We know that in space, no one can hear you scream. But what would things sound like on another planet?
Jun 25th: TRAPPIST-1d: A World on the Edge of Life
Tucked inside a quiet solar system, in the area of sky outlined by the constellation Aquarius, orbits a planet named TRAPPIST-1d, the third of seven planets in a system. More about this planet today with Deep Astronomy
Jun 17th: Exoplanets by the Numbers
Here’s a familiar question: How’s the weather? We’re familiar with the weather on Earth. How about exoplanet? for the first time in history, astronomers can now answer that question. Here’s the story
Jun 11th: Direct Imaging Exoplanets In Our Telescopes
There are planets in orbit around stars outside our solar system – and even rogue planets. But finding them is very hard. They are small and dim. But ideally, we’d like to see them directly, in our telescopes. Is that possible?
Jun 1st: Last Minute Astronomer June 2024
June brings us the quote “Parade of Planets”…well, sort of…Listen up as I discuss which planets are visible, which aren’t, and when the Moon will pass by them.
May 27th: Rogue Planets
Most of the exoplanets we’ve found are around stars, where they belong. But a few have been found free-floating in interstellar space. How do they form and how can we learn more about them?
May 21st: Can Life Survive on Locked Planets?
How do planets get tidally locked? What are these systems typically like? Can life find a home in such a challenging environment?
May 2nd: The Observer’s Calendar for May 2024
Today Observer’s Calendar for May with Actual Astronomy talk about meteor shower, Mercury in the morning sky lines up with other planets and Pallas at opposition.
Apr 12th: Planet Formation is (Still) Not Well Understood
One of our recurring topics is “Planet formation is not well understood,” and a trio of new papers is making it clear why planet formation continues to… not be well understood. Put simply: the Universe likes to create more diverse solar systems than an entire planet’s worth of sci-fi writers can imagine.
Apr 1st: Orbital Resonances
Several of the planets and moons in the Solar System are in orbital resonance, orbiting in a geometric lockstep. And not just the Solar System, astronomers have found the same resonances in other star systems.