The basic problems with Dark Matter that cosmologists are trying to solve revolve around the fact that the combined gravitational forces of the all the detectable matter in the Universe are not sufficient to prevent the expansion of the Universe from accelerating to beyond the…
Astronomers have unveiled the most precise 3D map yet of the Milky Way, an achievement that promises to shed fresh light on the workings of the galaxy and the mysteries of the broader universe. The vast electronic atlas was compiled from data gathered by the…
Ray Norris, Western Sydney University In September 2019, my colleague Anna Kapinska gave a presentation showing interesting objects she’d found while browsing our new radio astronomical data. She had started noticing very weird shapes she couldn’t fit easily to any known type of object. Among…
There are just four ways astronomers can study the Universe: by looking at physical objects (such as meteorites), elementary particles (such as cosmic rays), gravitational waves, and electromagnetic radiation (such as optical light). Optical light, the radiation we’re able to perceive with our eyes, isn’t…
One of the most rewarding aspects of astronomy is the sense of wonder and discovery you get by simply looking at the sky. This is true for both amateur and professional astronomers. But, how does observing the sky differ for professional and amateur astronomers? Most…