A quasar is an extremely bright and distant point-like source visible to radio telescopes. The source is a so-called Active Galactic Nucleus, fueled by a supermassive black hole. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-what-is-a-quasar…
Tag: lighthouse
Last full moon of the decade, again
The last full moon of 2020 – and the last full moon of the 202nd decade – happens on December 29 or 30, 2020, depending on your time zone. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/last-full-moon-of-the-decade-on-december-29-30…
Personal solstices
Photos from EarthSky community members around the world, showing what the December solstice – bringing winter to half of Earth, and summer to the other half – means to them. Thanks to all of you for sharing these evocative images with us! Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/personal-solstices-photos-dec-earthsky-community…
Great Conjunction over Sicilian Lighthouse
Don’t miss the coming Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html…
Photos of 2020’s Leonid meteor shower
EarthSky Community members around the world are sharing their photos of this year’s Leonid meteor shower. Beautiful! Thanks to all who contributed. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/leonid-meteor-shower-nov2020-photos…
Moon, Venus, Mercury before daybreak
These next several days, watch as the waning crescent moon joins up with the planets Mercury and Venus, plus the star Spica, in the eastern predawn/dawn sky. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-mercury-before-daybreak…
Java Geeks Discuss ‘The War for the Browser’ and the State of Java Modularization
Self-described “Java geek” nfrankel writes: At the beginning of 2019, I wrote about the state of Java modularization. I took a sample of widespread libraries, and for each of them, I checked whether: – It supports the module system i.e. it provides an automatic module name in the manifest – It’s a full-fledged module i.e. it provides a module-info The results…
Simulations show Webb Telescope can reveal distant galaxies hidden in quasars’ glare
Quasars are the brightest objects in the universe and among the most energetic. They outshine entire galaxies of billions of stars. A supermassive black hole lies at the heart of every quasar, but not every black hole is a quasar. Only the black holes that are feeding most voraciously can power a quasar. Material falling into the supermassive black hole heats…
To find giant black holes, start with our solar system’s center
A new study from researchers at Vanderbilt University suggests that to find the most massive black holes, measure the effects of their gravitational waves on the flashes of light coming from pulsars. The best location to do that is at the precise gravitational center of the solar system. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/black-holes-gravitational-waves-pulsars-solar-system…
Waymo’s Self-Driving Minivans Return to Phoenix, Detroit, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area
Digital Trends reports:
Waymo is planning to relaunch its fleet of self-driving minivans into Bay Area streets on June 8, according to an email acquired by The Verge. However, instead of transporting passengers, the vehicles will instead focus on delivering packages for non-profit organizations #DrawTogether, which gives art kits to children, and Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired… The pending return…