David Chandler

Nov 8, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | David Chandler

The Arecibo Observatory’s radar system may have produced currents that weakened the zinc sockets holding the cables in place, new report says. While it was in operation, the radar system at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico was the most powerful source of electromagnetic radiation on this planet. It enabled incredibly detailed imaging of  near-Earth asteroids as they passed by.

Oct 28, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | David Chandler

Newfound Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) could dazzle – or fizzle. Comet ATLAS has indeed not survived perihelion. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) captured its demise. The original story, published October 9th, appears below. We still don’t yet know how much of a show we will get from the long-anticipated peak time for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3), but now, that bright comet is about to have company.

Oct 9, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | David Chandler

Newfound Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) could dazzle – or fizzle. We still don’t yet know how much of a show we will get from the long-anticipated peak time for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3), but now, that bright comet is about to have company.

Sep 24, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | David Chandler

Starting September 29th, another moon of sorts will briefly accompany Earth. The house-size asteroid will stick around less than 2 months. We’re about to have company! Starting on September 29th, our planet will be accompanied by another moon of sorts. But this house-size asteroid is only a temporary companion — and sadly out of reach of backyard telescopes.

Sep 16, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | David Chandler

Glass beads in samples from China’s Chang’e 5 mission show that volcanic eruptions occurred on the Moon within the past 120 million years or so. The Moon rocks returned by Apollo astronauts gave us our first hands-on evidence of lunar volcanism, showing it to be ancient — dating back to at least 3.1 billion years ago.