Tag: astronomy

Space

Bus-Sized Asteroid to Pass Between Earth and Moon Next Week

A bus-sized asteroid named 2024 UQ1, measuring about 32 feet across, is set to pass Earth on October 28 at a distance of approximately 148,000 miles, closer than the Moon’s average distance of 238,900 miles. While this may seem far, it’s considered close in astronomical terms. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory notes that asteroids like 2024 UQ1 are remnants from the early solar system, primarily found … Continue reading Bus-Sized Asteroid to Pass Between Earth and Moon Next Week

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Space

Mercury’s magnetic landscape mapped in 30 minutes

During its June 2023 flyby of Mercury, the BepiColombo spacecraft gathered significant data on the planet’s magnetic field, revealing features of its magnetosphere. Mercury has a magnetic field about 100 times weaker than Earth’s, but it interacts intensely with the solar wind due to the planet’s proximity to the sun. BepiColombo will arrive in orbit around Mercury in 2026, using gravity assists from Earth, Venus, … Continue reading Mercury’s magnetic landscape mapped in 30 minutes

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Space

Supermassive black hole jets mysteriously ignite nova explosions, Hubble Telescope finds

Research has revealed that supermassive black holes, like the one in galaxy Messier 87, are linked to an increased rate of nova eruptions in nearby double-star systems. These black holes consume nearby gas and stars, creating powerful plasma jets that shoot through space at nearly the speed of light. Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope indicate that stars in close proximity to these jets are … Continue reading Supermassive black hole jets mysteriously ignite nova explosions, Hubble Telescope finds

Unknown's avatarbcbegley