This May offers observers in the northern hemisphere their best chance of the year to see the planet Mercury in the evening sky. Being the…
View More Starwatch: your best chance of the year to see Mercury at nightTag: Astronomy
April’s ‘pink’ supermoon across the world – in pictures
The moon is just about as close as it gets to Earth on its orbit, creating a spectacular sight Main image: A pink supermoon sets…
View More April’s ‘pink’ supermoon across the world – in picturesAsteroid’s 22m-year journey from source to Earth mapped in historic first
Astronomers have reconstructed the 22m-year-long voyage of an asteroid that hurtled through the solar system and exploded over Botswana, showering meteorites across the Kalahari desert.…
View More Asteroid’s 22m-year journey from source to Earth mapped in historic firstSpace oddity Oumuamua probably shard of Pluto-like world, scientists say
Our solar system’s first known interstellar visitor is neither a comet nor asteroid as first suspected and looks nothing like a cigar. A new study…
View More Space oddity Oumuamua probably shard of Pluto-like world, scientists sayScientists may have solved ancient mystery of ‘first computer’
From the moment it was discovered more than a century ago, scholars have puzzled over the Antikythera mechanism, a remarkable and baffling astronomical calculator that…
View More Scientists may have solved ancient mystery of ‘first computer’Astronomers’ hopes raised by glimpse of possible new planet
Astronomers have glimpsed what may be a previously unknown planet circling one of the closest stars to Earth. Researchers spotted the bright dot near Alpha…
View More Astronomers’ hopes raised by glimpse of possible new planetIs there life on Mars? Not if we destroy it with poor space hygiene
Next month, three new spacecraft arrive at Mars. Two represent firsts for their countries of origin, while the third opens a new era of Mars…
View More Is there life on Mars? Not if we destroy it with poor space hygieneWhat (non-Covid) science is coming up in 2021? – podcast
Ian Sample and producer Madeleine discuss what science, outside of the pandemic, they’ll be looking out for in 2021. Joined by Prof Gillian Wright and…
View More What (non-Covid) science is coming up in 2021? – podcastStarwatch: Orion’s treats for the naked-eye star watcher
Starwatch The mighty constellation of Orion the hunter is one of the greatest sights in the night sky. To those of us in the northern…
View More Starwatch: Orion’s treats for the naked-eye star watcherHow to watch the Jupiter and Saturn ‘great conjunction’ on winter solstice
This year, stargazers will have the chance to see a Christmas “kiss” beneath interplanetary mistletoe when Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer to one another…
View More How to watch the Jupiter and Saturn ‘great conjunction’ on winter solstice