Scientific observation

[Jot the Dot Dot]

In the Solar System, the planet with the fastest rotation on it's axis is Jupiter. The gas giant makes a rotation every 10 hours. Whereas the planet with the slowest is Venus, where a single rotation takes 224 days.

Observation: On Venus, 'same day service' is nothing to cheer.

 

[Cachoo]

You are thinking about the heavens; stars and planets and moons and I’m thinking about drones and how the current drone mystery will affect the Q-Anon crowd.

 

[Winnipeg]

Drones over NJ and no-one knows anything? Why not just shoot one down and see what it is

 

[On My Own]

How do you stay warm in any room?

Spoiler: answer

Just huddle in the corner, where it’s always 90 degrees.

for @Jot the Dot Dot

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

The word 'Politics' has an interesting - and perfect - translation. 'Poli' is Latin for 'Many', and 'Tics' means 'Blood sucking parasites'.

 

[On My Own]

Two Hydrogen atoms are walking down the street.

Atom 1: Oh shoot! I lost an electron!
Atom 2: Are you sure?
Atom 1: Yeah, I'm positive!

 

[Wesonn]

In the Solar System, the planet with the fastest rotation on it's axis is Jupiter. The gas giant makes a rotation every 10 hours. Whereas the planet with the slowest is Venus, where a single rotation takes 224 days.

Observation: On Venus, 'same day service' is nothing to cheer.

That’s a great observation! Venus’s incredibly slow rotation makes a “day” last longer than its year — definitely not ideal for “same day service”! In contrast, Jupiter’s rapid 10-hour rotation makes its days fly by, despite being the largest planet. It’s fascinating how rotation speeds vary so much across the Solar System. These differences also affect atmospheric conditions and weather patterns — Jupiter’s fast spin contributes to its extreme storms, like the Great Red Spot. Meanwhile, Venus’s slow rotation leads to a very stable but intensely hot atmosphere.

 

[Simone411]

Here's a scientific observation going on right now.

Mysterious object parked at edge of universe

MSN

A mysterious object has been detected at the edge of the universe, sparking curiosity and debate within the scientific community. As researchers scramble to understand its origins and purpose, theories ranging from advanced alien technology to unknown cosmic phenomena abound. The enigmatic object’s presence at the universe’s boundary poses profound implications for our understanding of the cosmos.

The initial detection of the mysterious object was nothing short of a cosmic revelation. Using the latest advancements in telescopic technology, astronomers first spotted the object through the powerful lenses of the James Webb Space Telescope. The object, located at the very edge of the observable universe, immediately caught the attention of scientists worldwide. Its unique light signature and unusual trajectory set it apart from known cosmic entities, making it a subject of intense interest and speculation.

The object’s location, at the boundary where our universe meets the unknown, adds to the intrigue. Its observable features include an unusual shape and a reflective surface that defies typical cosmic characteristics. Initial reactions from scientists were a mix of excitement and skepticism. The public, too, was captivated by the news, with social media platforms and online forums buzzing with discussions about what this discovery might mean for our understanding of the universe.

The scientific community is abuzz with theories attempting to explain the object’s origin and nature. One possibility is that it could be a natural phenomenon, such as a distant celestial body or cosmic debris left over from the early universe. Some astronomers suggest it might be a previously undiscovered type of star or galaxy, while others speculate it could be a massive fragment from a colossal cosmic event.

 

[Simone411]

More news on the mysterious object.

Mysterious Object Headed Into Our Star System Is Now Changing Color

MSN

As interstellar object 3I/ATLAS approaches its closest point to the Sun next month, the mysterious visitor continues to fascinate astronomers.

The object, which is broadly believed to be a comet that came to us from outside the solar system, has already been observed changing shape. Its tail has grown longer, and its coma — a large atmosphere of gas and dust that surrounds its nucleus — has become more pronounced. Those are expected characteristics from a comet ripping by the Sun at ludicrous speeds, though numerous readings by sensitive space telescopes have also found it to have unusual properties that will be studied for years to come.

In the latest twist, this week, comet hunter Michael Jäger and his colleagues "took advantage of the total lunar eclipse to take a deep image of Comet 3I/ATLAS under the dark skies of Namibia," according to a recent forum exchange.

Their observations showed that the object's coma has now transitioned from giving off red light to green, yet another fascinating wrinkle in the rare interstellar visitor's odyssey through our solar system.

As Harvard astronomer and noted alien hunter Avi Loeb pointed out in a recent blog post on the findings, this could be due to a "steep rise in the production of cyanide."

Scientists hypothesize that the production of the chemical, alongside nickel, are increasing dramatically as 3I/ATLAS approaches the Sun.

Data by the ATLAS telescope team, which first spotted the object and after which the space rock is named, suggests that the object's "anomalous evolution" is shifting from "scattering of sunlight by dust lifted from a reddened surface to the production of small, optically bright icy grains, which changed the opacity of the plume of materials shed off by 3I/ATLAS," per Loeb.

 

[Simone411]

Every 22 Minutes, It Calls - And Scientists Still Don't Know Why | Watch

MSN

Since 1988, a radio signal has been pulsing toward Earth every 22 minutes - like clockwork. But the source? It doesn’t behave like any known pulsar or neutron star. Scientists are baffled, and the deeper they dig, the stranger it gets. This could be one of the most consistent cosmic mysteries we've ever faced.

 

[Simone411]

What China Found on Mars? | Watch

MSN

Mars just unlocked a new secret - thanks to China. The Zhurong rover has discovered buried shorelines and beach-like formations beneath Utopia Planitia - evidence that Mars was once home to vast, sandy oceans. Add powerful magnetic readings and atmospheric insights from Tianwen-1, and the Red Planet’s ancient history has never looked more alive.

 

[Simone411]

This is a slideshow.

NASA Reports Voyager 1 Just Sent Back an Unexpected Discovery from the Edge of Our Solar System

MSN

The spacecraft detected a faint hum coming from deep space.

Imagine throwing a message in a bottle into the ocean, then waiting 48 years for it to wash up on a distant shore with news from an unknown land. That’s essentially what’s happening with NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, except the ocean is space and the distant shore is 15 billion miles away.

The little spacecraft that could has been traveling since 1977, and it just sent back some pretty wild information. Scientists have discovered something they never expected to find in the emptiness between stars.

 

[Simone411]

The Planets Didn't Form In The Right Order ... A New Theory Rewrites Solar System History

MSN

Our solar system’s origin story spans billions of years and involves clouds of gas, cosmic collisions, and planetary migrations that shaped the worlds we know today. While it may seem intuitive that the planets closer to the Sun would have formed first, astronomers now understand that the sequence was far more complex—and the consequences of this order may have been profound for the emergence of life on Earth.

From Stardust to Planets: The Beginning of a Solar System

According to Popular Science, roughly 4.5 billion years ago, a massive cloud of gas collapsed under its own gravity, forming our Sun. This event was the starting point for the protoplanetary disk, a vast, rotating cloud of gas and dust that circled the young star. As the Sun matured, particles within this disk began clumping together through a process known as accretion. These tiny grains collided, stuck together, and gradually built up—from pebble-sized debris to house-sized rocks, and eventually into bodies massive enough to be called planets.

Astronomers have observed this planetary birth process in other star systems, giving them a comparative lens through which to study our own solar system’s youth. One key finding relates to the concept of the ice line—also referred to as the snow line. Located in what is now the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, this boundary marked the distance from the Sun beyond which temperatures were cold enough for water ice to accumulate.

 

[Simone411]

Antares Rocket Explodes into Mushroom Cloud Seconds After Launch | Watch

MSN

It was meant to be a routine rocket launch to resupply the International Space Station, the fifth mission sent with that objective, and all witnesses expected yet another successful take-off of the reliable Antares vehicle. On October 28, 2014, the press and curious onlookers gathered outside the NASA compound at the Wallops Island launch pad on the Virginia coast, and several people recorded the moments before the launch with eagerness. The unmanned Orbital Sciences Antares 130 rocket carried the Cygnus Orb-3 cargo craft holding vital supplies to the astronauts residing in the ISS, and the launch was expected to be quite the spectacle. As the countdown reached zero and the hype spread in the air, the colossal spacecraft lifted towards the skies leaving behind a burst of flames. But as the footage shows, things went horribly wrong within a few seconds as the rocket lost momentum, fire erupted from parts of the hull, and a roaring sound pierced the air.

 

[Simone411]

Massive Spacecraft Falls to Earth - US Navy Leads Recovery Mission | Watch

MSN

Welcome back to the Daily Aviation for a new documentary video about the Orion Spacecraft, a partially reusable space capsules built by Lockheed Martin.

 

[Simone411]

NASA Sets Launch Coverage for Space Weather Missions

NASA Sets Launch Coverage for Space Weather Missions - NASA

NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for an observatory designed to study space weather and explore and map the boundaries of

www.nasa.gov

NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for an observatory designed to study space weather and explore and map the boundaries of our solar neighborhood.

Launching with IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) are two rideshare missions, NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1), both of which will provide insight into space weather and its impacts at Earth and across the solar system.

Liftoff of the missions on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is targeted for 7:32 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, Sept. 23, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Watch coverage beginning at 6:40 a.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

The IMAP spacecraft will study how the Sun’s energy and particles interact with the heliosphere — an enormous protective bubble of space around our solar system — to enhance our understanding of space weather, cosmic radiation, and their impacts on Earth and human and robotic space explorers. The spacecraft and its two rideshares will orbit approximately one million miles from Earth, positioned toward the Sun at a location known as Lagrange Point 1.

The Launch can be watched on the NASA app and on NASA's YouTube channel:

NASA

NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research. To do that, we have worked around the world—and off it—for more than 60 years, searching for answers to fundamental questions about our place in the universe. We're exploring space and...

www.youtube.com

 

[Simone411]

More about the interstellar object that's entered our solar system.

And Interstellar Oject Has Just Entered our Solar System | Watch

MSN

 

[Simone411]

Well, this is interesting. I had no idea that Earth had a "quasi-moon" or second mini moon (asteroid) following it for decades.

New 'quasi-moon' discovered in Earth orbit may have been hiding there for decades

A near-Earth asteroid lurked undetected for decades until a telescope in Hawaii spotted it earlier this year. It may be Earth's newest quasi-moon.

www.livescience.com

A near-Earth asteroid lurked undetected for decades until a telescope in Hawaii spotted it earlier this year. It may be Earth's newest quasi-moon.

A new paper describes another possible "quasi-moon" of Earth, and the interloping asteroid may have been following our planet around for decades, undetected.

Quasi-moons, the Planetary Society states, are “like a gravitational sleight of hand.” They are asteroids, which — from our point of view on Earth — appear to be orbiting our planet like our permanent moon does. However, they actually orbit the sun, only temporarily moving through the solar system alongside our planet.

If the status of the newly detected asteroid, called 2025 PN7, is confirmed, it would not be the only object seemingly behaving as a moon of Earth; there are seven other known quasi-moons in Earth-like orbits, and they are "full of surprises," said study co-author Carlos de la Fuente Marcos of the Complutense University of Madrid.

 

[Simone411]

I was 13 years old when I first saw Saturn through my telescope. That, of course, was in the 70's. My parents had given me the telescope for Christmas. It felt like I had just discovered a planet. I went inside the house and told my mom and dad to come outside to see it. After that, we would go outside every weekend to look at the stars, planets and the moon.

So, it was very exciting when I came across this.

Saturn Reveals Its Secrets in the Highest Resolution Image Ever Taken | Watch

MSN

Captured in stunning 4K this image of Saturn offers the most detailed look yet at its atmosphere and rings.

 

[Simone411]

Mars' Atmosphere Seen for the First Time | Watch

MSN

Explore the mysterious atmosphere of Mars like never before. In this video, we reveal the first real images captured by orbiters and rovers, explain how this thin layer of gas behaves, and uncover what it tells us about the planet’s past and its future.

 

[Simone411]

Adding the link to NASA's IMAP mission. They're about to launch the probe, and it can be watched on YouTube.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

We're about to launch three new observatories that will study the Sun—and help us protect Earth. Come watch with us!

NASA's IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA's Space Weather Follow On–Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 7:30 a.m. EDT (1132 UTC) on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

The IMAP mission will map the boundaries of our heliosphere, the vast bubble created by the Sun’s wind that covers our entire solar system. NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will study the ultraviolet glow of Earth’s exosphere, the outermost region of our planet’s atmosphere — helping scientists understand how space weather from the Sun affects our planet.

The SWFO-L1 mission, managed by NOAA and developed with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and commercial partners, will use a suite of instruments to provide real-time measurements of solar wind, along with a compact coronagraph to detect coronal mass ejections from the Sun.

Learn more about these three missions and the launch schedule: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nas

 

[Simone411]

This was totally exciting and was a success! From what I understand, there will be 3 missions. The IMAP probe is very important and essential in giving us more information and notification of real-time solar flares and solar winds.

More information can be found out about IMAP at NASA's website, The Sun

Sun - NASA Science

The Sun is the star at the heart of our solar system. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything – from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris – in its orbit.

www.nasa.gov

 

[Simone411]

The LL1 has already launched and I believe the Caruthers is in its second stage. I had to leave. So, I'm not exactly sure about the L1 and Caruthers. The Caruthers Observatory will study the ultraviolet glow of Earth’s exosphere, the outermost region of our planet’s atmosphere helping scientists understand how space weather from the Sun affects our planet.

Here's another website to understand more about the IMAP mission.

Upcoming Launch to Boost NASA’s Study of Sun’s Influence Across Space - NASA Science

Soon, there will be three new ways to study the Sun’s influence across the solar system with the launch of a trio of NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric

science.nasa.gov

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

There are eleven kinds of people in the world; those who understand Roman numerals, and those who don't.

 

[Simone411]

Triangle UFO Sightings Spark Global Curiosity, Debate | Watch

MSN

Triangle UFO Sightings Spark Global Curiosity, Debate Toronto residents are buzzing after several reported spotting three glowing orbs in a triangle formation in the night sky, with one witness capturing the mysterious sight on video. Similar sightings have popped up around the world in recent days, from Denmark and Germany to several U.S. states, reigniting conversations about drones and UFOs. Past events, including FBI investigations and claims of military disinformation, add to growing curiosity—leaving many to wonder what's truly happening in our skies.

 

[Simone411]

Alien comet' mystery deepens as new theory emerges

MSN

A mysterious comet flying through our solar system may be doing more than just passing by-it could help explain how giant planets like Jupiter are born.

The comet, named 3I/ATLAS, is only the third confirmed interstellar object ever seen in our solar system. That means it came from another star system entirely. At first, some speculated it could be an alien spacecraft. But now, a new theory suggests something far more grounded-and just as fascinating.

At a major planetary science conference in Helsinki this week, German astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner proposed that 3I/ATLAS, and other space rocks like it, might help kick-start the process of planet formation.

"Interstellar objects may be able to jump-start planet formation, in particular around higher-mass stars," Pfalzner said in a statement.

Planets are thought to form in large disks of dust and gas that surround young stars. Over time, tiny particles in those disks bump into each other and slowly stick together, growing into larger and larger objects. But scientists have struggled to explain how these objects grow past a certain size. In computer models, anything bigger than a meter tends to crash and break apart instead of merging to form planets.

Pfalzner's idea is that interstellar objects-solid bodies thrown out of other star systems-could act as building blocks, or "seeds," that help speed up the process. Her computer models show that young stars could capture millions of these objects in their disks. Once inside, they could quickly gather more dust and gas, helping giant planets form before the disks disappear-which usually happens in just a few million years.

 

[Simone411]

A Huge Comet Is About to Become Visible in the Sky

MSN

In October, a newly discovered comet will streak so close to Earth that people may be able to make out its heavenly fireworks with the naked eye — a spectacle that won’t happen again for more than a millennium, according to Space.com, so it’s worth trying to spot it.

This icy interstellar visitor, now given the clunky name of C/2025 R2 (SWAN), is estimated to make its closest approach to Earth at a mere 25.10 million miles away on around October 21, Space.com reports. It’s visible to people with telescopes and binoculars in the Southern Hemisphere, but it may become bright enough to see unaided as its trajectory brings it into view in the Northern Hemisphere.

From Space.com:

Scientists discover bright 'sungrazer' comet that could be visible with the naked eye this month — after Tsuchinshan–ATLAS

Newfound comet C/2024 S1 will light up Earth's skies in late October before a super close slingshot around the sun.

www.space.com

Newfound comet C/2024 S1 will light up Earth's skies in late October before a super close slingshot around the sun.

Throughout the first half of October, a super bright comet, known as Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, will be visible to the naked eye in parts of the late night and early morning sky as it makes its closest approach to Earth for more than 80,000 years.

However, it turns out that the "once-in-a-lifetime" comet is not the only visitor in town. Astronomers have just discovered a second comet, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), which will also make its closest approach to our planet this month and potentially be visible without a telescope.

But on Sept. 27, astronomers at Hawaii's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) project, which played a role in discovering Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, spotted C/2024 S1 for the first time. The newfound comet was initially designated "A11bP7I" but after follow-up observations confirmed its existence, it was given its official new title, according to the Virtual Telescope Project.

Over the last few weeks, skywatchers have been obsessed with Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, which was first discovered in early 2023. The comet was previously predicted to break apart on its approach to Earth but has stayed intact and will make its closest approach to our planet on Saturday (Oct. 12). It can be spotted with the naked eye and has been captured in several stunning photographs but will likely start to fade from view in the coming weeks.

Not much is known about the C/2024 S1's size, shape or orbit around the sun. However, it likely comes from the Oort Cloud — a large reservoir of comets and other icy objects near the solar system's edge — and probably hasn't been this close to the sun for centuries.

The newfound comet will make its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 24, when it will come within 81.8 million miles (131.6 million km) of our planet. Four days later, on Oct. 28, it will reach its closest point to the sun, or perihelion, when it will skim past our home star at a distance of around 765,000 miles (1.2 million km).

 

[Simone411]

Astronomers confirm "wandering planet" entering solar system

MSN

In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have confirmed the approach of a “wandering planet” into our solar system. This celestial event has sparked a flurry of scientific interest and speculation. Let’s delve into the details of this fascinating development.

The discovery of the wandering planet was made by a team of international astronomers using advanced telescopic technology. The planet, which is not tethered to any star, was detected due to its gravitational effects on nearby celestial bodies. This discovery has opened up a new chapter in our understanding of the cosmos, highlighting the existence of such rogue planets that roam the universe independently.

A wandering planet, also known as a rogue planet, is a celestial body that does not orbit a star. Instead, these planets drift through space on their own. They are believed to have been ejected from their original planetary systems. The wandering planet approaching our solar system is a testament to the vast and unpredictable nature of the universe.

The wandering planet is currently on a trajectory that will bring it into our solar system. Its approach is being closely monitored by astronomers worldwide. The planet’s speed and direction indicate that it was likely influenced by the gravitational pull of our sun. As it gets closer, scientists will be able to study its composition and potentially learn more about the origins of rogue planets.

The arrival of the wandering planet in our solar system could have various effects. Its gravitational influence might disrupt the orbits of some asteroids or comets, potentially sending them in new directions. However, it’s also possible that the planet’s presence could provide new opportunities for scientific study, offering insights into the nature of rogue planets and their role in the universe.