Moons orbit planets, planets orbit stars, stars orbit within galaxies. It’s orbits all the way down. But occasionally objects can receive a powerful kick that sends them on a journey, never to return.
Space is totally inhospitable. If the freezing temperatures don’t get you, the intense radiation will kill you. That’s why most space exploration is done by hardy robots. They don’t need to eat, drink or breathe, & get their energy from the Sun. Let’s hear it for the space robots.
Light pollution is big problem and it’s only getting worse. Not just near cities, but everywhere thanks to increased satellite constellations. How bad is the problem, and how can we fix it?
Some of the earliest records we do have tell us what the ancient astronomers thought about the heavens, and how they used the changing night sky in their daily lives. More with @AstronomyCast at #365DaysOfAstro
Space is a big place, with lots of galaxies, stars, planets, moons, and that means a lot of names. So how do astronomers name stuff, like comets, asteroids, exoplanets, craters?
This week we saw the incredible image of DART smashing into asteroid Dimorphous. Beyond avenging the dinosaurs, what can we learn scientifically from this and other asteroid/comet impact missions.
It’s been about 65 years since the Soviets launched the first orbital satellite into low Earth orbit: Sputnik 1. Let’s look at the impact that Sputnik had on the history of spaceflight.
To battle climate change, we’ll need to rapidly move to carbon-free sources of energy. But this technology isn’t a free lunch. They require metals, generate waste and deplete the environment. What’s the best way to balance this shift?
Climate change is on our minds these days, with increasing wildfires, droughts and floods. What are the variables that play into a planet’s changing climate, and what can this teach us about the search for habitable planets across the Milky Way?