Space

Could a star have its own heartbeat? It sounds more like poetry than physics, but in the case of a red giant named R Leonis, the answer is a resounding, if slightly erratic, yes. For over two centuries, we have watched this star. R Leonis is a Mira variable, a type of aging star that pulsates like a rhythmic, celestial heart. It expands and contracts, dimming and brightening with a regularity that…

A colossal Antarctic iceberg that first broke free in the 1980s is now soaking up the summer warmth, and from orbit seems to be turning a shade of aquamarine. In this recent image from NASA’s Earth Observatory, iceberg A-23A is streaked with blue meltwater ponds and surrounded by a halo of fractured ice, signs that the long-lived “megaberg” is perhaps in its final days. What is…

Jupiter will be at its most spectacular in 2026 in the early hours of Jan. 10, as it shines above the eastern horizon among the stars of the constellation Gemini. Here’s where to look and what to expect as the gas giant draws closest to Earth around opposition. The visibility of planets in the night sky varies dramatically based on their orbital positions relative to the sun and Earth. The…

Heads up! The solar system comet 24P/Schaumasse will make its closest approach to the sun in its current orbit on Jan. 8 during an event known to astronomers as perihelion. Here’s what to expect from the icy wanderer as it reaches peak visibility over the coming days. The short-period comet was discovered by astronomer Alexandre Schaumasse in December 1911 using a 16-inch (400 mm) telescope…