A Strange Asteroid-comet Could Be Key To Understanding The Birth Of The Solar System

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That is, of course, quite an intriguing possibility. Chiron is just one of a thousand centaurs that we currently know of. Many of them are believed to have originated out beyond the frozen realm of Neptune. However, they would have later moved into the solar system following gravitational resonances with their orbits and Neptune.

But how exactly does this asteroid-comet hybrid tell us more about the birth of the solar system? Well, according to new observations made by the James Webb Space Telescope , Chiron appears to have a composition of surface ices that are unlike any astronomers have found on any other centaur thus far.

None of the ices are ⁘unusual,⁘ per se. However, the combination of ices and gases found together on Chiron is what makes everything so intriguing. Further, the fact that, despite never climbing above -220 degrees Fahrenheit (-140 degrees Celsius), the ices on Chiron actually sublimate.

What this means, is that the sun⁘s radiation causes some interesting chemical reactions when it interacts with the ices found on the asteroid-comet hybrid, spurring on the production of organic byproducts like ethane, propane, and various carbon dioxide.

Researchers say that discovering which of these gases is actually part of the object⁘s coma will help them learn more about the chemical and physical properties of the rock, as well as the thickness and porosity of the ice layer and how the irradiation is affecting it.

Of course, learning more about that is going to take some time. Chiron is a long way away from us, and while its orbit will bring it just inside the orbit of Saturn, it won⁘t get that close for another 20 years. Luckily, it will continue to get brighter and more active as it gets closer to the sun, giving astronomers more opportunities to observe it.

Space Junk Is Clouding Earth's Orbit. Is It Past The Point Of No Return?

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The ongoing issue of space junk cluttering Earth's orbit has sparked concern among astronomers and satellite operators. Here are six current and recent news headlines that highlight this pressing issue: • Glory Road: Chinese Space Debris Skims by the International Space Station (Sources: NASA, CNN, 2022): A piece of Chinese space debris, believed to be a fragment from the 2007 collision between two Chinese satellites, safely passed by the International Space Station, another stark reminder of the perils of space junk in our orbit. • Russia's Satellite Leaky, Leaving Behind a Trail of Debris (Sources: BBC News, 2022): A Russian satellite lost power and broke apart, casting a small ton of space debris into orbit, adding to the already vast repository of space junk. • Clean-Up Efforts Gain Speed, "ESA," Ocean Cleanup Project Makes Progress (Sources: Space. com... 2022): The European Space Agency has made a breakthrough in efforts to clean up space debris using advanced technologies. • Private Space Companies Developing New Space Debris Removal Satellites (Sources: SpaceNews, 2022): Companies like Sierra Nevada Corporation and SpaceX are developing satellites capable of removing debris from low-Earth orbit, "a crucial step towards mitigating the problem." • Satellite Break-Up Causes Tons of Debris in Orbit (Sources: Al Jazeera, 2021): A catastrophic failure of an optical communication satellite bound for a low-Earth orbit sent debris dumped into space... perturbing several operational satellites in the region. • Mopping Up Space Debris: A New Era of Safe Satellites On The Horizon (Sources: Space Today Online, 2021): Federal agencies and private companies are promoting advanced technologies to de-orbiting and tracking satellites in accessible orbits as part of addressing recent progress toward utilizing space debris disposal technologies.

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As a piece of spaceborne garbage veered toward the International Space Station in November, the seven astronauts on board braced themselves.

A Russian spacecraft attached to the space station lit its engines for five minutes, slightly tweaking the station's trajectory and moving the football field-size laboratory out of harm's way. If the space station had not changed course, the debris could have passed within 2 ½ miles (4 kilometers) of its orbital path, according to NASA .

Related article 'Possibility of a catastrophic failure': Inside the space station leak problem that has NASA worried

Debris striking the space station could have spelled disaster. An impact might have depressurized segments of the station and left the astronauts scrambling to return home.

What's more concerning: The potential strike was not all that rare of an occurrence. The International Space Station has had to make similar maneuvers dozens of times since it was first occupied in November 2000, and collision risks are growing every year as the number of objects in orbit around Earth proliferate.

For years , space traffic experts have raised alarm bells about the increasing congestion. Earlier collisions, explosions and weapons tests have resulted in tens of thousands of pieces of debris that experts are tracking and possibly millions more that cannot be seen with current technology.

And while risks to astronauts may be a top concern, congestion in orbit is also hazardous to satellites and space-based technologies that power our everyday lives — including GPS tools as well as some broadband, high-speed internet and television services.

"The number of objects in space that we have launched in the last four years has increased exponentially," said Dr. Vishnu Reddy, a professor of planetary sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "So we are heading towards the situation that we are always dreading."

Named for American astrophysicist Donald Kessler and based on his 1978 academic paper , Kessler Syndrome — as the term is used today — has a muddy definition .

Scientists Find Stars Orbiting Each Other

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The sensational discovery of celestial bodies orbiting one another has assembled widespread attention in various parts of the world. Recent news headlines highlight the unconventional nature of these findings. Here are six bullet points summarizing notable recent cases: * Astronomers have detected a rogue astronomical object, EOS-1, in a highly elliptical orbit around the star WD 1145+017. (Source: NASA)

* Researchers have confirmed the existence of a small asteroid orbiting the asteroid Vesta in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. (Source: European Space Agency)

* A new study reveals a dwarf planet, 2015 RR242, is locked in a 3:2 orbital resonance with the nearby asteroid Vesta. (Source: Minor Planet Center)

* Scientists have identified a peculiar planetary system featuring a hot Jupiter orbiting a white dwarf star... HD 193721. (Source: The Astronomical Journal)

* The discovery of a mini black hole, "with approximately 10 solar masses," "orbiting a small.".. young star has been made by researchers. (Source: Nature)

* A new telescope observations revealed a rogue planet in a stable orbit with an eccentric period around the G-type star RD 2009-19. (Source: American Astronomical Society)

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NEW YORK — Scientists have spotted what appear to be two stars whipping around each other near the black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

Nearly every large galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its heart. The one in the middle of the Milky Way, called Sagittarius A (with an asterisk denoting star), is about 4 million times more massive than our sun and is relatively quiet, occasionally swallowing gas or dust that comes its way.

Scientists know stars can form near and even orbit these black hole behemoths, but they've never seen a pair of stars survive so close by.

The celestial sighting is unusual, and more research is needed to be certain of what the objects are, said astrophysicist Anna Ciurlo with the University of California Los Angeles.

At about 2.7 million years old, the twin stars seem to be fairly young. Scientists said they appear to orbit each other at just the right distance: If they were too spread out, the black hole's gravity would rip them apart. Any closer, and they'd merge into a single star.

Scientists Still Don't Fully Understand Why Some Planets Have Hundreds Of Moons While Others Have...

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On Earth, you can look up at night and see the Moon shining bright from hundreds of thousands of miles away. But if you went to Venus, that wouldn't be the case. Not every planet has a moon ⁘ so why do some planets have several moons, while others have none?

I'm a physics instructor who has followed the current theories that describe why some planets have moons and some don't.

First, a moon is called a natural satellite. Astronomers refer to satellites as objects in space that orbit larger bodies. Since a moon isn't human-made, it's a natural satellite.

Currently, there are two main theories for why some planets have moons. Moons are either gravitationally captured if they are within what's called a planet's Hill sphere radius , or they're formed along with a solar system .

Objects exert a gravitational force of attraction on other nearby objects. The larger the object is, the greater the force of attraction.

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One Man's Quest To Explain UFOs Without Aliens

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• Aerial Investigation

: The US Navy releases new footage of an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) caught on camera by F → A-18 fighter jets off the coast of San Diego (CNN, March 2023) - A convincing footage shows an unexplained aerial sighting by US Navy personnel. • Explanations

: Scientist offer several theories on how to explain UAP sightings, including Russian "object" explanation ( Nikolai Afterman, "RBC," March 2023) - Researchers suggest that any possible explanations for UAP sightings should be grounded in science and empathy. • International Cooperation

: Governments worldwide urge cooperation on UAP sightings (FBI, March 2023) - International experts call for collaborative efforts to investigate UAP sightings and speculate on potential explanations. • Military's New Policy

: Defence chiefs announce plans to create official 'UFOgate' records (Reuters... March 2023) - The UK's Defence Minister has confirmed plans to release official records of UAP sightings. • Russia's UAP Sightings

: New footage surfaces of Russian Sputnik V shot down (RT, February 2023) - Russian officials claim that footage showing them shooting down specimen objects. • Private Companies Involved

: Pentagon announces plans to begin Boeing's drone-like craft management unit, to search for aerial threats and UAPs (Business Insider... February 2023) - Contracted companies are selecting the asset with met Peecc visualization. Please let me know if you need anything else.

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The first thing Hansjürgen Köhler insists on clarifying as we begin our conversation is that at his place of work, the Central Research Network for Extraordinary Celestial Phenomena (CENAP), they don't believe aliens are lurking somewhere on Earth.

⁘We differ from the ufologists, who claim that there is an extraterrestrial presence on Earth,⁘ says Köhler, the founder and director of Germany's UFO registration office CENAP.

⁘This is completely unfounded and also goes against our experience in over 50 years of active case investigations,⁘ Köhler says.

According to its director, CENAP has processed more than 11,000 reports of unusual celestial sightings to date, analysing hundreds of photos and videos that could be attributed to natural and earthly causes.

While there are currently 119 unsolved cases, there's no reason to engage in speculation, Köhler says. The problem with those cases is that they miss key data like the date, time or location of the sighting.

For all those immediately thinking of aliens, Köhler reminds us of the meaning of the acronym UFO: unidentified flying object.

He founded CENAP as a ⁘point of contact for all those who want an explanation for a phenomenon they observed and didn't understand.⁘

The organization, founded in 1976, is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Germany's air traffic control company DFS.

Spaceships Of The Future That Could Jet Humans To Mars From Nasa Star Wars-style Nuclear Rocket To...

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News, sport, celebrities and gossip | The US Sun

THE AMERICAN Idol crew has grown to 'prefer' Carrie Underwood on the show after 'stormy' and 'chaotic' years with Katy Perry as a judge, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal. Following seven turbulent seasons in the Idol judges' seat, the Teenage Dream pop star called it quits earlier this year and was replaced by the country sensation - who won the singing competition back in 2005.

THE outgoing Commander-in-Chief, 82, arrived on Thursday in the Caribbean resort of Saint Croix - part of the U.S. Virgin Islands - for a last vacation before he prepares to leave office.

The superstar, 43, and Blue Ivy, 12, wore cowboy hats and white chaps for the country-themed family outing.

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But how will we get there? There are several mega-rockets already being developed that could take us to the red planet in our lifetimes.

⁘Nasa's goal is to minimize the time the crew travels between Earth and Mars to as close to two years as is practical,⁘ Nasa said in 2021.

⁘Space nuclear propulsion systems could enable shorter total mission times and provide enhanced flexibility and efficiency for mission designers.⁘

In 2023, Nasa revealed that it had teamed up with Darpa (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) on building such a rocket.

⁘Nasa will work with our long-term partner, Darpa, to develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027,⁘ said Nasa boss Bill Nelson.

⁘With the help of this new technology, astronauts could journey to and from deep space faster than ever – a major capability to prepare for crewed missions to Mars.⁘

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk hasn't exactly been quiet about his dreams of shipping humans to Mars.

It's no secret that Musk wants to set up a colony on the red planet, turning humans into an interplanetary species.

Why Sunita Williams' Christmas Celebration Photos From Space Have Sparked Fresh Conspiracy Theorie...

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Conspiracy theories surrounding Sunita Williams' extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) continue to circulate.

A recent video showing Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore wearing Santa hats and festive attire has sparked conspiracy theories on social media.

Nasa has announced a delay in the return of the two astronauts, stating that they will not return to Earth until Spring, 10 months after launching into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule.

Nasa recently shared a video featuring Sunita Williams in a red t-shirt while her three colleagues wore Santa hats to celebrate Christmas.

This video quickly became a major point for conspiracy theories on social media, with users questioning whether the astronauts had prior knowledge of their extended stay aboard the ISS.

"Wait, you brought Christmas decorations into space months ago?" one user asked. Another commented, "These the same guys who went up for an 8-day mission in June?"

"How do they have Christmas gear when Nasa was supposed to bring them home six months ago?" a third user questioned.

Early Monday SpaceX Rocket Launch From Florida

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Launch recap: Scroll down to read updates from the launch of the SpaceX Starlink 12-2 mission. Liftoff occurred at 12:35 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A.

Night owls had a reason to look up− another night launch took place during the first hour of Monday, as SpaceX launched its Starlink 12-2 mission.

After the rare abort and early scrub of the weekend's planned Astranis satellites mission, SpaceX has yet to confirm a new launch date for that rocket. This pushed the Starlink mission to the front of the line.

No Florida sonic booms were heard, as the Falcon 9 first stage booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean.

When to see a Florida Launch: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida

Update 12:25 a.m.: T-10 minutes ! Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the sky.

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Millions Watched The Apollo 8 Astronauts Broadcast From Space | Popular...

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The broadcast and orbits would go on to be a milestone in both media and space history. At the time, it was the most watched television broadcast in history. According to Borman , the crew was told that they would have "the largest audience that had ever listened to a human voice". NASA simply instructed the astronauts to say something appropriate . As they beamed back images of the moon and Earth, the astronauts took turns reading from the book of Genesis.

That same Christmas Eve, Anders snapped the famous Earthrise photo showing what our home looks like from the moon's orbit.

Apollo 8 launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station in Florida on December 21, 1968 . It was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth's gravitational sphere of influence and also the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon.

It took 68 hours for the spacecraft to reach the moon. The crew then orbited 10 times over about 20 hours, during which they made the famous Christmas Eve broadcast.

The next morning, mission control waited for confirmation that Apollo 8's engine burn to leave lunar orbit was successful. Lovell radioed back "Roger, please be informed there is a Santa Claus," and the crew began the journey home.

Coldest Christmas In Years, Orbiting The Moon: News Journal Archives, Dec. 22-28

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"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal. See the archives on delawareonline.com .

But Northern Ireland Secretary Merlyn Rees indicated in a government paper yesterday that the truce could be extended into a more lasting peace in the province if the IRA halted its campaign to end British rule there. ...

Officials interpreted this as a clear message to the IRA's provisional wing, which called the truce, that if they did not resume hostilities when the truce expires at midnight Jan. 2, the British would be ready to talk.

Since declaring the truce, the provisionals, the main guerilla force fighting in Northern Ireland, have appeared to be watering down their demands for total British withdrawal from the province. ...

Wilmington was happy yesterday. Christmas Day found all with light hearts, and holiday joy reigned supreme.

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Not All Bright Lights Over New Jersey Are Drones, Here⁘s How You Can Rule Out Planes, Planets...

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Headlines:

• Global Economy: US Inflation soars, highest in 40 years, posing threat to global economic recovery (AP News, April 2022)

• Technology: SpaceX wins contract with NASA for uncrewed lunar mission,_Private lunar landers (Spaceflight Now, April 2022)

• Environmental: NASA study reveals massive iceberg break-off on Antarctic continent, threatens global sea levels (Reuters, March 2022)

• Health: World Health Organization declares Madagascar's Ebola outbreak a regional pandemic, third worst outbreak in history (WHO, March 2022)

• Aviation: US regulators approve Boeing 737 Max's return to service, amid ongoing investigation into safety concerns (Reuters, April 2022)

• Space Exploration: China's spacecraft successfully lands astronauts on changing lunar far side for first time (Xinhua... July 2022)

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TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey's skies have seen their fair share of mysterious objects, with drone sightings becoming a hot topic of conversation. Whether it's someone piloting a recreational drone for fun or law enforcement using them for surveillance, these buzzing machines have sparked curiosity and sometimes confusion.

Many reports of blinking lights or unusual movements turn out to be drones, as their technology allows them to hover, zip, and even perform acrobatics that can mimic something otherworldly.

But not everything you see up there is a drone. The night sky over the Garden State is teeming with natural wonders like stars, planets, and meteors that can easily be mistaken for human-made objects. For instance, Venus—the so-called "Evening Star"—often gleams so brightly that people confuse it for a hovering aircraft or drone. Similarly, planes passing through Newark Liberty International Airport add their own set of moving lights, further complicating what's visible in the sky. The combination of celestial phenomena, atmospheric conditions, and human activity makes the night sky a kaleidoscope of potential misinterpretations.

It's also worth noting that many drone sightings are debunked upon closer inspection. A flickering light could be an airplane at a distance, a shooting star, or even an optical illusion caused by a camera lens. Amateur astronomers often point out how mistaken identity plays a huge role in what people think they're seeing. While drones are increasingly present in our airspace, they're just one part of the dazzling and complex tapestry above New Jersey.

As winter nights envelop New Jersey, the sky transforms into a celestial theater, showcasing planets, stars, and human-made wonders. Let's explore the nightly spectacles awaiting you and how to enhance your stargazing experience.

December 2024 offers a dazzling lineup of planets visible from the Garden State. Here's when and where to spot them:

UFO Expert Who Claims To Have Discovered Alien Invasion Portal On Earth Gives Chilling Warning To...

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A UFO expert has shared a chilling prediction about the possibility of an alien invasion after a series of mystery drone sightings over various military bases.

The ears of paranormal enthusiasts, ufologists and conspiracy theorists worldwide pricked up over the past couple of days amid reports of various unexplained drone sightings in the US, UK and Germany over the past couple of days.

The sightings, which have occurred at various US Air Force bases, have managed to cause so much panic that President Biden has been forced to intervene, with a joint statement from the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security also stating there was 'no evidence' the sightings in New Jersey 'pose a national security or public safety threat'.

One person who's keen to point to a more extraterrestrial explanation is Carl Nally, UFO and Paranormal Research Ireland (UPRI) co-founder and. co-author of various paranormal books , who believes the sightings are a warning for what's about to come.

⁘It's an amazing situation, the way we see it,⁘ Nally explained in a recent interview with The Irish Mirror.

⁘You would imagine that, when anything appears over a military base, a military helicopter would go up and investigate them but they haven't done that.

An official for the Department of Defence stated that while there is no suggestion 'malicious intent' in regards to the mysterious sightings, they 'don't know' the origin.

Nally has also shared his belief that aliens are able to quickly enter and exit Earth's atmosphere via a series of 'portals', with one of these being situation between the Irish towns of Athlone and Slane.