SETI on the Side: Seeking Dyson Spheres with Gaia
Could Gaia’s immense catalog of stellar positions help us find extraterrestrial intelligence?
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Measuring Microlensing from Space
How can we use gravitational microlensing to learn about isolated objects roaming the galaxy?
Has Anyone Found a Lost Comet?!
Comet D/Lexell has been lost to memory since its discovery in 1770. Can modern astronomical methods track it down?
Probing the Surroundings of Tycho’s Supernova
Astrobites reports on how a supernova that Tycho Brahe studied in 1572 may yet have something to tell us about what causes these dramatic explosions.
Featured Image: Supermassive Black Holes in a Galaxy Merger
This Hubble image hints at a pair of accreting supermassive black holes likely headed for a merger after the collision of their host galaxies.
Planet Formation Caught in the Act
Scientists have caught a planet in the act of forming within a protoplanetary disk. What can we learn as we watch it grow?
Microwaves from Solar Flares
A new view of the Sun in microwaves has revealed fresh details of what happens when a powerful flare erupts from the Sun into space.
Seeing Red (and Blue): Two Sub-Populations of Type Ia Supernovae?
Astrobites reports on the discovery that Type Ia supernovae may fall into two distinct sub-populations.
Could Binary Mergers Help Us Find Intelligent Life?
A new study explores how we can optimize the hunt for advanced extraterrestrial civilizations — by targeting galaxies that host observable neutron-star mergers.
Dark Energy Survey Reveals Stellar Streams
Three years of optical survey data have revealed delicate stellar trails that may help us understand how the Milky Way halo was constructed.
The Origin of the Satellite Segue 1
A new study has measured the first proper motions for our mysterious neighboring galaxy Segue 1, providing clues to its origins.
The Elder Generation of Taurus
Astrobites reports on the stellar membership roster for Taurus-Auriga, the nearest large star-forming region.