Topic: Pamela Gay
A Star’s Death in Three Acts

A Star’s Death in Three Acts

by | Sep 4, 2024 |

While monitoring the sky with optical systems, we’ve found some really weird stuff. Back in 2018, the All Sky Automated Survey for Super Novae discovered a brightening galaxy. Follow -up observations in the X-Ray found the kinds of high energy light that signals a black hole is tearing apart and feeding on a star. When the light faded away, it was assumed the star was gone and the excitement was over, but… it returned about 1200 days later. This second flare wasn’t as impressive as the first, but it was enough to let researchers calculate the shredded stars orbit and predict when what ever...

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Caught on Camera and Apprehended

Caught on Camera and Apprehended

by | Feb 21, 2024 | ,

Mohutsiwa Gabadirwe (center of photo) and Peter Jenniskens (left, kneeling) at the site of the second find of a piece of asteroid 2018 LA recovered in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in central Botswana. Credit: SETI Institute Our Solar System contains a whole lot...

Unexpected Galaxy Photobombs Cluster

Unexpected Galaxy Photobombs Cluster

by | Feb 14, 2024 |

A color-composite image of PEARLSDG made with JWST NIRCAM data. Individual stars are visible as small points of light in the image. Its somewhat dull color and lack of many bright stars is consistent with its old age and lack of ongoing star formation. Credit: Image...

Quasars Spotted Blowing Away Gas

Quasars Spotted Blowing Away Gas

by | Feb 14, 2024 |

Artist’s impression of an outflow of molecular gas from the quasar J2054-0005. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO) Gas dynamics are more than a little complicated no matter where you look. The dynamics of gas in and around forming galaxies makes is particularly...

Explaining Early Bright Galaxies

Explaining Early Bright Galaxies

by | Feb 14, 2024 |

A composite of Stephan’s Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, constructed from almost 1,000 separate image files from the James Webb Space Telescope. UCLA astrophysicists believe if cold dark matter theories are correct, the Webb telescope should find tiny,...

Iron Identified in Planet-Forming Disk

Iron Identified in Planet-Forming Disk

by | Feb 7, 2024 |

Observations with the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) found various silicate compounds and potentially iron, substances we also find in large amounts in the Solar System’s rocky planets. Credit: Jenry I’ve said it...

Alien Atmospheric Change

Alien Atmospheric Change

by | Feb 7, 2024 |

This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet WASP 121-b, also known as Tylos. The exoplanet’s appearance is based on Hubble data of the object. Credit: NASA, ESA, Q. Changeat et al., M. Zamani (ESA/Hubble) Astronomers have only been able to identify planets...

Closer Look: Earth’s Magnetic Field

Closer Look: Earth’s Magnetic Field

by | Dec 27, 2023 |

Image by PDPics from Pixabay One of the great myths we learn from TV and books is that you can take a compass and follow it to the North Pole.Folks, I am here to tell you that if you take a compass and follow its pointy little needle, it will take you to Northern...

Distant Black Hole Caught Eating

Distant Black Hole Caught Eating

by | Dec 27, 2023 |

LST-1 during observations at CTAO-North, La Palma, Spain. Credit: CTAO gGmbH. Credit: CTAO gGmbH Astronomy is theoretically the study of how our universe formed, evolved, and will one day die. But to get answers to those high-concept questions, we need to start by...