John Wenz, Author at Astronomy.com | Page 2 of 19

This is an image of a globular cluster around our Milky Way. The authors of a new study think that what they see in the Cosmic Gems arc will become this object. Credit: NASA/ESA.

Cosmology, Exotic Objects, Science

Unusual glimpse of Cosmic Gems could be a breakthrough for astronomers

This artist’s impression shows two stages in the formation of a disc of gas and dust around the massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy SDSS1335+0728. The core of this galaxy lit up in 2019 and keeps brightening today — the first time we observe a massive black hole become active in real time. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser.

Exotic Objects, Science

A distant black hole reawakens, and astronomers watch it happen

Exoplanets, Science

The most common planets in the universe might be rich in carbon

A portion of the video that highlights the areas of Sif Mons and Niobe Planitia on Venus, where ongoing lava flows have been detected. Credit: IRSPS - Università d'Annunzio.

Science, Solar System

Venus likely has active volcanoes, flowing streams of lava

This is a color illustration of what exoplanet 55 Cancri e might look like. A rocky planet on the left and a portion of a much-larger star on the right. About three-quarters of the lit side of the planet is visible; the other quarter is in shadow. The surface of the planet has gray, orange, and yellow mottling. Most of the orange and yellow is in the region that is facing the star directly. The grayer portions are toward the poles and shadowed side of the planet. The edge of the disc of the planet appears to be glowing, suggesting a thin atmosphere. The star is bright orange-yellow, with a turbulent appearance similar to the Sun."

Exoplanets, Science

At last! JWST finds signs of a thick atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet

An illustration of what Venus might have looked like with large oceans. Credit: NASA.

What happened to all the water on Venus?

An artist's conception of the young Earth being bombarded by asteroids. Scientists think these impacts could have delivered significant amounts of organic matter and water to Earth. Credit: NASA.

Alien Life, Science, Solar System

Evidence grows that meteorites, comets could have brought essentials of life to early Earth

Jupiter's moon Io

Jupiter’s moon Io has likely been active for our solar system’s entire history

Europa was captured by JunoCam, during the mission's close flyby on Sept. 29, 2022. The circular dark feature at the lower right is Callanish Crater.

Alien Life, Science, Solar System

Circular patterns on Europa suggest how deep a lively ocean may be

Scientists have found a large black hole that “hiccups,” giving off plumes of gas. Analysis revealed a tiny black hole was repeatedly punching through the larger black hole’s disk of gas, causing the plumes to release. Powerful magnetic fields, to the north and south of the black hole and represented by the orange cone, slingshot the plume up and out of the disk. Each time the smaller black hole punches through the disk, it would eject another plume, in a regular, periodic pattern. Credit: Jose-Luis Olivares, MIT

Exotic Objects, Science

A galaxy’s bright flicker turned out to be two black holes dancing in the night

This artist’s concept shows a planet gradually spiraling into its host star. Credit: R. Hurt & K. Miller (Caltech/IPAC)

More than a few nearby stars show signs they ate young planets

An artist's conception of the pair of supermassive black holes.

Exotic Objects, Science

These supermassive black holes, equal to 28 billion Suns, are the heaviest ever measured