What is a quasar?

A quasar is an extremely bright and distant point-like source visible to radio telescopes. The source is a so-called Active Galactic Nucleus, fueled by a supermassive black hole. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-what-is-a-quasar…

Photos of the last full moon of the year and decade

Photographers around the world are sharing their pics of the last full moon of 2020 and this decade, which occurred on December 29 or 30, depending on your location. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photos-of-the-last-full-moon-of-the-year-and-decade…

Weather on Jupiter and Saturn may be driven by different forces than on Earth

A trio of researchers, two with Harvard University, the other the University of Alberta, has found evidence that weather on Saturn and Jupiter may be driven by dramatically different forces than weather on Earth. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, Rakesh Kumar Yadav, Moritz Heimpel and Jeremy Bloxham describe computer simulations showing that major weather systems on Jupiter…

Photos of the beautiful Venus-Regulus conjunction

The brightest planet Venus has been blazing in the east before sunrise for some months. In late September and early October, the bright star Regulus – Heart of the Lion in Leo – swept past it. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photos-venus-regulus-conjunction-october-2020…

Epic graduation photo, Alberta, Canada

Spectacular mammatus clouds – and a rainbow – provide a backdrop for this beautiful and unusual graduation photo. Congratulations, Cheyann! Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/graduation-photo-mammatus-clouds-rainbow-canada…

Check out these mammatus clouds

Mammatus clouds can appear ominous. But, in a way that’s so common in nature, their dangerous aspect goes hand in hand with a magnificent beauty. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/amazing-photos-of-mammatus-clouds…

Young moon below Venus after sunset March 25-27

Depending on where you live worldwide, you might – or might not – catch the young moon after sunset March 25, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/young-moon-beneath-venus-after-sunset-march-25-27…

Eggshells support idea that dinosaurs were warm-blooded

Were dinosaurs warm-blooded or cold-blooded? According to a new study that analyzed the chemistry of dinosaur eggshells, the answer is “warm”. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/eggshells-suggest-dinosaurs-warm-blooded…

Melting Glaciers: Effects on the Environment, Humans, and Biodiversity

Recently, the temperature in the Arctic appears to have hit a new continental high, close to 70 degrees. That’s leading to continued melting of glaciers in the Arctic and around the world. But how will that impact the world’s ecosystems? Dr. David Hik is an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science as well as […]
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Meet the Reaper of Death, a new Canadian tyrannosaur

A new tyrannosaur species named Thanatotheristes, which means “reaper of death,” was the apex predator of its time, 79 million years ago in present day Alberta, Canada. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/reaper-of-death-new-canadian-tyrannosaur…