Fireball that lit up UK skies likely to be piece of asteroid, say scientists
A fireball that lit up the skies over the UK on Sunday night is likely to have been a small piece of an asteroid entering the Earth’s atmosphere, scientists have said.
Astronomy
Doorbell cameras capture bright fireball lighting up sky over Canada
Home security cameras have caught the moment a falling object lit up the skies over Canada.
The final meteor shower of 2020 set to delight skygazers
Skygazers can look forward to the final display of shooting stars this year as the Earth passes through a cloud of cometary dust.
Hidden ‘fossil galaxy’ discovered deep within the Milky Way
Astronomers have discovered a “fossil galaxy” hidden in the depths of the Milky Way.
‘Shadow’ cast by black hole proves Einstein right – study
A “shadow” cast by a supermassive black hole appears to have proved Albert Einstein right once again, according to astrophysicists.
Earth ‘may have lost up to 60% of atmosphere in collision that formed the Moon’
Earth may have lost up to 60% of its atmosphere in a collision that led to the formation of the Moon more than four billion years ago, scientists believe.
Final supermoon of 2020 set to grace skies over UK
The final supermoon of the year is set to rise in the sky on Thursday.
Eta Aquariids set to dazzle night skies with up to 40 meteors per hour
Skygazers can look forward to seeing several shooting stars on Tuesday night, as the Earth passes through the dust left over from Halley’s Comet.
Mile-wide asteroid hurtles past Earth at 19,000 miles per hour
An asteroid more than a mile wide skimmed past Earth on Wednesday, hurtling through space at a speed of around 19,000 miles per hour.
Lyrid meteor shower dazzles in night sky during peak
Stargazers were treated to a celestial display as the Lyrids lit up the skies on Tuesday night.
Lyrid meteor display set to dazzle night sky with around 18 meteors per hour
Stargazers can look forward to catching the Lyrid meteor shower on Tuesday night, with up to 18 meteors expected to light up the night sky every hour.
Star orbiting Milky Way’s supermassive black hole proves Einstein right – study
A star orbiting a supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way moves in a way that was predicted by physicist Albert Einstein more than a century ago, astronomers have found.
Planets set to put on a show for earliest March equinox in 124 years
Celebrations to mark the start of astronomical spring may have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but those looking skyward from the confines of their homes may witness a celestial phenomenon.
Worm moon set to delight skygazers
The second supermoon of the year is set to light up the night sky and delight skygazers on Monday evening.
Ultra-massive white dwarf star with ‘unusually high’ carbon levels discovered
An ultra-massive white dwarf star with “unusually high” levels of carbon in its atmosphere has been discovered by astronomers.
‘Charismatic’ TV astronomer Heather Couper dies after short illness
TV astronomer Heather Couper has died after a short illness, her best friend and business partner said.
Stamps capturing ‘drama of the universe’ celebrate the UK’s astronomy exploits
A new set of cosmic postage stamps is being unveiled to “celebrate the UK’s contribution to our understanding of the Universe”.
Astronomers find ‘vampire’ star in midst of feeding frenzy
A “vampire” star in the midst of a feeding frenzy has been discovered 3,000 light years away from Earth.
Second planet could be orbiting neighbouring star just four light years away
Astronomers have discovered what could be a second planet in another solar system just four light years from Earth.
Ingredient essential to life was brought to Earth by comets, astronomers say
A chemical element fundamental to all living things on Earth may have come from comet strikes, astronomers say.
Star visible to naked eye reveals clues about ancient Milky Way collision
A bright star visible to the naked eye has revealed fresh insight into a collision that happened in the Milky Way more than 11 billion years ago, astronomers say.
‘Wolf moon’ lunar eclipse delights skygazers
Astronomy enthusiasts were treated to the first full moon of 2020 on Friday evening, also known as the “wolf moon”, which coincided with a lunar eclipse.
Exoplanets discovery could reveal clues about Earth’s geology, astronomers say
Six new exoplanets orbiting very close to their stars could hold the key to understanding more about the Earth’s geology, astronomers say.
Hidden giant planet discovered orbiting tiny white dwarf star
Evidence of a giant planet orbiting a dead white dwarf star has been found for the first time.
Astronomers detect highest energy radiation ever seen in cosmic explosions
Astronomers have observed the highest energy radiation ever seen in gamma-ray bursts – the most powerful cosmic explosions in the universe.
Orionid meteor display set to light up night skies
Skygazers are set for some celestial fireworks as Earth passes through an area of space “littered” with the debris of Halley’s Comet.
Gigantic flare ’caused Milky Way to explode three million years ago’
The Milky Way was ripped apart in an explosion caused by a gigantic flare emerging from its centre more than three million years ago, astronomers say.
Astronomers seeking out-of-this-world names for new planets
Can you think of a better name for a new planet than WASP-13b?
Volunteer astronomers help Ministry of Defence track space objects
A group of volunteer astronomers are helping the Ministry of Defence monitor objects as small as freezers in space as it becomes increasingly congested.
Clouds threaten to spoil second supermoon of 2019 for some
Stargazers may notice that the Moon looks bigger and brighter on Tuesday evening, as the second supermoon of 2019 takes place.