Astronomy

New James Webb Space Telescope observations of a supermassive black hole near the edge of the observable universe have the potential to uncover how such behemoths came to be. Supermassive black holes — singularities surrounded by vast event horizons, boundaries from which nothing, not even light, can return — are surprisingly common in our universe. Almost every large galaxy near us has one. Some of them lurk quietly at galactic centers (like the one in our Milky Way), while others blaze across the electromagnetic spectrum as they feed on gas buffets. Yet we don’t understand their origins. Now, a new study posted on the astronomy arXiv preprint server provides a glimpse at the earliest years of one of these monstrous black holes. How to ...

Skywatchers at Nasa have discounted a Harvard astronomer’s hypothesis that a rare interstellar object hurtling through our solar system is a relic from a civilization in another celestial neighborhood, and “could potentially be dire for humanity”.Avi Loeb, head of Harvard University’s Galileo Project, which searches for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, raised eyebrows by suggesting in a scientific paper in July that Comet 3I/Atlas, set for a close pass with Mars next month, could be artificially made.It is only the third known object originating outside the solar system to pass through and was named for the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (Atlas) survey telescope in Río Hurtado, Chile, that discovered it on 1 July.Loeb says observations of the object so far have not...

The fractional linear and circular polarizations measured for PSR B1937+21 as a function of frequency, along with the best-fitting lines and uncertainties (shaded). Credit: The Astrophysical Journal (2025). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/add728 Within our Milky Way galaxy, in the direction of the constellation Vulpecula, a cosmic "lighthouse" named PSR B1937+21 spins at an astonishing rate of 642 revolutions per second. It emits electromagnetic pulses that rival the precision of atomic clocks. For the first time, a Chinese research team has captured the complete polarization pattern of PSR B1937+21's main pulse and interpulse as they vary with frequenc...

The ESA's JUpiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is on its way to conduct detailed studies of Jupiter and its three icy moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. To pick up speed and reach Jupiter by July 2031, the probe will conduct a gravity-assist maneuver with Venus on Sunday, August 31st. According to the ESA, the mission suffered an anomaly with its communications system, which temporarily severed its connection with Earth. Fortunately, a coordinated response by teams at the ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) and Airbus (JUICE's manufacturer) restored communications in time for the probe's flyby. The anomaly occurred when a ground-based antenna in the ESA's Deep Space Network failed to establish contact on July 16th. A quick diagnostic determined that the issue was not ...

By Ian Whitely, chair of the Save Herstmonceux Observatory campaign Since the September issue of Astronomy Now went to press, we’ve heard that the lease to the Observatory Science Centre (OSC), Herstmonceux has been extended for 10 years. The announcement, on 18 August, follows a year of uncertainty after Queen’s University Canada declared that the lease to the current operators of the science centre, Science Projects, would not be renewed after December 2026. Now, a ten-year extended lease has been agreed between Science Projects and Bader College (for Queen’s University Canada). Wide field panorama of the Observatory Science Centre site with its telescopes. Credit: Herstmonceux Science Centre The site, at Herstmonceux Castle Estate, is an important UK science heritage location and forme...