EarthSky News - Sept 29 - Is the Milky Way Normal?

September 29 Is the Milky Way Normal? by:

Is the Milky Way a normal galaxy? Astronomers assume our Milky Way galaxy is typical. They use our knowledge of it to leapfrog out to understanding the rest of the universe. But is the Milky Way typical? Every visible star is within Milky Way It's not too late to spot the starlit band of our Milky Way galaxy in the evening. Space visionaries boost Pluto lander At a NASA symposium this week, space scientists and engineers presented an exciting new concept for a lander that would explore Pluto by "hopping" across its surface. Friday FAQ: Why don’t poison frogs poison themselves?    Scientists are a step closer to resolving this head-scratcher. And their findings have potential consequences for the fight against pain and addiction.

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Every visible star is within Milky Way On any night, any time of year, every star you see belongs to our Milky Way galaxy.

Night sky from sea caves Jack Fusco Photography captured this image from a sea cave in Malibu, California. The glow on the ocean is bioluminescence, a biochemical light from sea creatures, the sea-going equivalent of firefly light. See another cool shot from a sea cave, here.   Submit your photo to EarthSky here!

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EarthSky News - Sept 28 - Black Holes with Ravenous Appetites

September 28 Black Holes with Ravenous Appetites by:

Black holes with ravenous appetites Both Type I and Type II active galaxies have central, supermassive black holes, which consume the galaxies from within. But new work suggests the black holes in Type I's eat faster. Passing spacecraft snaps Earth's pic The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft received a gravity boost from Earth on September 22, in the process creating this new Earth portrait. Did dino-killing asteroid speed bird evolution? A study suggests the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago also increased the pace of evolution in birds, their only remaining descendants. Tonight … Meet Fomalhaut, the loneliest star Go outside around mid-evening, and learn to keep company with the loneliest star.

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Fomalhaut, the loneliest star If you're in North America, or at a similar latitude, look southward for Fomalhaut. Southern Hemisphere? Look overhead. In its large patch of sky, it'll be the only brightly shining star.

Passing spacecraft snaps Earth pics The OSIRIS-REx craft is now over a million miles past Earth, headed toward asteroid Bennu in 2018. Submit your photo to EarthSky here!

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