* Astronomy

Asteroid (93) Minerva is a large trinary main-belt asteroid. It is a C-type asteroid, meaning that it has a dark surface and possibly a primitive carbonaceous composition. It was discovered by J. C. Watson on August 24, 1867, and named after Minerva, the Roman equivalent of Athena, goddess of wisdo...

Astronomers unveil portrait of "super-exotic super-Earth:" Densest known rocky planet The planet, named 55 Cancri e, is 60 per cent larger in diameter than Earth but eight times as massive. Twice as dense as Earth - almost as dense as lead - it is the densest solid planet known, according...

Title: Double cyclic variations in orbital period of the eclipsing cataclysmic variable EX Dra Author: Zhong-tao Han, Sheng-bang Qian, Irina Voloshina, Li-Ying Zhu EX Dra is a long-period eclipsing dwarf nova with ~2 - 3 mag amplitude outbursts. This star has been monitored photometrically fro...

Title: Long-term photometric behaviour of the eclipsing Z Cam-type dwarf nova AY Psc Author: Zhong-tao Han, Sheng-bang Qian, Irina Voloshina, Li-ying Zhu New eclipse timings of the Z Cam-type dwarf nova AY Psc were measured and the orbital ephemeris was revised. Based on the long-term AAVSO data...

WZ Sagittae is an unusual SU UMa star Period of about 4400 days (?). Magnitude range: 10.1 v - 19 V WZ Sagittae.kmz Position (2000): RA 20h 07m 36.53s, Dec +17° 42' 15.3" The discovery of a large disc of dust around a binary star system could force astronomers to rethink their computer models of the...

Title: V729 Sgr: A long period dwarf nova showing negative superhumps during quiescence Author: Gavin Ramsay (1), Matt A. Wood (2), John Cannizzo (3,4), Steve Howell (5), Alan Smale (6) ((1) Armagh Observatory, (2) Texas A and M University--Commerce, (3) NASA/GSFC, (4) University Maryland, (5)...

'Perfect Storm' ship USCGC Tamaroa about to become part of artificial reef The ship made famous in the book and subsequent film The Perfect Storm is about to be intentionally sunk off the New Jersey and Delaware coasts so it can become part of an artificial reef. The sinking of the Tamaroa, a 62-metre C...

FIRST EVER FOSSIL OF SLEEPING DINOSAUR FOUND IN CHINA Finding by American Museum of Natural History Palaeontologists Suggests Some Dinosaurs were Warm-Blooded like Birds. The first fossil of a sleeping non-avian dinosaur has been described by a pair of Ameri...

Buddha's birthplace faces serious air pollution threat The historic site of Buddha's birthplace in Nepal faces a serious threat from air pollution, scientists and officials have warned. Recent data collected from air quality monitoring stations in five places across the country show Lumbini i...

The Oesel (L6) meteorite fell in Estonia, on the 11th May, 1855. A total mass of 6 kg was recovered. 58° 30'N, 23° 0'E

The Sevrukovo (L5) meteorite fell in Belgorodskaya oblast', Russia, on the 11th May, 1874. A total mass of 101 kg was recovered. 50° 37'N, 36° 36'E

New human-like species discovered in S Africa Scientists have discovered a new human-like species in a burial chamber deep in a cave system in South Africa. The discovery of 15 partial skeletons is the largest single discovery of its type in Africa. The researchers claim that the discovery will cha...

Volcano and earthquake museum to open in Iceland A new attraction exploring Iceland's unique and volatile geology is to launch next month. Lava, the Iceland Volcano & Earthquake Centre, is an interactive museum that examines the natural forces that led to the creation of Iceland over million...

Symbiotic star Hen 2-467 = LT Delphini RA 20 35 57.23, Dec +20 11 27.5

Ultraviolet (390nm) image captured with a 100mm f5 Helios refractor and Vesta pro webcam.