Astronomy news

• Thruster issues delay BepiColombo probe's Mercury arrival until November 2026

  03-09-2024 23:00 via space.com
  
  A thruster glitch suffered this past April will delay the BepiColombo mission's arrival at Mercury by nearly a year, to November 2026.
  
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• Scientists make lab-grown black hole jets

  03-09-2024 22:00 via space.com
  
  By using protons to probe how a magnetic field responds to an expanding plasma, experimenters have replicated the particle jets spewed out by active black holes.
  
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• 'It basically lifts the skies up.' NASA discovers Earth's electrical field at last after 60-year search

  03-09-2024 21:00 via space.com
  
  A long-sought invisible electrical field wrapped around Earth has been detected more than half a century after it was first predicted to exist.
  
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• Watch Europe's Vega rocket launch its final mission tonight

  03-09-2024 20:30 via space.com
  
  Europe's Vega small-satellite launcher is scheduled to fly its final mission tonight (Sept. 3), and you can watch the swan song live.
  
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• How to watch Europe's last Vega rocket launch its final mission tonight (Sept. 3)

  03-09-2024 20:30 via space.com
  
  Europe's Vega small-satellite launcher is scheduled to fly its final mission tonight (Sept. 3), and you can watch the swan song live.
  
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• How to watch Europe's last Vega rocket launch its final mission on Sept. 4

  03-09-2024 20:30 via space.com
  
  Europe's Vega small-satellite launcher is scheduled to fly its final mission on Wednesday night (Sept. 4), and you can watch the swan song live.
  
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• Shelved NASA spacecraft could spy on asteroid Apophis before 2029 Earth flyby

  03-09-2024 20:00 via space.com
  
  NASA is considering pulling a pair of shelved spacecraft out of storage to spy on notorious asteroid Apophis ahead of its April 2029 Earth flyby.
  
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• Statue of fallen 'Teacher-in-Space' Christa McAuliffe unveiled at NH state house

  03-09-2024 19:00 via space.com
  
  A statue of Christa McAuliffe, NASA's "Teacher-in-Space" who died on board the space shuttle Challenger in 1986, has been unveiled in New Hampshire, the state where she taught.
  
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• NASA science mission spacecraft are at risk from hackers, but a new law could help protect them

  03-09-2024 18:00 via space.com
  
  NASA missions are some of the most technologically advanced and critically important endeavors but they are at risk from hackers.
  
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• Supercharged 'cocoon of energy' may power the brightest supernovas in the universe

  03-09-2024 17:00 via space.com
  
  Every so often, astronomers detect a supernova explosion that's 100 times brighter than it should be. A new paper may reveal the strange source of these "superluminous" supernovas.
  
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• Some black holes have a 'heartbeat' — and astronomers may finally know why

  03-09-2024 15:00 via space.com
  
  A tiny fraction of known black holes emit X-ray signals that resemble a human "heartbeat." Now, new research may finally explain the strange phenomenon.
  
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• 'A lot has changed': NOAA is rewriting the book on how to rank solar storms

  03-09-2024 14:00 via space.com
  
  NOAA is researching how to update its Space Weather Scales and how it can better communicate its space weather forecasts with the public and government agencies.
  
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• Artemis 3 astronauts will walk on the moon with 4G-equipped spacesuits

  03-09-2024 12:00 via space.com
  
  Artemis 3's astronauts will wear spacesuits equipped with 4G connectivity — the same 4G that makes up the majority of Earth's mobile phone networks today.
  
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• 05 Sep 2024 (2 days away): The Moon at perihelion

  03-09-2024 06:43 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun, which happens each month around the time of new moon.
  
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• 05 Sep 2024 (2 days away): The Moon at apogee

  03-09-2024 06:43 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Earth, making it appear fractionally smaller than at other times of the month.
  
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• 05 Sep 2024 (2 days away): Mercury at greatest elongation west

  03-09-2024 06:43 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury is bright and well placed in the dawn sky.
  
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• 05 Sep 2024 (2 days away): Lunar occultation of Venus

  03-09-2024 06:43 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon will pass in front of Venus, creating a lunar occultation visible from Antarctica and Bouvet Island.
  
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• 05 Sep 2024 (2 days away): Conjunction of the Moon and Venus

  03-09-2024 06:43 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon and Venus share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°10'.
  
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• 05 Sep 2024 (2 days away): Close approach of the Moon and Venus

  03-09-2024 06:43 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon and Venus pass close to each other.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (Yesterday): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (23 hours ago): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (22 hours ago): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (21 hours ago): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (20 hours ago): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (2 days ago): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (19 hours ago): Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition

  03-09-2024 04:22 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (Yesterday): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (9 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (8 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (7 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (6 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (5 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (4 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (3 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (23 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (22 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (21 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (20 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (2 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (2 days ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (19 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (18 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (17 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (16 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (15 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (14 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (13 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (12 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (11 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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• 03 Sep 2024 (10 hours ago): New Moon

  03-09-2024 03:56 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
  
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