Catch a Shooting Star and Locate Complex Organic Molecules on Mars

Having trouble viewing this email? {Click here to read it on the Web.}

Subscribe to Sky & Telescope Magazine to receive full access to the articles below.

Visit our FAQ page to learn more.

This week in the world of astronomy, find complex organic molecules on Mars and catch a shooting star. Plus, learn how tilted orbits impact supermassive black hole collisions.

WEBVic_May01_ev_NORM_FEATURED image

This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 1 – 9


Venus hangs in place in the western twilight while Aldebaran and the Pleiades continue their downward slide behind it. And if Venus is the Evening Star, then bright Jupiter, high to its upper left, counts as the False Evening Star.

Astro-News Highlights

fall_ngc2207 image

How Tilted Orbits Impact Supermassive Black Hole Collisions


What factors impact how long it takes for a supermassive black hole binary to merge?

Voyager 1 Shuts Down Another Instrument


Engineers have turned off an instrument that measured the density of charged particles in an effort to keep the aging Voyager 1 operational.

Curiosity Team Hits Jackpot: A Sample Full of Complex Organic Molecules


Scientists have identified at least seven carbon-rich molecules that NASA’s Curiosity rover detected on Mars, and they’re more complex than any found before.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Has Cold, Ancient Origins


The most recent interstellar visitor was crisscrossing our galaxy for some 10 to 12 billion years before it came near the Sun.

Observing Highlights

Satellite or Meteor? Dissecting Light Trails in Your Sky Photos


Here’s a quick guide to tell meteors from machines in your wide-field images of the night sky.

rsw-0033-FisheyeGeorgeFleenor-768x711 image

Catch A Shooting Star (with Your Camera)


Catching a falling star is easier than you think . . . when you use a camera!

Dippers-highlight-web image

May Podcast: The Delightful Dippers


This month’s episode showcases the Big and Little Dippers, now placed high in the northern evening sky. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.

Presented by: Celestron.

Community

Second Saturday Stars


John J. McCarthy Observatory in Connecticut holds an open-house star party on the second Saturday of each month

33rd Annual Nebraska Star Party – Nebraska Dark! July 12-17


Astronomy enthusiasts from across the country will gather at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area in the Nebraska Sandhills. Join us for a week of unforgettable stargazing, family fun, engaging programs, and shared discovery. Merritt Reservoir is certified as an International Dark Sky Park


From a trusted S&T partner

Springtime Galaxies Await! Need a Jacket?


Stay dry and warm in the chilly morning air with Sky & Telescope merch this Spring. Our high-quality, branded jackets will keep out the cold and morning dew while gazing up at the scintillating spring stars.

Facebook  X  Instagram  YouTube  TikTok