astronomy
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cultofmac.comPhysics Marathon to Cover Black Holes, Antimatter, Gravity, and Multiverse
A two-hour program will examine several core topics in physics. The session includes discussion of black holes, antimatter, gravity, and the multiverse.
The IndependentBlue micromoon to coincide with second full Moon of May
A full Moon on 31 May will also qualify as a micromoon because it occurs near the Moon's farthest point from Earth. The event marks the first Blue Moon since August 2023.
vancouversun.comCNN Newsletter Covers Heat, Immigration, Mixed Heritage, Coffee Chain, Astronomy
The newsletter lists five stories from recent days. Each item summarizes a separate topic without added analysis.
dnaindia.comAstronomers Identify 20 Stars as Possible Remnants of Ancient Galaxy Merger
Researchers report finding 20 metal-poor stars in the Milky Way whose chemical makeup and orbits point to a single dwarf galaxy absorbed roughly 10 billion years ago. The study, published this month, used data from the European Space Agency's Gaia telescope.
citizen.co.zaJames Webb Space Telescope Reports New Data on Exoplanet Clouds and Neptune Moon
The telescope recorded atmospheric conditions on a distant planet and gathered information about one of Neptune's moons. The findings were presented in a radio segment aired May 25, 2026.
app.buzzsumo.comScientists Release Map of Extraterrestrial Technology Search Categories
A group of scientists has published a detailed classification of potential technosignatures and called for treating the search for extraterrestrial technology as standard scientific inquiry eligible for funding.
ibtimes.comGemini North Telescope Captures Image of Crystal Ball Nebula
The Gemini North Telescope on Mauna Kea recorded an image of the planetary nebula NGC 1514. The National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab released the photo on May 21, 2026.
citizen.co.zaJames Webb Space Telescope Detects Weather Pattern on Exoplanet 690 Light Years Away
The telescope observed clouds forming on the night side of WASP-94 A b and dissipating on the day side. Data came from starlight passing through the planet's atmosphere during different phases of its rotation.
WiredStudy Links Heavy Black Holes to Repeated Mergers
A new analysis of 153 gravitational-wave detections found that black holes above roughly 45 solar masses show rapid, misaligned spins consistent with prior mergers. The pattern supports formation inside dense stellar clusters rather than direct stellar collapse.
gizmodo.comAstronomers Identify Metal-Poor Stars Near Milky Way Disk as Possible Remnants of Ancient Galaxy
A new study published in May reports that 20 metal-poor stars located roughly 7,000 light-years from the Sun may be remnants of a dwarf galaxy the Milky Way absorbed more than 10 billion years ago. Researchers named the proposed galaxy Loki and used data from the European Space A…
sciencealert.comCosmic Voids Offer New Data on Gravity, Dark Energy, and Expansion Rate
Astronomers are using cosmic voids to study gravity, dark energy, and the Hubble tension. New telescope surveys and simulations have increased the number of mapped voids and improved modeling of their evolution.
ForbesRoyal Astronomical Society Urges Governments to Classify Artificial Light as Pollution
The U.K. Royal Astronomical Society called on governments to treat artificial light at night as a pollutant. The request follows a January 2025 conference that presented data on health, wildlife, and astronomy impacts.
citizen.co.zaJWST Observations Show Cloudy Mornings and Clear Evenings on Exoplanet
Researchers used JWST data to map temperature-driven cloud patterns on a distant gas giant. The study found aerosols that condense, move, and evaporate across the planet's day-night boundary.
medium.comJames Webb Telescope Finds Daily Cloud Cycle on Hot Jupiter Exoplanet
Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe mineral clouds forming overnight and dissipating during the day on WASP-94A b, a gas giant 689 light-years away. The study, published in Science, provides separate measurements of the planet's morning and evening atmosphe…
thesouthafrican.comAsteroid 2026JH2 to Pass Earth at 90,917 Kilometres on 18 May
An asteroid estimated between 16 and 36 metres in diameter will pass Earth at a closest approach of 90,917 kilometres. The object was discovered this week by two observatories and will reach its nearest point at 9:38pm UTC on 18 May.
ForbesLarge Sunspot Region Detected on Far Side of Sun
A large sunspot region on the far side of the sun was imaged by the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft. The region is expected to rotate into view from Earth around May 22 and may produce auroras.
yahoo.comNOAA Predicts Northern Lights Visible in Northern U.S. States Monday Night
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast aurora visibility across northern border states on Monday night. A coronal mass ejection from the Sun may produce mild geomagnetic activity that extends the display southward.
The IndependentAsteroid 2026 JH2 to Pass 91,000 Kilometres from Earth on 18 May
Asteroid 2026 JH2, discovered last week at Mount Lemmon Observatory, will reach its closest approach to Earth at 10pm BST on 18 May. The object measures up to 35 metres across and will pass closer than some satellites but poses no risk to the planet.
WiredSmall 20-Meter Asteroid 2026 JH2 to Pass Safely by Earth on May 18 at 57,000 Miles
The 66-foot asteroid, comparable in size to Chicago's Cloud Gate sculpture, will make the closest approach of any tracked near-Earth object over the next few months. It will fly four times closer to Earth than the moon. Enthusiasts can observe the event with a telescope or via a…
forbes.comLuxury Travel Packages Offered for August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse
Travel operators have announced several high-end packages for the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. Options include cruises, retreats, and charter flights to viewing locations in Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.
First Cameras Installed This Summer on Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope in Chile
The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope, perched at 5,600 metres in Chile's Atacama Desert, will soon receive quantum sensor cameras developed by Canadian researchers. Scott Chapman and Mike Fich described the project as opening a new window on the universe at a fraction of space-…
New York PostAsteroid 2026 JH2 to Pass Within 56,000 Miles of Earth on May 18
The newly discovered asteroid 2026 JH2 will pass about 56,000 miles from Earth on May 18, roughly one quarter of the distance to the moon. Astronomers described the flyby as one of the closest recorded without impact. Scientists plan to observe the object, estimated at 52 to 115…
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news.google.comPhysicists Update 18th-Century Cavendish Experiment in Bid to Detect Dark Matter
New Scientist's 16 May 2026 issue highlights an update to Henry Cavendish's 300-year-old experiment that may prove 10,000 times more sensitive than current dark matter detection methods. The magazine also reports discoveries ranging from a Neanderthal kneeprint beside a stalagmit…
thesouthafrican.comAsteroid 2026JH2 to Pass Earth at 90,000 km on 18 May
Asteroid 2026JH2 will pass Earth at a distance of 90,917 kilometres on 18 May at 9:38pm UTC. The object, estimated at 16 to 36 metres in diameter, has enough mass to destroy a city but poses no impact risk for at least the next century. It was discovered this week by observers at…
news.google.comSmall Asteroid 2026JH2 to Pass 90,917 km from Earth on 18 May
The newly discovered asteroid will make one of the closest known approaches in the next year, passing at 9:38pm UTC. At 16 to 36 metres wide and travelling 9.17 kilometres per second, it poses no impact risk but would cause significant damage if it struck.
cnet.comSpaceX Rocket Visible From Los Cabos Mexico After California Launch
Stargazers in Los Cabos, Mexico observed a SpaceX launch that originated from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The spacecraft lifted off and became visible from the Mexican location. The event marks the latest in the company's series of launches.
EngadgetJames Webb Telescope Maps Cosmic Web from When Universe Was a Few Hundred Million Years Old
A research team has created the highest-resolution map yet of the cosmic web, revealing its structure when the universe was only a few hundred million years old. The observations, published in The Astrophysical Journal, resolve features previously unseen and allow study of galaxy…
uctoday.comAstronomers Report Possible Most Massive Pair of Black Holes
Observations of a galaxy 4.4 billion light-years away suggest the presence of two ultramassive black holes with a combined mass 60 billion times that of the sun. The pair, located in a 3,200 light-year star-free void, appears to be spiraling toward a merger.
New ScientistAstronomers Report Possible Very Thin Atmosphere on Kuiper Belt Object 2002 XV93
Astronomers detected a thin atmosphere on the plutino (612533) 2002 XV93, which measures less than 500 kilometres in diameter. The finding came from an occultation observed on 10 January 2024 that showed gradual dimming of starlight over 1.5 seconds. @NewScientist reported the su…
finance.yahoo.comU.S. Presses Argentina and Chile to Review Chinese Telescope Projects
The United States has urged Argentina and Chile to examine two Chinese telescope initiatives in the Andean deserts. One project in Argentina remains incomplete after authorities held key components at customs. Astronomers have expressed concern that the reviews could delay scient…
dnaindia.comChinese-Backed Telescope Remains Dismantled in Argentine Andes
A giant telescope sponsored by China sits dismembered in the foothills of the Argentine Andes. The New York Times reported on the project's status during a visit to the remote site. Questions have been raised about the telescope's implications for U.S. security.
universetoday.comTwo-Decade Study Reveals Different Origins and Compositions of Uranus’s Outermost Mu and Nu Rings
Observations combining data from the Keck Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope reveal the mu ring is blue and icy while the nu ring is red and rich in dust and tholins. The findings highlight differences in the tiny moons supplying the rings and raise…
nasa.govAstronomers Identify More Than 10000 Exoplanet Candidates in NASA TESS Data
Researchers reanalyzed the first year of observations from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite and found 11554 candidate exoplanets. More than 10000 of these had not been identified in previous searches. The findings extend the search distance to 6800 light-years from Ea…
medium.comJames Webb Telescope Finds LHS 3844 b Is a Barren, Airless World With Volcanic Rock Surface
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the first direct look at the surface of the rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b, also known as Kua’kua, revealing a dark, airless world dominated by ancient volcanic rock. The observations, published this week in Nature Astronomy, show a pla…
upi.comNASA Releases Over 12,000 Images from Artemis II Crewed Lunar Flyby
The agency made public thousands of new photographs captured by the Orion spacecraft Integrity during the crewed mission that circled the moon in April 2026. Images document Earth passing behind the lunar horizon, a solar eclipse observed by the crew, and detailed views of lunar…
yahoo.comJapanese Astronomers Detect Thin Atmosphere on Small Trans-Neptunian Object
Astronomers observed a thin atmosphere around a celestial body roughly 310 miles in diameter located beyond Neptune. The finding challenges the prior belief that only larger bodies such as Pluto could sustain an atmosphere in the Kuiper Belt. Researchers published the results May…
NASA Releases Thousands of Photos from Artemis II Mission
NASA has released over 12,000 images from the Artemis II mission, which orbited the moon in April 2026. The photos capture views of Earth, the lunar surface, and a solar eclipse observed during the crew's return. Astronauts from the mission also visited the United Nations headqua…
cnet.comStudy Links Sun's 11-Year Cycle to Accelerated Orbital Decay of Space Debris
Researchers have identified a connection between peak solar activity and faster altitude loss for space junk in low Earth orbit. The findings, based on tracking 17 debris objects over three decades, show decay rates increasing when sunspot numbers reach 70 percent of their peak.…
app.buzzsumo.comNASA Releases New Photos from Artemis II Mission Capturing Earth, Moon and Eclipse
NASA has released additional photographs from the Artemis II mission, depicting Earth and the Moon from space during the crew's journey and return. The images, taken in early April 2026, include views of the Earth passing behind the Moon and the Moon eclipsing the Sun. All 12,217…
app.buzzsumo.comAsteroid Apophis to Pass Within 20,000 Miles of Earth in 2029, NASA Says
An asteroid named Apophis will pass closer to Earth than many satellites on April 13, 2029, with no risk of impact, according to NASA. The object, classified as potentially hazardous, was discovered in 2004 and has been monitored since. Space agencies plan to study it during the…
app.buzzsumo.comAstronomers Detect Thin Atmosphere Around Kuiper Belt Object
Astronomers have detected a thin atmosphere around the Kuiper Belt object (612533) 2002 XV93, marking it as the smallest known body with a global atmosphere bound by gravity. The discovery, made through observations in Japan, challenges assumptions about atmospheres on small cele…
thehindu.comAstronomers Detect Thin Atmosphere on Tiny Icy World Beyond Pluto
Japanese astronomers have identified a thin atmosphere around the distant object (612533) 2002 XV93, challenging views on atmospheric presence in small solar system bodies. The finding, based on 2024 observations, was published in Nature Astronomy. Experts call for verification t…
theconversation.comAstronomers Identify 27 Potential Planets Orbiting Binary Star Systems
A new survey using NASA's TESS telescope has identified 27 potential circumbinary planets, which orbit two stars instead of one. Researchers developed a method to detect these planets by monitoring changes in binary star orbits and eclipse schedules. The findings suggest thousand…
app.buzzsumo.comComet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS Visible in Southern Skies for Next Two Weeks
A comet originating from the Oort Cloud is currently visible in the southern hemisphere after passing around the sun. Viewers in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the Pacific can observe it with binoculars or a telescope just after sunset. It will fade in brightness over…
universetoday.comJapan Launches First SETI Organization with Plans for 2027 Radio Observations
Astronomers in Japan formed the Japanese Society for SETI in April 2026, the country's first group dedicated to searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. The society, led by astrophysicist Shinya Narusawa, plans radio observations in August 2027 at Misato Observatory targeting…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewDESI Completes Five-Year Sky Survey Mapping Over 47 Million Galaxies and Quasars
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument has finished its main five-year survey, capturing data on more than 47 million galaxies and quasars. This enables the creation of the most detailed map of the universe to date. The data will aid in studying dark energy and galaxy distribut…
ndtv.comLight Pollution Threatens Astronomical Sites in Chile's Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert in Chile provides optimal conditions for astronomy due to its dry climate, high altitude, and low light pollution. Recent proposals for development projects near observatories have raised concerns about potential impacts on sky clarity. Efforts are underway to…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewStudy Identifies 45 Rocky Exoplanets Potentially Capable of Supporting Life
An international research team has pinpointed 45 rocky exoplanets in the Milky Way that could sustain life, based on habitable zone analysis. The findings, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, draw from data by the European Space Agency and NASA. Re…
Science NewsJames Webb Telescope Data Reveal Pristine Gas Clump 450 Million Years After Big Bang
Data from the James Webb Space Telescope show a bright clump of pristine gas, potentially housing first-generation stars, just 450 million years after the Big Bang. The clump, dubbed Hebe, lacks elements heavier than helium and emits light from highly energized helium and hydroge…
Science NewsNASA's SPHEREx Maps Water Ice Across Hundreds of Light-Years in Milky Way Stellar Nurseries
NASA's SPHEREx observatory has charted vast clouds of interstellar water ice in the Cygnus X and North American Nebula regions. The findings, reported in the April 20 Astrophysical Journal, confirm water's widespread presence in space. The maps are dozens of times wider than thos…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewInterstellar Comet Passed Earth Last Year from Isolated Galactic Region, Astronomers Report
A comet from another star passed by Earth last year, originating in a cold, isolated part of the galaxy without its own solar system. Astronomers reported these findings on Thursday. The details come from @ABC reporting.
nasa.govNASA Unveils Fully Assembled Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope for Fall Launch
NASA has unveiled the fully assembled Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, marking a key milestone in its development as the agency's next-generation space observatory. The telescope completes a critical phase ahead of operational deployment. A launch is scheduled as early as this…
Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks on April 21 with Up to 20 Meteors Per Hour Visible
The annual Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak on April 21, 2026, producing bright meteors from comet debris. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed a meteor streaking through Earth's atmosphere from the International Space Station. Prime viewing occurs overnight into April 22…
Photo: Beat Schuler / UnsplashNew Measurements Confirm Faster-Than-Expected Universe Expansion
Recent astronomical studies have confirmed a discrepancy in the universe's expansion rate, known as the Hubble tension. A collaboration measured the Hubble constant at 73.50 kilometers per second per megaparsec with high precision. Separate research suggests dark energy may be we…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewScientists Quantify Energy Output of Black Hole Cygnus X-1 Jets Traveling at Half Light Speed
A new study published in Nature Astronomy has measured the energy produced by the black hole Cygnus X-1, revealing jets that travel at half the speed of light and shine as bright as 10,000 suns. The research combined global radio telescope data to analyze the black hole’s plasma…
dnaindia.comAsteroid Apophis to Pass Within 20,000 Miles of Earth on April 13, 2029
The asteroid Apophis will approach within about 20,000 miles of Earth's surface on April 13, 2029, closer than many satellites. NASA stated there is no danger to Earth or space assets during the flyby. The event offers a rare chance to study near-Earth asteroids with modern techn…