Astronomy

After a long wait, astronomers have finally seen the stellar companion of the famous star Betelgeuse. This companion star orbits Betelgeuse in an incredibly tight orbit, which could explain one of Betelgeuse's longstanding mysteries. The star is doomed, however, and the team behind this discovery predicts that Betelgeuse will cannibalize it in a few thousand years.

The fact that Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the sky over Earth, visible with the naked eye, has made it one of the most well-known celestial bodies. And ever since the first astronomers began inspecting this fixture in the night sky, they have been baffled by the fact that its brightness varies over periods of six years.

This mystery is now solved.

Learn about the FINAL Super Moon of 2024.

https://joshuniverse.com/final-supermoon-of-2024-when-and-how-to-observe/

@space@lemmy.world @astronomy@lemmy.world @science@beehaw.org @science@beehaw.org #astronomy #space #nasa @news@lemmy.world

China's Long March 10A Moon Mission Plans

https://joshuniverse.com/chinas-long-march-10a-moon-mission-plans/

@space@lemmy.world @astronomy@lemmy.world @science@beehaw.org @science@beehaw.org #astronomy #space #nasa @news@lemmy.world

Screenshot of social media post. Reads, "Everyone was saying that the May geomag activity had no impact on the satellites. Of course we knew this was wrong. Over one hundred sats re-entered during this period and now a paper is showing that thousands of Starlinks had to move. Holy fuck. Imagine if those thousands had to re-enter. This. Is. Insane. We. Must. Stop. Launching. Shit. NOW. https://spaceweather.com/"

I have no photos or videos, but I was on Topsail Island on vacation on June 4th around 11pm, where I saw a decently bright moving object erupt with a huge v-shaped tail for atleast 30 seconds. The tail was a faint green color. It fell from the eastern sky into the northeastern sky.

Google has been particularly unhelpful. Was wondering if you fine folks had any idea. I'm assuming space debris. But I cant find any other reports of anyone seeing it.

The Simons Observatory, a group of microwave telescopes in the high desert of Chile, is starting to gather data to attempt to prove or disprove the theory of inflation.

Un-paywalled article from the NY Times.

A growing number of researchers in the field are using their expertise to fight the climate crisis.

The article spotlights several astronomers who are attempting to fight climate change, sometimes through changing careers.

NYT gift link, should be un-paywalled.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/1871351

Scientists use the LOFAR telescope to observe low-frequency radio waves from satellites in large constellations for the first time. “Unintended electromagnetic radiation” emanating from onboard electronics in Starlink satellites was detected which could impact astronomical research. Further study is now ongoing.

Scientists use the LOFAR telescope to observe low-frequency radio waves from satellites in large constellations for the first time. “Unintended electromagnetic radiation” emanating from onboard electronics in Starlink satellites was detected which could impact astronomical research. Further study is now ongoing.