We only have one example of a planet with life: Earth. But within the next generation, it should become possible to detect signs of life on planets orbiting distant stars. If we find alien life, new questions will arise. ...
Astronomy
Aug 27, 2015
10
165
A star is typically born with a disk of gas and dust encircling it, from which planets develop as dust grains in the disk collide, stick together and grow. These disks, warmed by the star to a range of temperatures above ...
Astronomy
Jul 7, 2015
3
57
This dramatic landscape in the southern constellation of Ara (The Altar) is a treasure trove of celestial objects. Star clusters, emission nebulae and active star-forming regions are just some of the riches observed in this ...
Astronomy
Mar 11, 2015
0
1532
Earth's water has a mysterious past stretching back to the primordial clouds of gas that birthed the Sun and other stars. By using telescopes and computer simulations to study such star nurseries, researchers can better understand ...
Astronomy
Jan 22, 2015
0
56
(Phys.org)—Although NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken many breathtaking images of the universe, one snapshot stands out from the rest: the iconic view of the so-called "Pillars of Creation." The jaw-dropping photo, ...
Astronomy
Jan 6, 2015
0
68
Any intelligent extraterrestrial life that exists probably won't announce itself by blowing up the White House, or win over the hearts of children as a lovable alien with a glowing finger. Many scientists simply hope to find ...
Space Exploration
Oct 28, 2011
97
0
There are likely millions of "rogue" or free-floating planets (FFPs) spread through the galaxy. These planets, which aren't big enough to become stars but also aren't beholden to a star's gravity, are some of the hardest ...
Planetary Sciences
Jun 10, 2024
1
44
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows LEDA 42160, a galaxy about 52 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. The dwarf galaxy is one of many forcing its way through the comparatively dense gas ...
Astronomy
Mar 18, 2024
0
14
Arp 300 consists of two interacting galaxies, UGC 05028 (the smaller face-on spiral galaxy) and UGC 05029 (the larger face-on spiral). Likely due to its gravitational dance with its larger partner, UGC 05028 has an asymmetric, ...
Astronomy
Jan 23, 2024
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10
In the quest to understand how and where life might arise in the galaxy, astronomers search for its building blocks. Complex Organic Molecules (COMs) are some of those blocks, and they include things like formaldehyde and ...
Astronomy
Dec 14, 2023
0
40
