Astronomers have found an extraordinary trail of gas greater than 300,000 light years across originating from a nearby galaxy called NGC 4569, according to a report in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
The tail is comprised of hydrogen gas, the material new stars are born from, and is five times longer than the galaxy itself.
Poor, old Pluto. Once considered the ninth planet, it was demoted about a decade ago to “dwarf planet” status, meaning that it has different characteristics than the other major planets of our solar system.
Since then, several other dwarf planets about Pluto’s size or bigger have been discovered.
If all of these dwarf planets —and those yet to be seen — were classified as regular planets, we would have an ever-changing number of planets in our solar system. That would be unsettling to astronomers, so they decided Pluto would better fit into this new classification.
This story reminds me of the building of ancient pyramids in Egypt as well as the building of ancient temples and cities in Mexico and India.
China has relocated 9K people to build their new giant telescope — in 2000 years from now the robots and Ray Kurzweil (who plans never to die) will be looking at the ancient telescope. And, Ray (the grand earth historian) can tell them all about the process and the reason why it was built.
The Chinese government plans to relocate some 9,000 people to make space for the world’s largest radio telescope. Photo: ChinaPhotoPress.
NASA many applications for a shot at Space.
More than 18,300 people have applied for 14 or fewer spots in NASA’s next astronaut class, shattering the 1978 record of 8,000 applicants.
China has proposals for gravitational wave observatories drafted, but will the government approve them? How will they affect the country’s rank in space research?
The scientists at LIGO may be celebrating, but they’re about to have some stiff competition.
The People’s Republic of China now has three projects lined up to investigate gravitational waves as reported by the state media yesterday. These projects were decided upon just days after US scientists confirmed Einstein’s prediction.
The giant nose is going to Mars.
The ExoMars probe will seek evidence of methane gas, which is seen as a crucial signpost of life.
Crazy stuff!
“If you’re behind the moon and hear some weird noise on your radio, and you know you’re blocked from the Earth, then what could you possibly think?”
In this intriguing short film, Goldilocks, Earth has been devastated by solar storms, prompting a search for another home planet for humanity. In orbit, a scientist named Kharon is working hard to adapt plants to a new world, fulfilling a promise to his long-dead wife.
There’s some hints of 2001: A Space Odyssey here, and this is an interesting short film with some striking visuals. There’s some stretches of the imagination here, starting with the very notion of a space station being a bit more secure for research in orbit than on Earth (you know, with a magnetic field to protect you), but we’ll let it slide.
In December, a shuttle resupply mission successfully reached the International Space Station. Among the cargo were two Microsoft HoloLens devices for use as a part of NASA’s Sidekick project. The goal of Sidekick is to enable station crews with assistance when and where they need it. According to NASA, this new capability could reduce crew training requirements and increase the efficiency at which astronauts can work in space.
We were thrilled to see some early pictures today of astronaut Scott Kelly with HoloLens at the International Space Station!
Richard Branson wants Virgin Galactic involved in everything from orbital flights to internet from space.
