NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captures the flare on December 14, 2023. (Photo: NASA/SDO)

NASA watches the universe and reports back on the amazing phenomena it witnesses with its incredible array of telescopes, cameras, and sensors. On December 14, 2023, NASA captured something spectacular and beautiful from their Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). SDO is part of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) Program. The craft studies the Sun's magnetic field from its specially crafted orbit that always keeps the Sun in view. On the 14th, the SDO captured an impressive solar flare striking out from the surface of the star—the biggest flare since one recorded in September 2017.

The December 2023 flare emerged from AR 3514, an active sunspot visible on the solar surface. The solar flare is categorized as an X2.8 type. This is the most intense of five flare categories. It was a release of electromagnetic radiation, what NASA calls “our solar system’s largest explosive events.” It was not directed squarely at Earth, and therefore only caused a radio black out for a short period in South America.

The flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection. Dr. Kate Brand told Cosmos Magazine, “During a coronal mass ejection (CME), billions of tonnes of magnetized solar plasma erupt into space at speeds up to 3,000 km/s. If the material is directed towards the Earth, geomagnetic and ionospheric storms can occur. Both can significantly disrupt technology in the near-Earth space environment.” She added, “Solar flares do not cause coronal mass ejections, but a coronal mass ejection may (or may not be) associated with a solar flare.”

CMEs can cause auroras on Earth. “A CME arrival earlier on 17 December is likely to bring some further minor enhancement to the auroral oval,” according to the UK Met Office. Earlier this week, Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and similar locations were expected to get a glimpse of some auroras. “The peak in auroral activity for the coming three-day period is likely to be overnight 18-19 Dec, resulting from the onset of the fast wind from a coronal hole.” Viewers as far south as Boston were also forecasted to glimpse a peek. Now, the UK Met Office predicts, “A stream of fast winds from a coronal hole may arrive at Earth late on 21 or on 22 Dec, perhaps increasing the chance of visible aurora across the far north of Scotland and similar latitudes.”

For anyone who doesn’t have the opportunity or missed the chance to see the lights dance across the sky, NASA's incredible imagery of the flare is equally impressive.

On December 14, 2023, powerful solar flares were seen, the likes of which have been unrivaled since the spectacular solar show of 2017.

The September 10, 2017 flare. (Photo: NASA/SDO/Goddard)

h/t: [Science Alert]

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Photo: NASA/W. Liller via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Halley's Comet is one of the most fascinating astronomic events ever, with records dating back to a thousand years ago. It was last visible from Earth in 1986, and since it comes around every 75 to 79 years, its next sighting will take place in July 2061. And while that seems a while away, we can now start looking forward to its return. As of December 8, 2023, Halley's Comet is on its way back through the solar system towards Earth.

The comet travels around the Sun in a flattened elliptical orbit that takes it beyond the outer limits of the solar system, before bringing it back right around the Sun. And after decades of traveling away from our star, it has reached the farthest point of its orbit, also known as aphelion. Located 3.27 billion miles away from the Sun, it's roughly 472.2 million miles beyond the orbit of Neptune. The last time Halley's Comet was at this point in its orbit was in April 1948.

Now that Halley's comet is on its way back, it means that for the first time in nearly 38 years it will be getting closer to the Sun. It currently holds a speed of 0.565 miles per second, or about 2,034 miles per hour, which is expected to increase as it gets closer to the inner solar system. “In concert with Kepler's second law of motion, a celestial body moves fastest when it is at perihelion and slowest at aphelion,” writes Joe Rao from Space. So, once Halley passes through aphelion, its orbital velocity will begin to—very slowly at first—increase, on its way inbound toward the Sun.”

Halley's Comet last reached perihelion—its closest point to the Sun—on February 9, 1986, and it will be at that point again on July 28, 2061. Since the comet will be on the same side of the Sun as the Earth during the summer, it will appear at least 10 times brighter than it did 38 years ago—light pollution permitting.

Since Halley's Comet was first photographed during its appearance in 1910, and was first studied with a probe 76 years later, we can only imagine the technological advancements that will be available to scientists next time the comet comes around.

h/t: [Space]

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Photo: NASA/Daniel Rutter

The Kepler telescope was deactivated in 2018, ending its mission almost a decade after its launch. However, its observations continue to teach us new things about the universe. NASA reports that astronomers have found a system of seven planets thanks to the data gathered by the Kepler telescope.

Known as Kepler-385 due to the involvement of the telescope in its discovery, this seven-planet system has a Sun-like star at the center. However, it is about 10% larger and 5% hotter than our Sun; and it creates scorching conditions throughout the system. NASA even points out that each of the planets is bathed in more radiant heat from their host star per area than any planet in our solar system.

As for these seven exoplanets (planets that orbit a star outside the solar system), the inner two are both slightly larger than Earth, probably rocky with thin atmospheres. The other five planets are thought to be larger, with a radius about twice the size of Earth’s but smaller than Neptune, and surrounded by thick atmospheres.

Kepler-385 is part of a new catalog of 4,400 planet candidates and 700 multi-planet systems discovered by the telescope. A planet candidate is a planet that has been discovered by a telescope, but not yet confirmed to actually exist. Among all the planet candidates and systems listed, Kepler-385 caught the astronomer's attention as it's rare for there to be a system with more than six planet candidates.

“The ability to describe the properties of the Kepler-385 system in such detail is testament to the quality of this latest catalog of exoplanets,” writes NASA. “While the Kepler mission’s final catalogs focused on producing lists optimized to measure how common planets are around other stars, this study focuses on producing a comprehensive list that provides accurate information about each of the systems, making discoveries like Kepler-385 possible.”

With Kepler having provided the first steps in the long process to further studying neighbor systems and planets, researchers will turn to other resources to confirm their existence and learn more about them. “We’ve assembled the most accurate list of Kepler planet candidates and their properties to date,” says Jack Lissauer, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley and lead author on the paper presenting the new catalog. “NASA’s Kepler mission has discovered the majority of known exoplanets, and this new catalog will enable astronomers to learn more about their characteristics.”

NASA reports that astronomers have found a system of seven planets thanks to the data gathered by the Kepler telescope.

Photo: NASA/Daniel Rutter

All images via NASA.

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There are few sights as romantic as a full moon. For those who love to stargaze or those who simply consider themselves astronomy enthusiasts, there's now a special watch that lets you wear a piece of the Moon on your wrist. Creative brand Interstellar, which belongs to Col&MacArthur, has designed a line of beautiful timepieces which honors past and future lunar missions.

The series of watches is called LUNAR1,622, deriving its name from lunar and the number 1,622 which represents the surface gravity on the Moon. “It's more than a watch; it's a reminder that the sky is not the limit, but just the beginning,” Interstellar says. Additionally, what makes these watches even more collectible is that they are officially approved by NASA, meaning that the space agency's iconic logo is included on the back of the watch, and the accessories include NFC (near-field communication) technology.

Of course, the crowning jewel of these watches is the genuine moon dust that is tucked away at the three o'clock mark. The Advanced and Premium version of these timepieces feature meteorite moon dust that was collected in Northwest Africa and certified by Britain-based MSG Meteorites. While the standard model does not come with this stellar touch, it does have a recreation of Neil Armstrong's footprint in the same three o'clock slot.

There are many other details for astronomy fans to find. For instance, all of the successful Apollo landings on the Moon are written in gold lettering on the edge of the dial, while orbital missions are added in white. Furthermore, Neil Armstrong's famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” are inscribed on one side of the frame, as well as his initials, and the Apollo II mission's name and date.

The Earlybird prices for the moon watch start at $399 for the standard model, $599 for the advanced model, and $999 for the premium. You can pre-order them via Kickstarter. Orders are expected to be delivered in December 2023.

Creative brand Interstellar has designed a spectacular timepiece which honors the Apollo II mission.

The LUNAR1,622 line features watches inspired by the Moon and past and future lunar exploration.

Advanced and premium versions of the watch include genuine moon dust in the three o'clock mark.

The standard version includes a rendering of Neil Armstrong's footprint.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Interstellar (@interstellar_watches)

Interstellar: Interstellar | Website | Instagram
h/t: [DesignTAXI]

All images via Interstellar.

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Asteroid belt illustration. (Photo: JohanSwanepoel /Depositphotos)

At some point in school, we all learned about the elements of the periodic table. However, as with all classification tools, it has its limitations. While it's very helpful in identifying elements, many in the universe are still unknown. A recent study published in EJP Plus demonstrates this beautifully by looking at asteroids.

A team of researchers from the Department of Physics at the University of Arizona, Tucson, is looking into certain asteroids with densities higher than any element known to exist on Earth. Specifically, they've been investigating the 33 Polyhymnia asteroid belt, which is located between Mars and Jupiter. Discovered in 1854, it has an estimated mass of 75 g/cm³.

To put this into perspective, we need to explore the current periodic table and the elements it contains. Elements with an atomic number (Z) higher than 104 are considered superheavy elements. Elements with atomic numbers between 105 and 118 are on the periodic table but have only been created experimentally. They are radioactive and unstable, with a very short lifespan. Elements higher than 118 have some predicted characteristics but have not yet been observed.

Osmium crystals (Photo: Periodictableru via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)

The densest naturally-occurring element is Osmium, which has an atomic number of 76. Its density is 22.59 g/cm³, making is about twice as dense as lead. Any object with a density higher than this is considered a “compact ultradense object” or CUDO.

So when the research team considered the proposed density of 33 Polyhymnia, they naturally concluded that it must contain elements higher than Z=118. Now, the team led by Jan Rafelski will use the Thomas-Fermi model of the atom to try and calculate the structure and properties of these ultraheavy elements.

Specifically, they are interested in an “island of nuclear stability” that the model predicts around Z=164. Their calculations confirm this island of stability and predicted a density between 36.0 and 68.4 g/cm³ for the proposed stable element. This approaches the density of 33 Polyhymnia and puts forth the idea that these asteroids could be made of substances currently unknown on Earth. It's a tantalizing idea for anyone interested in precious metals and their potential usages.

“All super-heavy elements—those that are highly unstable as well as those that are simply unobserved—have been lumped together as ‘unobtainium,’ ” concludes Rafelski. “The idea that some of these might be stable enough to be obtained from within our Solar System is an exciting one.”

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Photo: NASA

In 2009, astronaut José Hernández saw his dream come true—travel to space as a member of NASA's STS-128 mission. But his path was unlike that of most astronauts. Born to immigrant parents, he spent his early years picking produce in California. Unrelenting about his passion for the stars, Hernández was rejected by the space program 11 times before he was finally accepted. Now, his inspiring life story has been turned into a movie titled A Million Miles Away, directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella.

Born in French Camp, California, Hernández used to spend half the year with his family in Michoacán, Mexico, before returning to the U.S. to follow the seasonal harvests. “My childhood was typical of a migrant farm working family, a family that spends nine months out of the year picking fruits and vegetables from Southern California to Northern California,” Hernández told CNN in 2016. “While others looked forward to summer vacation, I hated it. Summer vacation meant working seven days a week in the fields.”

His earliest memory of space was watching the landing of Apollo 17 on his family’s black and white television. Ever since that moment, he was set on becoming an astronaut. Since the traveling lifestyle led him to miss school and relocate often, his second-grade teacher called for them to settle in one place so their kids could have a good education—an act that set Hernández on the right track to achieve his dream.

Hernández went on to get a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific in 1984. Two years later,  he earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Hernández then joined the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Northern California, where he developed equipment for the first full-field digital mammogram.

But his dream to become an astronaut didn't fade, and so, he applied the five “ingredients” his dad had taught him about for pursuing a dream, which are also the five chapters featured in the movie:

•       Find your goal
•       Know how far you are
•       Draw a roadmap
•       If you don’t know how, learn
•       When you think you’ve made it, you probably have to work harder

And so Hernández persisted through every rejection letter—and kept on polishing his skills. He obtained his pilot’s license, became a certified scuba diver, and even learned to speak Russian. Finally, in 2004, at age 42, his coveted acceptance letter came. After completing Astronaut Candidate Training, he was selected as a mission specialist on the STS-128 mission, bound to launch in August 2009. During the 14-day journey aboard the shuttle Discovery, Hernández helped transport seven tons of equipment and supplies to the International Space Station.

Today, Hernández serves as Regent of the University of California and runs Tierra Luna, the aerospace consulting firm he co-founded. He is also a motivational speaker and is back to picking fruit—this time, on his own terms, as he owns a vineyard, where he and his father make and sell their own line of wines, Tierra Luna Cellars, inspired by the stars he saw in space.

Now that his life has been turned into a movie, he hopes his story gives a push to those pursuing a goal that looks impossible. He said, “I hope the film serves as a way of motivating many people to pursue their own dreams with the kind of passion I had to pursue mine.”

A Million Miles Away is now streaming on Prime Video.

In 2009, astronaut José Hernández saw his dream come true—travel to space as a member of NASA's STS-128 mission.

Photo: NASA

But his path there was unlike that of most astronauts. Born to immigrant parents, he spent his early years picking produce in the fields of California.

Photo: NASA

Now, his inspiring life story has been turned into a movie titled A Million Miles Away, directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella.

Photo: NASA

NASA: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [NBC DFW]

All images via NASA

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Photo: Kevin Baird via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

We're only a few days away from one of the most exciting astronomy events of the year. On Saturday, October 14, 2023, millions of people across the Americas will get to experience a “ring of fire” eclipse. Unlike total solar eclipses, this marvelous phenomenon takes place when the Moon is at its furthest point from Earth, which prevents it from covering all of the Sun, creating a luminous halo around it.

This time, the lucky ones in the U.S. are those living in southwestern states, as the path of totality crosses parts of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. If you live in or nearby the states mentioned above, you may get to see a partial eclipse, which is nothing short of amazing. Abroad, the path of annularity crosses the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and northern Brazil. To know exactly how much of the eclipse you'll get to see (weather permitting), check out this Google Maps-based route of the eclipse created by French expert Xavier Jubier.

Should you find yourself in the eclipse’s path, you’ll need additional precautions before marveling at it. Since this is an annular eclipse, the Sun is never fully covered, which means it’s not safe to stare directly at it at any stage of the eclipse. The best option is getting your hands on certified solar glasses. You can check a list of reliable sellers of solar filters put together by the American Astronomical Society here.

If you're in a pinch, there are other options to observe the eclipse indirectly. For example, there's the pinhole method, in which you can punch a hole in a card. As sunlight passes through it, you can project the solar image onto a nearby surface, like a wall. You can even use your hands for this. With your back to the Sun, you can stretch out your arms and, with your fingers slightly opened, place your hand on top of the other to form a waffle pattern. The spaces between your fingers will project a grid of small images on the ground, showing how much of the Sun has been covered by the Moon.

If you don't live anywhere near the eclipse path or simply feel better following it at home, NASA will provide a live broadcast. You can follow it on NASA TV, as well as their website and social media channels from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, October 14. Should you miss this eclipse, don’t fret, you'll get another chance in Spring 2024, when a total eclipse covers a good portion of North America on Monday, April 8, 2024.

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, millions of people across the Americas will get to experience a “ring of fire” eclipse.

Photo: I_g0rZh/Depositphotos

Unlike total solar eclipses, this marvelous phenomenon takes place when the Moon is ant its furthest point from Earth, which prevents it from covering all of the Sun, creating a luminous halo.

Photo: Masaru Kamikura via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

h/t: [IFL Science]

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NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, 1969. (Photo: NASA/Neil A. Armstrong via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

On July 20, 1969, the world watched Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon and deliver the famous line: “This is one small footstep for man and one giant leap for mankind.” Over 50 years later, this remains a defining moment in the scientific field, inspiring many subsequent Moon missions, like the recent Chandrayaan-3 landing. However, NASA's Apollo missions weren't all about work. There are many videos online that show astronauts having fun in the lunar gravity as they learn how to walk, jump, and even play sports.

There are videos from all six of the manned lunar missions—Apollo 11 (1969), Apollo 12 (1969), Apollo 14, Apollo 15 (1971), Apollo 16 (1972), and Apollo 17 (1972). These clips highlight funny outtakes of astronauts tripping over the surface of the Moon and gently falling over. Between the bulky white suits and the strange new environment, it's not a surprise that they struggle to traverse the surface. However, it is still amusing to see these highly trained and skilled astronauts fumbling around in space.

In some of these videos, astronauts can be heard singing merry tunes. The joy in their voices is clear as they narrate what it's like to hop all around or play golf—the latter of which proved to be trickier than expected. It seemed like they certainly knew how to keep busy between the different games and activities. Watching the lunar rover slowly drive across the gray terrain, kicking up moondust as it goes by, is equally exciting.

Hopefully, with the first manned lunar mission in decades on the horizon, and the Artemis II crew chosen, there will be more videos of Moon shenanigans to enjoy soon.

On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the Moon.

However, NASA's Apollo missions weren't all work and no play.

The outtakes of NASA astronauts trying to walk on the moon are amazing. pic.twitter.com/MVviyifDQF

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) September 7, 2022

There are many videos online that show NASA crews learning how to walk, jump, and even play sports in lunar gravity.

Several of these astronauts are recorded singing as they explore the Moon.

And of course, seeing astronauts drive the lunar rover is always fun.

h/t: [IFL Science]

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Photo: surangastock/Depositphotos

The Northern Lights are one of the most fascinating phenomena of the natural world. Typically, the best chances to see it are from very remote Arctic locations during the coldest months of the year; however, soon it may become easier to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. Sunspot observations, a key predictor for the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights, have increased since the end of last year, and could continue to grow. This means that the natural phenomenon will not only appear more frequently, but they could also be seen from more places.

As NBC News explains, every glimmer of the Northern Lights begins as a spot on the Sun’s surface. According to the The Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, a group of scientists that forecasts sunspot activity, the next 18 months will bring the strongest Northern Lights activity of both the coming decade and the past 20 years if the upward trend continues.

The latest prediction model points to a steady increase of sunspot observations until fall 2024, when the probability of a visible aurora borealis, reaches its peak. “Skywatchers are excited,” says Mark Miesch, a research scientist at the University of Colorado – Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

So far, the increase has brought some promising opportunities. Earlier this year, some cities in the continental U.S.—including Minneapolis, MN; Lansing, MI; and Portland, ME—were able to marvel at the aurora. While it may still sound pretty northern, the views they got were previously reserved for Alaska and upper Canada.

But even with improved chances to spot the Northern Lights, there are certain things you must consider. The best time to catch the aurora is “within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time),” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Getting away from city lights and any light pollution is also key to enjoying the aurora at its best.

“Auroras are a spectacular sign that our planet is electrically connected to the Sun,” states NASA. “These light shows are provoked by energy from the Sun and fueled by electrically charged particles trapped in Earth's magnetic field.” Hopefully, they could soon be easier to see for more people around the globe.

According to scientists, sunspot observations (a key predictor for the likelihood of seeing the northern lights) have increased since the end of last year, and could continue to grow.

Photo: Johann/Depositphotos

This means that the Northern Lights will not only appear more frequently, but they could also be seen from more places.

Photo: AlexGukBO/Depositphotos

h/t: [Interesting Engineering]

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A new mosaic of Shackleton Crater as seen by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera and ShadowCam. (Photo: Mosaic by NASA, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Arizona State University)

While the Moon is a constant presence in our lives, there's a lot that scientists are still learning about it. The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the lunar south pole with hopes of uncovering some of these mysteries, such as the possible presence of water ice in the large impact craters. While the lunar lander learns how to traverse the surface, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been in space since 2009, shared new mosaic images of the lunar south pole that shed some light on one of its most prominent craters.

The mosaic was created using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), and the NASA ShadowCam, which resides on the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) spacecraft Danuri (launched in 2022). The ShadowCam was developed by Malin Space Science Systems and Arizona State University and boasts light-sensitive capabilities that are 200 times as powerful as the LROC. These innovations help it capture details on parts of the Moon that receive no direct light and are perpetually shadowed. However, the ShadowCam cannot photograph the brighter areas of the Moon without creating a saturated image, so for those sections of the mosaic, the LROC was employed.

This mosaic highlights Shackleton Crater, a large impact crater in the lunar south pole that measures 12.4 miles across and 2.6 miles deep—over twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Due to its depth, scientists believe there is a strong possibility water ice deposits could be found somewhere at this crater or in the surrounding area. NASA also shared a topographical map of the lunar south pole, which identifies the locations of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 landing, where Shackleton Crater is, as well as potential landing sites for the Artemis 3 mission, a manned mission scheduled for 2025. With so much research planned for this relatively unknown part of the Moon, there will surely be more to learn about its rocky surface soon.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been in space since 2009, shared a new mosaic image highlighting Shackleton Crater, a large impact crater located at the lunar south pole.

A map of the area of the lunar south pole near Shackleton Crater, including potential Artemis 3 landing sites (yellow). (Photo: NASA/PL; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, Planetary Geomatics Group, USGS, Matthew W. Chwastyk, NGM Staff)

h/t: [Live Science]

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