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Wednesday 31 May 2023 Dublin: 12°C

# Astronomy

Last month
May 2023
# Exploding star
Astronomers identify fireball that is the 'largest' cosmic explosion ever observed
It is estimated to be around two trillion times brighter than the Sun.
This year
2023
# Space
New planet ring system discovered in our Solar System
The ring system is around a newly discovered dwarf planet, named Quaoar, which is around half the size of Pluto and orbits the Sun beyond Neptune.
# Look Up
Green comet to make its closest approach to Earth in 50,000 years tonight
The comet will be visible in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
# Astronomy
Rare green comet to be visible from Ireland for the first time in 50,000 years
Travelling as far as possible away from cities and bright lights will increase your odds of a good view.
# light pollution
Stars disappearing from human sight at ‘astonishing rate’, say scientists
Astronomers believe LED bulbs may be contributing to the night sky getting rapidly brighter.
# astronomers
Once in 50,000-year comet may be visible to the naked eye
It should be easy to spot with binoculars and likely even with the naked eye, provided the sky is not too illuminated by city lights or the Moon.
# Wolf Moon
Stargazers encouraged to look upwards for a view of the ‘Wolf Moon’
While the moon is technically full this evening, to the naked eye it will have looked ‘full’ last night and will look full tomorrow night also.
# Stargazing
The first meteor shower of 2023 will be visible tonight
The Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to peak at 3am.
# Astronomy
Moon and Mars to appear close to each other in night sky during rare 'conjunction' tonight
It has been called “one of the most amazing sights” in the night sky this month.
# Night Sky
Five starry spectacles to watch out for in 2023
Is that a comet?
Last year
2022
# Solar System
All the planets in the solar system visible tonight and tomorrow night
While the chances of seeing Venus and Saturn are gone for tonight, Jupiter is still visible.
# Astronomy
Stargazers in Ireland and abroad marvel at the 'Buck supermoon'
July’s supermoon was the biggest and brightest of the year.
# final frontier
Astronomers observe most distant galaxy ever spotted
The galaxy candidate is some 13.5 billion light-years away, and scientists are speculating what exactly it is.
All time
# Starry Skies
A morning eclipse to a rare moon-and-Mars meeting - here's what to look up for in 2022
The star-studded highlights to watch out for over the next twelve months.
# eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Ireland tomorrow morning
The partial lunar eclipse is due to begin around 07.18am.
# the good information project
Watch: The Dubliner exploring the universe from his homemade observatory
Dave Grennan has discovered two asteroids, and three supernovae from the shed in his back garden.
# Shooting Stars
'A lightning sort of brightness': This stunning shot of the Perseids was captured over Wexford
The Perseids meteor shower which peaked on Wednesday and Thursday night will continue tonight but with a reduced number of meteors likely to be visible.
The Perseids meteor shower which peaked on Wednesday and Thursday night will continue tonight but with a reduced number of meteors likely to be visible.
# Shooting Stars
Clear spells to give Irish stargazers a glimpse of Perseids as annual meteor shower peaks
There will be 20 times more shooting stars than on a normal night.
# Look Up
Five astronomical highlights the skies have in store in 2021
We’re starting another rotation around the sun. Here’s what to watch out for in the skies.
# ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
Spooky skies: Rare blue moon to shine over Ireland on Halloween
It will be the second full moon of this calendar month, making it a “Blue Moon”.
# Eyes up
Look out: Perseid meteor shower to peak over Irish skies from tonight
The meteors will be visible all night from dusk until dawn.
# THE PERSEIDS
The best meteor shower of the year will be visible this week
There will be 20 times more shooting stars than a normal night on Tuesday and Wednesday.
# look to the skies
Quiz: How much do you know about comets?
Test your knowledge here.
# astronomical
Scientists have found a black hole so massive it 'should not exist in our galaxy'
The black hole is twice as big as scientists believed possible.
# great gig in the sky
'Green ball of fire' - A stunning green fireball lit up the Irish sky last night
The brightest of the fireballs was at about 6.54 pm last night.
# Moon Landing
A 'deep' partial eclipse of the moon takes place this evening
There won’t be another one for 2 years, so Astronomy Ireland is asking people to send photos of the eclipse into them.
# Lunar Eclipse
Here's how the 'super wolf blood moon' looked over Ireland early this morning
The phenomenon was the only lunar eclipse that was visible in Ireland this year.
# the great beyond
A meteor shower peaking tonight rings in the start of a busy year for stargazing
A supermoon later this month is the first of three in a row.
# Discovery
'Oddball' among 12 new moons discovered around Jupiter
The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei discovered the first four of Jupiter’s moons in 1610.
# Double Take
Double Take: The plaque in Rathmines celebrating telescope maker Howard Grubb
In plain sight on Observatory Lane.
# Astronomy
Galaxies grow bigger and puffier as they age, new study finds
“This is the first time we’ve shown shape and age are related for all kinds of galaxies.”
# omg moment
Astronomers find the 'impossible': A galaxy without dark matter
The discovery could revise or even upend theories of how galaxies are formed.
# super-duper moon
A rare 'super blue blood moon' will be visible later - but Ireland won't experience the full effect
The spectacle will be visible in clear skies above Australia, Asia and some parts of the US and Eastern Europe.
# tabby's star
We're one step closer to understanding the 'most mysterious star in the universe'
Tabby’s Star has been inexplicably dimming and brightening sporadically like no other for years.
# rare occurrence
Keep watch - the Northern Lights could be on display in Ireland's skies this weekend
That’s according to Astronomy Ireland.
# Nova
Scientists have finally found a 'star' that was spotted by Korean astrologers nearly 600 years ago
The “star” was actually a colossal hydrogen explosion which produced a burst of light 300,000 times brighter than our Sun.
# Lights out
The United States is about to experience the best eclipse in a lifetime... but how long does Ireland have to wait?
Ages, is the answer.
# Eyes to the sky
Irish stargazers warned the moon may spoil tonight's meteor shower
The moon at at 80% illumination and could outshine some of the shooting stars as they pass through the sky.
# birr-illiant
Offaly was once the centre of the world for stargazing - today it takes a giant leap back there
Ireland is to be part of a huge Europe-wide telescope.
# the Martian
'Life is left up to you': NUIG researcher delves into her Mars simulation mission
The experiment has been compared to a desert version of the Hollywood movie The Martian.