Magellan

After decades of speculation, astronomers have discovered the first direct evidence of volcanic activity on Venus. Radar images of Earth’s “twin” taken just a few months apart reveal a recent eruption.

Astronomers may have discovered a monster black hole that’s one of the closest to Earth known. With a mass equivalent to 12 Suns, the black hole was found to be quietly lurking “practically in our backyard,” according to the team.

A new study shows that tectonic activity may have caused sections of Venus’ planetary crust to become fragmented into smaller bodies that barge past each other like chunks of ice on water. The planet may still be capable of hosting tectonic activity.

A team of astronomers has managed to find the origin of an enormous star that is currently barreling out of the Milky Way having escaped from one of our galaxy’s spiral arms. The discovery challenges the theory that such stars come from the galactic center.

Astronomers are welcoming the newest and most distant object in the solar system – a dwarf planet orbiting more than 100 times further from the Sun than Earth. And because its discoverers aren’t the most creative bunch, it’s been dubbed “Farout.”

Scientists working at the Keck observatory have spied an exoplanet of a type never seen before. Residing in the constellation of Taurus, some 450 light-years from Earth, the distant body is the first planet ever observed being formed.

Funding for the Giant Magellan Telescope has now been confirmed. The largest optical telescope ever built, it is slated to have a resolution capability ten times greater than Hubble, despite being based on Earth.

The Echo Fit is one of the more colourful fitness wearables on show at CES this year, but there’s some reasonable functionality hidden away behind that monochrome display. The device is compatible with third-party fitness apps, and boasts the ability to show alerts from a connected smartphone.