Black holes are famous for sucking in everything that crosses their event horizons, including light. So, why do astronomers see energetic radiation coming from the environment of a black hole in an X-ray binary system? It’s a good question that finally has an answer.
Space News & Blog Articles
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ESA scrubs swan song launch of its Vega rocket due to “electrical issues”
Sentinel-2 in the Vega launch tower. Image: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–T. Leduc
Update 6:41 p.m. EDT: Arianespace announced that the mission is scrubbed for a Tuesday night launch attempt and is working towards an opportunity on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Thruster issues delay BepiColombo probe's Mercury arrival until November 2026
A thruster glitch suffered this past April will delay the BepiColombo mission's arrival at Mercury by nearly a year, to November 2026.
Scientists make lab-grown black hole jets
By using protons to probe how a magnetic field responds to an expanding plasma, experimenters have replicated the particle jets spewed out by active black holes.
This Ancient Galaxy Merger Will Produce a very Luminous Quasar
In the contemporary Universe, massive galaxies are plentiful. But the Universe wasn’t always like this. Astronomers think that galaxies grew large through mergers, so what we see in space is the result of billions of years of galaxies merging. When galaxies merge, the merger can feed large quantities of gas into their centers, sometimes creating a quasar.
'It basically lifts the skies up.' NASA discovers Earth's electrical field at last after 60-year search
A long-sought invisible electrical field wrapped around Earth has been detected more than half a century after it was first predicted to exist.
Watch Europe's Vega rocket launch its final mission tonight
Europe's Vega small-satellite launcher is scheduled to fly its final mission tonight (Sept. 3), and you can watch the swan song live.
Shelved NASA spacecraft could spy on asteroid Apophis before 2029 Earth flyby
NASA is considering pulling a pair of shelved spacecraft out of storage to spy on notorious asteroid Apophis ahead of its April 2029 Earth flyby.
Statue of fallen 'Teacher-in-Space' Christa McAuliffe unveiled at NH state house
A statue of Christa McAuliffe, NASA's "Teacher-in-Space" who died on board the space shuttle Challenger in 1986, has been unveiled in New Hampshire, the state where she taught.
Catch a Fall Feast of Lunar Occultations in September
September offers a number of fascinating lunar occultation events worldwide.
NASA science mission spacecraft are at risk from hackers, but a new law could help protect them
NASA missions are some of the most technologically advanced and critically important endeavors but they are at risk from hackers.
Supercharged 'cocoon of energy' may power the brightest supernovas in the universe
Every so often, astronomers detect a supernova explosion that's 100 times brighter than it should be. A new paper may reveal the strange source of these "superluminous" supernovas.
Partially Shredded Star Returns for a Second Go-round with Black Hole
A supermassive black hole has twice now grabbed gas from a passing star — and astronomers predict a third chance will come in early 2025.
Some black holes have a 'heartbeat' — and astronomers may finally know why
A tiny fraction of known black holes emit X-ray signals that resemble a human "heartbeat." Now, new research may finally explain the strange phenomenon.
'A lot has changed': NOAA is rewriting the book on how to rank solar storms
NOAA is researching how to update its Space Weather Scales and how it can better communicate its space weather forecasts with the public and government agencies.
Artemis 3 astronauts will walk on the moon with 4G-equipped spacesuits
Artemis 3's astronauts will wear spacesuits equipped with 4G connectivity — the same 4G that makes up the majority of Earth's mobile phone networks today.
Sentinel-2C operators complete final rehearsals
ESA mission controllers have completed the final phase of their simulation training for the critical launch and early orbit phase, confirming that everything is ready for the launch of Sentinel-2C.
Satellites are making the night sky brighter — as a launch site, New Zealand has a duty to combat light pollution
New Zealand's rapidly growing space industry, driven by private ventures, faces challenges with light pollution affecting Indigenous astronomy. Balancing economic growth and environmental protection is crucial.
Stick to the shade in new extended 'Dune: Awakening' gameplay trailer (video)
A new gameplay trailer for Funcom's open-world survival video game, "Dune: Awakening"
'Unbreakable' quantum communication closer to reality thanks to new, exceptionally bright photons
Scientists build a new light source for quantum communications by combining existing technologies together to create a stronger and more robust quantum signal.
Star-packed Triangulum Galaxy shines in new Hubble Telescope image
The Triangulum Galaxy, the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, is shining with star formation in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.
