potentially … Read more