Mysterious 'repeater' fast radio burst detected from faraway galaxy
UPI reports: "Canada's CHIME telescope has detected 13 new fast radio bursts, or
FRBs, including a mysterious "repeater" signal of six bursts from the
single source, a galaxy located 1.5 billion light-years from Earth.
[...] Several dozen FRBs have been recorded over the last decade, but
CHIME's observations mark just the second time a repeating signal has
been documented."
Comment: From what I gather, the significance of this is that these radio bursts are not random but repeat, therefore scientists are excited to get the bottom of the mystery. Astronomers have observed many cosmic events (collisions, explosions, implosions, etc.) that generate radio, x-ray and gamma-ray bursts that we can observe at random intervals but events that repeat are unusual.
Showing posts with label Signs in the Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Signs in the Stars. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2019
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Signs in the Heavens
Watch massive asteroid fly safely by Earth - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Early Friday morning, Florence -- the largest near Earth asteroid yet discovered and tracked by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- will pass within 4,390,892 miles of Earth, approximately 18 times the distance between the Earth and the moon. [...] The asteroid, named for war nurse Florence Nightingale, measures between 2.5 and 5.6 miles wide --scientists will have a more accurate estimate after the flyby. Anything larger than a half mile in diameter is capable of doing catastrophic damage should it collide with Earth."
Comment: That should be interesting, glad that spotted it. Last I heard the NASA office that monitors near-Earth asteroids suffered a budget cut, maybe that has changed?
UPI reports: "Early Friday morning, Florence -- the largest near Earth asteroid yet discovered and tracked by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- will pass within 4,390,892 miles of Earth, approximately 18 times the distance between the Earth and the moon. [...] The asteroid, named for war nurse Florence Nightingale, measures between 2.5 and 5.6 miles wide --scientists will have a more accurate estimate after the flyby. Anything larger than a half mile in diameter is capable of doing catastrophic damage should it collide with Earth."
Comment: That should be interesting, glad that spotted it. Last I heard the NASA office that monitors near-Earth asteroids suffered a budget cut, maybe that has changed?
Friday, June 23, 2017
Signs in the Stars
Kuiper Belt tilt suggests a mysterious planetary mass lurks in the outer solar system - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Astronomers have yet to confirm the existence of a ninth planet lurking beyond Pluto. But new analysis of the Kuiper Belt suggests a planetary mass is likely hiding in the outer reaches of the solar system. [...] But why haven't astronomers observed a ninth planet directly? Volk and Malhotra say scientists haven't looked that hard. [...] Researchers hope the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, which is scheduled to make its first observations in 2020, will help scientists solve the mystery of the missing ninth planet."
Comment: This is standard sensational reporting in that the planet (if it is there) is hardly lurking or hiding (which implies intent), it's simply very far away, doesn't reflect much light and has not yet been discovered. Yeah, it's hiding because, you know, it's a shy planet.
UPI reports: "Astronomers have yet to confirm the existence of a ninth planet lurking beyond Pluto. But new analysis of the Kuiper Belt suggests a planetary mass is likely hiding in the outer reaches of the solar system. [...] But why haven't astronomers observed a ninth planet directly? Volk and Malhotra say scientists haven't looked that hard. [...] Researchers hope the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, which is scheduled to make its first observations in 2020, will help scientists solve the mystery of the missing ninth planet."
Comment: This is standard sensational reporting in that the planet (if it is there) is hardly lurking or hiding (which implies intent), it's simply very far away, doesn't reflect much light and has not yet been discovered. Yeah, it's hiding because, you know, it's a shy planet.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Signs in the Moon - Signs in the Stars
Friday night: See lunar eclipse, green comet and full moon - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Rest up backyard astronomers, Friday's night sky will feature a full slate of astronomical events: a penumbral lunar eclipse, green comet and full moon. The moon will cross into Earth's shadow at 5:32 p.m. EST and re-emerge at 9:55 p.m. EST. It will be visible everywhere on Earth except Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and East Asian nations bordering the Pacific. [...] The astronomical magic will continue in the predawn hours of Saturday morning, when Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova makes its closest approach to Earth. The green comet won't be visible with the naked eye, but can be spotted using binoculars or a small telescope."
Comment: I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy the sky show.
UPI reports: "Rest up backyard astronomers, Friday's night sky will feature a full slate of astronomical events: a penumbral lunar eclipse, green comet and full moon. The moon will cross into Earth's shadow at 5:32 p.m. EST and re-emerge at 9:55 p.m. EST. It will be visible everywhere on Earth except Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and East Asian nations bordering the Pacific. [...] The astronomical magic will continue in the predawn hours of Saturday morning, when Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova makes its closest approach to Earth. The green comet won't be visible with the naked eye, but can be spotted using binoculars or a small telescope."
Comment: I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy the sky show.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Signs in the Stars
Scientists point telescopes at 'strong signal' from HD 164595 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Astronomers are turning their telescopes to a very strong signal coming from a star about 94 light years away in the constellation Hercules. Scientists with the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI) are following up on a signal recently detected by a Russian telescope at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. The signal was coming from a star named HD 164595. Researchers are trying to identify the signal's origin. [...] Scientists don't know yet what made the signal the Russians detected, but theories about the star system 94 light years away are already being formed."
Comment: If this signal was so impressive, why didn't they report it last year when they found it?
UPI reports: "Astronomers are turning their telescopes to a very strong signal coming from a star about 94 light years away in the constellation Hercules. Scientists with the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI) are following up on a signal recently detected by a Russian telescope at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. The signal was coming from a star named HD 164595. Researchers are trying to identify the signal's origin. [...] Scientists don't know yet what made the signal the Russians detected, but theories about the star system 94 light years away are already being formed."
Comment: If this signal was so impressive, why didn't they report it last year when they found it?
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Signs in the Stars
Study suggests Planet 9 is stolen exoplanet - UPI.com
UPI reports: "New research suggests the mysterious and controversial 'Planet 9' isn't an original member of our solar system. According to a new computer simulation developed by astronomers at Lund University in Sweden, the ninth planet is an exoplanet -- stolen by the sun from its original host star. [...] The new simulation suggests that as our sun and another star passed by each other, the gravitational pull of our sun pulled in an exoplanet -- a theft that's gone unnoticed until recently."
Is a ninth planet to blame for Earth's mass extinctions? - UPI.com
UPI reports: "In a new study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Daniel Whitmire argues that an undiscovered ninth planet triggers disruptive comet showers every 27 million years. [...] Those that miss Earth disintegrate in the inner solar system and dim the sun's solar energy, cooling Earth."
Comment: So, the real question is: When was the last Planet 9 mass extinction event and it another due to happen anytime soon?
UPI reports: "New research suggests the mysterious and controversial 'Planet 9' isn't an original member of our solar system. According to a new computer simulation developed by astronomers at Lund University in Sweden, the ninth planet is an exoplanet -- stolen by the sun from its original host star. [...] The new simulation suggests that as our sun and another star passed by each other, the gravitational pull of our sun pulled in an exoplanet -- a theft that's gone unnoticed until recently."
Is a ninth planet to blame for Earth's mass extinctions? - UPI.com
UPI reports: "In a new study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Daniel Whitmire argues that an undiscovered ninth planet triggers disruptive comet showers every 27 million years. [...] Those that miss Earth disintegrate in the inner solar system and dim the sun's solar energy, cooling Earth."
Comment: So, the real question is: When was the last Planet 9 mass extinction event and it another due to happen anytime soon?
Monday, March 28, 2016
Signs in the Stars
Scientist claims there's even more evidence of Planet Nine's existence - The Verge
The Verge reports: "More evidence is pointing toward a mysterious Neptune-sized planet lurking at the outer edges of our Solar System. One of the scientists who claimed in January to have found strong evidence for a ninth planet — temporarily named "Planet Nine" — now says there are even more clues that support the world's existence."
Comment: I know this news encourages the Nibiru fan club, but I'm not thinking of that, I'm thinking of this in terms of Luke 21:26 and Matthew 24:29.
The Verge reports: "More evidence is pointing toward a mysterious Neptune-sized planet lurking at the outer edges of our Solar System. One of the scientists who claimed in January to have found strong evidence for a ninth planet — temporarily named "Planet Nine" — now says there are even more clues that support the world's existence."
Comment: I know this news encourages the Nibiru fan club, but I'm not thinking of that, I'm thinking of this in terms of Luke 21:26 and Matthew 24:29.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Signs in the Stars
BBC News - Case made for 'ninth planet'
BBC News reports: "American astronomers say they have strong evidence that there is a ninth planet in our Solar System orbiting far beyond even the dwarf world Pluto. The team, from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has no direct observations to confirm its presence just yet. Rather, the scientists make the claim based on the way other far-flung objects are seen to move. But if proven, the putative planet would have 10 times the mass of Earth. The Caltech astronomers have a vague idea where it ought to be on the sky, and their work is sure to fire a campaign to try to track it down."
Comment: I was once asked the difference between "signs in the stars" (Luke 21:25) and "signs and wonders in the heavens" (Joel 2:30; Luke 21:11; Acts 2:19). I tend to think the difference is simply where you are looking. If you can see if in the sky (like a shooting star or eclipse) then it's a "sign in the heavens" and if we are talking about stellar phenomena that can be observed by telescopes (or inferred by observations of planets using telescopes, as in this news report), then it's a "sign in the stars." Remember, Paul accepted that there are three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2–4) , the first is the sky and atmosphere, the second is space, and the third is heaven, the abode of God.
BBC News reports: "American astronomers say they have strong evidence that there is a ninth planet in our Solar System orbiting far beyond even the dwarf world Pluto. The team, from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has no direct observations to confirm its presence just yet. Rather, the scientists make the claim based on the way other far-flung objects are seen to move. But if proven, the putative planet would have 10 times the mass of Earth. The Caltech astronomers have a vague idea where it ought to be on the sky, and their work is sure to fire a campaign to try to track it down."
Comment: I was once asked the difference between "signs in the stars" (Luke 21:25) and "signs and wonders in the heavens" (Joel 2:30; Luke 21:11; Acts 2:19). I tend to think the difference is simply where you are looking. If you can see if in the sky (like a shooting star or eclipse) then it's a "sign in the heavens" and if we are talking about stellar phenomena that can be observed by telescopes (or inferred by observations of planets using telescopes, as in this news report), then it's a "sign in the stars." Remember, Paul accepted that there are three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2–4) , the first is the sky and atmosphere, the second is space, and the third is heaven, the abode of God.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Signs in the Stars
My Way News - Life on Mars? NASA says planet appears to have flowing water
My Way News reports: "Scientists in 2008 confirmed the existence of frozen water on Mars. Now instruments aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have yielded what researchers said is the strongest evidence yet that water in liquid form trickles down certain Martian slopes. And because liquid water is essential to life, the finding could have major implications for the possibility of microscopic life forms on Earth's next-door neighbor."
Comment: Remember Psalm 19:
My Way News reports: "Scientists in 2008 confirmed the existence of frozen water on Mars. Now instruments aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have yielded what researchers said is the strongest evidence yet that water in liquid form trickles down certain Martian slopes. And because liquid water is essential to life, the finding could have major implications for the possibility of microscopic life forms on Earth's next-door neighbor."
Comment: Remember Psalm 19:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
I
think God the Creator has created an amazing universe filled with
wonder and a few microbes on Mars would not bother me in the least.
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Signs in the Stars
My Way News - Searching for ET: Hawking to look for extraterrestrial life
My Way News reports: "The search for extraterrestrial life received a major boost Monday with the launch of an ambitious $100 million program, backed by famed physicist Stephen Hawking and tech billionaire Yuri Milner. [...] The project will be 50 times more sensitive than earlier searches, and will cover 10 times more of the sky, organizers say."
My Way News reports: "The search for extraterrestrial life received a major boost Monday with the launch of an ambitious $100 million program, backed by famed physicist Stephen Hawking and tech billionaire Yuri Milner. [...] The project will be 50 times more sensitive than earlier searches, and will cover 10 times more of the sky, organizers say."
Friday, July 17, 2015
Signs in the Stars - Knowledge Increases
My Way News - 'Beautiful eye candy': Frozen plains in Pluto's heart
My Way News reports: "Vast frozen plains exist next door to Pluto's big, rugged mountains sculpted of ice, scientists said Friday, three days after humanity's first-ever flyby of the dwarf planet."
My Way News reports: "Vast frozen plains exist next door to Pluto's big, rugged mountains sculpted of ice, scientists said Friday, three days after humanity's first-ever flyby of the dwarf planet."
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Signs in the Stars
My Way News - Big asteroid will eclipse bright star early Thurs.
My Way News reports: "In the wee hours of Thursday, a 45-mile-wide asteroid will eclipse the brightest star in the Constellation Leo. The asteroid is 163 Erigone in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The star briefly disappearing will be Regulus. [...] Weather permitting, the eclipse should be visible with the naked eye from New York City and elsewhere along a populated swath in the U.S. Northeast and eastern Canada."
My Way News reports: "In the wee hours of Thursday, a 45-mile-wide asteroid will eclipse the brightest star in the Constellation Leo. The asteroid is 163 Erigone in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The star briefly disappearing will be Regulus. [...] Weather permitting, the eclipse should be visible with the naked eye from New York City and elsewhere along a populated swath in the U.S. Northeast and eastern Canada."
Monday, November 25, 2013
Signs in the Heavens
My Way News - Will icy comet survive close encounter with sun?
My Way News reports: "For months, all eyes in the sky have pointed at the comet that's zooming toward a blisteringly close encounter with the sun. The moment of truth comes Thursday - Thanksgiving Day. The sun-grazing Comet ISON, now thought to be less than a mile wide, will either fry and shatter, victim of the sun's incredible power, or endure and quite possibly put on one fabulous celestial show."
My Way News reports: "For months, all eyes in the sky have pointed at the comet that's zooming toward a blisteringly close encounter with the sun. The moment of truth comes Thursday - Thanksgiving Day. The sun-grazing Comet ISON, now thought to be less than a mile wide, will either fry and shatter, victim of the sun's incredible power, or endure and quite possibly put on one fabulous celestial show."
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
My Way News - QE2 asteroid to fly by Earth from safe distance
My Way News reports: "An asteroid more than 1 1/2 miles long will zoom past Earth this week from a far-off distance. The big rock called Asteroid 1998 QE2 will make its closest approach Friday. It will keep a safe distance of 3.6 million miles, or 15 times the distance between Earth and the moon. You won't be able to see it without a powerful telescope."
My Way News reports: "An asteroid more than 1 1/2 miles long will zoom past Earth this week from a far-off distance. The big rock called Asteroid 1998 QE2 will make its closest approach Friday. It will keep a safe distance of 3.6 million miles, or 15 times the distance between Earth and the moon. You won't be able to see it without a powerful telescope."
Monday, April 29, 2013
My Way News - Hubble snaps image of approaching comet
My Way News reports: "The operators of the Hubble Space Telescope say the orbiting observatory has snapped photos of an approaching comet. The Baltimore-based Space Telescope Science Institute says the Comet Ison is being called the 'comet of the century' because it could be brighter than the full moon when it makes its closest pass by the sun in late November."
My Way News reports: "The operators of the Hubble Space Telescope say the orbiting observatory has snapped photos of an approaching comet. The Baltimore-based Space Telescope Science Institute says the Comet Ison is being called the 'comet of the century' because it could be brighter than the full moon when it makes its closest pass by the sun in late November."
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
My Way News - Comet making closest approach ever of Earth
My Way News reports: "Called Pan-STARRS, the comet passed within 100 million miles of Earth on Tuesday, its closest approach in its first-ever cruise through the inner solar system. The ice ball will get even nearer the sun this weekend - just 28 million miles from the sun and within the orbit of Mercury. [...] A much brighter comet show, meanwhile, is on the way. Comet ISON may come close to outshining the moon in November. It was discovered last September by Russian astronomers and got its acronym name from the International Scientific Optical Network."
My Way News reports: "Called Pan-STARRS, the comet passed within 100 million miles of Earth on Tuesday, its closest approach in its first-ever cruise through the inner solar system. The ice ball will get even nearer the sun this weekend - just 28 million miles from the sun and within the orbit of Mercury. [...] A much brighter comet show, meanwhile, is on the way. Comet ISON may come close to outshining the moon in November. It was discovered last September by Russian astronomers and got its acronym name from the International Scientific Optical Network."
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
CBS News - Earth in no danger from asteroid flyby this week
CBS News reports: "An asteroid a half a football field across traveling at a blistering 4.8 miles per second is expected to pass within just 17,200 miles of Earth on Feb. 15, a record close encounter that will carry it well inside the orbits of communications satellites. But scientists say a detailed analysis of its trajectory shows there is no chance asteroid 2012 DA14 will hit the Earth and very little chance of a collision with any satellites in geosynchronous orbits 22,300 miles above the equator."
Comment: In the email to the listserv I mistakenly noted Wednesday as the day of the close encounter, rather than Friday. Apologies.
CBS News reports: "An asteroid a half a football field across traveling at a blistering 4.8 miles per second is expected to pass within just 17,200 miles of Earth on Feb. 15, a record close encounter that will carry it well inside the orbits of communications satellites. But scientists say a detailed analysis of its trajectory shows there is no chance asteroid 2012 DA14 will hit the Earth and very little chance of a collision with any satellites in geosynchronous orbits 22,300 miles above the equator."
Comment: In the email to the listserv I mistakenly noted Wednesday as the day of the close encounter, rather than Friday. Apologies.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
My Way News - 150-foot asteroid will buzz Earth, no need to duck
My Way News reports: "A 150-foot-wide asteroid will come remarkably close to Earth next week, even closer than high-flying communication and weather satellites. It will be the nearest known flyby for an object of this size. But don't worry. Scientists promise the megarock will be at least 17,100 miles away when it zips past next Friday."
My Way News reports: "A 150-foot-wide asteroid will come remarkably close to Earth next week, even closer than high-flying communication and weather satellites. It will be the nearest known flyby for an object of this size. But don't worry. Scientists promise the megarock will be at least 17,100 miles away when it zips past next Friday."
Friday, January 11, 2013
My Way News - Whew! Big asteroid no longer threat to Earth
My Way News reports: "Upon further review, a big scary-sounding asteroid is no longer even a remote threat to smash into Earth in about 20 years, NASA says. Astronomers got a much better look at the asteroid when it whizzed by Earth on Wednesday from a relative safe 9 million miles away. They recalculated the space rock's trajectory and determined it wasn't on a path to hit Earth on April 13, 2036 as once feared possible."
My Way News reports: "Upon further review, a big scary-sounding asteroid is no longer even a remote threat to smash into Earth in about 20 years, NASA says. Astronomers got a much better look at the asteroid when it whizzed by Earth on Wednesday from a relative safe 9 million miles away. They recalculated the space rock's trajectory and determined it wasn't on a path to hit Earth on April 13, 2036 as once feared possible."
Saturday, June 18, 2011
My Way News - Scientists ID mysterious flash in distant galaxy
My Way News reports: "Astronomers think they have solved the mystery of an extraordinary flash spied in a faraway galaxy, saying it came from a massive black hole that devoured a star after it wandered too close."
My Way News reports: "Astronomers think they have solved the mystery of an extraordinary flash spied in a faraway galaxy, saying it came from a massive black hole that devoured a star after it wandered too close."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)