Science News for Kids » astronomy http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:39:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Black hole mysteries http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/black-hole-mysteries/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/black-hole-mysteries/#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 17:00:44 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17202 Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole. Though black holes are invisible, they can create brilliant light shows. This illustration shows a black hole devouring a star. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

Scientists are just getting to know the black holes that help anchor our cosmos]]> Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole. Though black holes are invisible, they can create brilliant light shows. This illustration shows a black hole devouring a star. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

Scientists are just getting to know the black holes that help anchor our cosmos]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/black-hole-mysteries/feed/ 0 New, older age for the universe http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-older-age-for-the-universe/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-older-age-for-the-universe/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:44:56 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16305 This map shows the energy left over from shortly after the Big Bang, as mapped by the Planck space telescope. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (known as absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer, while blue spots are slightly cooler. Astronomers hope this map can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang]]> This map shows the energy left over from shortly after the Big Bang, as mapped by the Planck space telescope. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (known as absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer, while blue spots are slightly cooler. Astronomers hope this map can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-older-age-for-the-universe/feed/ 0 Out-of-this-world atmospheres http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/light-from-a-distant-giant-world-hr-8799c-offers-clues-to-the-gases-in-its-atmosphere/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/light-from-a-distant-giant-world-hr-8799c-offers-clues-to-the-gases-in-its-atmosphere/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:14:46 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16202 This illustration depicts the planet HR 8799c (foreground) orbiting its star. Two other planets in the system can also be seen in the drawing. Credit: Image courtesy of Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Mediafarm

Light from a distant, giant world offers clues to the gases in its atmosphere]]> This illustration depicts the planet HR 8799c (foreground) orbiting its star. Two other planets in the system can also be seen in the drawing. Credit: Image courtesy of Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Mediafarm

Light from a distant, giant world offers clues to the gases in its atmosphere]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/light-from-a-distant-giant-world-hr-8799c-offers-clues-to-the-gases-in-its-atmosphere/feed/ 0 Supertiny satellites launched http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/supertiny-satellites-launched/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/supertiny-satellites-launched/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:45:59 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15895 Cordell Grant, an aerospace engineer at the University of Toronto in Canada, assembles one of his team’s nanosatellites. These are the smallest space telescopes ever sent into Earth orbit. Credit: Johannes Hirn (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto)

Researchers are building simple, miniature satellites to bring down their costs and expand their availability]]> Cordell Grant, an aerospace engineer at the University of Toronto in Canada, assembles one of his team’s nanosatellites. These are the smallest space telescopes ever sent into Earth orbit. Credit: Johannes Hirn (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto)

Researchers are building simple, miniature satellites to bring down their costs and expand their availability]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/supertiny-satellites-launched/feed/ 0 Home on the moon http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/home-on-the-moon/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/home-on-the-moon/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:56:54 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15520 Life on the moon — but not ours. This illustration shows two large moons orbiting a giant, gassy planet (in orange). Astronomers say the right type of moon could harbor alien life. Credit: R. Heller, AIP

Astronomers say rocky moons orbiting distant planets might support alien life ]]> Life on the moon — but not ours. This illustration shows two large moons orbiting a giant, gassy planet (in orange). Astronomers say the right type of moon could harbor alien life. Credit: R. Heller, AIP

Astronomers say rocky moons orbiting distant planets might support alien life ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/home-on-the-moon/feed/ 0 Ice on Mercury http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/ice-on-mercury/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/ice-on-mercury/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:55:16 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15168 This image of Mercury’s north pole region shows areas in shadow (red) according to new MESSENGER data and the location of bright spots (yellow) that are likely exposed ice deposits. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington/National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, Arecibo Observatory

MESSENGER spacecraft provides evidence for frozen water on planet closest to sun]]> This image of Mercury’s north pole region shows areas in shadow (red) according to new MESSENGER data and the location of bright spots (yellow) that are likely exposed ice deposits. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington/National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, Arecibo Observatory

MESSENGER spacecraft provides evidence for frozen water on planet closest to sun]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/ice-on-mercury/feed/ 0 A diamond planet? http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/a-diamond-planet/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/a-diamond-planet/#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:37:56 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14998 Image_55Cancri_e

Distant, carbon-rich world could contain one-third its weight in gems that are relatively rare on Earth ]]> Image_55Cancri_e

Distant, carbon-rich world could contain one-third its weight in gems that are relatively rare on Earth ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/a-diamond-planet/feed/ 0 Twinkle, twinkle oldest stars http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/twinkle-twinkle-oldest-stars/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/twinkle-twinkle-oldest-stars/#comments Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:01:04 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14928 Blazars are bright galaxies that send high-powered radiation jets directly toward Earth. They can be used to detect the light in the universe left over from every star that ever shone. In this image, the blazars are shown as green dots; the Milky Way glows orange in the middle. Credit: NASA, DOE, Fermi LAT Collaboration

Astronomers find traces of ancient light in the activity of bright, distant galaxies]]> Blazars are bright galaxies that send high-powered radiation jets directly toward Earth. They can be used to detect the light in the universe left over from every star that ever shone. In this image, the blazars are shown as green dots; the Milky Way glows orange in the middle. Credit: NASA, DOE, Fermi LAT Collaboration

Astronomers find traces of ancient light in the activity of bright, distant galaxies]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/twinkle-twinkle-oldest-stars/feed/ 0 New planetary neighbor http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/new-planetary-neighbor/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/new-planetary-neighbor/#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:37:45 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14769 Astronomers have found that our closest stellar neighbor has an Earth-sized planet orbiting it. This illustration shows what the pair might look like. Credit: ESO

Nearest star system has a world that's Earthly in size, but too hot for human visitors]]> Astronomers have found that our closest stellar neighbor has an Earth-sized planet orbiting it. This illustration shows what the pair might look like. Credit: ESO

Nearest star system has a world that's Earthly in size, but too hot for human visitors]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/new-planetary-neighbor/feed/ 0 Super star-maker http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/phoenix-cluster-produces-740-stars-a-year/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/phoenix-cluster-produces-740-stars-a-year/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:24:41 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13781 This artist’s drawing shows what the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster might look like. The small blue dots represent new stars forming. Credit: NASA.gov

A distant galaxy cluster churns out stars at a whopping rate]]> This artist’s drawing shows what the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster might look like. The small blue dots represent new stars forming. Credit: NASA.gov

A distant galaxy cluster churns out stars at a whopping rate]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/phoenix-cluster-produces-740-stars-a-year/feed/ 0