The Sun is a third-generation star, polluted with metals from long-dead suns. Astronomers have also discovered second-generation stars, with very low metallicity. But theories suggest there must be a first generation, with stars made from only pure hydrogen and helium. Can we ever find them?
A huge part of the Solar System is just made of ice. There are comets, rings, moons and even dwarf planets. Where did all this ice come from, and what impact has it had for life on Earth?
With Christmas just around the corner, we thought we’d investigate a mystery that has puzzled historians for hundreds of years
Using pockets of gas found in tiny crystals, scientists have created a timeline for the formation and eruption of four supervolcano events in northern Chile more than twenty million years ago.
We generally save our stargazing suggestions for the summer, when it’s warmer in the northern hemisphere. But let see some wonderful things you can see in the night sky this time of year.
Last week we talked about the missions we’re saying goodbye to. This week, we’re going to talk about some upcoming missions to say hello to. Some are brand new ideas, others are, uh, recycled.
It’s always sad to say goodbye, but when we send our robotic emissaries out into the cosmos, it’s just a matter of time before they shut down. Today we’re going to say goodbye to a few missions which have reached the end of their lives… But they were very good robots.
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?