Sky Watching | The Daily Space

Simple Physics Explains Diamond Shapes of Ryugu and Bennu

Sep 10, 2021 | Asteroids, Daily Space, Dark Matter, Galaxies, Mercury, Sky Watching, White Dwarfs

Using a simple model based on granular physics, like those used for modeling sand or sugar deposits, scientists have recreated the diamond shape of asteroids Ryugu and Bennu in computer simulations. Plus, the origins of loner dwarf galaxies and this week’s What’s Up.

Triangle Singularity Effect Finally Observed in CERN Data

Aug 20, 2021 | Climate Change, Daily Space, Earth, JAXA, Jupiter, Mars, Milky Way, Observatories, Physics, Sky Watching, The Sun

We’re talking about particle physics today! An effect called the “triangle singularity” has been observed, and it describes how particles change identities by exchanging quarks. Plus, climate change news, and in this week’s What’s Up, Jupiter is at opposition.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Finds Bennu Collision Risk Nearly Nonexistent

Aug 13, 2021 | Asteroids, Daily Space, Earth, ESA, Exoplanets, OSIRIS-REx, Our Solar System, Sky Watching, Spacecraft, Stars, Venus

After careful analysis of orbital data, gravitational forces, and several other factors, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team calculated the risk of a collision with near-Earth asteroid Bennu to be 0.057% through 2300. Plus, magnetites in meteorites reveal solar system history, and the constellation Ophiuchus is What’s Up.

NASA Identifies Possible Lunar Mantle Rocks on Lunar Surface

Aug 6, 2021 | Asteroids, Comets, Daily Space, Earth, Jupiter, Mercury, Moon, Sky Watching, Spacecraft, Stars, Supernovae, Venus, White Dwarfs

Two new studies have possibly identified regions on the Moon’s surface that could contain pieces of the lunar mantle, which would be possible sample targets for the Artemis mission. Plus, Venus gets a double flyby next week, and it’s all about asteroids and meteor showers in this week’s What’s Up.

Light Observed From Behind Black Hole for First Time

Jul 30, 2021 | Daily Space, Exoplanets, Physics, Sky Watching, Supermassive Black Holes

Once again, science has proved Einstein’s theories correct. This time, observations taken with ESA’s XMM-Newton and NASA’s NuSTAR space telescopes have seen x-ray flashes bent from behind a black hole. Plus, so many exoplanet stories (Beth was left in charge) and this week’s What’s Up.

Hubble Returns to Observations with Oddball Galaxies

Jul 23, 2021 | Conferences, Daily Space, Exoplanets, Galaxies, Globular Cluster, Jupiter, JWST, Perseverance, Sky Watching, Spacecraft, Spitzer, Stars, White Dwarfs

After several weeks of trying different methods, the operations team successfully revived the stalwart Hubble Space Telescope, which experienced a payload computer fault back on June 13. The first images taken were of several unusual galaxies. Plus, Jupiter’s moon Io triggers radio emissions from the giant planet, and this week, What’s Up returns with a look at the Summer Triangle.