Aliens: Scientists want new mission to seek out non-human life in space
A team of scientists want to start a new mission to try to find life beyond Earth and the solar system.Astronomers from ETH Zurich, a Swiss university, want to send four space telescopes to explore exo-planets even further away than Neptune, the planet furthest from the Sun.They say their LIFE (Large Interferometer For Exoplanets) mission, would look at lots of Earth-like planets for signs of life like oxygen and water vapour. No space agency has taken their plan yet up, but the researchers say that even if it detected no signs of life at all, it would be worth doing. They argue the data they gather could help to make progress on the big question of whether or not there is life out there.
What is an exo-planet?
Exoplanets are planets that are outside our solar system and orbit a different star to our Sun. Our solar system is made up of the Sun, eight planets, five officially named dwarf planets, hundreds of moons, and thousands of asteroids and comets.It sits in our galaxy which is called the Milky Way. Thousands of exoplanets have been discovered in our galaxy, but Nasa believes billions exist. In a study published in the journal Astronomical Journal, physicist Dr Daniel Angerhausen from ETH Zurich said more should be done to explore them for clues about alien life."A single positive detection would change everything," he said, but even if a mission didn't find signs of life, he argued it would help data experts work out "how rare - or common" planets with signs of life actually are, to help with future missions.
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Wales Online
15 hours ago
- Wales Online
When to see Strawberry Moon glow in 'major' phenomenon not seen for two decades
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info This month's full Moon is set for an unusual twist that won't be seen again for almost two decades. It will sit much lower in the sky due to a phenomenon known as a 'major lunar standstill', making it appear bigger and more orange . A full Moon occurs when the lunar surface facing Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun. This happens roughly every 29.5 days, which is the duration it takes for the Moon to complete one whole lunar phase cycle. The final full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere will illuminate UK skies on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 10-11). Traditonally known as the Strawberry Moon, it will be slightly different this year both in terms of position and colour. What makes June's Strawberry Moon so special? UK watchers will see this year's Strawberry Moon sitting very low in the southern sky. Not only is it the lowest full Moon of the year, but the Moon hasn't been this low in the sky since 2006 – and it won't be again until 2043. This is due to an event that happens once every 18.6 years called the "major lunar standstill", reports the Manchester Evening News. Throughout the Moon's nearly 20-year-long cycle, our lunar companion follows a unique, tilted orbit around Earth. As a result, it experiences events called major and minor lunar standstills. When these occur, the Moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon, so appearing unusually low or high in the sky. During the Strawberry Moon, Earth will be nearing its greatest distance from the Sun in its orbit, whilst the Moon will also be as far from the Sun as it can be in its orbit around Earth. This will therefore result in a full Moon that one of the year's most distant from the Sun. The Moon will also appear much larger than usual due to its proximity to the horizon, a phenomenon known as the "Moon illusion". As an added bonus for stargazers, it will be joined in the night sky by the bright red star Antares, often referred to as the "rival of Mars". Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now (Image:) Will the Strawberry Moon appear red? Not exactly. While it won't appear strawberry-red, the Moon is named after the wild strawberries that start to ripen during early summer, according to the Farmers' Almanac. Each month's full Moon is given a unique nickname. For example, January's full Moon is known as the "Wolf Moon", and February's full moon is referred to as the "Snow Moon". For June, its full Moon is called the 'Strawberry Moon'. However, this year's Strawberry Moon is special – it might even glow slightly orange or rusty red. Since the Moon will be situated so close to the horizon, it might appear a rusty red or orange due to the effect of Earth's atmosphere and how it scatters light reaching the Moon. Similar to a "Blood Moon" phenomenon seen during a partial lunar eclipse, sunlight filtered through the Earth's atmosphere scatters out most of the blue light, leaving red hues to reflect off the Moon's surface. (Image: Stellarium) Best time to see the Strawberry Moon The best time to see the Strawberry Moon will be at dusk on Wednesday night (June 11) It will rise at 10.46pm BST and reach its full phase at 8.44am BST. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox The Moon will also appear through Tuesday night (June 10). However, as sunrise on Wednesday morning is around 4.45am, it will already be light when it reaches its full lunar phase. Find the weather forecast where you live
North Wales Live
a day ago
- North Wales Live
When to see Strawberry Moon glow in 'major' phenomenon not seen for two decades
This month's full Moon is set for an unusual twist that won't be seen again for almost two decades. It will sit much lower in the sky due to a phenomenon known as a 'major lunar standstill', making it appear bigger and more orange . A full Moon occurs when the lunar surface facing Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun. This happens roughly every 29.5 days, which is the duration it takes for the Moon to complete one whole lunar phase cycle. The final full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere will illuminate UK skies on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 10-11). Traditonally known as the Strawberry Moon, it will be slightly different this year both in terms of position and colour. What makes June's Strawberry Moon so special? UK watchers will see this year's Strawberry Moon sitting very low in the southern sky. Not only is it the lowest full Moon of the year, but the Moon hasn't been this low in the sky since 2006 – and it won't be again until 2043. This is due to an event that happens once every 18.6 years called the "major lunar standstill", reports the Manchester Evening News. Throughout the Moon's nearly 20-year-long cycle, our lunar companion follows a unique, tilted orbit around Earth. As a result, it experiences events called major and minor lunar standstills. When these occur, the Moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon, so appearing unusually low or high in the sky. During the Strawberry Moon, Earth will be nearing its greatest distance from the Sun in its orbit, whilst the Moon will also be as far from the Sun as it can be in its orbit around Earth. This will therefore result in a full Moon that one of the year's most distant from the Sun. The Moon will also appear much larger than usual due to its proximity to the horizon, a phenomenon known as the "Moon illusion". As an added bonus for stargazers, it will be joined in the night sky by the bright red star Antares, often referred to as the "rival of Mars". Will the Strawberry Moon appear red? Not exactly. While it won't appear strawberry-red, the Moon is named after the wild strawberries that start to ripen during early summer, according to the Farmers' Almanac. Each month's full Moon is given a unique nickname. For example, January's full Moon is known as the "Wolf Moon", and February's full moon is referred to as the "Snow Moon". For June, its full Moon is called the 'Strawberry Moon'. However, this year's Strawberry Moon is special – it might even glow slightly orange or rusty red. Since the Moon will be situated so close to the horizon, it might appear a rusty red or orange due to the effect of Earth's atmosphere and how it scatters light reaching the Moon. Similar to a "Blood Moon" phenomenon seen during a partial lunar eclipse, sunlight filtered through the Earth's atmosphere scatters out most of the blue light, leaving red hues to reflect off the Moon's surface. Best time to see the Strawberry Moon The best time to see the Strawberry Moon will be at dusk on Wednesday night (June 11) It will rise at 10.46pm BST and reach its full phase at 8.44am BST. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox The Moon will also appear through Tuesday night (June 10). However, as sunrise on Wednesday morning is around 4.45am, it will already be light when it reaches its full lunar phase.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Strawberry Moon will appear red in sky for last time until 2043
Strawberry Moon will appear red in sky for last time until 2043 The moon will take on a strange appearance this week A red moon low on the horizon The full Moon this week will appear unusual for people across the UK thanks to a phenomenon that won't be seen as well again until 2043. June's full Moon is known as the Strawberry Moon because it is the time of year, in North America, when wild strawberries were harvested. And this year the Strawberry Moon will live up to its name and could take on a red tinge. That's because the Moon will be the lowest we will see until 2043 - staying close to the horizon after it rises as a full Moon on June 10 and 11. The fact it is lower on the horizon will mean that, to people looking from the UK, it will take on a red tinge. When the Moon hangs low on the horizon, its light has to travel through a much thicker slice of Earth's atmosphere than when it's overhead. That extra distance does two things: Rayleigh scattering: Molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, plus tiny aerosols in the air scatter short-wavelength light (violet, blue, green) far more efficiently than long-wavelength light (orange, red). The longer the light's journey through that haze, the more of the blues are stripped away, leaving mainly reds and oranges to reach your eyes. Article continues below Dust, smoke, and pollution: Close to the ground, the air contains more dust, water vapour, and human-made pollutants. These larger particles selectively absorb and scatter light, too, but they do it in a way that further mutes the blues and greens while letting the warmer colours through. Put those two effects together and the Moon takes on a coppery or crimson tint whenever it's near the horizon. The same physics explains why sunsets are red — and why a 'blood Moon' during a lunar eclipse looks red: all of the sunlight reaching the eclipsed Moon has been filtered through Earth's thick, dusty atmosphere at sunrise and sunset around the planet. Article continues below The name Strawberry Moon comes from Algonquin and other Native American traditions, as well as old European naming systems. It marks the start of the strawberry harvesting season in parts of North America. Early colonists adopted and passed on this term. For the UK, the full Strawberry Moon on June 11, 2025, will be best seen in the evening of June 10 at moonrise, rather than on the morning of June 11 when it's technically 100% illuminated. Moonrise on June 10 will be between 9pm and 9.30pm and the Moon will be full in the morning on June 11 at 8.43am - after sunrise. The Moon will trace its lowest path of the year, so rising at dusk on June 10 gives it its most dramatic and reddish appearance. At meridian transit (its highest point at night), it'll only reach about 10°–12° above the horizon - about two fists held above the horizon.
