Tag: astronomy
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Webb’s Fiery Starburst Lights Up the Cigar Galaxy: Space Photo of the Week
Webb’s Fiery Starburst Lights Up the Cigar Galaxy In a stunning demonstration of infrared power, the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has revealed a dramatic starburst blaze within the Cigar Galaxy, also known as Messier 82 (M82). This close neighbor of the Milky Way, perched about 12 million light-years away, has long captivated backyard stargazers…
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How Far Is That Star? Understanding the Distances to the Night Sky
What Do We Mean by ‘How Far Is That Star’? Under a truly dark sky, the stars feel almost within arm’s reach. Yet the cosmos keeps its distances to ourselves through immense scales that challenge our intuition. When people ask, “how far is that star?” they often want a simple number. The truth is that…
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Webb Delivers Fiery Starburst Glory in the Cigar Galaxy (M82)
Overview: Webb’s View of a Cosmic Starburst The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has turned its infrared eye toward one of the Milky Way’s closest neighbors, the Cigar Galaxy, also known as Messier 82 or M82. In its latest image, Webb exposes a vivid, fiery starburst across the galaxy’s core and along its dusty, irregular…
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Meteors to ‘Beaver Moon’: All notable astronomical events in November
November’s Night Sky: An Overview The November sky is packed with celestial happenings that appeal to both casual skywatchers and seasoned observers. From a dazzling supermoon to visible planets and meteor showers, the month offers frequent opportunities to glimpse the workings of our solar system. Read on for a concise guide to the most notable…
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November’s Night Sky: From Mercury’s Evening Glow to the Beaver Moon and Beyond
Introduction: A celestial parade unfolds in November November offers stargazers a rich tapestry of astronomical events, from luminous lunar phases to meteor showers and planetary alignments. Whether you’re an amateur observer or a seasoned astronomer, clear skies and patience can reveal a month full of wonder. Here’s what to look for throughout November and how…
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November Night Sky: Meteors to Beaver Moon and All Notable Astronomical Events
November’s Skywatching Spotlight: What to Expect November offers a rich slate of astronomical happenings, drawing skywatchers outdoors as the nights grow longer and darker. From a brilliant supermoon to meteor showers and notable planetary alignments, the month invites both casual observers and seasoned stargazers to look up. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the key events,…
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Astronomers Spot a White Dwarf That’s Still Consuming Its Planets
Unexpected Activity Around a Dying Star In a surprising twist to our understanding of stellar evolution, astronomers have observed a white dwarf actively consuming material that once constituted a planetary system. While white dwarfs are the dense, fading cores left behind when stars like our Sun exhaust their nuclear fuel, this discovery shows that planetary…
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White Dwarf Consuming Planets: New Evidence Emerges
New Evidence That White Dwarfs Eat Planets Astronomers have found compelling signs that white dwarfs—the dense, remnant cores left after stars like the Sun exhaust their fuel—can continue to interact with their own planetary systems. In a growing body of observations, these stellar remnants show atmospheric signatures and surrounding debris consistent with the ongoing accretion…
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Astronomers Spot a White Dwarf That’s Still Consuming its Planets
Unexpected Activity Around a Dying Star Astronomers have identified a white dwarf that appears to be actively consuming remnants of its former planetary system. This surprising discovery challenges long-held assumptions about how planetary bodies survive, break apart, or are torn apart after their star ends its life on the main sequence. By studying the chemical…
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When to Watch the November Supermoon: The Year’s Closest Encounter
What makes the November supermoon special The term “supermoon” describes a full moon that appears larger and brighter because the Moon is near its closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit. The November supermoon this year stands out as the closest such lunar event of the year, offering skywatchers a brighter, more pronounced satellite…