Astronomy

This image released by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Thursday, May 12, 2022, shows a black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way black hole is called Sagittarius A*, near the border of Sagittarius and Scorpius constellations. It is 4 million times more massive than our sun. The image was made by eight synchronized radio telescopes around the world. (Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration via AP)

Astronomers capture 1st image of Milky Way’s huge black hole

‘It burbled and gurgled as we looked at it’

 

Kim Venn at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in 2022. (Courtesy of UVic Photo Services)

B.C.-led astronomy team discovers traces of the universe’s first stars

Metal-poor cluster on outer edge of Milky Way galaxy a grouping of ancient stars

 

Briefly seen over a road in Kent, Wash., this fireball was seen in multiple places in B.C., including Agassiz, Abbotsford and Peachland. The event was seen on Tuesday, April 26, between 8:45 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. (Screenshot/AMS)

VIDEO: ‘Fireball’ blazes across Fraser Valley night sky

Witnesses reported event as far north as Kamloops and as far south as Portland

 

Venus and Jupiter appear close together in the sky during a conjunction. (Wikimedia Commons)

Venus Jupiter conjunction this weekend kicks off a 5-day show in the skies

Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will be visible, plus a meteor shower next week

Venus and Jupiter appear close together in the sky during a conjunction. (Wikimedia Commons)
An asteroid that circles our sun on a wide orbit between the planets of Mars and Jupiter is now named after Skookum Jim Mason, the Tagish adventurer and prospector who helped kick off the Klondike Gold Rush. (Pixabay Image)

Distant asteroid now bears Tagish adventurer Skookum Jim’s name

The renaming of the asteroid comes from a suggestion by the Yukon Astronomical Society.

An asteroid that circles our sun on a wide orbit between the planets of Mars and Jupiter is now named after Skookum Jim Mason, the Tagish adventurer and prospector who helped kick off the Klondike Gold Rush. (Pixabay Image)
Sid Sidhu said he may need a new telescope if he’s going to be able to see the asteroid named for him. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Humble B.C. amateur astronomer now officially out of this world

Jaskarn Singh ‘Sid’ Sidhu has an asteroid named after him, honouring his volunteer astronomy efforts

Sid Sidhu said he may need a new telescope if he’s going to be able to see the asteroid named for him. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
A star map by John Flamsteed from 1776 shows the constellations of Andromeda, Perseus, and Triangulum. (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Life on other planets in other galaxies a tantalizing possibility

Planets in the Goldilocks zone could contain water, the key to life

  • Feb 26, 2022
A star map by John Flamsteed from 1776 shows the constellations of Andromeda, Perseus, and Triangulum. (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Mount Arrowsmith on Vancouver Island. (Nancy Randall photo)

Was bright light and loud boom over Vancouver Island caused by a meteor?

People from Victoria to Campbell River and Tofino report flash of light in sky on Dec. 12

Mount Arrowsmith on Vancouver Island. (Nancy Randall photo)
Image of a gamma ray, the brightest electromagnetic blasts to occur in the universe. (Photo credit: NASA)

There’s a reason why this is called the dog days of summer

It has nothing to do with our furry friends on Earth

  • Aug 26, 2021
Image of a gamma ray, the brightest electromagnetic blasts to occur in the universe. (Photo credit: NASA)
The Perseid Meteor Shower is visible (smoke permitting) now through Aug. 14. (Photo credit: Pierre Martin)

Look to the skies: the annual Perseid Meteor Shower is back

Aug. 12 will be the night for ‘peak meteor’ if conditions allow

  • Aug 5, 2021
The Perseid Meteor Shower is visible (smoke permitting) now through Aug. 14. (Photo credit: Pierre Martin)
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Jupiter and Saturn align in our skies tonight, to form the Great Conjunction

Stargazers typically gather in groups at observatories or with backyard telescopes for such events

  • Dec 21, 2020
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Mars, pictured in October 2020, will not be this close to Earth again until December 2022. (Photo credit: Damian Peach)

Hello neighbour: Mars shines bright in the eastern night sky

The orbits of Earth and Mars bring them closer together every 26 months

  • Oct 14, 2020
Mars, pictured in October 2020, will not be this close to Earth again until December 2022. (Photo credit: Damian Peach)
Mars will appear orange and distinct in the night sky this month. (Damian Peach photo)

Mars jumps out from the night sky across B.C.

Mars is the brightest it’s been in 15 years this October

Mars will appear orange and distinct in the night sky this month. (Damian Peach photo)