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Posts by
Deborah Byrd
Scientists use drones to probe earthly dust devils, with an eye toward Mars
Dust devils are common are common on Earth, but ubiquitous on Mars, a desert world. Scientists are using drones carrying cameras and other instruments to gain new insights.
September 24, 2019
The 2nd-fastest pulsar, now with gamma rays
Pulsars are the compact remnants of supernovae. They have strong magnetic fields and rotate rapidly. This one is spinning 707 times a second! Astronomers just discovered this pulsar is emitting high-energy gamma rays.
September 22, 2019
No, asteroid 2007 FT3 won’t hit Earth in October
Why is the internet so chock-full of stories about asteroids on a collision course with Earth? At this rate, we should have been obliterated many times over already. Here comes the newest scare story: asteroid 2007 FT3. No, it won't hit us, either.
September 18, 2019
Will a huge volcano on Jupiter’s moon Io erupt this month?
Loki, the largest volcano on Jupiter's moon Io, erupts on a more or less regular schedule. Planetary scientists are predicting an eruption this month. Here's what we know.
September 17, 2019
Are Saturn’s rings young or old?
Cassini data suggested that Saturn's rings were only 10 to 100 million years old. A new study suggests that a "ring rain" onto Saturn makes the rings look younger than they really are, and that in fact Saturn's rings date back billions of years.
September 17, 2019
Sub-auroral arc over Peyto Lake, Alberta
STEVE, and the northern lights. Does it get any better than this?
September 15, 2019
Milky Way’s black hole appears to be getting hungrier
"We have never seen anything like this in the 24 years we have studied the supermassive black hole. It’s usually a pretty quiet, wimpy black hole on a diet. We don’t know what is driving this big feast."
September 15, 2019
A distant galaxy’s black hole seen to flare unexpectedly
Astronomers now call recently-discovered flares from supermassive black holes in distant galaxies quasi-periodic eruptions. "Giant black holes regularly flicker like a candle but the rapid, repeating changes seen in GSN 069 from December onwards are something completely new," said one scientist.
September 14, 2019
Hazy light pyramid in east? False dawn
If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you can see the zodiacal light, or false dawn, at this time of year. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, look for it after sunset.
September 14, 2019
Yesterday evening’s Venus-Mercury conjunction
The close conjunction of Mercury with Venus in last night's evening sky was near the sun and exceedingly tough to spot, even with optical aid. Still, EarthSky friend Helio Vital managed to capture it!
September 13, 2019
