At 26 million light-years from Earth, NGC 5195 has one of the nearest supermassive black holes to Earth that's currently undergoing such violent outbursts.
Astronomers have said globular clusters might not foster planets, and only one such planet is known. Here are new arguments on why they might exist, after all.
A space mission turned its X-ray vision on the Andromeda galaxy and spotted 40 X-ray binaries, exotic objects thought to play a role in our universe's evolution.
Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.