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ISSUE 149

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© ESA 18 September 2023 Intergalactic bridge connects

A giant moon collision may have given rise to Saturn’s iconic rings

Saturn has puzzled astronomers for centuries KEEP IN

Thousands of active red galaxy hearts with powerful radio signals have been discovered

An artist’s impression of a quasar © ESO;

Webb’s early galaxy images are oddly bright

The bright galaxies found by the James Webb

NASA wants a ‘lunar freezer’ for its Artemis Moon missions

NASA has issued a request for ‘lunar freezer’

The Milky Way is warped, and it might be the work of dark matter

The Milky Way is twisted, and astronomers may

NASA extends the New Horizons mission through the late 2020s

Pluto illustration incorporating NASA New Horizons terrain imagery

WIN AN OLIVON PC-3 10x56 BINOCULAR WORTH £349!

Embark on a fuss-free tour of the night sky with this month’s competition prize

EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSE

HUBBLE VS WEBB

LUNAR MASS DRIVER

Future cargo delivery on the Moon

“Looking at Earth from space… it’s phenomenal”

The former NASA astronaut recounts her spaceflight career, family and more as she promotes her new book, Air Born

HYPOTHETICAL ‘DARK PHOTONS’ COULD SHINE A LIGHT ON DARK MATTER

These massive particles could serve as the connection between dark matter and the everyday matter that comprises stars, planets and us

3D SIMULATIONS SUGGEST THAT SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES EAT MORE QUICKLY THAN EXPECTED

Black holes at the hearts of galaxies have an unexpected delivery service that helps them feed over months rather than hundreds of years

OCEAN WORLDS

THE SOLAR SYSTEM’S

HOW NASA’S OSIRIS-REX MISSION WILL HELP PROTECT EARTH AGAINST ASTEROID BENNU AND ITS FLYBY IN 2182

Could Bennu hit Earth in 2182?

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EUCLID

This space telescope will shed light on the dark universe

THE VLT FINDS A SURPRISE EXOPLANET IN A THREE-BODY STAR SYSTEM

Astronomers made an unexpected discovery when reanalysing images taken by one of the world’s largest telescopes

IS EARTH IN DANGER?

A first-of-its-kind ‘scientific health check’ shows global life-support systems are outside the limits at which humanity evolved and civilisation emerged

NEW DRUG SHOWS POTENTIAL TO AID ASTRONAUTS DURING FUTURE MISSIONS TO THE MOON AND MARS

BP-NELL-PEG has shown promising results of combatting microgravity bone loss in mice. However, it’s yet to be tested in humans

HOW IS WATER FORMING ON THE MOON?

Scientists have made a breakthrough discovery to explain the origin of water ice. Could water on the lunar surface be forming due to high-energy electrons from Earth?

HOW THE MOON ENCOUNTERS EARTH’S MAGNETOTAIL

The Moon travels right through this part of our planet’s magnetosphere

NASA SEEKS CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TO CAPTURE THE APRIL 2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

If you’re in the path of totality, you can contribute to research about the Sun

How does the interstellar medium help form stars?

Stars form from clouds of gas and dust

WEBB SNAPS THE MOST DISTANT GRAVITATIONALLY LENSED OBJECT EVER SEEN

The stunning image reveals a perfectly formed Einstein ring

WHAT’S IN THE SKY?

What to look out for during this observing period

PLANETARIUM

16 NOVEMBER 2023

THIS MONTH’S PLANETS

Venus continues to dazzle in the dawn sky as a bright spark of light

MONS PICO AND PLATO’S MOUNTAINS

These lunar peaks are worth exploring with a telescope

NAKED EYE AND BINOCULAR TARGETS

The night sky is rich in pretty star clusters and bright, colourful stars

TOUR BEYOND THE ORION NEBULA

Track down some of winter’s lesser known wonders on the next clear and chilly night

NORTHERN HEMISPHER

Astronomers will need to wrap up warm to make the most of the winter sky

NIKON ACULON T02 821 BINOCULAR

Stylish, small and lightweight, the Nikon Aculon T02 8x21 offers limited yet pleasing views of planets, the Moon and star fields

IN THE SHOPS: BEST SMARTPHONES FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

l1 Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Cost: £849

JESSICA WATKINS

Joining NASA in 2017, she’s one of the Artemis astronauts who could fly to the Moon