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☆ Three new moons discovered orbiting Uranus and Neptune
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Astronomers have discovered three previously unknown moons around Uranus and Neptune, the most distant planets in our solar system. In the future, the tiny satellite will be named after a Shakespearean character, in keeping with the tradition of Uranus’ moons bearing literary names. He worked with Marina Brozovic and Bob Jacobson of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to determine the moon’s orbit. The outer moons orbiting all the giant planets across our solar system — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — share similar configurations. “Even Uranus, which is tipped on its side, has a similar moon population to the other giant planets orbiting our Sun,” Sheppard said.

Persons: ”, Scott S, Sheppard, Marina Brozovic, Bob Jacobson, Scott Sheppard, David Tholen, Chad Trujillo, Patryk Sofia Lykawka, ” Sheppard, Neptune Organizations: CNN —, Carnegie Institution for Science, Planet, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Carnegie Science, Subaru, University of Hawaii, Northern Arizona University, Kindai University Locations: Chile, Pasadena , California, Kea, Japan, Neptune

☆ Elon Musk's SpaceX was the satellite villain of the skies. It's taking a 'money hit' to try and fix the problem.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewNEW ORLEANS — When SpaceX launched its first Starlink satellites, astronomers all over the world freaked out and the company quickly became a villain of the skies. Nonetheless, Starlink satellites — now more than 5,000 strong — are streaking across astronomers' views of the cosmos, ruining their data. SpaceX leads the way for changeA satellite trail streaks in front of galaxies in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope. The visors were a regular feature for many Starlink satellites until SpaceX added laser communications. AdvertisementChris Hofer, international team lead for Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites, told the astronomers in New Orleans that SpaceX's Starlink tinkering has been helpful.

Persons: —, James Lowenthal, Lowenthal, SpaceX isn't, Jonathan McDowell, McDowell, that's, Patricia Cooper, Elon Musk, Slaven Vlasic, They're, Chris Hofer, Hofer, Kristina Barkume, Barkume Organizations: Service, SpaceX, New York Times, Business, Times, Hubble, Telescope, NASA, ESA, American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union, CPS, Planet Labs, Amazon Locations: New Orleans

☆ Scientists discern internal structure of mysterious dwarf planet Eris
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

An artist's concept of the dwarf planet Eris and its moon Dysnomia is seen in this undated illustration released by NASA. Most likely there is no liquid ocean inside Eris," Nimmo added. Eris has a diameter of about 1,445 miles (2,326 km), slightly smaller than Pluto's 1,473 miles (2,370 km). Because of its greater concentration of rock, which is denser than ice, Eris has about 25% more mass than Pluto. "Just like the Earth-moon system, tides on Eris slowly push Dysnomia away and slow down the spin of Eris.

Persons: Pluto, Eris, Francis Nimmo, Nimmo, Mike Brown, Dysnomia, " Nimmo, Brown, we've, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: NASA, JPL, Caltech, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, of California, Astronomical Union, Thomson Locations: of California Santa Cruz, Neptune

☆ The full moon has different names for each month. Here's the meaning and origin for the whole lunar calendar.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The next full moon will be a harvest moon, rising on September 29. AdvertisementAdvertisementSeptember: harvest moon, "corn moon," "barley moon"Amish people harvest corn in Maryland. A harvest moon sometimes occurs in October (the moon doesn't follow the Gregorian calendar), but it's always the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. The next worm moon: March 25, 2024April: "pink moon," "sprouting grass moon," "egg moon," "fish moon"Wildflowers along the California coastline in Big Sur at sunset. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe next seasonal blue moon: August 19, 2024The next monthly blue moon: August 19, 2024

Persons: It's, —, Patrick Hartigan, Mark Wilson, it's, Shamil Zhumatov, Eddie Keog, what's, Jeff R Clow, Andy ClarkREUTERS, John Moore, Mike Segar, Charlie Baker, Brian Snyder, that's, Mike Blake, Toby Talbot, Mead, Toby Melville Deer, Matt Balazik, Steve Helber, Champlain, Paul Hanna Supermoons, Andrew Lichtenstein Organizations: Service, Rice University, Reuters, North, Getty, Beavers, REUTERS, Former, NASA, AP, Astronomical Union Locations: Maryland, Moscow, Russia, North America, Europe, New England, Superior, Colonial, Stokenchurch, England, Lake Louise , Alberta, Irvington , New York, Former Massachusetts, Hollis Hill, Fitchburg , Massachusetts, Algonquin, California, Big Sur, Calais , Vermont, Richmond Park, London, Britain, Alaska, James, Charles City , Virginia

☆ What do we have to lose if Starlink satellites and others like them take over the night sky? Studying dark matter, observing distant galaxies, and finding signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Experts who spoke to Insider say radio astronomy helps us study dark matter and look for alien life. The Starlink satellites — chosen for their abundance in the sky compared to other low-orbit satellites — were observed using the Low-Frequency Array telescope in the Netherlands. Using the telescope, scientists detected frequencies from the Starlink satellites at 110 to 188 megahertz — a unit of measure used for electromagnetic waves. "We are not saying that right now that radio astronomy is doomed, and that we will not be able to do astronomy anymore. There is also the financial loss: Millions of dollars go into planning and building these massive radio telescopes over decades.

Persons: Elon, Vahe, Peroomian, Federico Di Vruno, Di Vruno, Jean, Luc Margot, we're, Margot, Musk Organizations: Elon Musk's, Service, Netherlands Institute of Radio Astronomy, Astrophysics, SpaceX, University of Southern, Federal Communications Commission, Iridium, Elon Musk Locations: Wall, Silicon, Netherlands, Europe, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

☆ A 'fake moon' has been following Earth around the sun since 100 BC, and astronomers just noticed
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An asteroid has been trailing Earth around the sun since 100 BC, astronomers estimate. The space rock at first appears to be another moon, but it's actually orbiting the sun and not Earth. That makes this asteroid a "quasi-moon" or "fake moon." Scientists first discovered the space rock, called 2023 FW13, in March using the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii. What makes this fake moon uniqueThe full moon rises behind the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Persons: Alan Harris, Christian Hartmann, Julius Caesar, That's, Adrien Coffinet, Harris, that's Organizations: Service, Space Science Institute, Sky, Eiffel, Reuters, Minor Planet, International Astronomical Union Locations: Hawaii, Paris, France

☆ Fact Check-False claims about the sun and clouds at night shared online
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Contrary to online claims, the earth is 93 million miles from the sun, is not flat and there is plenty of night-time footage of the planet taken from space, experts told Reuters. It also says the earth is flat and questions why clouds can’t be seen in nighttime images of the earth taken from space. Orsola de Marco, an astrophysicist at Macquarie University in Sydney, told Reuters that visibility of clouds at night could also depend on camera angle and the light source. Rather than a spacecraft looking directly through a cloud, shooting from an angle makes clouds more visible because more light can be reflected off the clouds, she said. Photos shared by the European Space Station at night showing clouds can be seen (here), (here), and (here).

☆ A communications satellite the size of an apartment is so bright it can outshine stars, and astronomers are worried it could interfere with their research
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AST SpaceMobile deployed a 693-square-foot communications satellite into orbit called BlueWalker 3. Astronomers say it's as bright as some of the brightest stars, and warn it could impact their work. AST SpaceMobile bills it as the "largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit." Astronomers are also concerned about how satellite constellations contribute to the loss to "humanity's ability to experience the natural night sky," according to the IAU statement. When we look up at night sky, many of the bright lights might not be stars — but satellites.

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