Why the Sun Has No Flames Despite Extreme Heat
1. What we usually mean by “flames”On Earth, flames are produced by chemical combustion. This requires three things : a fuel (like wood or gas), oxygen (or another oxidizer) and a chemical reaction that releases heat and light. The dancing shape of a flame comes from hot gases rising and mixing with surrounding air. 2….
Black Holes Aren’t Cosmic Vacuum Cleaners: Debunking One of Space’s Biggest Myths
Black holes are often imagined as unstoppable forces that drag in everything nearby, tearing apart stars, planets, and even entire galaxies. Movies and science fiction have cemented this idea in the public imagination. But modern astrophysics tells a far more nuanced—and far more fascinating—story. Black holes do not endlessly “suck” matter from space. Instead, they…
Astronomers Confirm the Milky Way’s Future Merger with Andromeda
Astronomers say the impending encounter between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy is not a sudden crash, but a prolonged, awe-inspiring transformation that will unfold across billions of years—reshaping the local universe and redefining our galaxy’s future. A Gravitational Attraction That Can’t Be Escaped Both the Milky Way and Andromeda are massive spiral galaxies…
How Cold Air Improves Astronomical Seeing
Atmospheric turbulence and seeingAstronomical “seeing” describes how steady or distorted celestial objects appear when observed through a telescope. The main factor limiting seeing is turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere. When air layers of different temperatures mix, they bend (refract) incoming starlight unevenly. This causes stars to shimmer and fine details on planets to blur even when…
Snow Moon, Hunger Moon: The Stories Behind February’s Full Moon
February’s full moon is more than just a bright presence in the night sky—it carries centuries of history, culture, and storytelling. Traditionally known as the Snow Moon, February’s full moon earned its name from the heavy snowfall that typically blankets much of the Northern Hemisphere during this time of year. The name reflects the deep…
Why February Nights Reveal More Stars
1. Longer Nights:February is still part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere which means nights are relatively long compared to other months. The extended hours of darkness allow for more time to observe the stars, making it easier to see fainter stars and constellations that are otherwise harder to spot during shorter nights in summer….
Across 150 Million Kilometers: How Sunlight Travels to Earth in Eight Minutes
Every moment of daylight on Earth is powered by a remarkable journey across space. Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach our planet, traveling across nearly 150 million kilometers of empty space before illuminating skies, warming oceans, and sustaining life. The reason for this delay lies in the finite…
The Sun’s Magnetic Poles and Their 11-Year Flip
The Sun’s Magnetic Field – The FoundationThe Sun is not just a ball of glowing gas. It is a vast electrically charged plasma. Because charged particles are constantly moving inside it, the Sun naturally generates a powerful magnetic field. This field extends far beyond the Sun itself shaping solar behavior and influencing the entire solar…
The Universe’s Colossal Giant: Inside the Enormous Star UY Scuti
In a recent review of the cosmos’ most extreme stellar giants, astronomers continue to spotlight UY Scuti, an extraordinary red hypergiant star whose sheer size challenges our understanding of how big stars can grow. Though debates remain over whether it still holds the title of the largest known star, UY Scuti stands as one of the most…
Moonquakes: The Moon Is Not Completely Dead
Moonquakes are seismic vibrations that occur on the Moon similar to earthquakes on Earth but caused by very different processes. For a long time, scientists believed the Moon was completely geologically dead. However, data from seismometers left by Apollo astronauts revealed that the Moon still experiences internal activity proving it is not entirely inactive. One…
