A geologically recent landslide on Mars appears like mudslides on Earth — but it would have required water during a time when Mars was expected to be dry. The post Discovery of a Recent Martian Mudslide appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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This Week’s Sky at a Glance, August 20 – 28
Jupiter ands Saturn are just past opposition, so they dominate the sky all night. They inhabit dim Capricornus, which pushes Sagittarius westward. Venus, even showier, owns the western twilight but sets by full darkness. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 20 – 28 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreThe 12-Year Cycle of Jupiter Oppositions
Jupiter is at opposition on August 19th. If we take the long view — 12 years long — we can watch Jupiter’s oppositions as it passes through the zodiac constellations. The post The 12-Year Cycle of Jupiter Oppositions appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreVenus: Thin-skinned and Likely to Blow
Scientists found a strange little volcanic feature on the edge of a Venusian corona, giving further credence to the theory that the planet has a thin outer layer and an active interior. The post Venus: Thin-skinned and Likely to Blow appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreAstronomers Dream Big, Consider Four Future Space Telescopes
Four concepts are competing to be NASA’s next flagship mission. From exo-Earths to X-rays, what will the future hold? The post Astronomers Dream Big, Consider Four Future Space Telescopes appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreIt’s the Blue Moon . . . the “True” Blue Moon!
If skies are clear this weekend, you’ll see the full Moon. And not just any old full Moon, but the Blue Moon . . . the “true” Blue Moon! The post It's the Blue Moon . . . the "True" Blue Moon! appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreJupiter Dazzles at Opposition on August 20th
Jupiter comes to opposition on August 20th, when it will shine brighter and closer than at any other time this year. With nights starting earlier and cooler temperatures arriving, there’s no better time to make the most of the planet. The post Jupiter Dazzles at Opposition on August 20th appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSaturn Has a Fuzzy Core, Too
New research reveals that Saturn, like Jupiter, has a “fuzzy” core that extends 60% of the way to its surface, a finding that is changing how astronomers think about giant planets. The post Saturn Has a Fuzzy Core, Too appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreGale Crater on Mars: An Ancient Lake or Just Puddles?
A new study suggests that wind, not water, created the rock layers in Gale Crater, where the Curiosity rover roams. The post Gale Crater on Mars: An Ancient Lake or Just Puddles? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreHow Black Holes Eat Reveals Their Mass
No one knows why quasars flicker — but astronomers are using these wavering beacons to “weigh” the black holes that power them. The post How Black Holes Eat Reveals Their Mass appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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