astronomy

Game Developer Recreates The Solar System While Looking For Work

Chris Albeluhn’s out of work, like all too many Americans. But instead of wasting time on Facebook or sleeping until 3pm like I used to do when between jobs, Albeluhn made an interactive 3D map of the universe using the popular Unreal Engine. The out-of-work developer started raising funds on IndieGoGo and currently has enough money to hit a planned PC release for his space exploration program.


Mercury Didn’t Have A Satellite, So We Gave It One

The planet closest to the sun better be on its best behaviour, because we’re watching it. As of last night NASA’s Messenger probe is the first man-made satellite ever to orbit the planet Mercury. What do we hope to find?


Astronomers Bear Witness To The First Planet Birth

Astronomers are abuzz over what could be our very first glimpse of a planet being born in the dust surrounding a young star some 350 light-years away from Earth, but don’t start passing out cigars just yet.


The Massive Chaos-Causing Solar Flares Are Just Getting Started

This week the sun shot off a massive class X solar flare. Its effects on radio broadcasts, electronics and power are still being felt today, and this is only the beginning.


Witness The Awesome Power Of A Runaway Star

NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer captured this amazing image of the star Zeta Ophiuchi plowing through a radiant dust cloud at 54,000 miles per hour. Why is Zeta Ophiuchi on the run?


Scientists Plan Probe To Study Uranus

Uranus is a cold and distant world that hasn’t been seen up close for 25 years. British scientists propose a plan to launch a satellite in that could shed new light on the mysteries of the frozen planet.


Size Matters When You’re The Former Planet Pluto

Nearly four and a half years after Pluto was demoted from planet to dwarf planet, astronomers are still trying to figure out how big it is. The title of Largest Dwarf Planet in the Solar System hangs in the balance!


Don’t Skip Your First Shower Of 2011

Since the mid 1820′s stargazers have been watching the skies in early January to catch a glimpse of the annual Quadrantids meteor shower. Are you going to miss out on witnessing a potential 65 to 160 meteors per hour?


Saturn’s Moon Rhea May Have A Breathable Atmosphere

Saturn’s icy moon Rhea has an oxygen and carbon dioxide atmosphere that is very similar to Earth’s. Even better, the carbon dioxide suggests there’s life – and that possibly humans could breathe the air.


You Are Much Smaller Than This Pixel

And now for some much-needed perspective on our place in the universe, courtesy of science and Photoshop. In this image, we see our fiery life-giving orb the Sun, represented as a single pixel. And this is the more flattering picture.


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