Milky Way | The Daily Space

Milky Way’s Stellar Streams Highlight Dark Matter

Jan 19, 2022 | Daily Space, Dark Matter, Earth, Globular Cluster, Guest Interview, Milky Way, Rockets, Space China

Recent observations of twelve different stellar streams around the Milky Way have revealed the effects of dark matter, similar to how lights on a Christmas tree reveal the shape of the tree in dark. Plus, globular clusters, volcanoes, and an interview with Dr. Cathy Olkin from the Southwest Research Institute’s Lucy mission.

China Lander Detects Water on the Moon

Jan 12, 2022 | Cosmology, Daily Space, Galaxies, JWST, Milky Way, Moon, Supermassive Black Holes, Supernovae, Very Large Array

China’s Chang’e-5 lunar lander has made the first in situ detection of water on the Moon, using reflectance spectroscopy from the surface of our natural satellite. Plus, all the news from the AAS virtual press conferences, including black holes and galaxies.

JWST Launch Still Scheduled for Christmas Eve

Dec 22, 2021 | Asteroids, Daily Space, ESA, Guest Interview, JAXA, JWST, Kepler, Milky Way, Neutron Stars / Pulsars, Physics

Dr. Pamela takes a deep dive into her feelings about the JWST, its pending launch, and just what the telescope means to the astronomical community. Plus, general relativity is still true, a huge filament of gas in the Milky Way, and we interview Hamed Valizadegan, project lead for ExoMiner.

New, Deep Images of Milky Way’s Black Hole Show Stars Moving

Dec 15, 2021 | Active Galaxies, AGU, Asteroids, Daily Space, Exoplanets, Mars, Milky Way, Review, Stars, Supermassive Black Holes

Using the ESO’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer, scientists have obtained the deepest and sharpest images of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. They tracked the orbits of stars and were able to more precisely measure the mass of the black hole. Plus, new ways to research meteors, and a review of a Peak Design camera anchor system.

Overlooked Exoplanet Found by Citizen Scientists

Dec 13, 2021 | Brown Dwarf, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, Exoplanets, Milky Way, Review, Rockets, Spacecraft, SpaceX, Supermassive Black Holes

Using data provided by the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science project, volunteers found a possible large planet or brown dwarf orbiting its star at a distance of more than 1,600 astronomical units. Plus, NASA launches the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, and we review Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics

Nov 15, 2021 | Astrobiology, Daily Space, Exoplanets, Galaxies, Milky Way, Our Solar System, Science, Sky Watching, Space Policy, Spacecraft

The Decadal Survey was released earlier this month, and we take a look at some of the recommendations. Plus, this week’s What’s Up and a review of the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 lens.