Selections from 2024: First Unambiguous Detection of Water on an Asteroid
Researchers have spotted what might be water on asteroids before, but 2024 brought the first definitive detection.
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Selections from 2024: Faintest Known Milky Way Satellite Discovered
The Milky Way’s faintest known satellite contains just 57 stars and has a total mass of 16 solar masses: meet Ursa Major III/UNIONS 1.
Selections from 2024: Mapping Quasars Across the Universe
Need more than a million quasars for your study of large-scale structure, accretion, or black hole growth? The Quaia catalog has you covered.
Selections from 2024: Earth Predicted to Gain (and Lose) a Mini-Moon
In September 2024, researchers predicted that the asteroid 2024 PT5 would soon join Earth as a short-lived “mini-moon.” Today, we’re giving a brief recap of how the prediction played out.
Selections from 2024: Weighing the North Star
Though the North Star appears to be an unwavering single star, it’s actually a variable star belonging to a triple star system. This year, researchers reported a new mass estimate for the North Star and discovered spots on its surface.
Monthly Roundup: Fun in the Sun
As the solstice nears, we’re taking a look at four recent articles that share new findings from our home star.
Dusty Crescents Around a Baby Star
What’s the origin of the dusty crescents in the disk around the young star MWC 758? Researchers have tracked the movements of two crescents to find out.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Betelgeuse’s Binary Buddy
Astrobites reports on two research articles that find evidence for one of the most well-studied stars in the night sky having a binary companion.
Featured Image: Gamma Rays from Massive Stars
An investigation of the Milky Way’s youngest super star cluster tests whether the winds of massive stars could be a source of cosmic rays.
Mapping the Sun’s Migration: How Galactic Environments Impact Habitability
Bombarded by powerful radiation or visited by comets carrying life’s ingredients, the Sun’s migration through the Milky Way likely contributed to the solar system’s ability to harbor life.
Finding Missing Flares
Is the high-energy radiation of a solar flare only rarely accompanied by a flash at visible wavelengths, or are visible-light flares more common than expected?
Exploring the Slower Side of Neutron-Star Bow Shocks
Astrobites reports on three neutron-star bow shocks photographed in unprecedented detail, revealing new insights into the hidden physics behind these cosmic collisions.