Trojan Asteroids: Understanding the Past to Explore the Future

Trojan Asteroids: Understanding the Past to Explore the Future

Just how were the Trojan asteroids in orbit with Jupiter discovered? And how were they named? We take a look back at these objects as we get closer to the launch of the Lucy spacecraft. Plus, a cluster of galaxies, a meteoroid explosion at Jupiter, seafloor microbes, wildfires, and an interview with Fraser Cain, publisher of Universe Today and co-host of Astronomy Cast.

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Magnetar Exhibits Bizarre Behavior, Identity Crisis

Magnetar Exhibits Bizarre Behavior, Identity Crisis

A radio-loud magnetar first observed in March 2020 suffered an apparent identity crisis, behaving like a pulsar until gradually settling into magnetar-like emissions in July. Plus, Mars’ moon Phobos, Jupiter’s moon Ganymede, and an interview with SETI Institute scientist Veselin Kostov about last week’s sextuple star system.

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Anatomical Dissection of Planetary Nebula Using Hubble Images

Anatomical Dissection of Planetary Nebula Using Hubble Images

Our coverage of last week’s AAS meeting continues with new work on the formation of planetary nebula based on Hubble Space Telescope images. Plus, a massive quasar in the early universe, water ice on Ganymede, a super-puff planet, and plans for taking spectra of Venus’ surface, featuring our guest, PSI scientist Dr. Darby Dyer.

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Powerful GRB is Actually Giant Flare From Magnetar in Nearby Galaxy

Powerful GRB is Actually Giant Flare From Magnetar in Nearby Galaxy

Multiple international teams determine that a 2020 gamma-ray burst was actually a giant flare from a magnetar and that flare originated from a nearby galaxy. Plus, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is ready for a new survey, NASA extends two planetary missions, and What’s Up in the night sky this next week.

2021: A Look Ahead at the Night Sky, Space Flight, and Science

2021: A Look Ahead at the Night Sky, Space Flight, and Science

We’re going to kick off the year with a look at upcoming night sky events, as well as scheduled spacecraft milestones and exciting space flights. Expect to hear about planets, eclipses, space tourism, crewed space missions, and a new ground-based telescope getting ready to go online. This year sounds potentially exciting in a bunch of good ways!

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