The sun

Astronomers have spotted a huge lump of rock that hurtles through space ahead of the Earth in its orbit around the sun. The rock, which is 300 metres across, is known as a "Trojan asteroid" because it shares Earth's orbit but remains far enough away it will never collide with the planet. Trojan asteroids can follow planetary orbits if they stay close to positions 60 degrees ahead or behind the planet. At these points, gravitational forces and orbital motion balance each other, producing stable relative locations in space. Martin Connors at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada, used Nasa's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite and ground-based telescopes to identify the Trojan asteroid, named 2010TK7. The study is published in Nature. Similar Trojans have been found orbiting the sun in step with Jupiter, Neptune and Mars. Topics Space The sun Asteroids news Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Share on LinkedIn Share … [Read more...] about Trojan asteroid dances ahead of the Earth as it orbits of the sun

A SUN snapper has been shortlisted for the best of British photography award with his incredible underwater shot. Richard Pelham's take of British slalom canoeist Mallory Franklin is one of 320 awe-inspiring images to make the final cut. They include visceral moments of sporting triumphs, natural beauty and architectural finesse taken from all around the globe. Director Hugo Donnithorne-Tait described the standard of photography as "breathtaking". A month-long vote is now underway for the public to choose their favourite for the 2020 winner. From cheese-rolling to deep dives, imitations of art and life, here's a taster of the super snaps below.MOST READ NEWSExclusiveCASH AND CARRY Builder who won £105m on Lotto goes back to work lugging boxes & driving van PLATFORM PHWOAR Fugitive couple caught bonking in 2nd subway platform romp on the same day TATE THROWER Tate teen, 18, hurled boy, 6, off 10th floor because he 'wanted to be on TV' MISS PERV Married teacher, 30, bedded at … [Read more...] about Sun snapper shortlisted for best of British photography award with amazing underwater shot

A mysterious object detected hurtling past our sun could be the first space rock traced back to a different solar system, according to astronomers tracking the body. While other objects have previously been mooted as having interstellar origins, experts say the latest find, an object estimated to be less than 400m in diameter, is the best contender yet. “The exciting thing about this is that this may be essentially a visitor from another star system,” said Dr Edward Bloomer, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. If its origins are confirmed as lying beyond our solar system, it will be the first space rock known to come from elsewhere in the galaxy. Published in the minor planet electronic circulars by the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the observations reveal that the object is in a strong hyperbolic orbit – in other words, it is going fast enough to escape the gravitational pull of the sun. Objects originating from, … [Read more...] about Mysterious object seen speeding past sun could be ‘visitor from another star system’

A bizarre video has emerged that shows a crowd of holidaymakers fighting for sun loungers at a popular hotel in the Canary Islands. These remarkable pictures show a group of up to 100 holidaymakers preparing to stampede outside the rear doors of the Canary Islands hotel to bag themselves sun loungers for the day. Hotel staff had reportedly decided to lock the doors to the pool area before breakfast each morning and would only open them at 9am. But the bizarre daily ritual led to a huge crowd gathering in the downstairs area of the four star Best Hotel, Playa De Las Americas in Tenerife, with many jockeying to get the best position. When the doors - which had been secured with a chain - eventually opened, the mass of tourists squeezed through and began running at full pelt towards the poolside in a bid to get the best spot. Holidaymakers reported being jostled, bundled out of the way and even threatened with physical violence by other guests during the so called "Battle for The … [Read more...] about Watch British holidaymakers join bizarre stampede for sun loungers at Tenerife hotel

SUMMER is on the horizon, which means it's the perfect time to spruce up your garden furniture - and after months of wind and rain we cannot wait. Garden furniture can be expensive, with outdoor dining sets often costing more than a hundred pounds. But if you choose wisely you could be enjoying your outdoor pieces for years to come. Some high-quality sets that look great and last, don't cost a fortune. First, you’ll face the choice between wood and metal. Both look great out of the box but bear in mind that wood can take a little more work to maintain and is often more costly. Ideally, you’ll want chairs, a table and a parasol to protect you from the sun. Some sets can be expensive so we would suggest buying a simple one for less - like this one from Wilko -  and pimp it with your own accessories. Stackable sets can make storage simple, with a winter cover a useful extra. Look at what’s included in the box, with some offering some parasol too. We have listened to … [Read more...] about Cheap outdoor furniture: the best tables and chairs to comfy up your garden this summer