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Chariklo is the only asteroid with a ring system discovered
It is the fifth ring system located in the solar system with a diameter of about 250 kilometers (155 miles). Chariklo is the largest member of the class of asteroids known as centaurs. They orbit between Saturn and Uranus in the outer Solar System.
The existence of a ring system around a small planet was unexpected, since it was thought that rings could only be stable around much more massive bodies.
It is the fifth ring system located in the solar system with a diameter of about 250 kilometers (155 miles). Chariklo is the largest member of the class of asteroids known as centaurs. They orbit between Saturn and Uranus in the outer Solar System.
The existence of a ring system around a small planet was unexpected, since it was thought that rings could only be stable around much more massive bodies.
Perseids meteor shower over Crete, Greece
Picture taken in August 2021.
How do annual meteor showers form?
The Earth, as it orbits the Sun, crosses the orbits of comets every year. Take a periodic comet (i.e. one that returns to the Sun more than once every 200 years) that has been in its orbit for a long time.
As it heats up from the Sun, it was able to distribute relatively evenly over its orbit the dust ejected from its surface during the melting process.
Picture taken in August 2021.
How do annual meteor showers form?
The Earth, as it orbits the Sun, crosses the orbits of comets every year. Take a periodic comet (i.e. one that returns to the Sun more than once every 200 years) that has been in its orbit for a long time.
As it heats up from the Sun, it was able to distribute relatively evenly over its orbit the dust ejected from its surface during the melting process.
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Whether the Moon rotates on its own axis?
Some people believe that the Moon doesn't rotate because it is always turned to us on one side. That’s a misconception.
It is the fact that the Moon always faces one side of the Earth as it orbits the Earth that indicates that the Moon rotates. And the time of one revolution around its axis is exactly equal to the time of one revolution around the Earth.
It is the so-called synchronous rotation, caused by the tidal forces of the planet.
Some people believe that the Moon doesn't rotate because it is always turned to us on one side. That’s a misconception.
It is the fact that the Moon always faces one side of the Earth as it orbits the Earth that indicates that the Moon rotates. And the time of one revolution around its axis is exactly equal to the time of one revolution around the Earth.
It is the so-called synchronous rotation, caused by the tidal forces of the planet.
NGC 2440: the cocoon of a new white dwarf
Like a butterfly, the life of a white dwarf begins with the shedding of the cocoon under which its essence was concealed.
Following this analogy, we can say that the Sun is a caterpillar, and when it sheds its gas shell, it will be a most magnificent sight! The cocoon shown here is the planetary nebula NGC 2440, which contains the hottest known white dwarf.
The white dwarf is visible as a bright dot in the center of the photo.
Like a butterfly, the life of a white dwarf begins with the shedding of the cocoon under which its essence was concealed.
Following this analogy, we can say that the Sun is a caterpillar, and when it sheds its gas shell, it will be a most magnificent sight! The cocoon shown here is the planetary nebula NGC 2440, which contains the hottest known white dwarf.
The white dwarf is visible as a bright dot in the center of the photo.
Rare Mars shots
At the end of the XIX century, the American businessman and astronomer Percival Lowell developed a hypothesis, according to which there must be a highly developed civilization on Mars. Observations prompted the scientist to this conclusion: on the surface of the Red Planet he discerned through the telescope channels, which he believed were created by intelligent beings.
Lowell devoted dozens of years to the study of the Red Planet, the "artificial" Martian channels, as well as life on it, and even published several books.
In 1909, astronomers succeeded in taking a series of pictures of Mars that were the best of their kind at the time.
At the end of the XIX century, the American businessman and astronomer Percival Lowell developed a hypothesis, according to which there must be a highly developed civilization on Mars. Observations prompted the scientist to this conclusion: on the surface of the Red Planet he discerned through the telescope channels, which he believed were created by intelligent beings.
Lowell devoted dozens of years to the study of the Red Planet, the "artificial" Martian channels, as well as life on it, and even published several books.
In 1909, astronomers succeeded in taking a series of pictures of Mars that were the best of their kind at the time.
Norwegian Aurora Borealis Observatory in Senja
Aurora Borealis is the northern polar lights. The name comes from the names of the Roman goddess of the morning dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of wind, Boreas.
This beauty comes from the Sun, which sends protons and electrons into our atmosphere, which in turn are captured by the Earth's magnetic field and collide with air molecules, causing it to glow.
Aurora Borealis is the northern polar lights. The name comes from the names of the Roman goddess of the morning dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of wind, Boreas.
This beauty comes from the Sun, which sends protons and electrons into our atmosphere, which in turn are captured by the Earth's magnetic field and collide with air molecules, causing it to glow.
Metal sticks together in space
If you put two pieces of metal together in space, they will stick together. This process is called cold welding. Atoms on the surface of metals don't "feel" the difference between their metal and their neighbor. And they form similar bonds with them.
On Earth, oxygen, which is found in almost every corner of our planet, prevents this. And oxidation interferes with adhesion.
Astronauts, who bring instruments from Earth, have no fear of "sticking" anyway. After all, every instrument retains an oxide layer. Any additional layer, be it gas or dirt, prevents sticking.
If you put two pieces of metal together in space, they will stick together. This process is called cold welding. Atoms on the surface of metals don't "feel" the difference between their metal and their neighbor. And they form similar bonds with them.
On Earth, oxygen, which is found in almost every corner of our planet, prevents this. And oxidation interferes with adhesion.
Astronauts, who bring instruments from Earth, have no fear of "sticking" anyway. After all, every instrument retains an oxide layer. Any additional layer, be it gas or dirt, prevents sticking.
The Hubble Telescope turns 30 years 🔭
The Hubble Space Telescope is a legendary automatic observatory in Earth orbit. Hubble was the first major optical telescope and was launched into Earth's orbit on April 24, 1990.
The telescope is about 569 kilometers from Earth's orbit and takes ~ 1.5 hours to orbit the Earth. It takes its name from Edwin Hubble, one of the most influential astronomers and cosmologists of the 20th century, who made a crucial contribution to exploration the structure of the cosmos.
Over the years, Hubble has captured nearly 1.5 million images of celestial objects - galaxies, planets, stars and nebulae.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a legendary automatic observatory in Earth orbit. Hubble was the first major optical telescope and was launched into Earth's orbit on April 24, 1990.
The telescope is about 569 kilometers from Earth's orbit and takes ~ 1.5 hours to orbit the Earth. It takes its name from Edwin Hubble, one of the most influential astronomers and cosmologists of the 20th century, who made a crucial contribution to exploration the structure of the cosmos.
Over the years, Hubble has captured nearly 1.5 million images of celestial objects - galaxies, planets, stars and nebulae.
Rishat structure
That’s a unique geological formation in the western part of the Sahara Desert, perfectly circular rings of enormous size with a flat surface.
The outer diameter of the structure is 50 km. Presumably the result of a meteorite falling 600 million years ago.
Photo taken by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the ISS during the expedition 65, 2021.
That’s a unique geological formation in the western part of the Sahara Desert, perfectly circular rings of enormous size with a flat surface.
The outer diameter of the structure is 50 km. Presumably the result of a meteorite falling 600 million years ago.
Photo taken by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the ISS during the expedition 65, 2021.
Where does the surface of a gas planet end and its atmosphere begin?
Gas planets consist mainly of hydrogen and helium. Their atmospheres are considered to be at a depth where the atmospheric pressure is equal to the normal terrestrial pressure. At that, there is no solid or at least liquid surface at such a boundary.
As one plunges deeper into the planet, the pressure increases and, when it reaches 12 atmospheres, hydrogen becomes a supercritical liquid, for which the difference between a gas and a liquid simply disappears.
That is, under the layers of gas there is an ocean of conditionally liquid hydrogen and helium - between this ocean and the gas shell there is no clear border, it is stretched for many kilometers of smooth transition.
Gas planets consist mainly of hydrogen and helium. Their atmospheres are considered to be at a depth where the atmospheric pressure is equal to the normal terrestrial pressure. At that, there is no solid or at least liquid surface at such a boundary.
As one plunges deeper into the planet, the pressure increases and, when it reaches 12 atmospheres, hydrogen becomes a supercritical liquid, for which the difference between a gas and a liquid simply disappears.
That is, under the layers of gas there is an ocean of conditionally liquid hydrogen and helium - between this ocean and the gas shell there is no clear border, it is stretched for many kilometers of smooth transition.
Why would the compass fail to work on Mars?
Mars lacks a complete planetary magnetic field. There are only small magnetic anomalies, where the field is about 500 times weaker than on Earth. They are generated by magnetized rocks in the crust of Mars, not by the magnetic dynamo in the planet's core, as in the case of Earth.
Zones of magnetic anomalies are located irregularly, so that even a very sensitive compass capable of picking up their weak fields will not indicate a certain geographic direction.
Mars lacks a complete planetary magnetic field. There are only small magnetic anomalies, where the field is about 500 times weaker than on Earth. They are generated by magnetized rocks in the crust of Mars, not by the magnetic dynamo in the planet's core, as in the case of Earth.
Zones of magnetic anomalies are located irregularly, so that even a very sensitive compass capable of picking up their weak fields will not indicate a certain geographic direction.
What happened to the Martian crater that is not round?
Most impact craters are commonly round and fairly symmetrical, but not all are. This oddly shaped crater on Mars is obviously an impact crater, but it has a unique oblong shape.
It is definitely a complex crater, with some characteristic features that may explain the unique shape.
Astrologers note that large blocks of material in the northeast and northwest corners look as if they have slid into the crater. These collapses have expanded the crater in these directions, giving it an oblong appearance.
Most impact craters are commonly round and fairly symmetrical, but not all are. This oddly shaped crater on Mars is obviously an impact crater, but it has a unique oblong shape.
It is definitely a complex crater, with some characteristic features that may explain the unique shape.
Astrologers note that large blocks of material in the northeast and northwest corners look as if they have slid into the crater. These collapses have expanded the crater in these directions, giving it an oblong appearance.
NASA faces criticism for lack of vigilance
The Space Transportation System program was terminated in 2011. The deaths of the shuttles played no small part in its closure.
The last flight was made by the shuttle Discovery. During the launch, just like the Columbia, several pieces of insulation foam fell off.
The Space Transportation System program was terminated in 2011. The deaths of the shuttles played no small part in its closure.
The last flight was made by the shuttle Discovery. During the launch, just like the Columbia, several pieces of insulation foam fell off.