The Astronomy Thread

  • Guest, it's time once again for the massively important and exciting FoH Asshat Tournament!



    Go here and give us your nominations!
    Who's been the biggest Asshat in the last year? Give us your worst ones!
Burns

Burns

Avatar of War Slayer
7,799
15,049
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
 
  • 1Like
  • 1Mother of God
Reactions: 1 users
Sanrith Descartes

Sanrith Descartes

You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
<Gold Donor>
46,195
128,264
  • 1Like
Reactions: 1 user
Burns

Burns

Avatar of War Slayer
7,799
15,049
Sanrith Descartes said:
Am I the only one bothered by a gigantic hole in our sun?
Click to expand...
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:
 
  • 5Like
Reactions: 4 users
Lambourne

Lambourne

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
3,034
7,240
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
Click to expand...

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
 
  • 1Like
Reactions: 1 user
Cybsled

Cybsled

Naxxramas 1.0 Raider
17,307
13,843
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

Gravel

Mr. Poopybutthole
41,299
140,703
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.
 
  • 2Like
Reactions: 1 users
Captain Suave

Captain Suave

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.
5,528
9,510
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.
 
Last edited:
  • 2Like
Reactions: 1 users
Captain Suave

Captain Suave

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.
5,528
9,510
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
 
  • 3Like
Reactions: 2 users
Foler

Asshat Foler

Forum Winner
<Gold Donor>
48,199
43,468
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...
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?..
 
  • 1Pathetic
  • 1Worf
Reactions: 1 users
Sanrith Descartes

Sanrith Descartes

You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
<Gold Donor>
46,195
128,264
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.
 
  • 1Like
Reactions: 1 user
meStevo

meStevo

I think your wife's a bigfoot gus.
<Silver Donator>
6,575
4,854
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.

1703626195391.png


1703626211305.png
 
  • 5Like
  • 2Thoughts & Prayers
Reactions: 6 users
You must log in or register to reply here.