Many of the things we take for granted in the modern world rely heavily on satellites in space. But as they become redundant or fail, many become space debris and risk damaging other satellites. James Blake from the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group explores the growing need to safeguard satellites against the hazards they face on a daily basis.
We are familiar with the idea that the twinkling pinpricks of light in the sky are stars, like our own Sun, but not all those stars are the same. There are many types of stars, and we can see most of these in the night sky, explains Dr Elizabeth Stanway.
Professor Tom Marsh from the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group explains how to make a sundial and what it can tell us about our Sun.
It’s quite easy to see some of the other planets in our Solar system from your garden, balcony or on an evening walk. In fact, you might have already seen them without realising it, explains Dr David Brown from Warwick’s astrophysics team.
The story of how Pluto got dropped as a planet is one of discovery, debate and a momentous decision that explains how we found a whole new class of objects: the dwarf planets, explains Dr Elizabeth Stanway.
Nebulae are birthplaces of stars and spectacular sights to behold. But you don’t need a powerful telescope to experience these ‘Stellar Nurseries’, as postgraduate researcher Jack McCleery explains.
It’s not just stars, planets and meteors that fill our night sky. Our planet is also orbited by spacecraft that you can spot – if you know where and when, explains Professor Don Pollacco, the science coordinator for the upcoming space telescope PLATO.
There are some amazing myths and legends associated with one particularly interesting constellation: the Pleiades star cluster.
The sky above us changes constantly. It means that many objects are out of our view for much of the time – but when they are visible, it is amazing how much you can see. As Ashley Chrimes from Warwick’s Department of Physics explains, with a clear sky at the moment you may spot Mars, Jupiter and Saturn and it is even possible to snap a good photo of the Moon.
Shooting stars – or meteors - are some of the most magical features of the night sky. Professor Tom Marsh from the University of Warwick’s astrophysics team explains exactly what shooting stars are and the best way to see them.
