An explanation as to why the Earth, and the other (smaller) inner planets of the solar system, have not been consumed by the Sun.
It all made sense, except for one tiny problem: this same model also suggested that a little world like Earth shouldn’t exist at all; it (or more precisely, the Moon-size proto-planets [...]

Sun-like stars aren’t exactly common in the galaxy, further reducing the chances of finding intelligent life elsewhere, but it may help narrow down the search.
A new study has found that the most probable place to find intelligent life in the galaxy is around stars with roughly the mass of the sun, and surface temperatures [...]

The longest solar eclipse so far of the century takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, though it won’t be visible from much of Australia.
On hand however in China to witness the six-minute spectacle will be veteran “eclipse chaser” Dr Jay Pasachoff, who is hoping, weather permitting, to experience his 29th solar eclipse.
On hand to view it from [...]

The sun is entering what is known to astronomers as “solar cycle 24”, notable in that only 90 sunspots are expected to spawn during this period. Solar cycles can last anywhere from nine to 14 years, and cycle 24 looks set to be one of the quieter ones.
This is no guarantee that there will no [...]

Following on from yesterday’s solar coronal mass ejection post, some images of sunspots and ultraviolet light, comparing the Sun’s surface conditions from last week back to July 2000.

Another possible threat to Earth and life thereon, a coronal mass ejection, or a fireball like spewing of plasma from the Sun.
It is hard to conceive of the sun wiping out a large amount of our hard-earned progress. Nevertheless, it is possible. The surface of the sun is a roiling mass of plasma – charged [...]

An awesome graphic which puts the scale of the cosmos into (some sort of) perspective.
Starting with the Earth and the Moon, it eventually works up to the largest known star, the hypergiant VY Canis Majoris, the surface of which – if estimates of its size are correct – would extend to the orbit of Saturn [...]

Despite differences in their size and distance from us, both the Sun and the Moon appear to be the same size when seen from Earth, something that is particularly apparent during a total Solar eclipse.
This quirk of nature however is only a relatively temporary state of affairs.
With the Moon moving away from Earth at [...]

Incredible, a plan devised by Professor Colin McInnes to move Earth out to a more distant orbit, when, in five billion years time, the Sun enters its red giant phase.
Long story very short, an enormous solar sail would be hitched to the planet, and away we’d go…
McInnes calculates that moving the Earth outwards to [...]

At least we, or whatever forms of intelligence that will be present, have about a billion years to workout how to deal with the consequences of another form of global warming; the Sun becoming hotter as it ages…
The Sun is slowly getting warmer as it burns the hydrogen in its core. In about 5 billion [...]