Latest news with #Dury
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Newly discovered Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) captured in stunning photo blazing across UK skies
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The newly discovered comet, now designated Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) is making a striking debut in the early morning skies — and astrophotographer Josh Dury had front-row seats to capture it this morning. "Amazing to witness such a newly discovered comet just several hours after its official designation," Dury told Dury captured Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) soaring over the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Somerset, U.K. at approximately 4:50 a.m. local time. Equipment used: Sony A7S II Sigma 150-600mm sport at 369mm focal length "Comets are a great celestial attraction — as these are opportunities to capture dirty snowballs; the oldest objects from the far edges of our solar system," Dury told "Each takes on unique characters of their own in appearance and color, providing signals from the early formation of our place in the universe." Related: New comet SWAN25F is turning heads — and telescopes — toward the morning sky The comet was discovered in late March by Australian amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazzo, using imagery from the SWAN instrument aboard the sun-watching SOHO spacecraft, which maps hydrogen in the solar wind. Enough observational data has now been collected and the discovery confirmed by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, it is now designated Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN). Related stories: — Solar eclipse shines over Stonehenge in stunning photo from Astrophotographer Josh Dury — Astrophotographer captures 'rare' planetary parade as 7 planets align in the night sky (photo) — Photographer captures rare Comet G3 ATLAS from UK in dramatic 'once-in-a-lifetime' image If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the comet yourself, you'll need to act quickly. It will remain visible until around April 14, after which it moves into the constellation Andromeda and becomes lost in the twilight as it approaches the sun. The comet reaches perihelion — its closest point to the sun — on May 1, after which it will become visible from the southern hemisphere. "With weather and moon prospects, this was our best chance to observe from the UK," Dury said.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Total lunar eclipse March 2025: Best photos of the "Blood Worm Moon"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As the Full Worm Moon rose overnight, skywatchers across the Americas turned their eyes — and their cameras — toward the sky. Over several hours, Earth's shadow slowly crept across the lunar surface, turning our celestial neighbor into a deep, blood-red orb. This was the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, and photographers — both amateur and professional — were not going to let the rare opportunity to capture the spectacle pass, even if it meant staying awake well into the early morning hours. If you didn't manage to see the total lunar eclipse or if you just want to relive the show all over again, we've rounded up some of the best "Blood Worm Moon" photos from across North America and beyond. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align in such a way that Earth casts its shadow on the moon. During totality, the moon moves through Earth's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow, creating the deep red hue of a "Blood Moon." The March full moon is traditionally known as the "Worm Moon" because this is the time of year when the ground softens and earthworm casts reappear. For these reasons, this total lunar eclipse in March is sometimes referred to as the "Blood Worm Moon." Landscape astrophotographer Josh Dury has sent us some breathtaking photos of the total lunar eclipse from his vantage point at Castle Stalker, Appin, Scotland. Dury headed to Scotland in search of good weather and found it! In a battle against the setting moon and the rising sun, Dury captured some remarkable shots of the total lunar eclipse. Image 1 of 5 Image 2 of 5 Image 3 of 5 Image 4 of 5 Image 5 of 5 Josh Dinner captured this stunning shot of the "Blood Moon" while waiting for his car to charge on a long drive home from Florida. Photographer Yuri Cortex captured a beautiful, rusty-red view of the moon during the total lunar eclipse from Mexico City, Mexico. Stargazers in Australia also enjoyed a great view of the total lunar eclipse. Photographer Izhar Khan captured the "Blood Moon" over Lake George near Canberra, Australia. Photographer Brandon Bell took this lovely detailed photograph of the total lunar eclipse over Merritt Island, Florida. Here you can see the lower right portion of the moon in Earth's deep umbra shadow. It looks like we weren't the only ones watching the lunar eclipse! Here, the rusty red moon appears above the "Forever Marilyn" statue in Palm Springs, California. Below, photographer Patrick Fallon also captured the eclipse above the fronds of a palm from his vantage point in Palm Springs, California. A beautifully detailed photograph captured by photographer Miguel J. Rodriguez shows the Blood Worm Moon shining over Daytona Beach, Florida. Photographer Antonio Ojeda snapped this lovely scene of the full moon rising in Saltillo, Mexico. Skywatchers gather around telescopes in Caracas, Venezuela, to see the blood-red Worm Moon. What a shot! Aurora chaser Vincent Ledvina posted an incredible photograph on X showing not only the "Blood Moon" but the "Blood Moon" AND the northern lights! Geomagnetic activity really picked up throughout the night, reaching G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm levels at 9:42 p.m. EDT (0142 GMT). The sky decided to put on quite the show for those lucky skywatchers in the right place at the right time. Another aurora chaser, Rj Rolden, captured an aurora corona overhead and the total lunar eclipse. "Are you kidding me??? Whoaaaaa!!! I am one lucky guy who witnessed the perfect duo!!!" Rolden wrote in a post on X. It's not just totality that wows skywatchers — every stage of a lunar eclipse has its own unique beauty. This photo by Brandon Bell captures the moment the moon enters the darkest part of Earth's shadow, the umbra. Photographer Andrew Chin took this beautiful photo of the partial phase of the total lunar eclipse from Vancouver, Canada. This delicate partially eclipsed moon looks stunning in this photograph captured by Yuri Cortez from Mexico City, Mexico. Here, we can see Earth's umbra, the darkest part of the shadow, engulfing the lunar surface during the total lunar eclipse. If this eclipse has you excited for the next one, you won't have to wait as long as last time. The next total lunar eclipse is on Sept. 7, 2025, and will be visible across Asia and Western Australia. Feeling inspired to take a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Total lunar eclipse March 2025: Best photos of the "Blood Worm Moon"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As the Full Worm Moon rose overnight, skywatchers across the Americas turned their eyes — and their cameras — toward the sky. Over several hours, Earth's shadow slowly crept across the lunar surface, turning our celestial neighbor into a deep, blood-red orb. This was the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, and photographers — both amateur and professional — were not going to let the rare opportunity to capture the spectacle pass, even if it meant staying awake well into the early morning hours. If you didn't manage to see the total lunar eclipse or if you just want to relive the show all over again, we've rounded up some of the best "Blood Worm Moon" photos from across North America and beyond. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align in such a way that Earth casts its shadow on the moon. During totality, the moon moves through Earth's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow, creating the deep red hue of a "Blood Moon." The March full moon is traditionally known as the "Worm Moon" because this is the time of year when the ground softens and earthworm casts reappear. For these reasons, this total lunar eclipse in March is sometimes referred to as the "Blood Worm Moon." Landscape astrophotographer Josh Dury has sent us some breathtaking photos of the total lunar eclipse from his vantage point at Castle Stalker, Appin, Scotland. Dury headed to Scotland in search of good weather and found it! In a battle against the setting moon and the rising sun, Dury captured some remarkable shots of the total lunar eclipse. Image 1 of 5 Image 2 of 5 Image 3 of 5 Image 4 of 5 Image 5 of 5 Josh Dinner captured this stunning shot of the "Blood Moon" while waiting for his car to charge on a long drive home from Florida. Photographer Yuri Cortex captured a beautiful, rusty-red view of the moon during the total lunar eclipse from Mexico City, Mexico. Stargazers in Australia also enjoyed a great view of the total lunar eclipse. Photographer Izhar Khan captured the "Blood Moon" over Lake George near Canberra, Australia. Photographer Brandon Bell took this lovely detailed photograph of the total lunar eclipse over Merritt Island, Florida. Here you can see the lower right portion of the moon in Earth's deep umbra shadow. It looks like we weren't the only ones watching the lunar eclipse! Here, the rusty red moon appears above the "Forever Marilyn" statue in Palm Springs, California. Below, photographer Patrick Fallon also captured the eclipse above the fronds of a palm from his vantage point in Palm Springs, California. A beautifully detailed photograph captured by photographer Miguel J. Rodriguez shows the Blood Worm Moon shining over Daytona Beach, Florida. Photographer Antonio Ojeda snapped this lovely scene of the full moon rising in Saltillo, Mexico. Skywatchers gather around telescopes in Caracas, Venezuela, to see the blood-red Worm Moon. What a shot! Aurora chaser Vincent Ledvina posted an incredible photograph on X showing not only the "Blood Moon" but the "Blood Moon" AND the northern lights! Geomagnetic activity really picked up throughout the night, reaching G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm levels at 9:42 p.m. EDT (0142 GMT). The sky decided to put on quite the show for those lucky skywatchers in the right place at the right time. Another aurora chaser, Rj Rolden, captured an aurora corona overhead and the total lunar eclipse. "Are you kidding me??? Whoaaaaa!!! I am one lucky guy who witnessed the perfect duo!!!" Rolden wrote in a post on X. It's not just totality that wows skywatchers — every stage of a lunar eclipse has its own unique beauty. This photo by Brandon Bell captures the moment the moon enters the darkest part of Earth's shadow, the umbra. Photographer Andrew Chin took this beautiful photo of the partial phase of the total lunar eclipse from Vancouver, Canada. This delicate partially eclipsed moon looks stunning in this photograph captured by Yuri Cortez from Mexico City, Mexico. Here, we can see Earth's umbra, the darkest part of the shadow, engulfing the lunar surface during the total lunar eclipse. If this eclipse has you excited for the next one, you won't have to wait as long as last time. The next total lunar eclipse is on Sept. 7, 2025, and will be visible across Asia and Western Australia. Feeling inspired to take a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Once-in-a-lifetime' planetary parade photo captures 10 celestial bodies in a single shot
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A rare grouping of 10 celestial bodies is captured in a stunning new photo taken during last weekend's great planetary parade. Astrophotographer Josh Dury took the photo you see above on Feb. 28, when seven planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — lined up on the same side of the sun. Dury photographed this rare cosmic event from the Mendip Hills, Somerset, U.K. The next time this s type of cosmic alignment should appear is the year 2040. In addition to the seven planets, however, Dury's photo captures the moon and the sun from the vantage point of Earth, which lies in the foreground, for a total of 10 celestial bodies captured in one photograph. "The moon [was] the big contender," Dury told in an email. "What made this photograph tricky was the inclusion of the sun, as well as Saturn and Neptune," which appear much more faint in the night sky given they are furthest from Earth. "Some might say, they are not all visible at the same time — and you would be correct," Dury said. "These images were captured over a 2.5 hour window to document all 10." Dury used an ultra-wide angle lens to photograph different overlapping sections or "panes" of the landscape, which were then combined to create this panoramic view of the planets, moon and sun arching above Earth. Dury then used a HDR blending technique to capture the wide range of light seen in the images taken over the 2.5 hour window. Most of the seven planets have been visible in the night sky since January, with Mercury being the last planet to join the procession as it climbed to its highest point above the horizon. Using Mercury as a guide, Dury was able to gauge the relative positions of the other celestial bodies and took photos at multiple exposure levels to capture the light from both the brighter and dimmer planets. "The relative positions of the sun, Mercury, the moon and Venus will again be slightly out of alignment," Dury explained. "This is due to the natural setting point of the sun on the horizon and planets' visibility amongst its glare." The photo also captures zodiacal light, which is a faint, white glow in the night sky that appears to extend from the sun. The clear night sky offered pristine views of sparkling stars and two bright galaxies, including the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and Triangulum Galaxy (M33). "After March 2, it is a downward retreat for Saturn as it approaches the sun," Dury told "Making this 10 celestial body alignment a short-lived and potential once in a lifetime event; maybe even a world first dare I say it. I am so delighted the skies remained clear and to document this event from my homelands on the Mendips made it even more special." Related Stories: — Astrophotographer captures 'rare' planetary parade as 7 planets align in the night sky (photo) — Earth shines over the moon in amazing 1st photos from private Blue Ghost lander. 'We're all in that picture.' — US Space Force reveals 1st look at secretive X-37B space plane in orbit (photo) If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the night sky, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight. Editor's Note: If you snapped an amazing planetary parade photo and would like to share it with readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Planet parade' photo captures 7 planets in a line over Earth — possibly for the 1st time ever
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A stunning photo has captured all seven of our neighboring planets in Earth's sky at the same time, possibly for the first time ever. The composite image, captured by astrophotographer Josh Dury, shows Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Venus, Neptune and Mercury in alignment thanks to a rare "planetary parade" taking place this weekend for the first time since 1982. (Here's how you can see it for yourself tonight). While spacecraft, such as NASA's Voyager 1, have snapped all the planets in the sky from space, terrestrial cameras have only recently become advanced enough to capture them from the ground — meaning Dury's photo is likely the very first of its kind. "Seven (arguably, 8) is a feat that to my prior knowledge has not been achieved before," Dury told Live Science in an email — suggesting that if we include Earth itself, visible in the foreground, the image's planet total comes to eight. "This image could hold a record for being the first of its kind to photograph all the planets of the solar system, blended into a stitched panoramic image." Dury captured the image just after sundown on Feb. 22 from The Mendip Hills — a range of limestone hills in Somerset in the U.K. Related: Have all 8 planets ever aligned? To achieve this photographic feat, Dury created a composite shot made up of several panes, with each pane captured in multiple exposures. To locate Saturn, Neptune and Mercury, which were dimmer and closer to the western horizon, Dury used astronomy software to generate models of the night sky and match planetary locations to nearby star fields. He then used a high dynamic range (HDR) camera setting to capture the planets' faint light. "I noted that when I took the image that it would not, of course, be possible to photograph the lowest planets at the moment of sunset — glare from the sun rendering this task impossible," Dury said. "Therefore, this image is a record of the first possible glimpse of the planets as light from the sun diminished." The night-sky models enabled him to later identify the planets in the image. RELATED STORIES —A 'captured' alien planet may be hiding at the edge of our solar system — and it's not 'Planet X' —What would colors look like on other planets? —Could scientists stop a 'planet killer' asteroid from hitting Earth? Planetary conjunctions occur when two or more planets appear to be close together in the sky. Of course, this is only from our perspective of the cosmos on Earth — in reality the planets remain extremely far apart. These conjunctions aren't rare, but they get rarer with each planet added to the chain. For example, the three innermost planets — Mercury, Venus and Earth — align within 3.6 degrees in the sky every 39.6 years. For all of the solar system's eight planets to align as closely, it would take 396 billion years, something that has never happened and won't happen before the sun becomes a red giant, consuming Mercury, Venus and likely Earth in the process. However, it is a little less unusual for all seven planets to appear spread out on the same side of the sun, as they do in Dury's image and in the night sky right now. Another seven-planet parade is expected to be visible from Earth in 2040. If you'd like to see a planetary alignment for yourself, tonight (Feb. 28) is one of the best times to look. Time and Date and Stellarium are two great online tools for finding viewing times based on your location.
