Space stuff

[stonedmegman]

The clearest image ever taken of Phobos, Moon of Mars. -NASA-

[stonedmegman]

12 new moons discovered orbiting Jupiter, giving it the most in our solar system
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 197895002/
That makes 92 total.

[stonedmegman]

Astronomers discover ‘1-in-10-billion’ binary star system that may explode into cosmic gold!



COQUIMBO, Chile — A one-in-ten-billion binary star system may one day set off an ultra-powerful that showers space with gold. Astronomers used the SMARTS 1.5-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, a Program of NSF’s NOIRLab, to make this first-of-its-kind discover. The team behind the discovery call the star system “phenomenally rare” and add that it features all of the necessary conditions to eventually trigger a kilonova.

The researchers describe it as an ultra-powerful, gold-producing explosion created when two neutron stars collide. The conditions needed for such an event are so exceedingly rare scientists believe that only about 10 such systems exist in the entire Milky Way galaxy.
https://studyfinds.org/binary-star-explode-cosmic-gold/

[stonedmegman]

This black hole glitched like a cosmic computer…then restarted itself out of nowhere

Can a black hole really flip a switch on itself? At least one did, since it was caught doing just that in real time.

Phenomena like this just don’t happen. That explains the shock a team of MIT astronomers got when they observed a flash of brightness from a supermassive black hole that then dimmed as if someone pulled the plug on it. Then, as if out of nowhere, it restarted like all your electrical appliances after a thunderstorm blackout. What actually went down was that the black hole’s corona (a blindingly bright ring of electrons and other high-energy charged particles right on the edge of its event horizon) vanished into darkness. Then it reignited.

“We expect that luminosity changes this big should vary on timescales of many thousands to millions of years,” said Erin Kara, assistant professor of physics at MIT, in a press release. “But in this object, we saw it change by [a factor of] 10,000 over a year, and it even changed by a factor of 100 in eight hours, which is just totally unheard of and really mind-boggling.”



https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/black-ho ... ted-itself

[Animal]

how can they know what is unheard of when it comes to black holes? Weren't they just proven to exist around 100 years ago? and from what I hear, you can't even really see them without some super sophisticated shenanigans.

[saltydog]

I'm a fan of Moonraker.

[stonedmegman]

how can they know what is unheard of when it comes to black holes? Weren't they just proven to exist around 100 years ago? and from what I hear, you can't even really see them without some super sophisticated shenanigans.

They usually find them by detecting X-rays and Gamma rays IIRC. Visually you are looking for nothingness.

[CentralTexasCrude]

how can they know what is unheard of when it comes to black holes? Weren't they just proven to exist around 100 years ago? and from what I hear, you can't even really see them without some super sophisticated shenanigans.

I think you underestimate the huge strides Astronomy has taken in the last Century. Consider that 100 years ago, they didn't even know that there were Stars or Galaxies outside our own Milky Way.

[stonedmegman]

Baby star blasts jets of water into space



Astronomers have found a nascent star 750 light years from earth that shoots colossal jets of water -- a cosmic fire hose -- out its poles in bullet-like pulses.

In a process that almost defies adjectives and analogies, each jet of water is the equivalent of a hundred million times the water flowing through the Amazon River every second and the speed of the jet is the equivalent of 80 times the muzzle velocity of an AK-47 assault rifle.

The blast creates huge shockwaves around the star and the process may be responsible for sprinkling the universe with water.
https://phys.org/news/2011-06-baby-star ... space.html

[Antknot]

how can they know what is unheard of when it comes to black holes? Weren't they just proven to exist around 100 years ago? and from what I hear, you can't even really see them without some super sophisticated shenanigans.

They usually find them by detecting X-rays and Gamma rays IIRC. Visually you are looking for nothingness.

They also see the gravity of black holes affecting the orbits of visible matter.

[saltydog]

[stonedmegman]

5 planets will parade across the sky in rare astronomical event, while skyscraper-sized asteroid flies by Earth

More than half the solar system’s planets will align Monday in a rarely seen spectacle, arcing across a corner of the night sky.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will parade across the sky, accompanied by the moon and a possible star cluster. While the scenario will be visible to the naked eye, astronomers recommend breaking out the binoculars or a telescope for a more detailed view.

The planets will be arrayed across the western horizon in an arc about 20 to 25 minutes after Monday’s sunset, according to Space.com, starting with Mercury and Jupiter. However, twilight’s brightness could mask them, Space.com warned, adding that the viewing window is only about 25 to 30 minutes.

The planets will also be so close to the horizon that any structure or sightline glitch could obscure them. “Your best option is looking out over a westward-facing shoreline that is perfectly flat and wide open with nothing to block your view,” Space.com said.

https://news.yahoo.com/5-planets-parade ... 00927.html



Starting this week, you can watch five planets in the evening sky as a crescent moon rises higher each night.

From Thursday, March 23 through Thursday, March 30, it will be possible to see Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars soon after sunset as a waxing crescent moon appears to make a tour of five planets.



While Venus and Mars will be very easy to see, you may need to use binoculars or a telescope to find brightening Mercury and dimming Jupiter, and certainly to see Uranus, which is always just beyond naked-eye visibility. You'll also need a low view of the western horizon, though light pollution makes little difference for planet spotting and moon gazing.

Planetary parade: What will happen

Over the eight nights, Mercury and Jupiter will swap positions, with the former rising above the latter. But to see the switcheroo, you'll have to be outside, looking low to the western horizon immediately after sunset. Meanwhile, the moon will grow from 7% to 68% lit over the week, rising higher each night to visit a different planet.

Throughout the week, Uranus will be above Venus in the west, and beyond it, Mars will shine brightly very high in the sky.
Thursday, March 23: Crescent moon and Venus

On March 23, the view of a slim 7%-lit crescent moon appearing to cup Venus will be jaw-dropping as it hangs just below bright Venus and above Jupiter in the western sky. Mercury will be beneath Jupiter but lost in the sun's glare. Aim some binoculars at the moon, and you’ll see Earthshine, which is sunlight reflected from Earth and back onto the lunar surface, according to NASA.
Friday, March 24: Crescent moon and Uranus

On March 24, a 13%-lit crescent moon will be above Venus and very close to Uranus. Use binoculars to look for Earthshine on the moon; then range to the left to glimpse the seventh planet. Jupiter will have sunk slightly, and Mercury will have risen, though not enough to be easily visible.
Saturday, March 25: Crescent moon and the Pleiades

On March 25, the crescent moon, now 21% lit, will be about a third of the way from Venus to Mars. Point some binoculars just above the northeastern limb of the moon, and you'll see the many bright stars of the Pleiades open cluster.

On Saturday you can also watch live as a skyscraper-sized asteroid zooms between the moon and Earth in a rare, super-close flyby.
Sunday, March 26: Moon and Mars

Now 30% lit, the moon will have moved closer to Mars, while Mercury and Jupiter will be very close to each other low on the western horizon.
Monday, March 27: Jupiter-Mercury conjunction

Tonight sees a conjunction of the solar system's smallest and largest planets, when Mercury and Jupiter appear to get within about 1 degree of each other and will be visible to the naked eye right after sunset, according to Starwalk. Meanwhile, the 39%-lit moon will shine brightly, close to Mars.
Tuesday, March 28: Mercury rising

As a half-lit first-quarter moon hangs beyond Mars, Mercury will be rising. On March 28, it will be above Jupiter and more easily visible to the naked eye.
Wednesday, March 29: Jupiter sinking

As Mercury rises even higher and gets easier to see, Jupiter will be lost in the sun's glare and hard to see. Venus has been rising all week, and now it's getting close to Uranus.
Thursday, March 30: Venus-Uranus conjunction

As Mercury and Jupiter continue to appear to move in opposite directions, bright Venus will shine just 1 degree from Uranus in the week's second planetary conjunction. However, to see blue-green Uranus, you’ll need to use binoculars or a telescope.

[Animal]

those people are weird. they know exactly where uranus will be at 7:30 on March 27th.

[stonedmegman]

those people are weird. they know exactly where uranus will be at 7:30 on March 27th.

That's where you get the spooky part of quantum physics.

[Degas]

Pretty big asteroid to pass between Earth and Moon this weekend, was only found a month ago too, can be seen with binoculars and tracked using a decent space app.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65061818

[disco.moon]

"Starting this week, you can watch five planets in the evening sky as a crescent moon rises higher each night.

From Thursday, March 23 through Thursday, March 30, it will be possible to see Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars soon after sunset as a waxing crescent moon appears to make a tour of five planets.



While Venus and Mars will be very easy to see, you may need to use binoculars or a telescope to find brightening Mercury and dimming Jupiter, and certainly to see Uranus, which is always just beyond naked-eye visibility. You'll also need a low view of the western horizon, though light pollution makes little difference for planet spotting and moon gazing."

I'm really excited about this. Thanks for sharing that article. I'm going to pop out my telescope and camera this week.

[disco.moon]

Pretty big asteroid to pass between Earth and Moon this weekend, was only found a month ago too, can be seen with binoculars and tracked using a decent space app.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65061818

omg what am exciting weekend in the sky!

[Degas]

Comes to something when fucking astronomer nerds are having a funner weekend than you… I need some weed or something.

[Animal]

is it a little disturbing to anyone else that they just detected an asteroid that is going to pass between the earth and the moon?

If the plan is to launch a rocket to crash into one to steer it away from earth (if its on a collision course), would they even have time to do any of that if this is the best time frame they have?

[stonedmegman]

is it a little disturbing to anyone else that they just detected an asteroid that is going to pass between the earth and the moon?

If the plan is to launch a rocket to crash into one to steer it away from earth (if its on a collision course), would they even have time to do any of that if this is the best time frame they have?

I haven't checked with this one but some past NEOs have come from the far side of the Sun which makes them difficult to track.

[Animal]

is it a little disturbing to anyone else that they just detected an asteroid that is going to pass between the earth and the moon?

If the plan is to launch a rocket to crash into one to steer it away from earth (if its on a collision course), would they even have time to do any of that if this is the best time frame they have?

I haven't checked with this one but some past NEOs have come from the far side of the Sun which makes them difficult to track.

then we need to start working on making that less difficult. don't you think?

[stonedmegman]

is it a little disturbing to anyone else that they just detected an asteroid that is going to pass between the earth and the moon?

If the plan is to launch a rocket to crash into one to steer it away from earth (if its on a collision course), would they even have time to do any of that if this is the best time frame they have?

I haven't checked with this one but some past NEOs have come from the far side of the Sun which makes them difficult to track.

then we need to start working on making that less difficult. don't you think?

Shall I Google NASA's number for you?

[Animal]

is it a little disturbing to anyone else that they just detected an asteroid that is going to pass between the earth and the moon?

If the plan is to launch a rocket to crash into one to steer it away from earth (if its on a collision course), would they even have time to do any of that if this is the best time frame they have?

I haven't checked with this one but some past NEOs have come from the far side of the Sun which makes them difficult to track.

then we need to start working on making that less difficult. don't you think?

Shall I Google NASA's number for you?

tell them that if the sun is in their eyes looking for asteroids coming to destroy the earth, then how about having someone look at night? duh. this isn't that hard.

[stonedmegman]

is it a little disturbing to anyone else that they just detected an asteroid that is going to pass between the earth and the moon?

If the plan is to launch a rocket to crash into one to steer it away from earth (if its on a collision course), would they even have time to do any of that if this is the best time frame they have?

I haven't checked with this one but some past NEOs have come from the far side of the Sun which makes them difficult to track.

then we need to start working on making that less difficult. don't you think?

Shall I Google NASA's number for you?

tell them that if the sun is in their eyes looking for asteroids coming to destroy the earth, then how about having someone look at night? duh. this isn't that hard.

Well it is clear you aren't a rocket scientist.

Coming from the far side of the Sun you need to see around the Sun. If it's night, the Sun is on the other side. DUH.

[stonedmegman]

Close up of Pluto from the New Horizons space probe