Universe Today

Universe Today (UT) is a website dedicated to space and astronomy news, established by Fraser Cain in 1999. The site features timely news updates and original articles, along with a comprehensive Guide to Space that covers various topics related to space and astronomy, addressing numerous questions. You can find summarized news on Universe Today through RSS feeds, email subscriptions, and syndication, all available on the homepage. Readers are invited to engage in discussions about the news in the comment section and on the BAUT (Bad Astronomy Universe Today) Forum.

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Astronomers Used Meteorites to Create a Geological Map of the Main Asteroid Belt

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

More than one million asteroids larger than 1 km exist in the main asteroid belt (MAB) between Mars and Jupiter. Their roots are in a much smaller number of larger asteroids that broke apart because of collisions, and the MAB is populated with debris fields from these collisions. Researchers have created a geological map of the MAB by tracking meteorites that fell to Earth and determining which of these debris fields they originated in.
Can Any Nearby Supernova Cause a Mass Extinction?

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Paul Sutter

The most dangerous parts of a supernova explosion are the outputs like X-rays and gamma rays. Even though they only share a small fraction of a supernova’s power, they are extremely dangerous. But they're not going to disintegrate the Earth. We are simply too far away from any potential supernova for that to ever be a problem. What can happen is that these forms of radiation pack enough energetic punch that they can tear apart molecules.
The Square Kilometre Array Releases its First Test Image

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Mark Thompson

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) remains under construction with completion still a few years away. However, engineers recently provided an exciting preview having installed 1,024 of the planned 131,072 antennas and capturing a test image of the sky. The image covers about 25 square degrees and reveals 85 of the brightest known galaxies in the region.
We Finally Know the Mass of Brand New Neutron Stars

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

When massive stars explode as supernovae, they can leave behind neutron stars. Other than black holes, these are the densest objects we know of. However, their masses are difficult to determine. New research is making headway. In new research published in Nature Astronomy, a team of researchers analyzed a sample of 90 neutron stars in binary relationships to try to measure the birth mass function (BMF) of neutron stars.
JWST Cycle 4 Spotlight, Part 3: Supermassive Black Holes and Cosmic Noon

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Matt Williams

Welcome back to our five-part examination of Webb's Cycle 4 General Observations program. In the first and second installments, we examined how some of Webb's 8,500 hours of prime observing time this cycle will be dedicated to exoplanet characterization and the study of galaxies that existed at "Cosmic Dawn" - ca. less than 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
Microlightning Could Have Kickstarted Life on Earth

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

Abiogenesis says that life on Earth appeared spontaneously due to natural events. Ergo, no deities or supernatural sleight-of-hand were required. While that's an unpopular opinion in some places on Earth, it's supported by some evidence. However, we still don't know exactly how abiogenesis works. New research published in Science Advances shows how microlightning could've provided the needed spark for abiogenesis.
What's the Deadliest Part of a Supernova Explosion?

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Paul Sutter

What’s the deadliest part of a supernova explosion? To estimate this we have to look at what the actual destructive capabilities are of a supernova. As in, what does a supernova produce? And how deadly are those products and what is their range? So let's do a quick survey. First off, there's the shock wave from the explosion itself. You have a large chunk of a dead star accelerating away from it and reaching a healthy fraction of the speed of light.
One Instrument on the Failed Lunar Lander Did a Little Science

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

When Intuitive Machines' Odysseus Lander launched for the Moon in February 2024, it faced a number of problems. While orbiting the Moon and preparing to land, its laser navigation system went offline. The 1,900 kg spacecraft had to rely on navigation cameras to land. When it reached the surface on February 22nd, 2024, it became the first US spacecraft to soft land on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
A New Company Plans to Prospect the Moon

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Andy Tomaswick

Helium-3 (He-3) on the Moon's surface has drawn attention for decades. In 1939, a paper first noted the presence of Helium-3 on the Moon. Still, it really came into the collective consciousness of space resource enthusiasts during the 1980s when they realized just how valuable a resource it was and how much the Moon had of it.
Exploding Stars May Have Caused Two of Earth's Mass Extinctions

1 month ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

Nothing can withstand a powerful supernova explosion. Only distance can dull their power, and that distance is measured in light years. New research suggests that two of Earth's most devastating mass extinctions were caused by supernova explosions within 65 light-years of Earth.