Yearly spectacle, most visible in northern hemisphere, is caused by Earth passing through debris of ancient comet It is time for stargazers to dig out the deckchairs to try to enjoy what is considered to be one of the best meteor showers of the year. The Perseids are expected to peak on the night of 12 August, although they have been active from mid-July and will continue to be visible for a further couple of weeks. Continue reading...

Seeds of rocky planets forming in gas around star Hops-315 is called glimpse of ‘time zero’, when new worlds start to gel Astronomers have discovered the earliest seeds of rocky planets forming in the gas around a baby sun-like star, providing a precious peek into the dawn of our own solar system. It’s an unprecedented snapshot of “time zero”, scientists reported on Wednesday, when new worlds begin to gel. Continue reading...