Latest news with #SolarSystem
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Intrigued by Comet With Jets Blasting From Its Interior
Astronomers have detected a gigantic comet — possibly the largest ever discovered — and it's spewing gases from its nucleus as it shoots through our cosmic neighborhood. Comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) is 85 miles in diameter, far bigger than the six-mile asteroid that ended the age of the dinosaurs, according to a new study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. But thankfully, it's pretty far away — in the vicinity of Neptune, specifically — so astronomers can admire the spectacle from a safe distance. "These measurements give us a look at how this enormous, icy world works," said Nathan Roth, lead author and NASA research associate, said in a statement. "We're seeing explosive outgassing patterns that raise new questions about how this comet will evolve as it continues its journey toward the inner solar system." In addition to the comet's extraordinary size, its jets of carbon monoxide are the first ever observed on a comet. The comet came from the mysterious Oort Cloud, which surrounds our entire Solar System and harbors more icy denizens. To astronomers, comets are particularly intriguing because they carry tantalizing clues about the past of the universe and our solar system. Comets are dirty snowballs made up of ice, dust, debris, and often come from the Kuiper Belt, an area beyond Neptune that contains Pluto and other icy space objects, as well as the Oort Cloud. A special feature of comets is that they hold organic matter and likely bombarded our planet during its early years with essential molecules that eventually gave rise to life on Earth. That's another reason this finding is huge: the fact that scientists were able to detect matter spewing out of the comet is notable, and as it gets closer to the Sun, parts of the comet may melt away, revealing more of its tantalizing internal makeup. More on comets: Earth Surrounded by Dark Comets, Astronomers Claim
ABC News
7 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Never before seen asteroids discovered in the Solar System
The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has discovered 2,104 never-before-seen asteroids in the Solar System.
ABC News
7 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Thousands of new asteroids spotted within the Rubin Observatory's first hours of operation
After a very brief pass at the sky, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has already photographed thousands of objects no other telescope has seen before. In just 10 hours of observations across seven different nights, the observatory discovered 2,104 brand-new asteroids in the Solar System. It also snapped a cool 10 million distant galaxies, as well as gleaming nebulas and flashing stars in high-definition videos released overnight. Jonti Horner, an astronomer from the University of Southern Queensland, said the new haul of asteroids discovered in the first videos was almost a tenth of what had been discovered in 2024. "It's astonishing the number of detections found in one field of view," Professor Horner said. Most of the asteroids hail from the asteroid belt, which occupies the space between Mars and Jupiter, but there are also clusters around Jupiter and some from beyond Neptune. "To pick up new objects that are so far away with just 10 hours of observation — it's really promising," Professor Horner said. These super-distant objects move more slowly from Earth's perspective, which makes them harder to spot with traditional tools — but Rubin is powerful enough to see them. This is good news for comet spotters, since comets are currently only easy to spot when they get close to the Sun on their elliptical orbits. "It might be that our next great comet will be discovered by Vera Rubin or by someone looking at Vera Rubin data," Professor Horner said. "That will mean we'll get more prior warning because we'll find it when it's further from the Sun, so we'll have more time to prepare for its arrival." The release follows an early drop of images on Monday showing parts of the Virgo Cluster. Many of the images contained details never seen before, according to Australian astronomers. Rachel Webster, an astrophysicist at the University of Mebourne, said she was stunned by the vast scale of each picture. The observatory has now released an even larger map of the Virgo cluster, with an image compiled from 1,100 separate photographs. Closer to home, the observatory also released a more detailed view of the Lagoon Nebula and its nearby stellar companions. This allowed close-up looks at three star clusters near the nebula — Messier 21, Bochum 14 and NCG 6544 — as well as the Trifid Nebula, a dust and gas cloud that Professor Horner described as one of the "jewels of the night sky". The observatory, which is perched on a mountain in Chile, will take photos of the night sky every few seconds for the next decade. While it is based in the Southern Hemisphere, Professor Horner said that its latitude of 30 degrees south (roughly in line with Coffs Harbour in New South Wales or Geraldton in Western Australia) means that it will be able to capture most of the celestial sphere around the Earth each year. It was conceived of initially to help astronomers understand the mysteries of dark matter, by building a detailed time-lapse survey of the sky. But the observatory will also be important for various other fields of astronomy, from Solar System dynamics to supernovas and bright flashing stars called quasars. Australia is one of many countries that have helped develop the $ US810 million ($1.2 billion) telescope. "We've had a number of IT people who've been working on the data science side of things and that's worked out really, really well," Professor Webster said. In return, they will get access to early data when the telescope is fully operational later this year.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
First pictures captured by the world's largest digital camera released: 3,200-megapixel images reveal cosmic beauty
The world's most powerful digital camera has just delivered its first images, and they are nothing short of spectacular. The 3,200-megapixel Legacy Survey of Space and Time ( LSST ) camera, stationed at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, has revealed cosmic scenes in stunning detail never seen before. Capturing vast swathes of the night sky, the camera unveiled breathtaking views of star-forming nebulae and massive galaxy clusters. This groundbreaking instrument is set to photograph the entire visible sky every three days for a decade, offering a revolutionary time-lapse view of our ever-evolving universe. Debut images taken by world's largest digital camera 'LSST' The first set of released images showcases the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae glowing in vivid hues of pink and orange, captured through 678 exposures taken over just seven hours. These star-forming regions lie thousands of light-years away within the Milky Way. Another image captures the Virgo Cluster, revealing a tapestry of spiral and merging galaxies alongside foreground stars. This cluster is about 100 billion times larger than the Milky Way, demonstrating the LSST's incredible observational power. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo LSST: World's largest digital camera with cosmic ambitions The LSST camera holds the title of the world's largest and highest-resolution digital camera. While modern smartphones feature cameras with up to 50 megapixels, the LSST boasts an extraordinary 3,200 megapixels. It is as large as a small car and weighs a colossal 2,800 kg. Built to observe the sky with unmatched clarity, the camera is housed at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located atop a mountain in Chile. This site was chosen for its dark skies and dry atmosphere, which are ideal for deep-space observation. A mission to map the universe Over the next ten years, the LSST camera will take 1,000 images every night, creating a detailed catalogue of approximately 20 billion galaxies. Scientists aim to build the most comprehensive, ultra-wide, high-resolution time-lapse of the night sky ever attempted. The project will allow researchers to track changes in celestial objects over time, from exploding stars and drifting asteroids to the mysterious behavior of dark matter. What it means for the future of space science These high-resolution images are not just visually stunning, they are scientifically revolutionary. Experts believe the LSST may help uncover the structure of the Milky Way, understand dark energy, and even locate a long-theorized ninth planet in our Solar System. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is set to transform our understanding of the universe, capturing not just static snapshots but a dynamic record of a living cosmos in motion.
Hypebeast
21-06-2025
- Science
- Hypebeast
Map the Cosmos on Your Wrist With HVILINA's Universum Cosmographia Wristwatch
Summary HVILINA's newly unveiled Universum Cosmographia is a timepiece that artfully fuses historical astronomy with modern horology. Drawing inspiration from medieval star maps and modern planetary science, the watch features a three-dimensional planetarium and a GMT disc styled after a 9th-century celestial chart. Developed in collaboration with Professor Richard Kerner, a Sorbonne physicist and medieval cartography expert, the project bridges ancient cosmological worldviews with present-day innovation. Housed in a stainless steel case with a redesigned bezel and caseback, the watch is protected by sapphire crystals on both sides, complete with a 50-meter water resistance. At its core lies a meticulously crafted 3D model of the Solar System, where miniature stylized planets appear to float in zero gravity. Guilloché engraving enhances the multi-layered dial, adding depth and a sense of celestial movement. Above the planetary display, a rotating GMT disc unveils a medieval star map through a sculpted aperture. Meanwhile, Latin inscriptions of zodiac constellations unfold in a 24-hour cycle, with contrasting light and dark halves indicating the day and timepiece is powered by the Miyota 9075 Premium automatic movement, delivering GMT functionality, a 42-hour power reserve and a daily accuracy of -10/+30 seconds. The movement's rotor is engraved with trans-Neptunian objects. This includes the oval-shaped dwarf planet Haumea, thus reinforcing the astronomical theme. Available in four colorways, each limited to 500 pieces, the Universum Cosmographia comes fitted with a quick-release rubber strap with optional upgrades such as a leather strap, personalized serial number, or a custom GMT disc featuring the wearer's zodiac sign. Priced at €400 EUR (approx. $461 USD), the timepiece is now available for pre-order via HVILINA'swebstore. The timepiece will be officially released in November, 2025.
