EarthSky News - February 15 - Top Stories This Week

February 14 Top Stories This Week What if the universe had no beginning?  Think on this: Our universe may not have a beginning or end. How far is Betelgeuse?  Finding star distances isn't easy. Here's how it's done, and why astronomers recently modified the distance estimate to the famous star Betelgeuse Stunning view of Antarctica's tallest volcano  Along Antarctica's Pacific coast, a chain of volcanoes jut from the ice sheet. The tallest of these is Mount Sidley. Here's a stunning satellite view. Dinosaurs on LSD  A hallucinogenic fungus, perfectly preserved in amber, suggests that the fungus, the grasses it lived on, and grass-eating dinosaurs co-existed for millions of years. Surprise! Earth's core has a core  Researchers have found that the Earth’s inner core has an inner core of its own ... smaller than the moon. It might hold the key to how our planet evolved. Moon-lovers ... order your 2015 EarthSky moon calendar today! Thank you to all of you who've ordered one!   SKY ALERT Early risers! Look for Mercury before sunrise  The elusive planet Mercury - innermost world in our solar system - will be near the moon in the next couple of mornings. LIKE ON FACEBOOK TWEET