Biman Nath

The writer is an astrophysicist at the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore.

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More From Biman Nath

Artemis II could pave the way for research from the MoonSubscriber Only

April 02,2026 12:00:32 PM

Large telescopes on the Moon can be much more sensitive than those on Earth because the Moon lacks an atmosphere. The radio-quiet zone on the Moon could enable deep radio astronomy observations that could answer many questions about the history of the Universe

Thu, Apr 02, 2026

Since its discovery in July, 3I/ATLAS has fascinated researchers as a confirmed interstellar object, likely originating from a distant, unidentified stellar system in the Milky Way. (Image: NASA)

There are interstellar intruders in our solar system. But are they aliens?Subscriber Only

January 19,2026 16:34:04 PM

ATLAS was deemed to move faster than Oumuamua or Borisov — other recent ‘trespassers’ — and was clearly unbound to the solar system

Mon, Jan 19, 2026

If we could view our galaxy from the outside, it would appear to have a thin disc with some distinct spiral “arms” that are brightened by stars.

We thought we understood how a galaxy forms — and the universe just proved us wrongSubscriber Only

December 04,2025 12:27:10 PM

‘Alaknanda’ is the latest galaxy discovered by the James Webb telescope that challenges popular theories amongst astronomers

Fri, Dec 05, 2025

Saturn's rings disappear for a while every 13 to 15 years.

How Saturn beat Jupiter to become the Moon KingSubscriber Only

April 05,2025 13:27:06 PM

A team of astronomers has announced the discovery of 128 new moons of Saturn. Astronomy will go even farther

Sat, Apr 05, 2025

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams arrives at NASA's Johnson Space Center after her return to earth from the International Space Station (ISS), in Houston, USA. (PTI)

It’s time to celebrate Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore’s safe return. Scientists must now use their experience for future space expeditionsSubscriber Only

March 19,2025 18:54:09 PM

Scientists have been worrying about the problem of radiation exposure in space for a while, but there are no ‘case studies’ yet. One has to solve this radiation exposure problem to some degree of satisfaction before planning to send astronauts to Mars or the Moon for longer durations. Williams and Wilmore may play an important role

Fri, Mar 21, 2025

An Expert Explains: How James Webb Space Telescope has raised questions in cosmologySubscriber Only

August 17,2024 07:32:12 AM

Images from the James Webb Space Telescope are puzzling — instead of newborn galaxies, the early phases of the Universe appear to be full of adult-sized galaxies. The standard model of the Universe has had to be patched up earlier — could a more comprehensive rethink of cosmic history be in order now?

Sun, Aug 18, 2024

Meet ISRO’s new X-ray eye in the skySubscriber Only

January 02,2024 07:35:51 AM

The new observatory payload will help astronomers understand the nature of pulsars and black holes

Fri, Jan 05, 2024