Category Archives: Astronomy

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This artist's impression shows how hot, brilliant and high-mass stars evolve. The more massive brighter star expands first, until the outer layers start to strongly feel the gravitational pull of the companion. The companion then starts to suck material from the primary star. When the primary has been stripped from its entire hydrogen-rich envelope it shrinks.

Credit: Navid Marvi, courtesy of the Carnegie Institution for Science

Astronomers at the University of Toronto have discovered a population of massive stars that have been stripped of their hydrogen envelopes by their companions in binary systems. The findings, published today in Science, shed light on the hot helium stars that are believed to be the origins of hydrogen-poor core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers.

For over a decade, scientists have theorized that approximately one in three massive stars are stripped of their hydrogen envelope in binary systems. Yet, until now, only one possible candidate had been identified.

This was such a big, glaring hole, says co-lead author Maria Drout, an Assistant Professor in the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and a Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics Associate at the University of Toronto.

If it turned out that these stars are rare, then our whole theoretical framework for all these different phenomena is wrong, with implications for supernovae, gravitational waves, and the light from distant galaxies, Drout says. This finding shows these stars really do exist.

Going forward, we are going to be able to do much more detailed physics with these stars, Drout says. For example, predictions for how many neutron star mergers we should see are dependent on the properties of these stars, such as how much material comes off ofthem in stellar winds. Now, for the first time, well be able to measure that, whereas people have been extrapolating it before.

Binary stripped stars have been previously evoked to explain why a third of core-collapse supernovae contain much less hydrogen than a typical explosion of a Red Supergiant star. Drout and her colleagues propose that these newly discovered stars will eventually explode as hydrogen-poor supernovae. These star systems are also thought to be necessary to form neutron star mergers, like those that emit gravitational waves detected from Earth by the LIGO experiment.

In fact, the researchers believe that a few objects in their current sample are stripped stars with neutron star or blackhole companions. These objects are at the stage immediately before they become double neutron star or neutron star plus blackhole systems that could eventually merge.

Many stars are part of a cosmic dance with a partner, orbiting each other in a binary system. They're not solitary giants but part of dynamic duos, interacting and influencing each other throughout their lifetimes, says Bethany Ludwig, a PhD student in in the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University Toronto and the third author on this paper. Our work sheds light on these fascinating relationships, revealing a universe that is far more interconnected and active than we previously imagined.

Just as humans are social beings, stars too, especially the massive ones, are rarely alone, Ludwig says.

As stars evolve and expand to become red giants, the hydrogen at the outer edges of one can be stripped by the gravitational pull of its companionleaving a very hot helium core exposed. The process can take tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of years.

Stripped stars are difficult to find because much of the light they emit is outside of the visible light spectrum and can be obstructed by dust in the universe or outshone by their companion stars.

Drout and her collaborators began their search in 2016. Having studied hydrogen-poor supernovae during her PhD, Drout set out to find the stripped stars thought to be at the heart of them during a NASA Hubble Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science. She met fellow co-author Ylva Gtberg, now Assistant Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA),at a conference, who had recently built new theoretical models of what these stars should look like.

Drout, Gtberg, and their collaborators designed a new survey to look in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum where extremely hot stars emit most of their light. While invisible to the naked eye, ultraviolet light can be detected by specialized instruments and telescopes.

Using data from the Swift Ultra-Violet/Optical Telescope, the researchers collected brightnesses for millions of stars in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two of the closest galaxies to Earth. Ludwig developed the first wide-field UV catalog of the Magellanic Clouds and used UV photometry to detect systems with unusual UV emissions, signaling the possible presence of a stripped star.

They carried out a pilot study of 25 objects, obtaining optical spectroscopy with the Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory between 2018 and 2022. They used these observations to demonstrate that the stars were hot, small, hydrogen-poor, and in binary systemsall consistent with their model predictions.

Currently, the researchers are continuing to study the stars identified in this paper and expanding their search to find more. They will be looking both within nearby galaxies and within our own Milky Way with approved programs on the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Telescope, the Magellan Telescopes, and the Anglo-Australian Telescope. As part of this publication, all theoretical models and data used to identify these stars have been made public and available to other scientists.

Collaborating institutions include the University of Toronto, the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science, Max-Planck-Institut fr Astrophysik, Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, and Steward Observatory.

About the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto is an endowed research institute with over 80 faculty, postdocs, students, and staff, dedicated to innovative technology, groundbreaking research, world-class training, and public engagement.

The research themes of its faculty and Dunlap Fellows span the Universe and include: optical, infrared and radio instrumentation, Dark Energy, large-scale structure, the Cosmic Microwave Background, the interstellar medium, galaxy evolution, cosmic magnetism and time-domain science.

The Dunlap Institute, the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, and other researchers across the University of Torontos three campuses together comprise the leading concentration of astronomers in Canada, at the leading research university in the country.

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Observational study

Not applicable

An observed population of intermediate mass helium stars that have been stripped in binaries

14-Dec-2023

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Astronomers discover first population of binary stripped stars - EurekAlert

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The strange phenomenon, which rarely appears above red sprites that dance over thunderstorms, reveals the presence metals in our atmosphere.

A red sprite appears above a thunderstorm visible from Maunakea in Hawaii. Also present is a blue and white jet, which flows down from the sprite and into the thundercloud. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/A. Smith

High up in the atmosphere, near the boundary of space, a dazzling, fleeting flash of red sometimes briefly appears above a thunderstorm before evaporating away.

These events, which occur far above when lightning strikes in the lower atmosphere, are called sprites. They fall under the umbrella of transient luminous events (TLEs) and only in the past few decades have we been able to observe them. And only since 2019 have we discovered that one out of 100 sprites producers an even more elusive, even more mysterious phenomenon: a greenish glow called a ghost. A new study published today in Nature Communications hints at when and why sprites might form these ghosts.

Read more: Sprites and elves found frolicking in Jupiters skies

TLEs are generated as a result of the intense electrical activity associated with lightning discharges, says study lead author Mara Passas-Varo of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientficas Instituto de Astrofsica de Andaluca in Granada, Spain. The specific type of TLE that forms depends on factors such as the altitude, the type of lightning discharge, and the characteristics of the atmospheric layers involved.

Not all TLEs are sprites. There are a cornucopia of these events, all a little bit different, and typically named after mythological creatures like elves, gnomes, pixies, and trolls. Its an area of atmospheric research thats still relatively new, and always in need of more data.

Since June 2019, Passas-Varo and her team have been observing lightning storms with an instrument called the Granada Sprite Spectrograph and Polarimeter, or GRASSP. GRASSP examines the light from sprites to determine what elements or molecules in the atmosphere are responsible for the emission. With it, they have recorded at least 2,000 sprites, generating one of the biggest databases of these events in their efforts to look specifically for the ghosts they sometimes create.

To record these rare phenomena, you have to aim the spectrograph at the altitude where the ghost is likely to appear, which becomes a matter of luck combined with expertise,

Passas-Varo says. In almost four years of recording, from more than 2,000 spectra, we have just 42 spectra from the top of a sprite. And from those, she says, only one, which occurred Sept. 21, 2019, was a strong enough signal to study.

Sprites and ghosts occur in the mesosphere, the layer of Earths atmosphere that sits above the stratosphere and extends from about 31 to 53 miles (50 to 85 kilometers) above the ground. The mesosphere is extremely thin, with only about 1/100,000 the atmospheric pressure at sea level. And one of the biggest mysteries surrounding ghosts is what, chemically, causes them. Certain elements likely become charged in the atmosphere during these events, and the researchers wanted to know which ones.

The answer was quite surprising: Its metals, like iron and nickel, and theyre located higher in the atmosphere than the study authors expected to find them.

Thats because while the atmospheric layers above the mesosphere are known to have bits of iron and nickel, likely deposited by meteors as they streak through, these metals had never before been detected in the mesosphere. Passas-Varo says its likely that gravity waves (think ocean-like waves but through the air, not to be confused with gravitational waves) could push the microscopic bits of iron and nickel down to these lower altitudes, where they generate ghosts under the right circumstances.

Now that some ghosts have been caught, Passas-Varo and her colleagues are hatching ideas on how to capture more of them.

The first is to add a green filter to some of their field cameras used to detect lightning. This could help them cross-reference the events with data from the Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy satellite, which looks for gravity waves in Earths atmosphere. In doing so, they can see whether gravity waves play a role in whether a sprite produces a ghost.

Theyre also considering building a new, GRAASP-like instrument with a different type of lens and slit at the front to take readings. A cylindrical lens funneling light into a vertical slit, Passas-Varo says, will make it easier to image ghosts for further study.

Theres still a lot of work to do, she says. But this study lays the groundwork for future atmospheric ghostbusting and might even unearth some new atmospheric spirits along the way.

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Astronomers capture a green ghost in our atmosphere - Astronomy Magazine

The winter solstice marks the beginning of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere. Credit: Foundry Co (Pixabay)

Friday, December 15 Asteroid 4 Vesta is skimming just south of several open star clusters near Geminis feet this evening. Just days from reaching opposition later this week, Vesta is currently an easy binocular object at magnitude 6.5. And its also in an easy-to-locate spot, just 12 northwest of Chi2 (2) Orionis.

Once youve found Vesta, all you have to do is slide your field of view some 4 north to land on M35, glowing at magnitude 5.3. This open cluster is roughly 100 million years old and spans about half a degree, making it look best at lower magnifications and with wide-field eyepieces. Higher powers might show a smaller, more concentrated clump of stars to M35s southwest thats magnitude 8.6 NGC 2158, another open cluster. And some 1.6 farther southwest is NGC 2129, a third open cluster that shines at magnitude 6.7. Even if you cant spot NGC 2158, youll likely see the brighter, slightly larger NGC 2129.

Sunrise: 7:15 A.M. Sunset: 4:35 P.M. Moonrise: 10:07 A.M. Moonset: 7:27 P.M. Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (10%) *Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40 N 90 W. The Moons illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.

Saturday, December 16 The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit, at 1:53 P.M. EST. At that time, Luna sits 228,603 miles (367,901 kilometers) away.

Speaking of the Moon, its light will soon start interfering with observations of Comet 62P/Tsuchinshan 1, so tonight is your best chance to get in a good look for a while. Rising in Leo an hour or two before local midnight, the comet has recently been recorded at magnitude 9, reachable with any telescope under a reasonably dark sky. The best time to observe Tsuchinshan 1 is in the last few hours of darkness before sunrise, when it is highest in the sky. Tsuchinshan 1 currently sits in the midst of the Lions body. To find it, first locate Leos brightest star, Regulus, and scan about 8.5 northeast.

The comet is not far from several great galaxies to observe: NGC 3384, M105, M95, and M96, as well as the Leo Trio of galaxies near the Lions hindquarters. Check out the chart above for the locations of these galaxies relative to Tsuchinshan 1 today.

After this, the Moon will interfere with observing, though deep photography may carry you through for a few more days. And astroimagers may especially want to try for some shots on the 28th, when Tsuchinshan 1 reaches the Leo Trio.

Sunrise: 7:15 A.M. Sunset: 4:36 P.M. Moonrise: 10:47 A.M. Moonset: 8:44 P.M. Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (18%)

Sunday, December 17 The Moon passes 2 south of magnitude 0.9 Saturn at 5 P.M. EST. Its already growing dark on the East Coast, allowing observers there to easily spot the waxing crescent Moon hanging directly beneath the planet in the south. To the pairs lower left, the bright star Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus may also begin to peek out from the twilight.

In time zones farther west, observers will see the Moon slowly crawl to Saturns left. Its a great illustration of the way nearer objects appear to move faster against the background sky than those farther away. Luna now sits some 229,056 miles (368,630 km) away; Saturn is 938,850,000 miles (1.5 billion km) from Earth.

By 9 P.M. CST (after the planet has set in the Eastern time zone), the Moon and Saturn sit side by side, now nearly 3 apart. They are low in the west for Midwestern observers.

Through a telescope, Saturns spectacular rings are visible, about 37 from end to end. The planets brightest moon, Titan, sits far to the east, some 2.5 from Saturns center. Several fainter moons stand on the other side of the planet: Dione lies just south of the rings on Saturns western side, while Tethys (closer) and Rhea (farther) are roughly in line with the planets equator farther west. Enceladus possibly too faint for many scopes sits just north of the rings on Saturns western side.

Sunrise: 7:16 A.M. Sunset: 4:36 P.M. Moonrise: 11:20 A.M. Moonset: 10:00 P.M. Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (28%)

Monday, December 18 Canis Major is one of two loyal hunting dogs who follow Orion up into the sky on winter evenings. By about 9:30 P.M. local time, this constellations brightest star, Sirius, stands 15 above the southeastern horizon. This luminary is the brightest star in the sky, and tonight were using it to guide our way toward a colorful target: the open clusterM41.

From Sirius, you need only drop your gaze 4 due south to land on this sparkling star cluster. Under even modest magnifications of 14x, the glittering points of light will begin to show off contrasting colors of blue, orange, yellow, and red. A stars color is generally an indicator of its temperature, as hotter stars appear blue or white, while cooler stars trend toward orange and red. M41 spans roughly 40 and contains about 100 stars, including a bright red giant near the clusters center that shines at 7th magnitude. In truth, this single, aging luminary is some 700 times brighter than our Sun.

Sunrise: 7:17 A.M. Sunset: 4:36 P.M. Moonrise: 11:48 A.M. Moonset: 11:13 P.M. Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (39%)

Tuesday, December 19 The Moon passes 1.3 south of Neptune at 8 A.M. EST; our satellite then reaches First Quarter at 1:39 P.M. EST.

An hour after sunset, the Moon has moved east of Neptune and the two stand high in the south. The distant ice giant is not visible to the naked eye and you will need binoculars or a telescope to spot its magnitude 7.8 glow. The planet lies about 5 due south of Lambda () Piscium, the southeasternmost star in the Circlet of Pisces.

Shift your gaze back up to Lambda, then look 2 to its northeast. You should land on a deep red magnitude 5 star. This is TX Piscium, also cataloged as 19 Piscium and the easternmost star in the Circlet. TX is a variable star known as a carbon star; these are some of the reddest stars in the sky, as carbon in their atmospheres scatters away any blue light they emit.

Sunrise: 7:17 A.M. Sunset: 4:37 P.M. Moonrise: 12:12 P.M. Moonset: Moon Phase: First Quarter

Wednesday, December 20 Jupiters moon Io makes an easy-to-watch transit of the planets face tonight, starting just a few minutes before 10:30 P.M. EST. The gas giant shines brightly in Aries the Ram, making it simple to locate and zoom in on with a telescope to watch.

Io is followed eventually by its shadow, which appears over the cloud tops of the planets eastern limb an hour later (11:30 P.M. EST), just as Io is halfway through its east-to-west journey. The moon finishes its transit just after 12:30 A.M. EST on the 21st (note this is still late on the 20th in time zones farther west), its shadow now roughly centered on the planets prime meridian. Io continues to pull away to the west and the shadow finally disappears around 1:40 A.M. EST (early on the 21st for Eastern and Central time zones; still the 20th for the western half of the country).

You can also see the other three Galilean moons tonight: Ganymede lies alone far to the east, with Europa closer to Jupiters western limb than Callisto on the other side. Plus, Jupiters Great Red Spot makes an appearance, crossing the planets center around 11 P.M. EST. In fact, the storm and Io are roughly moving together, a real treat to see as the hours pass.

Sunrise: 7:18 A.M. Sunset: 4:37 P.M. Moonrise: 12:36 P.M. Moonset: 12:24 A.M. Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (61%)

Thursday, December 21 Asteroid 4 Vesta reaches opposition today at 2 P.M. EST. The main-belt world is visible all night, roughly from sunset to sunrise, in the constellation Orion.

The winter solstice occurs at 10:27 P.M. EST, bringing the official start of winter to the Northern Hemisphere (and the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere). On this day, the Sun takes its most southerly path through Northern Hemisphere skies (and, accordingly, its most northerly path through Southern Hemisphere skies).

Many people also think that the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, but thats not quite true. You can read why, as well as discover some other cool things about the winter solstice, in a past article from former Astronomy senior editor Rich Talcott (now a frequent contributing editor).

In addition to the solstice, today is special for another reason: We are seeing the waxing Moon fully face-on tonight. What does that mean? Over the course of a month, the Moon can appear to nod up and down as it orbits, an effect called libration. Sometimes we see more of its north pole, and sometimes more of its south pole. Today, we are looking directly toward the center of our satellite. In previous days, we were getting a peek at more southerly locales, but now we will start to view more of the northern regions as Luna begins to tilt its face back down, like a person nodding their head down to tuck their chin.

Sunrise: 7:18 A.M. Sunset: 4:38 P.M. Moonrise: 1:00 P.M. Moonset: 1:36 A.M. Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (72%)

Friday, December 22 The Moon passes 3 north of Jupiter at 9 A.M. EST. Well catch them in the evening sky in next weeks column, so stay tuned.

In other planetary news, Mercury reaches inferior conjunction with the Sun, rendering it invisible to us for now, at 2 P.M. EST. Well start to see it again next month, after the new year.

Today, lets home in on main-belt asteroid 9 Metis, which reaches opposition at 6 P.M. EST. The magnitude 8.4 asteroid lies in far southwestern Gemini, close to that constellations border with Taurus. This region rises shortly after sunset; give it a few hours to climb out of the horizon haze and by 7 or 8 P.M. local time, it should be ripe for observation.

If you have trouble recognizing Gemini by eye, Taurus V-shaped face and Orions three-star Belt are easy signposts. Gemini lies left of Orion and below Taurus. Metis is near the Twins feet, close to the two bright stars Elnath and Alheka, which mark the tips of Taurus horns. But the easiest way to find Metis is to first center on 3rd-magnitude Propus (Eta [] Geminornum). About 2.3 northwest of this star is the 5th-magnitude open cluster M35, which we visited earlier this week.

From M35, continue northwest for 3.3 to arrive at Metis. The asteroid lies just 20 southeast of a 6th-magnitude field star tonight, helping to aid in its identification. If you lock onto that star, you may notice Metis shift ever-so-slowly westward as the hours pass, though the motion is extremely subtle try taking an image at the beginning and at the end of the night and compare the two.

Metis is one of the larger and more massive asteroids in the main belt. Its about 105 miles (170 km) across and is likely a remnant from a much larger parent body that was broken up in a collision.

Sunrise: 7:19 A.M. Sunset: 4:38 P.M. Moonrise: 1:27 P.M. Moonset: 2:46 A.M. Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (81%)

Sky This Week is brought to you in part by Celestron.

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The Sky This Week from December 15 to 22: Winter begins - Astronomy Magazine

Orion's "selfie" of itself and the Moon. Orion will carry astronauts on several space missions.

Here is a list to help you keep track of many current and scheduled space missions. Weve gathered a selected group of high-profiles ones, listed them below, and linked to official sites where you can get the latest updates and launch dates.

Well update this article periodically when new missions are announced.

Here is the list of missions in alphabetical order:

Mission: This Mars orbiter was launched with the intention of detecting water and ice on the planet, as well as studying its composition.

Agency: NASA

Launch date: April 7, 2001

Updates available here.

Mission: The mission, which name means Sun in Sanskrit, was launched to conduct a comprehensive study of the Sun, sitting at the Lagrange point L1 between the Sun and Earth.

Agency: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Launch date: Sept. 2, 2023

Updates available here.

Mission: The orbiter mission was designed to study weather patterns and atmospheric conditions, as well as search for the possibility of lighting and active volcanoes.

Agency: JAXA

Launch date: May 21, 2010

Updates available here.

Mission: This mission will be placed at Lagrange point L2 to study thousands of exoplanets, ranging from rocky planets to gas giants in visible and infrared wavelengths.

Agency: ESA/Ariel Mission Consortium

Expected launch: 2029

Updates available here.

Mission: The mission, featuring a crew of four astronauts, will perform a series of flights maneuvers as well as tests in space to ensure the systems are appropriate to take the Artemis III crew to the Moon.

Agency: NASA

Expected launch: November 2024

Updates available here.

Mission: The mission is expected to take four astronauts to the lunar South Pole for the first time to explore, collect geologic samples, and take images of the regions unique features.

Agency: NASA

Expected launch: 2025

Updates available here.

Mission: BepiColombo, comprised of two orbiters, was designed to study composition, geophysics, atmosphere, magnetosphere and history of Mercury.

Agency: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/ESA

Launch date: Oct. 18, 2018

Updates available here.

Mission: With its lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyan, this mission landed safely on the Moons south pole.

Agency: ISRO

Launch date: July 14, 2023

Updates available here.

Mission: Made up of three spacecrafts, the mission will wait at the Lagrange point L2 before separating to gather 3D images of Comet Interceptor as well as its nucleus and composition.

Agency: ESA

Expected launch: 2029

Updates available here.

Mission: Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble Gases, Chemistry, And Imaging (DAVINCI) probe would explore the atmosphere of Venus.

Agency: NASA

Expected Launch: June 2029

Updates available here.

Mission: This dual-quadcopter would explore a variety of locations on Saturns moon, Titan, for possible habitability.

Agency: NASA

Expected launch: 2027

Updates available here.

Mission: The Emirates Mars Mission, named Hope Probe will gather a picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers. It will also look at the planets loss of hydrogen and oxygen gases into space over the span of one Martian year.

Agency: UAE Space Agency

Launch Date: July 20, 2020

Updates available here.

Mission: The mission is to investigate Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere, characterizing the interaction between its atmosphere, surface, and interior.

Agency: ESA

Expected launch: early 2030s

Updates available here.

Mission: The Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE) are a dual-spacecraft mission to study the transfer of solar wind energy and momentum.

Agency: NASA

Expected launch: 2024

Updates available here.

Mission: Europa is expected to explore the moon of Jupiter with the same name during a series of flybys. Its objectives include studying the moons ice shell and ocean, as well as its composition and geology.

Agency: NASA

Expected Launch: Oct. 10, 2024

Updates available here.

Mission: The spacecraft will perform a survey of the target asteroid, Dimorphos and the orbiting moonlet Didymos, after the NASA Dart Mission conducted its asteroid deflection on Sept. 26, 2022.

Agency: ESA

Expected launch: October 2024

Updates available here.

Mission: Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, was dispatched to study the composition of Jupiter along with its three large, water-logged moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

Agency: European Space Agency (ESA)

Launch date: April 14, 2023

Updates available here.

Mission: Understand origin and evolution of Jupiter and its four largest moons, look for solid planetary core, map magnetic field, measure water and ammonia in deep atmosphere, observe auroras.

Agency: NASA

Launch date: Aug. 5, 2011

Updates available here.

Mission: Known as Danuri, this is a lunar probe expected to carry out the mission of lunar observation while flying at an altitude of 100km over the Moon.

Agency: Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

Launch date: Aug. 5, 2022

Updates available here.

Mission: Lucy was launched to view trojan asteroids surrounding Jupiter.

Agency: NASA

Launch date: Oct. 16, 2021

Updates available here.

Related: Surprise! NASAs Lucy mission uncovered an asteroid moon that is actually two in one

Mission: The mission began as a way to target areas for future robotic and human exploration on the Moon. After two years, it focused more on studying temperature maps and other scientific data on Earths satellite.

Agency: NASA

Launch date: June 18, 2009

Updates available here.

Mission: The orbiters goal was to complete a map of the Mars atmospheric composition and water on its surface, as well as learning more about one of its moons, Phobos.

Agency: ESA

Launch date: June 2, 2003

Updates available here.

Mission: The mission involves Mars Perseverance Rover working with a lander and orbiter to retrieve samples from Mars and deliver them to Earth.

Agency: NASA/ESA

Expected launch: 2027 (orbiter) and 2028 lander

Updates available here.

Mission: Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution or MAVEN, studies the upper atmosphere of Mars as well as its interaction with the Sun and solar winds.

Agency: NASA

Launch date: Nov. 18, 2013

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Space missions: Present and future voyages | Astronomy.com - Astronomy Magazine

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With the new tech, researchers can gaze into the diffuse light and understand the large scale of the universe

The Abell 85 galaxy cluster surrounded with a hazy teal colored instracluster light. Credit: Astronomical Data/Image: M. Montes (Instituto de Astrofsica de Canarias); Artistic Enhancement: J. Pinto (Rubin Observatory).

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will spot elusive intracluster light radiating from stars ripped away from their original galaxies when it goes online in 2025. Within the soft glow of the free-floating stars is evidence of the galaxies interacting and merging with each other over billions of years. By mapping the light, researchers can infer the history of a galaxy clusters formation and see in a manner of speaking the web of dark matter clumped around galaxies.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to peer into this type of light with the worlds largest digital camera when it begins its decade long Legacy Survey of Space and Time in 2025.

Stars stripped from their galaxies end up populating the space between galaxies in a cluster. These stars are like the dust released from a piece of chalk when you write on a blackboard, said Mireia Montes, an astrophysicist at theInstituto de Astrofsica de Canarias, in a statement. By tracking the stellar chalk dust with Rubin, we hope to be able to read the words on the galaxy cluster blackboard.

Intracluster light is hard to see. It is about 1,000 times fainter than the darkest night skies perceivable with the eye. Most telescopes cant pick it up. The ones that do usually can only capture the light if telescopes focus on one galaxy cluster for an extended stretch of time.The light forms after millions of years of galaxy collisions and mergers. Researchers suspect they may find clues about a galaxy clusters formation history within the faint light.

Theres so much we dont know about intracluster light, says Montes. The power of Rubin is that its going to provide us with lots of clusters of galaxies that we can explore.

Researchers will use the millions of high-resolution images of distant galaxies taken by the Rubin Observatory to see the intracluster light. After the images are stacked, the team will see the largest long-exposure photos of the southern hemisphere sky and potentially reveal more if these lone stars are truly free-standing, how dark matter is distributed, and the universes structure.

Intracluster light may look like something very small and insignificant, but it has a lot of implications, Montes said. It complements what we already know, and will open new windows into the history of our universe.

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Vera C. Rubin Observatory to detect glowing galactic relics - Astronomy Magazine

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Dont miss the Geminids one of the best meteor showers of the year which peak on the night of Dec. 14 and 15th.

Two rock formations known as the Chicken and the Mushroom in Egypts White Desert lie under the Milky Way and the Geminid meteor shower in this mosaic. Credit: Osama Fathi

Its that time of the year when the lights come out not just on the trees but also in the skies as this week, the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. The Geminids are one of the best meteor showers of the year, consistently producing meteor rates of dozens per hour. Under a dark sky away from city lights, when activity peaks on the night of Dec. 14/15, you might see in the neighborhood of 120 meteors per hour.

As with all meteor showers, the best time to observe is from around midnight to 4 A.M., when the Earths rotation begins to carry your location into the storm at a higher apparent speed. But the Geminds are a shower were you still stand a chance of seeing some meteors before midnight. Thats because the showers radiant the point from which the meteors appear to originate lies in the constellation Gemini, which rises around sunset.

Unusually, the Geminids are generated not by dust left from a comet, like most meteor showers; instead, they come from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon. The stream of dust intersects Earths orbit on a path that causes them to strike the atmosphere at a perpendicular angle. This makes the meteors appear to not move as fast as some showers, making them easier to spot.

Another element is in our favor this year: The Moon is only just past New, meaning it shouldnt be a factor.

Click here for more on how to observe the Geminids and everything else in the sky this week.

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Explore the Pleiades: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher - Astronomy Magazine

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JWSTs NIRCam recently captured the supernova remnant in whole new light.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Danny Milisavljevic (Purdue University), Ilse De Looze (UGent), Tea Temim (Princeton University)

In April, the James Webb Space Telescopes (JWST) Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) snapped an eye-catching picture of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (abbreviated Cas A), located 11,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia the Queen. The image was colored green and red to represent different wavelengths of infrared light. Now, a second look at the region is giving more insight into its cosmic composition.

Using JWSTs Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), researchers have mapped out several elements in the region, which appear as purple, pink, and white flecks scattered about the new image. These detailed marks make up the inner shell of Cas A, which is composed of sulfur, oxygen, argon, and neon from the star, whose explosion reached us 340 years ago.

According to a news release from the European Space Agency (ESA), the outer edge of the main shell in the NIRCam image has a ghostly look to it in contrast to the MIRI view, where it shines brightly (colored orange). This is because the dust there is too cool to be seen in near-infrared light, but is picked up better in the mid-infrared light viewed by MIRI.

Another noticeable change from the original image it the missing the swirls of green gas near the center, which had been nicknamed the Green Monster. The unknown blob was picked up in mid-infrared light but NIRCam did not see it. However, both cameras saw circular holes that now hint at an explanation: According to the release, the holes are ringed by ionized gas, generated as debris from the explosion pushes through and sculpts the gas.

NIRCam also made a stunning discovery: a feature researchers are calling Baby Cas A, near the bottom right. This smudge of white scratch marks was so named because it appears like an offspring of the main supernova, according to the ESA release.

This baby, which sits 170 light-years behind the larger supernova remnant, is called a light echo. It appears bright as energetic photons blasted away during the initial explosion are reaching this blob of dust, warming it so it glows in the infrared. It is one of several light echoes in the image.

Other supernovae that will be investigated by JWST include the recent SN 2023ixf and the older SN 1987A, among others. Studying the dust in these regions can help researchers determine the reason for these explosions and how they will continue to evolve over time.

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The newest infrared image of Cas A offers a fresh view and new details - Astronomy Magazine

The Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is a leading pick in the best telescopes for $500 or less. Credit: Celestron

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Welcome to the world of stargazing! If youre on a quest to find the best telescope for $500 or less, youve come to the right place. Budget telescopes are a fantastic gateway into astronomy, but its essential to know what to expect. In this comprehensive guide, well explore the key factors to consider when buying a budget telescope, as well as provide recommendations for our favorite telescopes for $500 or less.

We understand that each astronomer has unique needs and preferences, so our recommendations cover a range of styles and capabilities. And whether youre looking to explore the Moon, planets, distant galaxies, or all of the above, our guide is here to help you make an informed decision and get the most out of your stargazing experience.

Focus on more than just the price. Factors such as the type of telescope, aperture size, and mount type all play significant roles in the quality of your observing experience.

A good budget telescope should offer a balance between affordability and functionality, providing clear images and ease of use without a hefty investment. Below are just some of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a budget telescope.

So here is our list of recommended telescopes for $500 or less. These have been carefully selected and vetted by our editors at Astronomy.com based on performance, user experience, and overall value for your money. Lets go!

Celestron NexStar 130SLT

Celestron StarSense Explorer 130AZ

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ

Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ

Meade Infinity 102AZ

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ

Orion StarBlast II 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope

Galileo FS-80Z

National Geographic Compact 76mm Telescope

Celestron FirstScope Telescope

Celestron NexStar 130SLT

Care and maintenance of your telescope

Regular care extends the life of your telescope. Below are some simple maintenance and storage best practices that you should follow to keep your telescope at its best.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How did we pick these telescopes?

To make our selections, we considered user reviews for real-world insights, expert opinions from the Astronomy staff, and overall value for money. Additionally, we looked at the quality of optics, ease of use, and the versatility of each model to ensure a wide range of options suitable for different needs and experience levels.

What is the best budget telescope for beginners?

The Celestron StarSense Explorer 130AZ is our top recommendation for beginners. Its innovative StarSense technology, which integrates with a smartphone, making it exceptionally user-friendly. This feature, combined with clear views of a wide range of celestial objects, provides an interactive and guided stargazing experience thats perfect for novices.

What is the best budget telescope to see planets?

For planetary viewing, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ stands out. It offers high-quality 130mm optics ideal for observing planets, and its equatorial mount provides stability and precision. This telescope is an excellent choice for intermediate astronomers who want to explore the solar system in detail.

What is the best budget telescope for deep space?

When it comes to deep space observation, the Celestron NexStar 130SLT excels. Its large aperture and computerized tracking system make it ideal for viewing details in celestial objects beyond our solar system. Its automated features also make it accessible to beginners while providing the functionality required by more experienced users.

Whether youre a beginner or a seasoned stargazer, theres a budget telescope out there for you. And remember, the best telescope is the one that meets your needs and ignites your passion for the stars. Happy stargazing!

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Best telescopes for $500 or less, picked by experts | Astronomy.com - Astronomy Magazine

Bulletin report

Assistant professor of astronomy Joe Burchett of New Mexico State University has been awarded a research fellowship with NASA and the National Science Foundation, the university recently announced. Burchett is among 10 recipients sharing $2.7 million from the NSFs Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Track-4 awards, which support researchers from high education institutions with high enrollments among underrepresented populations in science, engineering and technological fields. The aim is to improve diversity in the field and build research capacity at home institutions like NMSU.

In a written statement, Burchett said, Its a way for us to reinforce research opportunities at our institutions by doing things like diversifying our portfolio of scientific methods and that's what I'm doing here.

Burchett will spend about two months at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. in the spring Burchett will be partnering with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he will spend about two months in the spring under the mentorship of the head of Goddards X-ray astrophysics science program, per NMSU.

For his project, Burchett and a graduate student from NMSU will use X-ray techniques to study the gas that appears as a halo around the Milky Way galaxy, explaining in a statement that X-ray telescopes are a superior technology for study of gas exceeding temperatures of a million degrees Kelvin and the interactions of gas between galaxies as well the galaxies themselves.

The success of this year's joint NSF andNASAfacultyfellowships highlights the remarkable dedication and ingenuity within the scientific community, said Kathleen Loftin, project manager ofNASAs EPSCoR Program. Thesefellowships are not just about funding, EPSCoR project manager Kathleen Loftin said in a news release. They are about fostering meaningful, transformative collaborations that enrich the landscape of STEM research.

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Astronomy professor tapped for NASA fellowship - Las Cruces Bulletin

Dr. Jeremy Heyl appointed head, Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Jeremy Heyl, a leading expert on the dynamics of neutron stars and black holes, has been appointed head of UBCs Department of Physics and Astronomy. His term begins January 1, 2024.

The department is one of the largest and most diverse physics and astronomy units in Canada, teaching approximately 250 dedicated undergraduate students, 240 engineering physics students, and more than 3,000 first-year students in other UBC programs. Research in the unitconsistently ranked in the top two in Canadaspans applied physics, astronomy, astrophysics, optics, biophysics, condensed matter, cosmology, gravity, medical physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, and string theory.

This search has been an excellent opportunity to learn even more abouta very strongdepartment, said Dean of Science, Dr. Meigan Aronson. I want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in this search for their very thoughtful comments on the direction of the department, and on the vision Jeremy shared with us.

My thanks as well to Colin Gay for his exceptional service as head over the past ten years.Hes been a steadfast advocate for the department and its people. He has been supportive of the innovation and care that the department brings to its teaching and mentorshipthe renovated Hebb building provides a showplace where students can use their minds and hands to explore physics. Its been my privilege to serve with him, and I wish him the very best as he returns to the faculty.

Dr. Heylwho served as Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Neutron Stars and Black Holes from 2003 to 2013focuses on high-energy astrophysics and understanding extreme astrophysical phenomena. That includes white dwarfs, black holes and neutron stars, galaxy formation, mergers and evolution, and the properties of materials in ultra-strong magnetic fields. His recent work has included leveraging James Webb Space Telescope data to study stars approximately 12,000 light-years away and searching for ancient planetary systems. Dr. Heyl has published nearly 300 research papers.

In addition to holding the CRC, he has been a Chandra Fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, National Science Foundation graduate fellow, Marshall scholar, Goldwater scholar, and Watson scholar. Dr. Heyl earned his doctoral degree at the University of California at Santa Cruz in astronomy and astrophysics.

As an educator, Dr. Heyl has developed and delivered innovative and engaging UBC courses on physics and astronomy for undergraduate and graduate studentsincluding one of the departments classes for non-science majors interested in astronomy.

As head, Dr. Heyl will focus on advancing the department as a leader in physics and astronomy research and on fostering excellence in education while growing a culture of innovation, inclusion and collaboration.

The Physics and Astronomyhead search committee consisted ofDr. Alison Lister, Dr. Stefan Reinsberg, Dr. Jess McIver, Dr. James Charbonneau, Dr. Navin Ramankutty, Mladen Bumbulovic, Myles Osenton, and Raelyn Sullivan.

As head, Dr. Heyl will focus on advancing the department as a leader in physics and astronomy research and on fostering excellence in education while growing a culture of innovation, inclusion and collaboration.

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Dr. Jeremy Heyl appointed head, Physics and Astronomy - University of British Columbia