Latest Articles - Page: 8
What are all stars called as they begin their lives?
The grand, shimmering lights we see overhead have an entire biography, an evolution written across billions of years, di...
What is the center of the Local Group?
Our Galactic Home Every galaxy we observe in the night sky belongs to some larger structure, a cosmic hierarchy extendi...
What happens when Starlink satellites fall?
The sight of a satellite fragmenting high above the Earth often captures public attention, raising immediate questions a...
How does a protostar generate energy?
The creation of a star is not an instantaneous event but a drawn-out, tumultuous adolescence where gravity wrestles with...
When can you be called an astronaut?
The title of "astronaut" carries immense weight, conjuring images of groundbreaking achievement, scientific dedication, ...
What kind of evidence suggests that there is not much star formation happening in elliptical galaxies?
The visual contrast between different galaxy types immediately suggests differences in their current activity levels. Sp...
What slows the contraction due to gravity of an interstellar cloud?
The inexorable pull of gravity initiates the grand cosmic process of star formation, drawing vast, cold expanses of inte...
What unit is used to measure planets?
The vastness of space presents an immediate challenge when we try to describe the positions of celestial bodies. Trying ...
What is the frozen ice in space?
The frozen substances populating the cosmos are far more complex and varied than the familiar cubes we drop into a glass...
How do astronomers measure the size of planets?
Determining the physical dimensions of a planet, whether it orbits our Sun or a star light-years away, requires more tha...
Could nuclear power be used for space travel?
The idea of harnessing the massive energy density locked within the atom to propel spacecraft through the cosmos is not ...
What is a cosmic cloud called?
The vast expanse between the stars is not empty, but rather filled with enormous, diffuse structures of gas and dust. Wh...
How much money does the CEO of NASA make?
The actual compensation for the person leading the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), often referred ...
What is a supernova called?
The term used to describe the cataclysmic explosion of a star is **supernova**, which literally means "new star" in Lati...
Why do red supergiants explode?
The fiery demise of a red supergiant star is one of the most spectacular and violent events in the cosmos, marking the a...
What happens to a star's core during a supernova?
The final moments for a truly massive star are less a slow fading and more an abrupt, catastrophic implosion, the prelud...
Which galaxy is disk-shaped?
The galaxy that most famously exhibits a distinct, flattened, disk-like shape is our own, the **Milky Way** [^3][^5][^6]...
What is the core after a supernova called?
The final object left behind after a massive star exhausts its fuel and explodes in a supernova is one of the universe's...
What is the explosion of a red giant called?
The spectacular ending to the life of certain massive stars is one of the most energetic events in the universe, capable...
Can elliptical galaxies be spherical?
The diversity within the universe of galaxies is staggering, ranging from the grand, pinwheeling structures of spirals t...
How many images of Venus exist?
The actual count of images taken *of* Venus depends entirely on what counts: the rare, direct photographs from the surfa...
What are Geminid meteors?
The Geminid meteor shower stands out annually as one of the most reliable and often spectacular celestial events visible...
Are elliptical galaxies disc-shaped?
The visual representation of many galaxies, particularly our own Milky Way, immediately brings to mind a flat, spinning ...
Did ancient beaches found on Mars reveal the Red Planet once had oceans?
The long-standing cosmic question of whether Mars ever hosted vast, life-sustaining bodies of liquid water seems to be f...