In recent years, black hole mergers in our universe have been detected via ripples in spacetime known as gravitational waves. Now, for the first time, astronomers believe they’ve observed visible light from a black hole merger, in a peculiar 3-black-hole system. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/1st-time-visible-light-explosion-black-hole-merger…
Tag: Queen
World’s Pile of Electronic Waste Grows Ever Higher: Study
The world’s mountain of discarded flat-screen TVs, cellphones and other electronic goods grew to a record high last year, according to an annual report released Thursday. New submitter Splyncryth writes: The U.N.-backed study estimated the amount of e-waste that piled up globally in 2019 at 53.6 million metric tonnes (59.1 million tons) – almost 2 million metric tons more than the…
Asteroid Day, June 30, live from Luxembourg
The 6th annual Asteroid Day will be held as a digital event on June 30, 2020. It’ll feature presentations with experts, panel discussions, and question-and-answer periods. Here’s how to participate. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/international-asteroid-day-june-30…
Moon and Venus at dawn June 17, 18, 19
These next several mornings – June 17, 18 and 19, 2020 – look east before sunrise to see the moon and Venus. You might spot the Pleiades star cluster nearby. On June 19, the moon will occult or cover over Venus. For most of us, the occultation will happen in daylight. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-at-dawn-june-17-18-19…
‘Looking at an Alien Sky’: New Horizons Probe Sees Stars From a New View
Long-time Slashdot reader JoeRobe writes: Space.com and other outlets are reporting on new pictures of Wolf 359 and Proxima Centauri sent back from New Horizons. The images show clear parallax between the view from Earth and from the spacecraft 6.9 billion km away. In effect, New Horizons is looking up at a visually different star field than we are… NASA has…
Wowzer! Pluto spacecraft sees parallax for Proxima
New images from the fringes of our solar system. The fast-moving New Horizons spacecraft sees a parallax shift – a different apparent position against the background stars – for Proxima Centauri. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/new-horizons-parallax-for-proxima-centauri…
Moon and Mars before dawn June 12 and 13
Enjoy the early morning sky on June 12 and 13, 2020, as the moon swings 3 degrees south of the red planet Mars. Meanwhile, although your eye won’t catch it, Mars will swing 1.7 degrees south of distant Neptune. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/see-moon-mars-before-dawn-june-12-and-13…
Astronomers discover how long-lived Peter Pan discs evolve
New research from scientists at Queen Mary University of London has revealed how long-lived Peter Pan discs form, which could provide new insights into how planets arise. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-06-astronomers-long-lived-peter-pan-discs.html…
One of Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids has a comet-like tail
Trojan asteroids orbit 60 degrees ahead of and behind Jupiter, in its wide orbit at 5 times Earth’s distance from the sun. Now the 1st Trojan asteroid has been found with a comet-like tail. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/jupiter-trojan-asteroid-2019-ld2-comet-like-tail…
Murder hornets? 5 questions answered about Asian giant hornets in North America
Are ‘murder hornets’ from Asia invading North America? An entomologist who lived among them in Japan explains what’s true about the predatory insects. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/what-are-asian-giant-hornets-dangerous…