The Astronomy Thread

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Burns

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2023-12-08 19.35.08 www.space.com a07271a89d2e.png

np5UVntoYHJe5i3ZsLvBWD.jpg


www.space.com

Gigantic 'hole' in the sun wider than 60 Earths is spewing superfast solar wind right at us

A monstrous dark patch, known as a coronal hole, recently appeared near the sun's equator. The temporary gap enables unusually fast solar wind to race toward Earth.
www.space.com www.space.com
 
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Sanrith Descartes

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Burns

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Sanrith Descartes said:
Am I the only one bothered by a gigantic hole in our sun?
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It does look terrifying, but the sun's magnetic field and the anatomy of a star is a bit terrifying, in general.

The solar maximum is almost upon us, when the sun flips it's poles:


This shows what visible light pictures look like verses UV light pictures, for the same amount of time:


and finally, here is UV time lapse of the sun in 4k, set to an instrumental track:
 
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Lambourne

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Cybsled said:
Interesting - don't think I've heard of an asteroid eclipse before. At least it would be super easy to know where to look

apnews.com

Asteroid will pass in front of bright star Betelgeuse to produce a rare eclipse visible to millions

The star is Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in the constellation Orion. The asteroid is Leona, a space rock in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
apnews.com apnews.com
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Definitely a cool thing to see, it will only be visible in a tiny band though.

1702106360386.png


On a related note, on 8 april next year there will be a total solar eclipse visible in the US, if you're at all interested in seeing it I would make an effort since there won't be another one visible in the US for 20 years, and you can see it from parts of the country that don't have a high chance of being cloudy.

1702107173995.png
 
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Cybsled

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I really want to see that one, but I'm convinced it is going to be overcast as fuck on that day since every major astronomical event always seems to fall on a day where the sky is completely full of thick clouds
 
Gravel

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I mentioned it before, but we flew out from California to southern Illinois for the last one. It's I think the only place where both will have been visible. Totally, 100% worth it, even if it only lasts a brief moment. We'll definitely be there for the one next year. Helps that my wife's family all live there.

It's definitely one of those once in a lifetime type events that you'll never forget.
 
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C

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Lambourne said:
On a related note, on 8 april next year there will be a total solar eclipse visible in the US, if you're at all interested in seeing it I would make an effort since there won't be another one visible in the US for 20 years, and you can see it from parts of the country that don't have a high chance of being cloudy.
Click to expand...
Gravel said:
I mentioned it before, but we flew out from California to southern Illinois for the last one. It's I think the only place where both will have been visible. Totally, 100% worth it, even if it only lasts a brief moment. We'll definitely be there for the one next year. Helps that my wife's family all live there.

It's definitely one of those once in a lifetime type events that you'll never forget.
Click to expand...

I went to Sun Valley, Idaho for the last one and am going to Indianapolis this time. Spending a few days with the kids in Chicago with family first, so not a huge loss if it's cloudy. The 2017 totality was easily the amazing natural event I've ever experienced. I strongly recommend anyone interested make the effort. 100% worth it.
 
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C

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Sanrith Descartes said:
I wonder if Elon doesn't send SpaceX to the moon specifically out of fear he finds no evidence NASA actually went there back in the 60s.
Click to expand...

Unless you think the Indians are in on the gag, their lunar orbiter from a few years ago already took pics good enough to resolve the Apollo lander.

1702858893722.jpeg
 
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Foler

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Sanrith Descartes said:
I wonder if Elon doesn't send SpaceX to the moon specifically out of fear he finds no evidence NASA actually went there back in the 60s.
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I do wonder if he knows the truth. It’s probably just easiest to avoid the moon question and focus on mars. Not like you’d be able to colonize mars anyways like mars allegedly can be.
Captain Suave said:
Unless you think the Indians are in on the gag, their lunar orbiter from a few years ago already took pics good enough to resolve the Apollo lander.

View attachment 504646
Click to expand...
Oh neat. Space junk on the moon. What does this prove again? That we can land objects on the moon?..
 
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Sanrith Descartes

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Foler said:
I do wonder if he knows the truth. It’s probably just easiest to avoid the moon question and focus on mars. Not like you’d be able to colonize mars anyways like mars allegedly can be.

Oh neat. Space junk on the moon. What does this prove again? That we can land objects on the moon?..
Click to expand...
I don't think him going to the moon and finding out the landing was a lie really helps him. I'm sure just the threat of going there would be enough for leverage.
 
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meStevo

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Such a bummer, SpaceX lost a booster that had landed on a drone ship to high seas/winds. Newer boosters are able to better handle that, but as this was it's 19th landing it's one of the older ones.

Why a bummer? It was the historic booster that had the NASA logo on the side from the Demo-2 flight, would have probably ended up in a museum or something, first time that logo was on a rocket since the 90s.

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1703626211305.png
 
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