The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination. But the combination is locked up in the safe.

— Peter De Vries

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Dwarf Galaxies May Hold the Answers to the Debate on Dark Matter

Universe Today - Sat, 11/08/2025 - 10:09pm

An international team of researchers, led by the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), has shed light on a decades-long debate about why galaxies rotate faster than expected, and whether this behaviour is caused by unseen dark matter or a breakdown of gravity on cosmic scales.

Categories: Astronomy

The ExoMars Orbiter Captures Dark Streaks on the Slopes of Mars Caused by a Meteorite Impact

Universe Today - Sat, 11/08/2025 - 6:20pm

The ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) recently captured images of streaks formed from a dust avalanche on the slopes of Apollinaris Mons the night before Christmas in 2023. A new study reveals that these types streaks are largely the result of seasonal factors, rather than meteoroid impacts.

Categories: Astronomy

This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 7 – 16

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Sat, 11/08/2025 - 9:28am

The interstellar comet: Can you see it in your scope? Maybe you can, starting late this week as Comet 3I/ATLAS emerges from behind the Sun. If you have a large […]

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 7 – 16 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

Euclid Has 8 Extra Years of Fuel. A Scientist Has A Brilliant Plan To Use It.

Universe Today - Sat, 11/08/2025 - 8:23am

It’s almost become expected that many space telescopes and probes can have “extended missions”. Both Voyagers are still sending data back 40+ years after their 5-year primary mission ended. But figuring out what to do with those spacecraft after their primary mission takes some negotiation. One such craft that will reach its end-of-mission in 2030 is Euclid, which is currently on a mission to map the “dark universe” of dark energy and dark matter. According to a new paper from Luigi “Rolly” Bedin of the Astronomical Institute of Padova, which is available in pre-print form on arXiv, for its second act we could turn Euclid into the most powerful astrometric telescope ever made.

Categories: Astronomy

Rubin Observatory Discovers Surprise ‘Tail’ on Iconic Galaxy

Scientific American.com - Sat, 11/08/2025 - 8:00am

The first image from the Vera C. Rubin telescope reveals a previously unnoticed feature of the galaxy M61 that may explain its mysterious properties

Categories: Astronomy

China's Tianwen-1 Orbiter Spots 3I/ATLAS

Universe Today - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 7:12pm

Using its high-resolution camera, China's Tianwen-1 orbiter has successfully observed the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS at a distance of about 30 million kilometers, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Categories: Astronomy

James Watson, Co-Discoverer of DNA’s Structure, Dead at Age 97

Scientific American.com - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 5:00pm

James Watson’s work on the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA led to a revolution in biology and genetics

Categories: Astronomy

James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix, has died aged 97

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 4:13pm
As one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century, James Watson pioneered the field of genetics and left behind a complicated legacy
Categories: Astronomy

James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix, has died aged 97

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 4:13pm
As one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century, James Watson pioneered the field of genetics and left behind a complicated legacy
Categories: Astronomy

Do Interstellar Objects Pose A Threat To Earth?

Universe Today - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 3:53pm

We're only starting to awaken to the passage of interstellar objects through our inner Solar System. So far we know of three, but there are bound to be many more. Do they pose an impact threat to Earth?

Categories: Astronomy

Enceladus’s ocean may be even better for life than we realised

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 2:00pm
The buried ocean on Saturn’s moon Enceladus seems to be stable across extremely long periods of time, making it an even more promising place to hunt for life
Categories: Astronomy

Enceladus’s ocean may be even better for life than we realised

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 2:00pm
The buried ocean on Saturn’s moon Enceladus seems to be stable across extremely long periods of time, making it an even more promising place to hunt for life
Categories: Astronomy

Having children plays a complicated role in the rate we age

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 2:00pm
The effort of reproducing may divert energy away from repairing DNA or fighting illness, which could drive ageing, but a new study suggests that is only the case when environmental conditions are tough
Categories: Astronomy

Having children plays a complicated role in the rate we age

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 2:00pm
The effort of reproducing may divert energy away from repairing DNA or fighting illness, which could drive ageing, but a new study suggests that is only the case when environmental conditions are tough
Categories: Astronomy

Early Arctic Cold Snap Could Break Decades-Old Temperature Records

Scientific American.com - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 1:40pm

An early cold snap will chill much of the U.S., potentially breaking records in the Southeast

Categories: Astronomy

China's Stranded Astronauts Show the Dangers of Space Junk

Scientific American.com - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 1:35pm

Three Chinese astronauts will likely return safely to Earth after a reported space-junk strike. But the incident highlights the growing risk of orbital debris

Categories: Astronomy

Habitable Zone Planets Around Red Dwarfs Aren't Likely To Host Exomoons

Universe Today - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 12:38pm

The planets in our Solar System host hundreds of moons, so it seems likely that planets in other solar systems do, too. New research examines the likelihood of rocky planets around M dwarfs having exomoons, and it doesn't look good. They don't last long enough for them to give life a helping hand like Earth's moon has.

Categories: Astronomy

What FAA’s Flight Reduction Plan Means for Safety and Cancellations

Scientific American.com - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 12:15pm

“I have no problems flying,” says one expert about the FAA’s plan to reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 airports nationwide. “I would get on an airplane tomorrow”

Categories: Astronomy

Copernicus Sentinel-1D journey to space

ESO Top News - Fri, 11/07/2025 - 11:30am
Video: 00:03:39

The Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite has joined the Sentinel-1 mission in orbit. Launch took place on 4 November 2025 at 22:02 CET (18:02 local time) on board an Ariane 6 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The Sentinel-1 mission delivers high-resolution radar images of Earth’s surface, performing in all weathers, day-and-night. This service is used by disaster response teams, environmental agencies, maritime authorities and climate scientists, who depend on frequent updates of critical data.

Sentinel-1D will work in tandem with Sentinel-1C, flying in the same orbit but 180° apart, to optimise global coverage and data delivery. Both satellites have a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument on board, which captures high-resolution imagery of Earth’s surface. They are also equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) instruments to improve detection and tracking of ships. When Sentinel-1D is fully operational, it will enable more frequent AIS observations, including data on vessel identity, location and direction of passage, enabling precise tracking.

Sentinel-1D was launched on Europe’s heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6 on flight designated VA265. 

Read full story: Copernicus Sentinel-1D reaches orbit on Ariane 6

Access the related broadcast quality video material: Sentinel-1D launch on Ariane 6 - VA265 / Sentinel-1 mission animations

Categories: Astronomy