The hottest Astronomy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

1517 Does Astronomy & Astrophysics: The Physics of Supernovas

1517 Fund • 121 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Astrophysics Physics Technology Energy
  1. Supernovas are powerful explosions from single stars that can outshine entire galaxies, impacting human understanding and progress.
  2. Advancements in astronomy and technology, like robotic telescopes and big data analysis, are revolutionizing our exploration of the universe.
  3. Nature's energy events, like neutron star mergers creating elements, are incredibly powerful and creative, shaping our world and existence.

Right Telescope, Wrong Name

Science Forever • 39 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
🔬 Science Astronomy Inspiration NASA LGBTQ+
  1. The James Webb Space Telescope is a significant achievement recognized as Science's Breakthrough of the Year.
  2. The naming of the telescope after Jim Webb has sparked controversy due to his association with homophobia in the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals from NASA.
  3. The decision to keep the telescope's name despite its negative connotations has stirred criticism and disappointment.
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Things That Caught My Eye #8:

Natural Selections • 4 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🔬 Science Nutrition Astronomy Ecology Anthropology Botany
  1. Indigenous people often fed muscle meat to their dogs, focusing on eating nutrient-rich organs instead. This shows they had important knowledge about nutrition that many of us overlook today.
  2. The skeletons of large game animals were usually found as broken bone chips, which indicates a careful use of all parts of the animal for nutrition, especially the marrow.
  3. There is a curiosity about whether Earth ever had a ring like the other large planets in our Solar System, and this raises questions about our planet's history.

Objects in the Night Sky

Natural Selections • 6 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🔬 Science Astrophysics Cosmology Observation Astronomy Natural History
  1. On a clear night, the sky can reveal amazing cosmic views, including planets and stars. Sometimes, what we see in the sky can surprise us because it looks different than we expect.
  2. Using binoculars or telescopes can help us learn more about celestial objects. However, we might still make mistakes about what we see, like confusing planets for moons.
  3. Our observations can change with new information. Just because we see something one way doesn't mean it's the only way to understand it; learning the facts can change our view of what's in the sky.

One MILLION Stories!

Something interesting • 4 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🔬 Science Physics Mathematics Engineering Astronomy Geography
  1. Building a skyscraper with a million stories would be huge. It would have to cover a massive area and be taller than any building we have today.
  2. Elevators in such a tall building would take forever to reach the top. They might need to be super advanced and comfortable, like mini-hotels.
  3. The universe is really big, and we are very small. Even the tallest buildings are tiny compared to the whole Earth and space around us.

I still think it's very unlikely we're observing alien aircraft

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 22 HN points • 14 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Skepticism Physics Evidence Aliens
  1. Some think there might be alien aircraft on Earth due to the vastness of the universe and numerous reports.
  2. Eyewitness reports of strange aircraft are taken seriously and are difficult to explain.
  3. Old observations suggesting alien aircraft have been debunked, lack of conclusive evidence is a key factor against their existence.

QE, UAPs, Aliens and The Invisible War

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 29 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🔬 Science Physics Technology Military Astronomy Innovation
  1. After the Great Financial Crisis, defense spending has become a new form of quantitative easing, fueling an arms race and geopolitical tensions.
  2. Increased defense budgets across countries signal a shift towards investment in innovation and military capabilities.
  3. The emergence of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) raises questions about advanced technology, possible alien involvement, and the evolving nature of modern warfare.

I Saw a UFO and Cried

Pryor Questions • 3 HN points • 20 Sep 23
🔬 Science Space Astronomy
  1. The author mistook Elon Musk's Starlink satellites for a UFO while on a plane journey.
  2. Seeing the satellites made the author reflect on humanity's intrusion in the untouched night sky.
  3. Despite the disappointment, the author found some humor in the situation, mentioning seeing two 'UFOs' inside the plane.

The Very Large Telescope turns 25

Extrasolar Times • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Exoplanets Research Discoveries
  1. The Very Large Telescope (VLT) has been a key instrument in astronomy for 25 years, located in Chile's Atacama desert.
  2. The VLT has made significant contributions to exoplanet research, including direct imaging of exoplanets and their atmospheres.
  3. The VLT's advanced technology, like the ESPRESSO spectrograph, enables high-precision radial velocity observations to search for Earth-like exoplanets.

Planets on the BBC

Extrasolar Times • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Radio Education
  1. BBC Radio 5 live featured expert opinions on different types of planets
  2. The show covered terrestrial inner planets, giant planets, dwarf planets, and extrasolar planets
  3. The segment is informative and entertaining for astronomy enthusiasts

The 24-hour Day That Isn't 24 Hours, Did You Know?

Stemble - for the love of STEM! • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Physics STEM
  1. Earth's rotation isn't a perfect 24-hour day due to its speed variations caused by gravitational interactions with the Moon and Sun.
  2. The time taken for the Earth to spin once on its axis relative to distant stars is 23h 56m 4.1s, but it needs an extra 3m 55.9s to complete a 24-hour solar day relative to the Sun.
  3. Leap seconds are added to our timekeeping to adjust for Earth's inconsistent rotation speed, managed by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service.

The Magical Telescope and the Starry Adventure

Once Upon A News • 0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astronomy Discovery Technology Adventure
  1. A group of wise stargazers dream of discovering the oldest twinkling lights in the sky and need a magical telescope.
  2. The magical telescope, James Webb Space Mirror, could see things invisible to the naked eye and helped find the oldest twinkling lights.
  3. The stargazers find the oldest lights made of hydrogen and helium, and continue their starry adventure to uncover more mysteries of the universe.

Merry Birth of the Sun!

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 25 Dec 11
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Holiday Symbolism Traditions Astronomy
  1. December 25 was chosen as the date for Christmas due to its connection to the winter solstice, symbolizing the increase in daylight hours in the northern hemisphere.
  2. There's historical debate over whether Christmas was influenced by pagan festivals, but various beliefs and traditions connect the birth of Jesus to astronomical events like the winter solstice.
  3. Regardless of religious beliefs, the winter solstice is a time to appreciate the increasing daylight and the promise of warmth and growth in the upcoming spring season.

How Much Does it Cost to Settle in Space?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
🔬 Science Astronomy Space Exploration Technology Innovation Engineering
  1. We are entering a new era of space exploration, with more opportunities for civilians to visit space. This means that soon, regular people might be able to experience space travel too.
  2. Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are launching rockets more frequently, making space travel more accessible. This increase in launches suggests that the cost of going to space may decrease over time.
  3. The idea of settling in space is becoming more realistic, but it will still involve significant financial investment. People interested in exploring this frontier should prepare for the expenses that come with it.

Bodies Bodies [3]

The Author Is Dumb • 0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science Space Physics Astronomy Biology
  1. There is a giant humanoid figure in the stratosphere, which is really huge and looks like a human but we don't know what it's made of. It's just sitting there and not moving at all.
  2. No one knows how this figure got there or if it's dangerous. It might even affect the weather and air travel because it's blocking the sky.
  3. Everyone is puzzled and scared about this thing, and scientists are trying hard to figure out what it is and where it came from. Governments are meeting to plan what to do next.