THE BIRMINGHAM ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF ALABAMA

09/07/2026

Introducing a cool new citizen science opportunity!

We need your eyes! 🖥️🌌

Want to help discover some of the faintest galaxies in the Universe?

Introducing Rubin: Blobs and Blurs, a brand-new citizen science project on Zooniverse using data from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory.

We’re on the hunt for extreme, mysterious galaxies 🌌 Specifically, faint "diffuse dwarf galaxies" and odd "blue blobs," that are dominated by invisible dark matter.

Because these objects are so dim and uniquely shaped, computer algorithms aren't always great at spotting them 🫣

By helping find them, you can help scientists better understand how galaxies form. All you need in order to participate is your curiosity! 🔭✨

🔗 zooniverse.org/rubin

📷: NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA

09/03/2026

Clear skies, everyone! We hope to see you out at OMSP on 9/19!

08/27/2026

The information that you need to know concerning tonight's (Thursday 08/27/2026) partial lunar eclipse. Clear skies, everyone!

08/27/2026

A deep dive into the information concerning the upcoming partial lunar eclipse! NOTE: The partial lunar eclipse begins the evening of Thursday 08/27/2026 and ends the (early) morning of Friday 08/28/2026. Clear skies!

A partial lunar eclipse will pass over the Americas—and parts of Europe and Africa—tomorrow night! It will reach its peak around 12:12 a.m. EDT (0412 UTC) on Thursday, Aug. 28.

More info: https://go.nasa.gov/4zxuGh0

08/24/2026

And now for something completely different:

08/24/2026

Curiouser and curiouser...

A bubbling Betelgeuse ⭐️ 🫧

Taken with ALMA Observatory, this is one of the most detailed views yet of the surface of the iconic star Betelgeuse.

The star's surface is uneven and lumpy, with peaks and troughs originating from giant bubbles of hot gas rising from deep within the star to its surface.

Yet something is puzzling astronomers — and Betelgeuse's close companion star, recently suggested by observations with ESO’s Very Large Telescope, could be behind it.

Discover more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2634a/

📷 ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/W. Dent et al.

08/20/2026

The universe is a strange and wonderful place. Case in point:

One for the record books 🏅

ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer has discovered the fastest known star in our galaxy. Named S301, it orbits Sagittarius A* — the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way — reaching speeds of 25 000 kilometres per second.

S301 also comes closer to Sagittarius A* than any other star observed so far, at around the distance of Saturn to the Sun.

This is close enough for its orbit to be influenced by the black hole's rotation, making S301 the first star that could be used to directly measure the spin of Sagittarius A*.

Read the full story: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2612/

Image by ESO/GRAVITY collaboration

08/17/2026

This Tuesday, August 18th at 7:00 PM, come see a FREE presentation of the Christenberry Planetarium's newest show: 'Alabama Summer Skies'

Experience the sky like never before on their newly renovated 8K dome. Alabama Summer Skies guides you through easy-to-find constellations like Aquila the Eagle, Cygnus the Swan, Sagittarius, and Scorpius. Then journey to the heart of the Milky Way, where stunning deep-space treasures are hiding in plain sight — nestled right among the stars you just learned to find. It's sky-watching basics and jaw-dropping cosmic wonders, in breathtaking clarity. Come look up with us!

08/09/2026

Perseids Wed night into Thu morning. No moon and mostly clear skies forecast!

08/07/2026

Word Of The Day: birefringence

Scientists using NASA’s IXPE telescope have found strong evidence that supports a 90-year-old quantum theory known as vacuum birefringence. This effect suggests that the vacuum of space can be altered by extreme magnetic fields, far stronger than one's humans can create on Earth.

After conducting more than 140 hours of coordinated radio and X-ray polarization measurements of magnetar 1E 1547-5408, it showed the polarization is nearly three times greater than seen in similar sources. This higher-than-expected level of polarization they found points to vacuum birefringence.

Further IXPE observations of this source and other magnetars will confirm this signal and potentially reveal other exotic effects of quantum electrodynamics.

Read more through the 🔗 in our comments!