Venus and Mercury conjoin in the post-sunset afterglow as Mercury fades away; bring binoculars! Arcturus stands over Spica. The Scorpion rears up, and the Big Dipper floats on high. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 28 – June 5 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreCategory: Telescopes
Things pointed at space
Meet Gacrux, the Top of the Cross
Gacrux is a treat for southern observers — the closest red giant to Earth and the tip of the famous Southern Cross. The post Meet Gacrux, the Top of the Cross appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreFast Radio Bursts Tied to Spiral Arms
New Hubble observations have pinned five enigmatic radio bursts to the arms of spiral galaxies, narrowing down possible explanations. The post Fast Radio Bursts Tied to Spiral Arms appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreDark Frames and Bias Frames Demystified
The road to clean, easy-to-process data begins with proper image calibration, and the first step is to take dark and bias calibration frames. The post Dark Frames and Bias Frames Demystified appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreMoonlight: Europe Plans Constellation of Lunar Satellites
The European Space Agency’s Moonlight initiative gets the go ahead for the development of a future GPS system around the Moon. The post Moonlight: Europe Plans Constellation of Lunar Satellites appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreAstronomers Challenge Claim of Planet Around Barnard’s Star
Astronomers thought a super-Earth might orbit nearby Barnard’s star. But a new study disputes that claim, arguing that stellar activity might be masquerading as the planetary signal. The post Astronomers Challenge Claim of Planet Around Barnard's Star appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThis Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 21 – 29
The Moon waxes from gibbous to supermoon-eclipse full. Low at dusk, Venus and Mercury close in on each other. Nova Cas has dropped back. And at dawn, Jupiter and Saturn climb a bit into slightly better view. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 21 – 29 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreInterstellar and Solar System Comets Share a Surprising Ingredient: Nickel
Cold comets — both natives and the interstellar Comet Borisov — have nickel and iron vapor in their atmospheres, and scientists want to know why. The post Interstellar and Solar System Comets Share a Surprising Ingredient: Nickel appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know for the May 26th Morning Lunar Eclipse
The total lunar eclipse of May 26th — the first in more than two years — favors western North America, but much of the continent will see the partial phases, provided skies are clear. The post Everything You Need to Know for the May 26th Morning Lunar Eclipse appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreDawn Delight: Catch the Total Lunar Eclipse on May 26th
On May 26th the Moon will be in total eclipse for the first time in nearly two and a half years. While timing favors western North America, a partial eclipse will be visible across much of the U.S. and Canada at dawn. The post Dawn Delight: Catch the Total Lunar Eclipse on May 26th appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read More