Tag: astronomy news
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Sagittarius A* Reveals Violent Past of Milky Way’s Black Hole
Introduction: A Black Hole With a Hidden History The supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), has long been thought of as a quiet giant. Recent findings from an international X-ray spacecraft challenge that quiet image, suggesting Sgr A* was far more violent billions of years ago.…
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Galaxy-wide wobbling black hole jet revealed in a disk galaxy
Overview: A giant, wobbling jet reshapes our view of galactic centers In a landmark discovery from the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi, astronomers have identified a galaxy-wide stream of super-heated gas emanating from a disk galaxy. This jet is not only unusually large and extended, but it also appears to wobble at cosmic…
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Galaxy-Wide Wobbling Black Hole Jet Revealed in a Disk Galaxy
A Landmark Discovery in Galactic Physics In a breakthrough observation, astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea have identified the largest and most extended stream of super-heated gas escaping a nearby disk galaxy. This unprecedented detection offers compelling evidence that a supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s center is not only emitting a…
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Comet 24P/Schaumasse at Perihelion: Will It Be Visible Tonight?
Introduction: A Rare Solar Passage for Comet 24P/Schaumasse Today, the icy comet 24P/Schaumasse reaches the Sun as it follows its regular orbital path. Known to astronomers as perihelion, this is the moment the comet comes closest to the Sun within its 8-plus year orbit. For skywatchers, perihelion often reshapes a comet’s brightness and visibility, offering…
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Hubble Spies Wake of Betelgeuse’s Hidden Companion Star
Introduction: Betelgeuse’s Hidden Neighbor Emerges Betelgeuse, the bright red supergiant in Orion, has long fascinated astronomers. Its sheer size and proximity offer a unique laboratory to study stellar physics as it breathes, sheds mass, and evolves toward a dramatic finale. In a recent observation campaign, the Hubble Space Telescope captured subtle clues—an intriguing wake trailing…
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Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2026: Will Wolf Moon Dim the Show?
An Early-Year Treat: The Quadrantid Meteor Shower Returns The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the year’s most reliable celestial spectacles, lighting up the winter skies with bright fireballs and swift streaks. In 2026, observers have a brief but thrilling window to catch the peak as the event crescendos in the hours after dusk and…
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Will Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS Be the Great Comet of 2026?
Will C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS Be the Great Comet of 2026? After the excitement of several notable comets gracing our skies in 2025, astronomers and skywatchers are again scanning the heavens for a dazzling show in late April 2026. The candidate in the headlines is Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS). Could this object become the much-anticipated “great…
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Big Bear’s Night Sky Spotlight: Hubble Captures Mrk 178, a Dwarf Galaxy in Ursa Major
Big Bear Gears Up for a Cosmic New Year with a Hubble Spotlight On December 31, 2025, stargazers in the Big Bear region woke to a celestial spectacle as NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope offered a striking new image: Markarian 178, a dwarf galaxy nestled in the constellation Ursa Major. This image, celebrated as a “Photo…
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Big Bear Photo of the Day: Hubble Captures Markarian 178
Big Bear Keeps Its Cosmic Spotlight: Photo of the Day for December 31, 2025 On December 31, 2025, the skies above Big Bear glow not just with holiday lights but with a rare intersection of Earthly celebration and cosmic curiosity. The popular “Photo of the Day” feature highlights a striking astronomical image captured by the…
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NASA Welcomes 2026 with a Sparkling New View of the Champagne Cluster
NASA’s New Year Gift: A Sparkling View of the Champagne Cluster As the calendar flips to 2026, NASA has released a breathtaking image of one of the cosmos’s most celebrated galaxy clusters—the Champagne Cluster. This shimmering vista arrives just in time to mark both a new year and a notable milestone: the cluster’s discovery on…