The ALPHA collaboration at CERN has reported the first measurements of certain quantum effects in the energy structure of antihydrogen, the antimatter counterpart of hydrogen. These quantum effects are known to exist in matter, and studying them could reveal as yet unobserved differences between the behavior of matter and antimatter. The results, described in a paper published today in the journal…
Tag: alpha
Procyon is the Little Dog Star
The Dog Star, Sirius, is easy to spot because it’s the sky’s brightest star. Procyon – the other Dog Star – is near its brighter brother on the sky’s dome. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/procyon-harbringer-of-the-dog-star…
VLT sees surface of dim Betelgeuse
The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope is in northern Chile. Astronomers used it to capture the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. The new images show how the apparent shape of this star is changing. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/betelgeuse-dimming-supernova-new-vlt-images…
Image: Spacewalk to service the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (middle) and NASA astronaut Drew Morgan (left) work on get-ahead tasks during the fourth spacewalk to service the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS). Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-01-image-spacewalk-alpha-magnetic-spectrometer.html…
Is there a 2nd planet orbiting Proxima Centauri?
Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun, may have a second planet, according to researchers from the National Institute of Astrophysics. If confirmed, it would be an ideal candidate for direct imaging by new upcoming space telescopes. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/is-there-a-2nd-planet-orbiting-proxima-centauri…
Watch ISS spacewalk January 25
Watch the last of January’s 3 International Space Station spacewalks tomorrow. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/watch-iss-spacewalk-jan2020…
Rigel in Orion is blue-white
Rigel, brightest star in the easy-to-see constellation of Orion the Hunter, shines with a blue-white color. Hidden behind its brilliant classic beauty is a fascinating and complex stellar life history. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/blue-white-rigel-is-orions-brightest-star…
Betelgeuse: What’s up?
The red supergiant star Betelgeuse, a bright star in the constellation of Orion, has been making headlines due to a recent drop in brightness. Is an explosion imminent? If it happens, will Earth be affected? Source: https://earthsky.org/space/betelgeuse-dimming-late-2019-early-2020-supernova…
Waiting for Betelgeuse: what’s up with the tempestuous star?
Have you noticed that Orion the Hunter—one of the most iconic and familiar of the wintertime constellations—is looking a little… different as of late? The culprit is its upper shoulder star Alpha Orionis, aka Betelgeuse, which is looking markedly faint, the faintest it has been for the 21st century. Source: https://phys.org/news/2019-12-betelgeuse-tempestuous-star.html…
How can I see Southern Cross now?
In late December and early January, those at the latitude of Hawaii – or further south – can see the Southern Cross before sunrise. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/southern-cross-visible-in-hawaii-before-sunrise…