Latest news with #RoyalObservatoryGreenwich
Metro
17-07-2025
- Science
- Metro
A new world may have been discovered beyond Neptune
A telescope has discovered a new world on the edge of the Milky Way – potentially confirming the 'Planet X' theory. Beyond Neptune, a smaller 'ninth' planet has been identified in the Kuiper Belt. If the object is confirmed as an actual planet, it would make it the ninth in our solar system, following Pluto's downgrade to a dwarf planet. The potential planet, nicknamed 'Ammonite', was discovered by scientists using the Subaru Telescope at Japan's National Astronomical Observatory, who published their findings in Nature Astronomy. Ammonite has probably been in a stable orbit for more than 4,000,000,000 years, they said. 'If Planet Nine exists, its orbit should lie even farther out than previously predicted,' according to a news release from the observatory,' they wrote. 'Furthermore, the existence of Planet Nine would also need to explain why Ammonite's orbit does not cluster with those of the other sednoids.' In late May, scientists hunting for Planet Nine, the elusive planetary body that could change our understanding of the solar system, found something. Planet X is a hypothetical planet seven times the mass of Earth tucked just behind Pluto. Despite possibly being the fifth most massive planet, scientists have never tracked the white whale of astronomy down – that is, if it even exists. But a trio of American scientists trying to find the elusive gas giant discovered a new planet… of sorts, a dwarf planet called 2017 OF201. The search for a ninth planet in our solar system has been going on for a century. The evidence for it that hunters have long clung to is how six objects – dwarf planets and icy balls – have been discovered in the vastly empty outskirts of the solar system. Bizarrely, they huddle together as they orbit, as if something a gassy behemoth of a planet were shepherding them, said Imo Bell, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. They told Metro: 'Some astronomers believe that proving the existence of this planet would explain the behaviour of many other eTNOs with highly elliptical orbits clustered on one side of the Sun. 'It's thought that Planet Nine, with a mass of about five Earths, would explain the confined orbits of these eTNOs.' A dwarf planet is an object large enough that its gravity squishes it into a round shape, but not large enough to 'clear the neighbourhood' of other celestial bodies. According to a study, which has not been peer-reviewed, 2017 OF201 is roughly 430 miles across, three times smaller than Pluto. More Trending The object is an extreme trans-Neptunian object (eTNO), a minor planet that orbits the Sun far beyond Neptune. So far away, in fact, OF201 would take 25,000 Earth years to complete a solar lap. Its orbit even swings out into the Oort Cloud – a sphere of icy comets a trillion miles from the Sun. OF201 can only be observed from Earth 0.5% of the time, making its closest approach to us in 1930 and won't do so again until 26,186. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center added 2017 OF201 to its database last week. Five other dwarf planets are officially recognised: Pluto, Eris, Ceres and two others beyond Neptune, Haumea and Makemake. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Asteroid size of 10-storey building to fly past Earth at 13,900mph today MORE: Uranus is hotter and leakier than we realised MORE: 'Super-Earth' sending out strange signal over 145 light years discovered
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Check out these images capturing the wonders of space
Here's one for all you stargazers, budding space scientists and lovers of all things out of this world. The Royal Observatory Greenwich has revealed the shortlist for its annual ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. There were over 5,500 entries for the contest, which is now in its 17th year, from nearly 70 countries worldwide. Photos were submitted from both amateur and professional photographers who were all keen to impress the judges with their outer space shots. But which ones made the cut this year? Read on to take a look at some of the images on the 2025 shortlist. This incredible photo shows an event known as a solar prominence eruption. This is when gas extends outwards from the Sun's surface and this can create some pretty impressive shapes. This eruption, snapped on 7 November 2024, lasted about one hour from the initial burst to its end. This photo is of a supernova remnant called Abell 85. Supernova remnants are formed after a star explodes. This one is shaped a bit like a pomegranate and the photographer, Deqian Li, spent six days camping in the Hongyuan County in China to capture it. This image beautifully captures the Cygnus region of the Milky Way from Gerakies, part of the photo closest to the camera was captured during blue hour, which is the time just before the sun rises or just after it sets, to achieve greater detail of the distant mountains and the trees directly in front of the camera. How cool is this photo! It shows a dragon tree standing tall in the heart of Socotra's Dragon Blood Tree forest in Yemen. The final image is actually made up of 300 individual shots. This picture really captures the spectacular wonders of space. It shows lots of stars, a glowing cloud of gas known as an emission nebula and a mysterious central bulge. Did you know the mist surrounding the galaxy is actually tens of thousands of yellowish tiny stars? This photograph is of M33, a huge galaxy three million light-years away from Earth. It's also known as the Triangulum Galaxy and has around 40 billion stars. This impressive panorama is a view from the Utah desert. It captures the mysterious landscape below a starry Milky Way. This magical looking image was taken in a location on Senja island in Norway. It shows the mesmerising colours of the aurora in the sky. Snapped on the evening of 12 October 2024 at Pu'u O Kaimukī Park in Hawaii, this photo shows the passage of Comet C/2023 was one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the year. How amazing does the Moon look here? It was snapped above the peaks of the Dolomite mountains in Italy. With no clouds in sight, the golden light of sunset can be seen right across the mountains. The winners of each of the competition's nine categories, two other special prizes and the overall winner will be announced on Thursday 11 September 2025. Those looking to catch a glimpse of the photos up close will be able to do so at a special exhibition at the National Maritime Museum from Friday 12 September. "...we believe that astrophotography is not only a way to record the cosmos, but also a way to inspire curiosity, foster education and build communities that transcend borders," said Sam Wen the founder and CEO of ZWO."Everyone deserves a chance to connect with the Universe — and through our support, we hope to bring that experience to more people."What of the shortlisted images is your favourite and why? You can let us know in the comments below.
Metro
10-07-2025
- Science
- Metro
The Simpsons predict the future after scientists plan artificial solar eclipse
'Have you ever seen the Sun set at 3pm?' This is what Mr Burns, the billionaire tyrant, asked the residents of Springfield in a 1996 episode of The Simpsons. And soon, a group of scientists can say they have. A UK-led space mission will see astronomers blot out the Sun by using a satellite, once again proving that The Simpsons can predict the future. The Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation Mission (MESOM), unveiled yesterday at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting, hopes that human-made solar eclipses will help us understand the Sun. A small satellite will be blasted into a special orbit that allows it to align with the Moon's shadow roughly once every lunar month, or 29.6 days. Solar eclipses don't sound like much – they happen when the Moon comes between us and the Sun. But the sight of the silhouette of the Moon eating into the yellow orb of the Sun is a celestial marvel. The Moon is about 400 times smaller than the Sun, but is 400 times closer to us – when the two align, they're about the same size in the sky. Sometimes only a small chunk of the Sun is obscured, leading to a partial solar eclipse. Earth can also elbow its way between the Sun and the Moon, which is called a lunar eclipse. Total solar eclipses aren't a common sight, occurring once every 18 months and can be as short as 10 seconds, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich. But MESOM aims to create 80 of them, each nearly 50 minutes long, across two years. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The artificial solar eclipse will recreate totality – the moment the Moon completely covers the Sun. During this, wispy white strings of light from the Sun's atmosphere, or corona, are visible. It's these wisps that are of interest to scientists, with eclipses being one of the few times the innermost corona is visible. But like children being told not to look at the Sun with the naked eye, scientists struggle to get a good look at the corona because of how bright the Sun is, Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Jake Foster told Metro. 'We happen to be extremely lucky here on Earth that total solar eclipses occur, because in the brief few moments that the Moon completely blocks the Sun's surface from view, we can see and study its atmosphere, known as the corona,' he said. To get around this, MESOM will observe the technologically blocked-out Sun from space. The orbital spacecraft will get up, close and personal with our star – it'll be 56,000km close to the Sun. The satellite has a high-resolution coronal imager, a very powerful camera, and a corona mass spectrometer that can track the plasma that the Sun spits out. They'll also use a spectropolarimeter. While it sounds like something that can detect ghosts, the instrument can pick up sunspots, cool, dark spots of the Sun twisted by its magnetic field. By doing so, the international researchers will be able to forecast space weather better, such as solar storms, the Sun's energy smashing into the Earth, which can cause blackouts and power grid failures. More Trending Foster said: 'This could rapidly accelerate our chances to answer the big unsolved mysteries of the Sun, such as why its atmosphere (the corona) is so much hotter than its surface. 'Also, the chance to study and better understand space weather caused by the Sun is invaluable, since its effects on the Earth's electrical systems can be devastating if powerful enough.' The MESOM team submitted their proposal to the European Space Agency's F-class mission call in May. F-class missions are quick and easy projects – at least, in the world of multi-million pound world of space tech. If given the green light, they expect to start work on MESOM as early as 2026. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Earth is spinning so fast that today will be shorter – but is time going faster? MORE: Here's how to see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower just around the corner MORE: Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since 1949 — this is the epiphany it brings your star sign
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
In Photos: Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Shortlist Revealed
Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light © Daniel Zafra The Royal Observatory Greenwich has unveiled the shortlisted images for the annual ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year, which celebrates the best space photography from around the world. The entries feature the spectacular displays of aurora in 2024, the Milky Way, stunning star trails, total solar eclipses and the moon. The Royal Observatory Greenwich reports that it had over 5,500 entries from 69 countries for what is generally agreed to be the most prestigious astrophotography competition. The overall winner, who will receive $13,600, will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 11, along with the winners of the competition's other nine categories and two special prizes. The winning photographs will be showcased at the National Maritime Museum, close to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, from Sept. 12. 'This competition is a tribute to those who turn their eyes to the stars and share what they see with the world,' said Sam Wen, Founder and CEO of ZWO, the competition's sponsor. A solitary dragon tree stands tall in the heart of Socotra's Dragon Blood Tree forest, Yemen. A Dragon Tree Trail In Yemen One of the most striking images is this one above, of a Dragon Tree on the island of Socotra, Yemen. It was taken by Benjamin Barakat while in the heart of Socotra's Dragon Blood Tree forest in March 2024. Another standout is the main image at the top of this article, of the Northern Lights over Mono Lake, California. It was shot by Dan Zafra at who was shortlisted in 2022 and won the people's choice category. 'This photograph captures the rare occurrence of Northern Lights in California,' he says. 'Vibrant ribbons of magenta and green light up the sky, reflecting in the still waters among the rock formations.' The shot was taken on Oct. 10, 2024, one of the three strongest displays of aurora in 2024. The full Moon rising above the rugged peaks of the Dolomites. With no clouds in sight and in ... More flawless conditions, the golden light of sunset bathes the mountains, creating harmony between Earth and sky. The Full Moon The shortlist contains multiple images of the moon. Above is the full moon rising above the rugged peaks of the Dolomites in Italy. Shot in perfect conditions, the golden light of sunset bathes the mountains, and the timing of the shot is exquisite. Photographer Fabian Dalpiaz calls this shot 'Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites.' There are other images of the moon — another moonrise, one of the International Space Station appears to transit its disk and another of a moon-Saturn occultation. The Beaver Moon was the last supermoon of 2024. This photograph was taken from the hazy, Bortle 9 ... More skies of Delhi. The full-disc mosaic is composed of 24 images then stitched together to create a seamless mosaic. The 'Mineral Moon' The 'Mineral Moon' Photographer Karthik Easvur took the image, above, of November 2024's beaver moon — the year's last supermoon — while in Delhi, India. It was created by first taking hundreds of images and stacking them together, drawing out faint color differences during processing — particularly titanium (blue) and iron (orange and brown). While you can't see these colors with the naked eye, they're based on real data and give valuable insight into the moon's composition and geological history. Below is another standout Milky Way image, taken by photographer Yujie Zhang in August 2024 while in Songyang County, China. It shows several black geometric buildings appearing to stand on the water's surface. Gateway to the Galaxy © Yujie Zhang What Is The Royal Observatory Greenwich? The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home to Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line of longitude, designated as 0 degrees that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The Prime Meridian — which divides the western and eastern hemispheres of the world — is marked as a line on the floor of its courtyard on a hill in Greenwich Park in southeast London, overlooking the River Thames. The first state-funded, purpose-built scientific institution in the U.K., in 2025, it's marking 350 years since its foundation in 1675. It was set up by King Charles II to help with astronomy and navigation in an era of European exploration and increasing international trade. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Experts predict weeks of rare meteor showers after stunning display – here's how Scots can see them
SCOTS were in total awe on Wednesday night as they saw a bright orange light soaring across the sky. The mysterious object was spotted across the Central Belt, with people from Glasgow to Edinburgh all reporting their sightings. 5 The meteor was spotted over Scotland Credit: Edinburgh Airport 5 The bright orange light was seen soaring across the skies on Wednesday night Credit: Edinburgh Airport 5 Experts revealed there will be more chances to see it this month Credit: Edinburgh Airport 5 Locals were baffled after spotting the bright light soaring through the sky Credit: Edinburgh Airport It raced across the night sky leaving a bright amber tail in its wake. Edinburgh Airport even shared images from their security cameras of the meteor soaring over the skies. And experts were quick to confirm what they had all seen was a meteor. Meteors are small pieces of interplanetary debris which enter the earths atmosphere and burn up. But if anyone didn't get a glance and is feeling some cosmic FOMO then they don't need to worry. The meteor everyone saw on Wednesday was part of the Alpha Capricornids, and they will be seen again this month. The gathering of galactic debris soars through space and is visible when it hits the atmosphere during the summer months. It is known for producing slow-moving and very bright fireballs as they hit earth's atmosphere and burn up. Their spotting season normally begins on July 3, the day when most people saw the first sighting. This year's season is expected to end on August 15 but there is one day when the season will peak around July 30. Incredible moment a fireball comet is spotted racing past stunning aurora towards Earth Experts have now revealed the best way for anyone to get out and try to see them. Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Jessica Lee said: "This meteor shower is known for producing fireballs. "Fireballs are exceptionally bright meteors, normally caused by larger sized fragments of the parent comet. "This shower is linked with debris from a comet called 169P/NEAT. Mostly the objects causing fireballs still burn up in our atmosphere and don't reach the surface, but it is possible that parts survive. "Fireballs are exciting to witness but not incredibly rare - it's just that most of the approximately 50 tons of material that fall through the Earth's atmosphere each day do so over the sea or over less populated areas." How to see a meteor shower? IF you want to get a glimpse of the meteor showers flying over Scotland's skies, then experts have combined these top tips to make sure you don't miss out. Plan ahead - Make sure you check the weather before you go. Severe or harsh weather isn't ideal for meteor spotting so try and find somewhere with calmer conditions if you can. Make sure you check the weather before you go. Severe or harsh weather isn't ideal for meteor spotting so try and find somewhere with calmer conditions if you can. Save the date - If you cannot find the right conditions on the peak of the storm then try heading out on some of the days before. You are much more likely to see a storm on the days leading up to the peak than the days after. If you cannot find the right conditions on the peak of the storm then try heading out on some of the days before. You are much more likely to see a storm on the days leading up to the peak than the days after. Find somewhere dark - Try to reduce the amount of light around you. This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even turning your back to street lamps if you're not able to go anywhere. Try to reduce the amount of light around you. This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even turning your back to street lamps if you're not able to go anywhere. Let your eyes adjust - Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark conditions. This means you could be able to spot more faint meteors . Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark conditions. This means you could be able to spot more faint meteors STAY OFF YOUR PHONE - Letting your eyes adjust means staying off your phone. The light from the screen will stop your eyes from adjusting. You can always check your messages when you tell people about the meteors you saw. Letting your eyes adjust means staying off your phone. The light from the screen will stop your eyes from adjusting. You can always check your messages when you tell people about the meteors you saw. More sky the better - Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more of the sky you can see, the better. Find an area with a clear view of the horizon away from trees and buildings. Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more of the sky you can see, the better. Find an area with a clear view of the horizon away from trees and buildings. Use your eyes - Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary as they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you. Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary as they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you. Use an app - If you aren't sure about where you should go to see a meteor shower, try using a stargazing app to find the perfect spot. She added: "The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is active between the July 3 and August 15. "The peak of this shower will be on the 30th July, but don't expect hundreds of shooting stars, as it has a maximum of around 5 meteors per hour. "If you do want to try and catch a shooting star you'll need to go outside when it's dark and clear, and ideally somewhere with a clear view of as much of the sky as possible. "Meteor showers are always a waiting game, so bring a hot drink, something comfortable to sit on and wrap up warm if needed!" Not only will Scots be able to see the Alpha Capricornids, but it will overlap with the Perseids, one of the most dramatic and highly anticipated meteor events of the year. The Perseids will be visible from July 17 until August 24. If conditions are ideal then stargazers could see up to 150 bright fast moving meteors flying through the sky every hour. Scottish skywatchers were also treated to the Lyrid meteor shower in April and the Quadrantid meteor shower in January.
