View larger. | The European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft captured this new image of Mars on July 13, 2024. And Andrea Luck processed it. The dark object hovering above Mars (center top of this image) is its larger moon, Phobos. And the dark orange protrusion near the limb (edge) – in about the 4 o’clock position – is our solar system’s largest volcano, Olympus Mons. Plus, look closely at the Martian limb itself in this new Mars image. You can see wisps of Mars’ thin atmosphere against the darkness of space. Image via ESA/ Andrea Luck/ CC BY.
New Mars image shows stunning detail
ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft has been observing the red planet for more than two decades. One of the craft’s newest images – captured on July 13, 2024, and processed by Andrea Luck – shows an impressive array of Martian features. In it, we can see the lumpy satellite that is the Mars moon Phobos, the massive volcano Olympus Mons on Mars’ surface, and a thin wisp of high-altitude clouds in Mars’s atmosphere along the planet’s limb, or edge.
Phobos and Mars’ other moon, Deimos, were likely once asteroids that the red planet drew in with its gravity. Phobos is the larger of the two moons, and it’s circling ever-closer to Mars. One day some 50 million years from now, it will either crash into the planet or get shredded into a ring.
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in our solar system. But it hasn’t erupted for about 25 million years. Still, scientists consider it the youngest of the large volcanoes on Mars. The giant volcano is about the size of Poland.
And the red planet’s atmosphere is quite thin, showing up with some high-altitude clouds looking like a pale wisp against the blackness of space. In fact, Olympus Mons is taller than the atmosphere is thick. As Lowell Observatory has reported:
Mars’ atmosphere is so thin that the volcano’s peak actually pokes out above it, meaning that if one were to hike to the summit of Olympus Mons, they would hike into space.
Another image looking down at Mars
If you love images of Mars, then check out this one below from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This image, from September 24, 2021, captures a 3rd mission to Mars, the Perseverance rover, exploring the red planet’s surface.
1) Open this image up
2) Zoom in to find the small, bright, bluey–white object
View larger. | The European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft captured this new image of Mars on July 13, 2024. And Andrea Luck processed it. The dark object hovering above Mars (center top of this image) is its larger moon, Phobos. And the dark orange protrusion near the limb (edge) – in about the 4 o’clock position – is our solar system’s largest volcano, Olympus Mons. Plus, look closely at the Martian limb itself in this new Mars image. You can see wisps of Mars’ thin atmosphere against the darkness of space. Image via ESA/ Andrea Luck/ CC BY.
New Mars image shows stunning detail
ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft has been observing the red planet for more than two decades. One of the craft’s newest images – captured on July 13, 2024, and processed by Andrea Luck – shows an impressive array of Martian features. In it, we can see the lumpy satellite that is the Mars moon Phobos, the massive volcano Olympus Mons on Mars’ surface, and a thin wisp of high-altitude clouds in Mars’s atmosphere along the planet’s limb, or edge.
Phobos and Mars’ other moon, Deimos, were likely once asteroids that the red planet drew in with its gravity. Phobos is the larger of the two moons, and it’s circling ever-closer to Mars. One day some 50 million years from now, it will either crash into the planet or get shredded into a ring.
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in our solar system. But it hasn’t erupted for about 25 million years. Still, scientists consider it the youngest of the large volcanoes on Mars. The giant volcano is about the size of Poland.
And the red planet’s atmosphere is quite thin, showing up with some high-altitude clouds looking like a pale wisp against the blackness of space. In fact, Olympus Mons is taller than the atmosphere is thick. As Lowell Observatory has reported:
Mars’ atmosphere is so thin that the volcano’s peak actually pokes out above it, meaning that if one were to hike to the summit of Olympus Mons, they would hike into space.
Another image looking down at Mars
If you love images of Mars, then check out this one below from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This image, from September 24, 2021, captures a 3rd mission to Mars, the Perseverance rover, exploring the red planet’s surface.
1) Open this image up
2) Zoom in to find the small, bright, bluey–white object
View full image. | Computer simulation from the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) of what a new-and-improved image of a black hole might look like, at the 0.87-millimeter wavelength. These scientists say their new technique will soon let them produce direct black hole images with 50% better clarity than what’s now possible. Image via ESO/ Christian M. Fromm/ Julius-Maximilian University.
The first direct images of black holes were obtained in in 2019 and 2022. Astronomers used the Event Horizon Telescope, a network of radio telescopes, which worked together to function as one giant Earth-sized telescope.
Are better direct images of black holes possible? These scientists say yes. They just tested a new technique on distant galaxies. They say the same method can be used to image black holes directly.
They expect 50% better clarity on future direct black hole images, thanks to their new method. These future images are expected to help solve long-standing mysteries about black holes. For example, how do they attract matter? And how do they launch their powerful jets?
In 2019 and 2022, the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) released the first-ever direct images of black holes. They used a technique called very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), essentially linking multiple radio telescopes around the globe to form one giant “Earth-sized” telescope. Even then, the resolution possible was limited. So these scientists have now tested a new approach, using shorter wavelengths of light. And, on August 26, 2024, they said their new method will let them obtain direct black hole images with 50% better resolution (clarity) than before.
The researchers used the ALMA telescope in Chile and other facilities in their test. They published their peer-reviewed results in The Astronomical Journal on August 27, 2024.
Blurry 1st direct black hole images
Those first direct images of black holes, in 2019 and 2022, were exciting! One showed the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy M87, some 54 million light-years away. And the other showed the supermassive black hole Sgr A* at the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy.
Those images represented the outer limit of what the linked radio telescopes could achieve at the time. Alexander Raymond at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California explained:
With the EHT, we saw the first images of black holes using the 1.3-millimeter wavelength observations. But the bright ring we saw, formed by light bending in the black hole’s gravity, still looked blurry because we were at the absolute limits of how sharp we could make the images.
Future images of black holes 50% sharper
These astronomers believe that, with their new technique, they’ll be able to obtain improved images of black holes. They’re hoping for images some 50% sharper than the ones from 2019 and 2022. Raymond said:
At 0.87 millimeters, our images will be sharper and more detailed. In turn, they’ll likely reveal new properties of black holes, both those that were previously predicted and maybe some that weren’t.
ESO astronomer Suzanna Randall reveals how a pilot experiment using telescopes that are part of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) was able to obtain the highest-resolution observations ever made from the ground. Thanks to these test observations, the EHT Collaboration estimates that, in the future, they will be able to make black hole images 50% more detailed than was possible before. Video via ESO.
View larger. | Comparison between previous image of a black hole at 1.3-millimeter wavelength (left) and 0.87-millimeter wavelength (right). Image via ESO/ Christian M. Fromm/ Julius-Maximilian University.
Testing the new technique
So how does the technique work? The researchers tested it by observing distant bright galaxies at the 0.87-millimeter wavelength. But they didn’t use the entire telescope array as usual, however. Instead, they incorporated two smaller subarrays, both of which included ALMA and the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
And it worked! They obtained the highest-resolution observations ever from the surface of Earth, at 19 microarcseconds (millionths of an arcsecond). These initial observations, however, didn’t produce any actual images. That’s because there were not enough radio telescope antennas involved to produce enough data. Additional antennas will be required to construct actual images.
Ultimately, the technique will allow astronomers to achieve observations with details as fine as 13 microarcseconds. So correspondingly, using the new technique while observing at 0.87-millimeter wavelength will produce images about 50% sharper than the previous first images. In addition, astronomers might also be able to see smaller, fainter and more distant black holes.
View larger. | Artist’s illustrating the various radio observatories around the globe involved in the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) study. It obtained the highest resolution observations from the surface of the Earth. It detected light from distant galaxies at a wavelength of 0.87 millimeters. A galaxy sending out radio signals is depicted on the right. Image via ESO/ M. Kornmesser.
Groundbreaking observations
Co-author Thomas Krichbaum at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany called the new observations groundbreaking:
These VLBI signal detections at 0.87 millimeters are groundbreaking since they open a new observing window for the study of supermassive black holes. In the future, the combination of the IRAM telescopes in Spain (IRAM-30m) and France (NOEMA) with ALMA and APEX will enable imaging of even smaller and fainter emission than has been possible thus far at two wavelengths, 1.3 millimeters and 0.87 millimeters, simultaneously.
Sheperd Doeleman, another co-author and EHT Founding Director, added:
Looking at changes in the surrounding gas at different wavelengths will help us solve the mystery of how black holes attract and accrete matter, and how they can launch powerful jets that stream over galactic distances.
Consider the burst of extra detail you get going from black and white photos to color. This new “color vision” allows us to tease apart the effects of Einstein’s gravity from the hot gas and magnetic fields that feed the black holes.
Bottom line: Astronomers with the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration have developed a new technique that will produce images of black holes with 50% better resolution.
View full image. | Computer simulation from the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) of what a new-and-improved image of a black hole might look like, at the 0.87-millimeter wavelength. These scientists say their new technique will soon let them produce direct black hole images with 50% better clarity than what’s now possible. Image via ESO/ Christian M. Fromm/ Julius-Maximilian University.
The first direct images of black holes were obtained in in 2019 and 2022. Astronomers used the Event Horizon Telescope, a network of radio telescopes, which worked together to function as one giant Earth-sized telescope.
Are better direct images of black holes possible? These scientists say yes. They just tested a new technique on distant galaxies. They say the same method can be used to image black holes directly.
They expect 50% better clarity on future direct black hole images, thanks to their new method. These future images are expected to help solve long-standing mysteries about black holes. For example, how do they attract matter? And how do they launch their powerful jets?
In 2019 and 2022, the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) released the first-ever direct images of black holes. They used a technique called very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), essentially linking multiple radio telescopes around the globe to form one giant “Earth-sized” telescope. Even then, the resolution possible was limited. So these scientists have now tested a new approach, using shorter wavelengths of light. And, on August 26, 2024, they said their new method will let them obtain direct black hole images with 50% better resolution (clarity) than before.
The researchers used the ALMA telescope in Chile and other facilities in their test. They published their peer-reviewed results in The Astronomical Journal on August 27, 2024.
Blurry 1st direct black hole images
Those first direct images of black holes, in 2019 and 2022, were exciting! One showed the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy M87, some 54 million light-years away. And the other showed the supermassive black hole Sgr A* at the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy.
Those images represented the outer limit of what the linked radio telescopes could achieve at the time. Alexander Raymond at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California explained:
With the EHT, we saw the first images of black holes using the 1.3-millimeter wavelength observations. But the bright ring we saw, formed by light bending in the black hole’s gravity, still looked blurry because we were at the absolute limits of how sharp we could make the images.
Future images of black holes 50% sharper
These astronomers believe that, with their new technique, they’ll be able to obtain improved images of black holes. They’re hoping for images some 50% sharper than the ones from 2019 and 2022. Raymond said:
At 0.87 millimeters, our images will be sharper and more detailed. In turn, they’ll likely reveal new properties of black holes, both those that were previously predicted and maybe some that weren’t.
ESO astronomer Suzanna Randall reveals how a pilot experiment using telescopes that are part of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) was able to obtain the highest-resolution observations ever made from the ground. Thanks to these test observations, the EHT Collaboration estimates that, in the future, they will be able to make black hole images 50% more detailed than was possible before. Video via ESO.
View larger. | Comparison between previous image of a black hole at 1.3-millimeter wavelength (left) and 0.87-millimeter wavelength (right). Image via ESO/ Christian M. Fromm/ Julius-Maximilian University.
Testing the new technique
So how does the technique work? The researchers tested it by observing distant bright galaxies at the 0.87-millimeter wavelength. But they didn’t use the entire telescope array as usual, however. Instead, they incorporated two smaller subarrays, both of which included ALMA and the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
And it worked! They obtained the highest-resolution observations ever from the surface of Earth, at 19 microarcseconds (millionths of an arcsecond). These initial observations, however, didn’t produce any actual images. That’s because there were not enough radio telescope antennas involved to produce enough data. Additional antennas will be required to construct actual images.
Ultimately, the technique will allow astronomers to achieve observations with details as fine as 13 microarcseconds. So correspondingly, using the new technique while observing at 0.87-millimeter wavelength will produce images about 50% sharper than the previous first images. In addition, astronomers might also be able to see smaller, fainter and more distant black holes.
View larger. | Artist’s illustrating the various radio observatories around the globe involved in the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT) study. It obtained the highest resolution observations from the surface of the Earth. It detected light from distant galaxies at a wavelength of 0.87 millimeters. A galaxy sending out radio signals is depicted on the right. Image via ESO/ M. Kornmesser.
Groundbreaking observations
Co-author Thomas Krichbaum at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany called the new observations groundbreaking:
These VLBI signal detections at 0.87 millimeters are groundbreaking since they open a new observing window for the study of supermassive black holes. In the future, the combination of the IRAM telescopes in Spain (IRAM-30m) and France (NOEMA) with ALMA and APEX will enable imaging of even smaller and fainter emission than has been possible thus far at two wavelengths, 1.3 millimeters and 0.87 millimeters, simultaneously.
Sheperd Doeleman, another co-author and EHT Founding Director, added:
Looking at changes in the surrounding gas at different wavelengths will help us solve the mystery of how black holes attract and accrete matter, and how they can launch powerful jets that stream over galactic distances.
Consider the burst of extra detail you get going from black and white photos to color. This new “color vision” allows us to tease apart the effects of Einstein’s gravity from the hot gas and magnetic fields that feed the black holes.
Bottom line: Astronomers with the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration have developed a new technique that will produce images of black holes with 50% better resolution.
If you don’t know much more about meerkats except that they’re in the movie The Lion King … Hakuna matata, or no worries! Here’s all you need to know about these sociable, altruistic, smart and hard-working animals.
Meerkats are adorable
Meerkats are small, furry, agile mammals from the mongoose family. These animals weigh from 1.5 to 4.4 pounds (700 g to 2 kg) and are about 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) tall. Their tail is quite long compared to their body, measuring 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm).
These cute animals walk on four legs, although it’s common to see them standing upright and supported on their hind legs and tail, as if they were little humans. When they are sitting, all they move is their head to look here and there.
The distinctive dark markings around their eyes work like natural sunglasses, reducing glare and ensuring clear vision. Did you know meerkats are good guards?
Meerkats are small, furry, agile mammals from the mongoose family. Image via Ray Harrington/ Unsplash.
Meerkats have highly developed senses
Meerkats have highly developed senses of sight, smell and hearing.
Their ears are tiny and semicircular in shape. They are designed so that while they dig, they don’t get filled with sand. In addition, their sensitivity to sound helps them detect prey from great distances.
They also have a highly developed sense of smell that helps them track prey underground. Meerkats are mainly insectivorous. They use their paws and claws to dig and catch delicious insects, larvae, worms and small invertebrates that are hidden underground.
They have a great ability to detect insect pests. Meerkats, with their insatiable appetite for insects, play a crucial role in keeping pests at bay.
Meerkats have long claws on their front legs they use to dig. Their tiny, semicircular ears have a design that keep them from getting filled with sand. Image via Alex Gisby/ Unsplash.
Meerkats are desert dwellers
These small animals live in southern Africa – in deserts or savannas – in areas where water is scarce. Luckily, they get plenty of liquid from the juicy insects and larvae they eat.
There is only one species of meerkat. The size and color of the fur can vary depending on the areas they inhabit, but all of them have brown or grayish tones and stripes on their backs. In addition, this striped pattern is unique, like our fingerprints. This is how they distinguish each other in the group.
Meerkats’ coloring is determined by where they live: dark brown where there is soil and grayish or light cinnamon in arid regions.
There is only 1 species of meerkat. The color of the fur can vary depending on the areas they inhabit. Image via Ray Harrington/ Unsplash.
They are masters of architecture: burrows
Meerkats are intelligent and resourceful. They love to sunbathe in the mornings, but the desert is a merciless place and they need a good shelter to hide from predators. On the other hand, the desert is not always hot and sunny. In fact, there are extreme temperature swings.
These small mammals have adapted to a harsh environment that demands a lot of energy from them. They spend much of the day searching for food to ensure they have enough every day and take refuge in their burrows at night and during rainy days.
When it gets cold, they look for rocks to sunbathe on, or simply settle under the rays of the sun. These animals have a special area on their bellies with less hair, which they put in direct contact with the warm surface in order to protect themselves from the cold. This tactic allows them to absorb heat and regulate their body temperature.
Meerkats are only active and energetic if the sun is out. If one day it rains or the temperatures are too low, they opt for a day of rest inside their burrows. This behavior not only keeps them dry and warm, but it is also a smart tactic to conserve energy.
So, burrows are crucial for meerkats. They seek out firm, hard soil where they can dig and shape their impressive underground labyrinths of burrows without the roof collapsing on them. They also create several entrances so all members of the colony can quickly escape from predators.
Therefore, meerkats are masters of architecture. They have long claws on their front legs, about 0.8 inches (2 cm) long, which they use to dig into the ground and build burrows with many tunnels and galleries, as well as several entrances. These burrows make elaborate homes.
Meekats love sunbathing, but when it is cold or rainy outside, they stay all together in their burrows, warm and safe. Image via Li Yan/ Unsplash.
Meerkats are sociable
These cute creatures live in groups of 10 to 40 individuals. If the region they inhabit has an abundance of resources, then the groups can be larger. They are sociable and spend much of their time grooming each other.
Groups are made up of three or four family units. However, there is only one alpha pair, which reproduces and give birth to the babies. Members of the group that do not have babies help to care for and teach the cubs. Meerkat mothers have their babies inside the burrow and go out to find food to feed them.
Meerkats live in groups of many members, but there is only one alpha couple. Image via Joshua J. Cotten/ Unsplash.
Mothers of this species are helped by other female meerkats who take care of the babies while the mother goes out in search of food. These “nannies” even produce milk to feed the babies in case the mother is unable to. Individuals that do not reproduce also care for adult and sick individuals. As you can see, they are extremely altruistic animals.
They can reproduce throughout the year if conditions are favorable. Gestation lasts about three months, and they have two to five pups at a time. They can have pups up to three times a year. The little ones are born blind and without their fur.
Meerkats can live up to 10 years in the wild, although in captivity they can live much longer. They are intelligent animals that use various strategies to survive.
The members of the group that don’t give birth take care of the cubs while their mother is looking for food. Image via Jirí Mikoláš/ Pexels.
Unmatched ingenuity
Meerkats are a diurnal species. The first thing they do when they wake up in the morning is to leave the burrow to sunbathe, look for food, look after their young or stand guard.
Meerkats take turns watching out for predators and threats. There is always one meerkat that stands high and upright, thanks to its hind legs and tail. This gives it a good vantage point to watch out for approaching predators. This responsibility is shared, as it is a rotating task that everyone takes on because they all participate in looking after their clan.
Meerkats have developed a fascinating repertoire of sounds they use to keep their group safe and well organized. With a squeak or a growl, they can warn others about any threat or decide who does what in the group.
When there is danger, they emit a series of alarm calls to warn the rest, so they can flee to the burrow, where they remain safe.
Meerkats take turns watching for predators and threats. This responsibility is shared, as it is a rotating task that everyone takes to look after their clan. Image via Birger Strahl/ Unsplash.
Meerkats are immune to some venoms
Because they are so small, they are natural prey for many species found both in the air and on the ground. Some birds, such as hawks or eagles, can see them from miles away. And snakes and jackals attack them from the ground.
For this reason, meerkats make sure there is always a guard to warn the rest of the group of danger. When some time passes after the warning, the sentinels are the first to go out to see if the predator has left, in which case they alert the others to continue looking for food.
Because they are intelligent animals, they have strategies. When they feel threatened and cannot escape, meerkats group together, stand on their hind legs and raise their fur to make themselves look bigger and more threatening to predators.
These mammals are impressive as they also hunt and feed on larger animals such as birds, lizards, small mammals, small snakes and arachnids, especially scorpions.
They are immune to some venoms, such as that of scorpions, spiders and snakes. If a snake bites them and injects its venom, they feel ill for a few hours but then recover. What a fascinating species!
Meerkats are inmune to some venoms. Don’t worry! Nodody is hurt here. This is a meerkat chilling under the sun. Image via Jim/ Unsplash.
Lovely meerkat images
As meerkats love to be outside and sunbathe, it is easy to photograph them. They are so photogenic! Enjoy these pics.
Meerkats are adorable. Image via Guerrero De la Luz/ Pexels.Meerkats are sociable. Image via Mandy Mc Donald/ Pexels.Meerkats have a pointy nose, short ears and a black area around their eyes. Image via Joshua J. Cotten/ Unsplash.
More beautiful images
When it gets cold, they look for rocks in the sun, or simply settle under the rays of the sun. Image via Mikhail Nilov/ Pexels.Even if they look the same, if you pay attention to the details, you will see how meerkats have a unique pattern. Image via Dušan Veverkolog/ Unsplash.Here are 2 meerkat buddies spending some time together. Image via Loris Oberländer/ Unsplash.
Bottom line: Meerkats are small, furry, adorable mammals you can’t help but love. They live in groups and take care of each other, especially the cubs and the sick, old members. Aww!
If you don’t know much more about meerkats except that they’re in the movie The Lion King … Hakuna matata, or no worries! Here’s all you need to know about these sociable, altruistic, smart and hard-working animals.
Meerkats are adorable
Meerkats are small, furry, agile mammals from the mongoose family. These animals weigh from 1.5 to 4.4 pounds (700 g to 2 kg) and are about 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) tall. Their tail is quite long compared to their body, measuring 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm).
These cute animals walk on four legs, although it’s common to see them standing upright and supported on their hind legs and tail, as if they were little humans. When they are sitting, all they move is their head to look here and there.
The distinctive dark markings around their eyes work like natural sunglasses, reducing glare and ensuring clear vision. Did you know meerkats are good guards?
Meerkats are small, furry, agile mammals from the mongoose family. Image via Ray Harrington/ Unsplash.
Meerkats have highly developed senses
Meerkats have highly developed senses of sight, smell and hearing.
Their ears are tiny and semicircular in shape. They are designed so that while they dig, they don’t get filled with sand. In addition, their sensitivity to sound helps them detect prey from great distances.
They also have a highly developed sense of smell that helps them track prey underground. Meerkats are mainly insectivorous. They use their paws and claws to dig and catch delicious insects, larvae, worms and small invertebrates that are hidden underground.
They have a great ability to detect insect pests. Meerkats, with their insatiable appetite for insects, play a crucial role in keeping pests at bay.
Meerkats have long claws on their front legs they use to dig. Their tiny, semicircular ears have a design that keep them from getting filled with sand. Image via Alex Gisby/ Unsplash.
Meerkats are desert dwellers
These small animals live in southern Africa – in deserts or savannas – in areas where water is scarce. Luckily, they get plenty of liquid from the juicy insects and larvae they eat.
There is only one species of meerkat. The size and color of the fur can vary depending on the areas they inhabit, but all of them have brown or grayish tones and stripes on their backs. In addition, this striped pattern is unique, like our fingerprints. This is how they distinguish each other in the group.
Meerkats’ coloring is determined by where they live: dark brown where there is soil and grayish or light cinnamon in arid regions.
There is only 1 species of meerkat. The color of the fur can vary depending on the areas they inhabit. Image via Ray Harrington/ Unsplash.
They are masters of architecture: burrows
Meerkats are intelligent and resourceful. They love to sunbathe in the mornings, but the desert is a merciless place and they need a good shelter to hide from predators. On the other hand, the desert is not always hot and sunny. In fact, there are extreme temperature swings.
These small mammals have adapted to a harsh environment that demands a lot of energy from them. They spend much of the day searching for food to ensure they have enough every day and take refuge in their burrows at night and during rainy days.
When it gets cold, they look for rocks to sunbathe on, or simply settle under the rays of the sun. These animals have a special area on their bellies with less hair, which they put in direct contact with the warm surface in order to protect themselves from the cold. This tactic allows them to absorb heat and regulate their body temperature.
Meerkats are only active and energetic if the sun is out. If one day it rains or the temperatures are too low, they opt for a day of rest inside their burrows. This behavior not only keeps them dry and warm, but it is also a smart tactic to conserve energy.
So, burrows are crucial for meerkats. They seek out firm, hard soil where they can dig and shape their impressive underground labyrinths of burrows without the roof collapsing on them. They also create several entrances so all members of the colony can quickly escape from predators.
Therefore, meerkats are masters of architecture. They have long claws on their front legs, about 0.8 inches (2 cm) long, which they use to dig into the ground and build burrows with many tunnels and galleries, as well as several entrances. These burrows make elaborate homes.
Meekats love sunbathing, but when it is cold or rainy outside, they stay all together in their burrows, warm and safe. Image via Li Yan/ Unsplash.
Meerkats are sociable
These cute creatures live in groups of 10 to 40 individuals. If the region they inhabit has an abundance of resources, then the groups can be larger. They are sociable and spend much of their time grooming each other.
Groups are made up of three or four family units. However, there is only one alpha pair, which reproduces and give birth to the babies. Members of the group that do not have babies help to care for and teach the cubs. Meerkat mothers have their babies inside the burrow and go out to find food to feed them.
Meerkats live in groups of many members, but there is only one alpha couple. Image via Joshua J. Cotten/ Unsplash.
Mothers of this species are helped by other female meerkats who take care of the babies while the mother goes out in search of food. These “nannies” even produce milk to feed the babies in case the mother is unable to. Individuals that do not reproduce also care for adult and sick individuals. As you can see, they are extremely altruistic animals.
They can reproduce throughout the year if conditions are favorable. Gestation lasts about three months, and they have two to five pups at a time. They can have pups up to three times a year. The little ones are born blind and without their fur.
Meerkats can live up to 10 years in the wild, although in captivity they can live much longer. They are intelligent animals that use various strategies to survive.
The members of the group that don’t give birth take care of the cubs while their mother is looking for food. Image via Jirí Mikoláš/ Pexels.
Unmatched ingenuity
Meerkats are a diurnal species. The first thing they do when they wake up in the morning is to leave the burrow to sunbathe, look for food, look after their young or stand guard.
Meerkats take turns watching out for predators and threats. There is always one meerkat that stands high and upright, thanks to its hind legs and tail. This gives it a good vantage point to watch out for approaching predators. This responsibility is shared, as it is a rotating task that everyone takes on because they all participate in looking after their clan.
Meerkats have developed a fascinating repertoire of sounds they use to keep their group safe and well organized. With a squeak or a growl, they can warn others about any threat or decide who does what in the group.
When there is danger, they emit a series of alarm calls to warn the rest, so they can flee to the burrow, where they remain safe.
Meerkats take turns watching for predators and threats. This responsibility is shared, as it is a rotating task that everyone takes to look after their clan. Image via Birger Strahl/ Unsplash.
Meerkats are immune to some venoms
Because they are so small, they are natural prey for many species found both in the air and on the ground. Some birds, such as hawks or eagles, can see them from miles away. And snakes and jackals attack them from the ground.
For this reason, meerkats make sure there is always a guard to warn the rest of the group of danger. When some time passes after the warning, the sentinels are the first to go out to see if the predator has left, in which case they alert the others to continue looking for food.
Because they are intelligent animals, they have strategies. When they feel threatened and cannot escape, meerkats group together, stand on their hind legs and raise their fur to make themselves look bigger and more threatening to predators.
These mammals are impressive as they also hunt and feed on larger animals such as birds, lizards, small mammals, small snakes and arachnids, especially scorpions.
They are immune to some venoms, such as that of scorpions, spiders and snakes. If a snake bites them and injects its venom, they feel ill for a few hours but then recover. What a fascinating species!
Meerkats are inmune to some venoms. Don’t worry! Nodody is hurt here. This is a meerkat chilling under the sun. Image via Jim/ Unsplash.
Lovely meerkat images
As meerkats love to be outside and sunbathe, it is easy to photograph them. They are so photogenic! Enjoy these pics.
Meerkats are adorable. Image via Guerrero De la Luz/ Pexels.Meerkats are sociable. Image via Mandy Mc Donald/ Pexels.Meerkats have a pointy nose, short ears and a black area around their eyes. Image via Joshua J. Cotten/ Unsplash.
More beautiful images
When it gets cold, they look for rocks in the sun, or simply settle under the rays of the sun. Image via Mikhail Nilov/ Pexels.Even if they look the same, if you pay attention to the details, you will see how meerkats have a unique pattern. Image via Dušan Veverkolog/ Unsplash.Here are 2 meerkat buddies spending some time together. Image via Loris Oberländer/ Unsplash.
Bottom line: Meerkats are small, furry, adorable mammals you can’t help but love. They live in groups and take care of each other, especially the cubs and the sick, old members. Aww!
On July 28, 2024, a Falcon 9 rocket delivered 21 Starlink satellites to low-earth orbit from California. Image via SpaceX.
Completed SpaceX Starlink launches for August 2024
Starlink Group 10-6: August 2, 2024, 1:01 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 11-1: August 4, 2024, 12:24 a.m. PDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 8-3: August 10, 2024, 8:50 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 10-7: August 12, 2024, 6:37 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 10-5: August 20, 2024, 9:20 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 8-6: August 28, 2024, 3:48 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT, 1ST STAGE ROCKET DESTROYED
Starlink Group 8-10: August 31, 2024, 3:43 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 9-5: August 31, 2024, 1:48 a.m. PDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS
You can watch a livestream of the Starlink launches on SpaceX’s X account.
Watch this space for updates!
On June 27, 2024, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida. Image via SpaceX.
After launch, look for a train of lights
Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:
What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?
What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.
Growing numbers amid controversy
According to Wikipedia, as of early March 2024, Starlink consists of over 6,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 2 million subscribers.
Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting up to 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.
Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.
Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.
Bottom line: Get a list of all the SpaceX Starlink launches for August 2024 from both the West and East Coasts. Find out how to watch the livestream, and get updates, too.
On July 28, 2024, a Falcon 9 rocket delivered 21 Starlink satellites to low-earth orbit from California. Image via SpaceX.
Completed SpaceX Starlink launches for August 2024
Starlink Group 10-6: August 2, 2024, 1:01 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 11-1: August 4, 2024, 12:24 a.m. PDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 8-3: August 10, 2024, 8:50 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 10-7: August 12, 2024, 6:37 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 10-5: August 20, 2024, 9:20 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 8-6: August 28, 2024, 3:48 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT, 1ST STAGE ROCKET DESTROYED
Starlink Group 8-10: August 31, 2024, 3:43 a.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS
Starlink Group 9-5: August 31, 2024, 1:48 a.m. PDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS
You can watch a livestream of the Starlink launches on SpaceX’s X account.
Watch this space for updates!
On June 27, 2024, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida. Image via SpaceX.
After launch, look for a train of lights
Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:
What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?
What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.
Growing numbers amid controversy
According to Wikipedia, as of early March 2024, Starlink consists of over 6,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 2 million subscribers.
Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting up to 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.
Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.
Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.
Bottom line: Get a list of all the SpaceX Starlink launches for August 2024 from both the West and East Coasts. Find out how to watch the livestream, and get updates, too.
View larger. | Artist’s concept of K2-18b, a mini-Neptune or sub-Neptune exoplanet about 124 light-years from Earth. Observations from NASA’s Webb space telescope show it may have a deep global ocean beneath a hydrogen atmosphere. This is the exoplanet where the molecule dimethyl sulfide – a possible biosignature of life – was also tentatively detected by Webb, but not yet confirmed. A new study suggests water on exoplanets may be more common than expected, and most of that water may be on the inside of planets like super-Earths and mini-Neptunes. Image via ESA/ Hubble/ M. Kornmesser.
Water is common in our galaxy, both in our own solar system and in other planetary systems. Scientists think many planets larger than Earth have abundant water.
Most of that water may be inside planets instead of on their surfaces, a new study says. The water is hidden in the planets’ mantles and cores.
Astronomers can analyze a planet’s atmosphere to help determine how much water it has, both inside and on the surface. The amount of water can also affect a planet’s ability to support life.
More water on exoplanets than previously thought
Water is common in our solar system, and there is growing evidence that it is abundant in many other planetary systems as well. For exoplanets – planets orbiting other stars – scientists have wondered just how much water they have. And for planets that do have water, is it on the surface or deeper inside? On August 20, 2024, researchers in the U.S. and Switzerland suggested in a new study that such water worlds can contain even more water than previously thought. A new computer model simulates the distribution of water on exoplanets and finds most of it is hidden deep inside.
The study focused on exoplanets that are rocky like Earth, but larger, known as super-Earths. It also focused on bigger exoplanets – but still smaller than Neptune – called mini-Neptunes or sub-Neptunes. Astronomers have found a growing number of such worlds. Both can contain a lot of water, either on their surfaces or deep down below a thick atmosphere with no solid surface. For super-Earths, scientists have long used Earth’s own formation as a model for studying other rocky planets. It’s a fairly simple model, with an iron core surrounded by a mantle of silicate bedrock and water oceans on the surface.
But will other rocky exoplanets be similar or different? The answer is probably both. Studies have shown this kind of planetary formation is more complicated than first assumed. Dorn said:
It is only in recent years that we have begun to realize that planets are more complex than we had thought.
Currently, many of these planets discovered so far are very close to their stars. This is largely because closer-in planets are easier to detect than ones farther out. Many of those planets are so hot that their surfaces are molten.
Water in a ‘magma soup’
On young, rocky planets, including Earth at the beginning, the inner iron core takes time to form. This is because the planet is still extremely hot and molten and takes a long time to cool down. Most of the iron is still in this “magma soup.” But there is water also, and it plays a role. It combines with the iron droplets, causing them to sink down in the mantle toward the forming core. As Dorn explained:
The iron core takes time to develop. A large share of the iron is initially contained in the hot magma soup in the form of droplets. The iron droplets behave like an elevator that is conveyed downward by the water.
This is generally typical for rocky planets similar in size and mass to Earth. But what about larger planets like super-Earths or mini-Neptunes? As it turns out, more water will sink down with the iron droplets. Dorn said:
This is one of the key results of our study. The larger the planet and the greater its mass, the more the water tends to go with the iron droplets and become integrated in the core. Under certain circumstances, iron can absorb up to 70 times more water than silicates. However, owing to the enormous pressure at the core, the water no longer takes the form of H2O molecules but is present in hydrogen and oxygen.
A crucial clue to how water behaves on exoplanets was found on Earth itself four years ago. We think of the oceans as being the primary resource of water on our planet. But scientists found that about 80% of Earth’s liquid water is actually inside the planet. The vast oceans contain only a small portion of the overall water reserves. So, with this in mind, larger and more massive planets could have even more of their water inside instead of on the surface. The researchers said the volume of water on these planets may be underestimated by as much as 10 times. Dorn said:
Planets are much more water-abundant than previously assumed.
Clues in a planet’s atmosphere
One way astronomers can try to determine how much water a planet has is to analyze its atmosphere (if it has one, of course). NASA’s Webb space telescope has been doing just that for about two years now. The more water is in a planet’s atmosphere, the more likely the planet has abundant water in its interior. That’s because water in a magma ocean in the planet’s mantle can degas (be removed from the magma). It can then rise to the surface when the mantle starts to cool, and make its way into the atmosphere. Dorn said:
So if we find water in a planet’s atmosphere, there is probably a great deal more in its interior. Only the composition of the upper atmosphere of exoplanets can be measured directly. Our group wishes to make the connection from the atmosphere to the inner depths of celestial bodies.
Water that is even deeper down in the planet’s core, however, will remain trapped there.
TOI-270 d is a primary current example of an exoplanet where these processes seem to be happening, as Dorn noted:
Evidence has been collected there of the actual existence of such interactions between the magma ocean in its interior and the atmosphere.
In this case, TOI-270 d may be a hycean world with a global ocean beneath a thick hydrogen atmosphere. TOI-270 d is about twice the diameter of Earth and is 70 light-years away. Astronomers classify it as a sub-Neptune.
Are these planets habitable?
A big question, of course, is whether any of these kinds of planets could support life. Some of the largest and most massive might have deep global oceans over a layer of high-pressure ice instead of rock. In that scenario, chemical nutrients deeper in the mantle wouldn’t be able to interact with the ocean. That could make it difficult for any life to evolve.
The new study from Dorn and her colleagues, however, said this isn’t necessarily the case. That kind of oceans would be the exception rather than the rule. Planets that simply have most of their water in their mantles should be a lot more common. That might provide Earth-like habitable conditions inside the planets and perhaps even on their surfaces.
This brings to mind K2-18b, a mini-Neptune or sub-Neptune exoplanet that may have a deep global ocean beneath a thick hydrogen atmosphere. The Webb space telescope tentatively detected the molecule dimethyl sulfide in the planet’s atmosphere in 2023. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but observations continue. On Earth, the molecule is produced primarily by marine life such as plankton in the oceans, so it may be a possible biosignature for life on K2-18b. Maybe!
Bottom line: A new study shows there is likely much more water on exoplanets than previously thought. Most of it would be hidden in a planet’s interior.
View larger. | Artist’s concept of K2-18b, a mini-Neptune or sub-Neptune exoplanet about 124 light-years from Earth. Observations from NASA’s Webb space telescope show it may have a deep global ocean beneath a hydrogen atmosphere. This is the exoplanet where the molecule dimethyl sulfide – a possible biosignature of life – was also tentatively detected by Webb, but not yet confirmed. A new study suggests water on exoplanets may be more common than expected, and most of that water may be on the inside of planets like super-Earths and mini-Neptunes. Image via ESA/ Hubble/ M. Kornmesser.
Water is common in our galaxy, both in our own solar system and in other planetary systems. Scientists think many planets larger than Earth have abundant water.
Most of that water may be inside planets instead of on their surfaces, a new study says. The water is hidden in the planets’ mantles and cores.
Astronomers can analyze a planet’s atmosphere to help determine how much water it has, both inside and on the surface. The amount of water can also affect a planet’s ability to support life.
More water on exoplanets than previously thought
Water is common in our solar system, and there is growing evidence that it is abundant in many other planetary systems as well. For exoplanets – planets orbiting other stars – scientists have wondered just how much water they have. And for planets that do have water, is it on the surface or deeper inside? On August 20, 2024, researchers in the U.S. and Switzerland suggested in a new study that such water worlds can contain even more water than previously thought. A new computer model simulates the distribution of water on exoplanets and finds most of it is hidden deep inside.
The study focused on exoplanets that are rocky like Earth, but larger, known as super-Earths. It also focused on bigger exoplanets – but still smaller than Neptune – called mini-Neptunes or sub-Neptunes. Astronomers have found a growing number of such worlds. Both can contain a lot of water, either on their surfaces or deep down below a thick atmosphere with no solid surface. For super-Earths, scientists have long used Earth’s own formation as a model for studying other rocky planets. It’s a fairly simple model, with an iron core surrounded by a mantle of silicate bedrock and water oceans on the surface.
But will other rocky exoplanets be similar or different? The answer is probably both. Studies have shown this kind of planetary formation is more complicated than first assumed. Dorn said:
It is only in recent years that we have begun to realize that planets are more complex than we had thought.
Currently, many of these planets discovered so far are very close to their stars. This is largely because closer-in planets are easier to detect than ones farther out. Many of those planets are so hot that their surfaces are molten.
Water in a ‘magma soup’
On young, rocky planets, including Earth at the beginning, the inner iron core takes time to form. This is because the planet is still extremely hot and molten and takes a long time to cool down. Most of the iron is still in this “magma soup.” But there is water also, and it plays a role. It combines with the iron droplets, causing them to sink down in the mantle toward the forming core. As Dorn explained:
The iron core takes time to develop. A large share of the iron is initially contained in the hot magma soup in the form of droplets. The iron droplets behave like an elevator that is conveyed downward by the water.
This is generally typical for rocky planets similar in size and mass to Earth. But what about larger planets like super-Earths or mini-Neptunes? As it turns out, more water will sink down with the iron droplets. Dorn said:
This is one of the key results of our study. The larger the planet and the greater its mass, the more the water tends to go with the iron droplets and become integrated in the core. Under certain circumstances, iron can absorb up to 70 times more water than silicates. However, owing to the enormous pressure at the core, the water no longer takes the form of H2O molecules but is present in hydrogen and oxygen.
A crucial clue to how water behaves on exoplanets was found on Earth itself four years ago. We think of the oceans as being the primary resource of water on our planet. But scientists found that about 80% of Earth’s liquid water is actually inside the planet. The vast oceans contain only a small portion of the overall water reserves. So, with this in mind, larger and more massive planets could have even more of their water inside instead of on the surface. The researchers said the volume of water on these planets may be underestimated by as much as 10 times. Dorn said:
Planets are much more water-abundant than previously assumed.
Clues in a planet’s atmosphere
One way astronomers can try to determine how much water a planet has is to analyze its atmosphere (if it has one, of course). NASA’s Webb space telescope has been doing just that for about two years now. The more water is in a planet’s atmosphere, the more likely the planet has abundant water in its interior. That’s because water in a magma ocean in the planet’s mantle can degas (be removed from the magma). It can then rise to the surface when the mantle starts to cool, and make its way into the atmosphere. Dorn said:
So if we find water in a planet’s atmosphere, there is probably a great deal more in its interior. Only the composition of the upper atmosphere of exoplanets can be measured directly. Our group wishes to make the connection from the atmosphere to the inner depths of celestial bodies.
Water that is even deeper down in the planet’s core, however, will remain trapped there.
TOI-270 d is a primary current example of an exoplanet where these processes seem to be happening, as Dorn noted:
Evidence has been collected there of the actual existence of such interactions between the magma ocean in its interior and the atmosphere.
In this case, TOI-270 d may be a hycean world with a global ocean beneath a thick hydrogen atmosphere. TOI-270 d is about twice the diameter of Earth and is 70 light-years away. Astronomers classify it as a sub-Neptune.
Are these planets habitable?
A big question, of course, is whether any of these kinds of planets could support life. Some of the largest and most massive might have deep global oceans over a layer of high-pressure ice instead of rock. In that scenario, chemical nutrients deeper in the mantle wouldn’t be able to interact with the ocean. That could make it difficult for any life to evolve.
The new study from Dorn and her colleagues, however, said this isn’t necessarily the case. That kind of oceans would be the exception rather than the rule. Planets that simply have most of their water in their mantles should be a lot more common. That might provide Earth-like habitable conditions inside the planets and perhaps even on their surfaces.
This brings to mind K2-18b, a mini-Neptune or sub-Neptune exoplanet that may have a deep global ocean beneath a thick hydrogen atmosphere. The Webb space telescope tentatively detected the molecule dimethyl sulfide in the planet’s atmosphere in 2023. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but observations continue. On Earth, the molecule is produced primarily by marine life such as plankton in the oceans, so it may be a possible biosignature for life on K2-18b. Maybe!
Bottom line: A new study shows there is likely much more water on exoplanets than previously thought. Most of it would be hidden in a planet’s interior.
In September 2024, Mercury will lie low in the bright eastern twilight about 40 minutes before sunrise. It will reach its greatest elongation – greatest distance from the sunrise – on September 5, 2024. It will float closest to the star Regulus on September 9, and will slip out of view after mid-September. It’ll brighten through September before disappearing from the morning sky near the end of the month. This will be the best morning apparition of Mercury for the Northern Hemisphere this year. Southern viewers can see it too. Chart via EarthSky.
Mercury will reach greatest elongation – its greatest distance from the sun in the morning sky – on September 5, 2024. At that time, it’s 18 degrees from the sunrise.
The innermost planet Mercury orbits the sun every 88 days. And Earth is moving, too. So Mercury goes between us and the sun pretty often, about every 116 days. Indeed, it did this last on August 19, 2024, reaching the point astronomers call inferior conjunction. Since then, Mercury has been speeding ahead of Earth in orbit. It re-emerged in our dawn sky late last month. Now, Mercury will reach its greatest morning elongation – its greatest apparent distance from the rising sun – on September 5, 2024.
Also, due to the angle of the ecliptic – path of the sun, moon and planets – this time of the year, this September 2024 Mercury elongation is better viewed from the Northern Hemisphere because the planet will reach a higher altitude on the sky’s dome. In fact, this will be the best morning apparition for the Northern Hemisphere. But southern skywatchers can see it, too!
In the meantime, the innermost planet – named for the fleet-footed messenger god of the ancient Romans – will be visible for a few more weeks.
At greatest elongation on September 5, 2024, Mercury lies to one side of the sun as seen from Earth. It’s at its greatest distance from the sun on our sky’s dome. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Mercury greatest elongation, September 2024
When to watch: Officially, Mercury became visible toward the end of August 2024 in the morning sky. However, it will be tough to see until it climbs higher in the sky. At greatest elongation – September 5, 2024 – Mercury is farthest from the sunrise on our sky’s dome. And after that, when it’ll be edging back toward the sunrise, it’ll brighten a little bit more, making Mercury easier to spot – although low – in the morning twilight. Where to look: Look in the sunrise direction as the sky is getting lighter. Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are all lined up before the sunrise. Greatest elongation is on September 5 at 3 UTC (10:00 p.m. CDT on September 4). Mercury is shining at a -0.3 magnitude that morning. And it is 18 degrees from the sun. Through a telescope on and around September 5, Mercury appears 49% illuminated, in a crescent phase, and 7.07 arcseconds across. Note: Once you spot it, notice that Mercury brightens quickly as September progresses, reaching a magnitude of around -1 (bright, but in bright morning twilight) before slipping away in the morning glare before the end of the month.
For precise sun and Mercury rising times at your location:
Jan 12, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning) Feb 28, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth) Mar 24, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening) Apr 11, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) May 9, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning) Jun 14, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth) Jul 22, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening) Aug 19, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) Sep 5, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning) Sep 30, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth) Nov 16, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening) Dec 5, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) Dec 25, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning)
Mercury charts from Guy Ottewell
Mercury’s greatest morning elongations in 2024 – from the Northern Hemisphere – as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th and 21st of each month. Here, dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2024 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.Mercury’s greatest morning elongations in 2024 from the Southern Hemisphere, as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th and 21st of each month. Here, dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2024 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.
A comparison of elongations
Mercury’s greatest elongations are not equal. Indeed, some are “greater” than others. For example, the distance of Mercury from the sun on our sky’s dome varies from about 28 degrees (maximum) to 18 degrees (minimum).
Also, Mercury elongations are better or worse depending on the time of the year they occur and your location on Earth. So, for both hemispheres, spring evenings and autumn mornings are best.
As an illustration, the chart below – from a Northern Hemisphere perspective – might help you visualize these differences.
Mercury elongations compared. Here, gray areas represent evening apparitions (eastward elongation). Blue areas represent morning apparitions (westward elongation). The top figures are the maximum elongations, reached at the top dates shown beneath. Curves show the altitude of the planet above the horizon at sunrise or sunset, for latitude 40 degrees north (thick line) and 35 degrees south (thin line). Likewise, maxima are reached at the parenthesized dates below (40 degrees north bold). Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2024 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.
So, in the autumn for either hemisphere, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle to the horizon in the evening. Conversely, it makes a steep slant, nearly perpendicular, in the morning. So – in autumn from either hemisphere – morning elongations of Mercury are best. Then, Mercury appears higher above the horizon and farther from the glow of the sun. Conversely, evening elongations in autumn are harder to see.
On the other hand, in the spring for either hemisphere, the situation reverses. Then, the ecliptic and the horizon meet at a sharper angle on spring evenings and at a narrower angle on spring mornings. So, in springtime for either hemisphere, evening elongations of Mercury are best. Meanwhile, morning elongations in springtime are harder to see.
Bottom line: Mercury reaches its greatest elongation – greatest distance from the sunrise – on September 5, 2024. Look east at dawn. It’ll brighten through most of September before disappearing from the morning sky before the end of the month.
In September 2024, Mercury will lie low in the bright eastern twilight about 40 minutes before sunrise. It will reach its greatest elongation – greatest distance from the sunrise – on September 5, 2024. It will float closest to the star Regulus on September 9, and will slip out of view after mid-September. It’ll brighten through September before disappearing from the morning sky near the end of the month. This will be the best morning apparition of Mercury for the Northern Hemisphere this year. Southern viewers can see it too. Chart via EarthSky.
Mercury will reach greatest elongation – its greatest distance from the sun in the morning sky – on September 5, 2024. At that time, it’s 18 degrees from the sunrise.
The innermost planet Mercury orbits the sun every 88 days. And Earth is moving, too. So Mercury goes between us and the sun pretty often, about every 116 days. Indeed, it did this last on August 19, 2024, reaching the point astronomers call inferior conjunction. Since then, Mercury has been speeding ahead of Earth in orbit. It re-emerged in our dawn sky late last month. Now, Mercury will reach its greatest morning elongation – its greatest apparent distance from the rising sun – on September 5, 2024.
Also, due to the angle of the ecliptic – path of the sun, moon and planets – this time of the year, this September 2024 Mercury elongation is better viewed from the Northern Hemisphere because the planet will reach a higher altitude on the sky’s dome. In fact, this will be the best morning apparition for the Northern Hemisphere. But southern skywatchers can see it, too!
In the meantime, the innermost planet – named for the fleet-footed messenger god of the ancient Romans – will be visible for a few more weeks.
At greatest elongation on September 5, 2024, Mercury lies to one side of the sun as seen from Earth. It’s at its greatest distance from the sun on our sky’s dome. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Mercury greatest elongation, September 2024
When to watch: Officially, Mercury became visible toward the end of August 2024 in the morning sky. However, it will be tough to see until it climbs higher in the sky. At greatest elongation – September 5, 2024 – Mercury is farthest from the sunrise on our sky’s dome. And after that, when it’ll be edging back toward the sunrise, it’ll brighten a little bit more, making Mercury easier to spot – although low – in the morning twilight. Where to look: Look in the sunrise direction as the sky is getting lighter. Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are all lined up before the sunrise. Greatest elongation is on September 5 at 3 UTC (10:00 p.m. CDT on September 4). Mercury is shining at a -0.3 magnitude that morning. And it is 18 degrees from the sun. Through a telescope on and around September 5, Mercury appears 49% illuminated, in a crescent phase, and 7.07 arcseconds across. Note: Once you spot it, notice that Mercury brightens quickly as September progresses, reaching a magnitude of around -1 (bright, but in bright morning twilight) before slipping away in the morning glare before the end of the month.
For precise sun and Mercury rising times at your location:
Jan 12, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning) Feb 28, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth) Mar 24, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening) Apr 11, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) May 9, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning) Jun 14, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth) Jul 22, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening) Aug 19, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) Sep 5, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning) Sep 30, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth) Nov 16, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening) Dec 5, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun) Dec 25, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning)
Mercury charts from Guy Ottewell
Mercury’s greatest morning elongations in 2024 – from the Northern Hemisphere – as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th and 21st of each month. Here, dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2024 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.Mercury’s greatest morning elongations in 2024 from the Southern Hemisphere, as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th and 21st of each month. Here, dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2024 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.
A comparison of elongations
Mercury’s greatest elongations are not equal. Indeed, some are “greater” than others. For example, the distance of Mercury from the sun on our sky’s dome varies from about 28 degrees (maximum) to 18 degrees (minimum).
Also, Mercury elongations are better or worse depending on the time of the year they occur and your location on Earth. So, for both hemispheres, spring evenings and autumn mornings are best.
As an illustration, the chart below – from a Northern Hemisphere perspective – might help you visualize these differences.
Mercury elongations compared. Here, gray areas represent evening apparitions (eastward elongation). Blue areas represent morning apparitions (westward elongation). The top figures are the maximum elongations, reached at the top dates shown beneath. Curves show the altitude of the planet above the horizon at sunrise or sunset, for latitude 40 degrees north (thick line) and 35 degrees south (thin line). Likewise, maxima are reached at the parenthesized dates below (40 degrees north bold). Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2024 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.
So, in the autumn for either hemisphere, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle to the horizon in the evening. Conversely, it makes a steep slant, nearly perpendicular, in the morning. So – in autumn from either hemisphere – morning elongations of Mercury are best. Then, Mercury appears higher above the horizon and farther from the glow of the sun. Conversely, evening elongations in autumn are harder to see.
On the other hand, in the spring for either hemisphere, the situation reverses. Then, the ecliptic and the horizon meet at a sharper angle on spring evenings and at a narrower angle on spring mornings. So, in springtime for either hemisphere, evening elongations of Mercury are best. Meanwhile, morning elongations in springtime are harder to see.
Bottom line: Mercury reaches its greatest elongation – greatest distance from the sunrise – on September 5, 2024. Look east at dawn. It’ll brighten through most of September before disappearing from the morning sky before the end of the month.
Filipp Romanov is an amateur astronomer in Russia who has discovered 4 asteroids. He proposed naming them for his great-grandparents, and the IAU accepted. The great-grandparents are, clockwise from top left: Mariya Filippovna Romanova, Nikandr Ilyich Romanov, Aleksey Makarovich Varkin and Mariya Maksimovna Varkina. Image via Filipp Romanov.
**Update: As this was going to press, Filipp told me he had just officially discovered a 5th asteroid. This near-Earth asteroid is now designated 2024 QS. No word yet on what name he might propose for it.**
Amateur astronomer has asteroids named for great-grandparents
Filipp Romanov is an amateur astronomer living near Nakhodka, Russia, near the Sea of Japan. Self-educated, Filipp has discovered a wide assortment of astronomical objects, including variable stars, binary stars, novas, supernovas and now four asteroids. As the discoverer of the asteroids, he was able to propose names for them. Two asteroids he discovered in 2022 received the names of his great-grandfathers. And in July 2024, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially designated his two newest asteroid discoveries from 2023 with the names of his great-grandmothers.
Filipp is just 27 years old and told EarthSky:
I love to study and popularize astronomy for free. I plan to study as an astronomer at a university in the near future.
How he does it
Filipp, who has been experiencing homelessness since 2017, is currently living with extended family. He makes his discoveries by requesting remote telescope time from large observatories. For example, in 2022, he received some free hours of observing time with the robotic Liverpool Telescope (LT) in the Canary Islands. Automated sky surveys have mapped much of the sky, finding thousands and thousands of asteroids. So Filipp used data from the IAU to find areas of the sky that have not been covered by sky surveys.
In November 2022, Filipp found a couple of unknown asteroids in photographs from the LT that he used to inspect small fields of sky. He tracked these asteroids into December. The IAU’s Minor Planet Database is the worldwide site used to keep tabs on these small bodies in our solar system. They designated Filipp’s discoveries as 2022 WY16 and 2022 WY17. Both of these asteroids had an incredibly faint magnitude of 21 at the time of discovery.
As Filipp explained in an email to EarthSky:
Assigning permanent designations (numbers) to minor planets occurs when their orbits are well known. It usually takes many years after their
discovery. But in the case of these asteroids, they were also in archival images of sky surveys. This made it possible to increase their observation arcs, and so in July 2023 these asteroids received the numbers.
Numbered asteroids can be named, therefore Filipp proposed the names Alekseyvarkin and Nikandrilyich for 2022 WY16 and 2022 WY17, respectively.
Filipp Romanov discovered these 2 asteroids and named them for his great-grandfathers Nikandr Ilyich Romanov (left) and Aleksey Makarovich Varkin (right). Image via Filipp Romanov.
Recent asteroid discoveries
More recently, Filipp’s extensive observations using the LT and the iTelescope network of instruments has earned him the discovery of two more asteroids. In July 2024, the IAU made official his suggested names for asteroid 2023 PS3 as Mariyafilippovna and asteroid 2023 SJ76 as Mariyavarkina.
Filipp discovered the asteroid 2023 PS3, or Mariyafilippovna, on August 9, 2023, using the LT. The asteroid has a magnitude of about 20. It circles the sun every 2.56 years, and its size is probably somewhere between 500 and 550 feet (150 and 170 meters).
Filipp discovered asteroid 2023 SJ76, or Mariyavarkina, on September 16, 2023, using a remote iTelescope in the Utah desert. This is a main-belt asteroid with a magnitude of about 20. It orbits the sun every 3.57 years. And according to Filipp, it’s approximately several hundred meters in diameter.
As Filipp said:
There are currently less than 25,000 named minor planets, so this is a rare achievement for an amateur astronomer!
These 2 images are the discovery images for the 2 asteroids named for Mariya Filippovna Romanova (left) and Mariya Maksimovna Varkina (right). Image via Filipp Romanov.
More about the people immortalized with asteroids
Nikandr Ilyich Romanov (1916–1999) was one of Filipp’s great-grandfathers. He was a Chuvash, born in Kozhikovo, near Cheboksary. He studied at veterinary and military schools. After military service, he worked as a foreman. He and his wife raised four children. Filipp said about Nikandr:
He loved to read a lot of newspapers and magazines and had a hobby of beekeeping.
Aleksey Makarovich Varkin (1923–1986) was another of Filipp’s great-grandfathers. Aleksey was a Mordvin, born in Sabanovo, near Penza (Russia). During World War II, he was wounded while rescuing horses and received an award for this act. He raised three children after his pregnant wife died in a bus accident. Filipp said about Aleksey:
He helped people with his advice and deeds, and he was cheerful and loved music.
Mariya Filippovna Romanova (1919–1979) was Filipp’s great-grandmother. She lived in Chuguevka and worked as a secretary-typist and as a clerk. She was awarded the Veteran of Labor medal. Mariya Romanov was Nikandr’s wife.
Mariya Maksimovna Varkina (1922–1962) was another of Filipp’s great-grandmothers. She was a Mordvin from Sabanovo (near Penza). She and her husband lived in Primorsky Krai of Russia. Mariya Varkina was Aleksey’s wife, and Filipp said:
She died tragically while pregnant in a bus accident in Primorsky Krai of Russia.
Amateur astronomer Filipp Romanov. Image via Filipp Romanov.
Bottom line: Amateur astronomer Filipp Romanov has discovered four asteroids and proposed naming them for his great-grandparents, which the IAU accepted.
Filipp Romanov is an amateur astronomer in Russia who has discovered 4 asteroids. He proposed naming them for his great-grandparents, and the IAU accepted. The great-grandparents are, clockwise from top left: Mariya Filippovna Romanova, Nikandr Ilyich Romanov, Aleksey Makarovich Varkin and Mariya Maksimovna Varkina. Image via Filipp Romanov.
**Update: As this was going to press, Filipp told me he had just officially discovered a 5th asteroid. This near-Earth asteroid is now designated 2024 QS. No word yet on what name he might propose for it.**
Amateur astronomer has asteroids named for great-grandparents
Filipp Romanov is an amateur astronomer living near Nakhodka, Russia, near the Sea of Japan. Self-educated, Filipp has discovered a wide assortment of astronomical objects, including variable stars, binary stars, novas, supernovas and now four asteroids. As the discoverer of the asteroids, he was able to propose names for them. Two asteroids he discovered in 2022 received the names of his great-grandfathers. And in July 2024, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially designated his two newest asteroid discoveries from 2023 with the names of his great-grandmothers.
Filipp is just 27 years old and told EarthSky:
I love to study and popularize astronomy for free. I plan to study as an astronomer at a university in the near future.
How he does it
Filipp, who has been experiencing homelessness since 2017, is currently living with extended family. He makes his discoveries by requesting remote telescope time from large observatories. For example, in 2022, he received some free hours of observing time with the robotic Liverpool Telescope (LT) in the Canary Islands. Automated sky surveys have mapped much of the sky, finding thousands and thousands of asteroids. So Filipp used data from the IAU to find areas of the sky that have not been covered by sky surveys.
In November 2022, Filipp found a couple of unknown asteroids in photographs from the LT that he used to inspect small fields of sky. He tracked these asteroids into December. The IAU’s Minor Planet Database is the worldwide site used to keep tabs on these small bodies in our solar system. They designated Filipp’s discoveries as 2022 WY16 and 2022 WY17. Both of these asteroids had an incredibly faint magnitude of 21 at the time of discovery.
As Filipp explained in an email to EarthSky:
Assigning permanent designations (numbers) to minor planets occurs when their orbits are well known. It usually takes many years after their
discovery. But in the case of these asteroids, they were also in archival images of sky surveys. This made it possible to increase their observation arcs, and so in July 2023 these asteroids received the numbers.
Numbered asteroids can be named, therefore Filipp proposed the names Alekseyvarkin and Nikandrilyich for 2022 WY16 and 2022 WY17, respectively.
Filipp Romanov discovered these 2 asteroids and named them for his great-grandfathers Nikandr Ilyich Romanov (left) and Aleksey Makarovich Varkin (right). Image via Filipp Romanov.
Recent asteroid discoveries
More recently, Filipp’s extensive observations using the LT and the iTelescope network of instruments has earned him the discovery of two more asteroids. In July 2024, the IAU made official his suggested names for asteroid 2023 PS3 as Mariyafilippovna and asteroid 2023 SJ76 as Mariyavarkina.
Filipp discovered the asteroid 2023 PS3, or Mariyafilippovna, on August 9, 2023, using the LT. The asteroid has a magnitude of about 20. It circles the sun every 2.56 years, and its size is probably somewhere between 500 and 550 feet (150 and 170 meters).
Filipp discovered asteroid 2023 SJ76, or Mariyavarkina, on September 16, 2023, using a remote iTelescope in the Utah desert. This is a main-belt asteroid with a magnitude of about 20. It orbits the sun every 3.57 years. And according to Filipp, it’s approximately several hundred meters in diameter.
As Filipp said:
There are currently less than 25,000 named minor planets, so this is a rare achievement for an amateur astronomer!
These 2 images are the discovery images for the 2 asteroids named for Mariya Filippovna Romanova (left) and Mariya Maksimovna Varkina (right). Image via Filipp Romanov.
More about the people immortalized with asteroids
Nikandr Ilyich Romanov (1916–1999) was one of Filipp’s great-grandfathers. He was a Chuvash, born in Kozhikovo, near Cheboksary. He studied at veterinary and military schools. After military service, he worked as a foreman. He and his wife raised four children. Filipp said about Nikandr:
He loved to read a lot of newspapers and magazines and had a hobby of beekeeping.
Aleksey Makarovich Varkin (1923–1986) was another of Filipp’s great-grandfathers. Aleksey was a Mordvin, born in Sabanovo, near Penza (Russia). During World War II, he was wounded while rescuing horses and received an award for this act. He raised three children after his pregnant wife died in a bus accident. Filipp said about Aleksey:
He helped people with his advice and deeds, and he was cheerful and loved music.
Mariya Filippovna Romanova (1919–1979) was Filipp’s great-grandmother. She lived in Chuguevka and worked as a secretary-typist and as a clerk. She was awarded the Veteran of Labor medal. Mariya Romanov was Nikandr’s wife.
Mariya Maksimovna Varkina (1922–1962) was another of Filipp’s great-grandmothers. She was a Mordvin from Sabanovo (near Penza). She and her husband lived in Primorsky Krai of Russia. Mariya Varkina was Aleksey’s wife, and Filipp said:
She died tragically while pregnant in a bus accident in Primorsky Krai of Russia.
Amateur astronomer Filipp Romanov. Image via Filipp Romanov.
Bottom line: Amateur astronomer Filipp Romanov has discovered four asteroids and proposed naming them for his great-grandparents, which the IAU accepted.
