Mercury Could Have Glaciers Where Life Exists, Say NASA Scientists

2023-11-25 06:09 AM by Jessica Irvine

Mercury in color, from data collected by NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft. NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington Scientists studying Mercury have discovered evidence for the existence of glaciers in the planet’s polar regions and suggested they could sustain life. “This groundbreaking discovery of Mercurian glaciers extends our comprehension of the environmental parameters that …

See Perseid Meteors, The Milky Way And Mercury: This Week’s Night Sky

2023-08-07 05:04 AM by Jessica Irvine

A Perseid (shooting star) from A Veiga, Galicia, Spain. getty Every Monday, I curate the celestial highlights for the northern hemisphere (mid-northern latitudes) for the coming week. For more comprehensive articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses, and more, make sure to visit my main feed. The Night Sky This Week: August 7-13, 2023 It’s time to …

When And Where To See Mercury Meet The ‘Little King’ Star This Week

2023-07-27 06:32 AM by Jessica Irvine

Witness the captivating sight of the summer Milky Way over the serene prairie pond in southern Alberta. Universal Images Group via Getty Images Experience the rare appearance of the planet Mercury as it graces the post-sunset sky this week, delighting those who rarely have the opportunity to observe it. In a unique occurrence, Mercury will …

Scientists Confirm the Existence of Aurora Across the Solar System

2023-07-23 05:22 AM by Jessica Irvine

Scientists have made an intriguing discovery, suggesting that aurora could exist throughout the solar system. getty New findings from a joint European-Japanese spacecraft on its mission to Mercury reveal the presence of aurora on the small planet. This discovery leads scientists to believe that aurora, known for its stunning displays of greens, reds, and yellows …

Don’t Miss Your Final Opportunity to Observe the Rocky Planets During Nighttime

2023-07-18 05:34 AM by Jessica Irvine

This week brings a unique opportunity—and a final opportunity—to observe the inner solar system using just your eyes … [+] as Venus, Mars and Mercury appear in Earth’s post-sunset twilight sky. Getty The solar system consists of eight planets and five dwarf planets, but the real action takes place in the inner solar system where …

These are the celestial wonders to explore in the night sky this week.

2023-07-17 05:25 AM by Jessica Irvine

An enchanting scene unfolded over Ankara, Turkiye on January 23, 2023, as a crescent moon made its dazzling appearance. Captured by photographer Mehmet Ali Ozcan, the image showcases the celestial wonder. Welcome to this week’s edition of celestial highlights for the northern hemisphere. While the nights are still short on darkness in mid-northern latitudes, there …

This Week’s Night Sky

2023-07-10 04:50 AM by Jessica Irvine

Noctilucent (“night shining”) clouds form from ice crystals in the mesosphere. getty Every Monday, I curate the celestial highlights of the northern hemisphere (mid-northern latitudes) for the upcoming week. However, make sure to visit my main feed for more comprehensive articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses, and other related topics. The Night Sky This Week: July …

Close-Up Images of Mercury Captured by Spacecraft during Flyby

2023-06-22 02:03 PM by Jessica Irvine

During its third Mercury flyby on 19 June 2023, the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo spacecraft captured several stunning images of the planet. These images display various geological features, including the newly named Manley impact crater. ESA/BepiColombo/MTM, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO The BepiColombo spacecraft recently conducted a brief flyby of Mercury on June 19, 2023, resulting in the …

This Weekend’s Guide: Discovering Where and When to Witness the Five-Planet Alignment

2023-06-15 06:15 PM by Jessica Irvine

This weekend, on Saturday, June 17, 2023, there will be a striking alignment of five planets – Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus, and Mercury – visible in the eastern night sky. getty In the early hours of Saturday, skywatchers will have the opportunity to witness a unique celestial event. Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus, and Mercury will …

This Week’s Night Sky

2023-06-07 12:41 AM by Jessica Irvine

Mars and Venus will be visible close to each other this week. getty Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more. The Night Sky This Week: June 5-11, 2023 …