Latest news with #Astronomy
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Gizmodo
Venus Harbors Secret Asteroids That Could Threaten Earth, Study Warns
Twenty years ago, Congress gave NASA a directive: find 90% of the near-Earth asteroids that could potentially harm our little world. Since then, astronomers have made major progress tracking down the rocky space debris, but a new study suggests there's a population of asteroids lurking around Venus that could pose a problem. These so-called 'Venus co-orbitals' share a similar path around the Sun with our neighbor planet but aren't harmless tagalongs. According to a paper under review for the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, and currently hosted on arXiv, a yet-undetected group of the asteroids could pose a threat to Earth. Potentially hazardous asteroids (or PHAs) are those larger than 460 feet (140 meters) across that come within 0.05 astronomical units (4.6 million miles, 7.5 million kilometers) of Earth's orbit. Valerio Carruba, a researcher at the University of São Paulo, led the research. Carruba's team suspects there are more than the 20 known co-orbital asteroids of Venus, though they may be even harder to detect. 'Current ground-based observations are constrained by periodic observing windows and solar elongation limitations, though the Rubin Observatory may detect some of these objects during favorable configurations,' the team wrote in the paper. 'Space missions based on Venus' orbits may be instrumental in detecting Venus' co-orbitals.' These asteroids also have what scientists call a 'Lyapunov time' of about 150 years—meaning their orbits become chaotic and unpredictable beyond that time horizon, which is very soon in cosmic timescales. To figure out if they pose a threat, the researchers created digital clones of the asteroids and ran orbital simulations spanning 36,000 years. The team wrote in the paper that 'there is a sizable population of potential co-orbitals at lower eccentricity capable of numerous close encounters—and perhaps collisions—with Earth.' But these co-orbital asteroids are often hidden by the Sun's glare and are therefore only visible during narrow observation windows. The upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory, expected to begin operations in July 2025, may help catch some of them. But even Rubin's exceptionally powerful camera won't be enough to catch the whole population. The authors posited that a space-based observatory may be the best way to spot any yet-unobserved asteroids near Venus, either with a constellation design or a single spacecraft. With even small asteroids capable of releasing city-flattening energy on impact, finding these elusive Venus co-orbitals isn't just academic—it could be vital to planetary defense.
The Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Sun hiding ‘invisible asteroid threat' as scientists warn Earth risks ‘collision' with ‘highly chaotic' Venus space rock
A FIELD of at least 20 asteroids has been found lurking near Venus, having previously been hidden by the Sun's glare, experts have revealed. The belt of asteroids is currently co-orbiting Venus, swinging around Earth's closest planetary neighbour with differing proximities to our planet. 3 Scientists from Brazil have warned that there could be more asteroids hiding near Venus, and that they may even pose a risk to Earth. "Twenty co-orbital asteroids of Venus are currently known," the authors wrote in their study, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. "Co-orbital status protects these asteroids from close approaches to Venus, but it does not protect them from encountering Earth." Asteroids are considered potentially hazardous asteroids (PHA) if they have a diameter of at least 140 metres and come within 0.05 astronomical units of Earth's orbit, according to experts. "We aim to assess the possible threat that the yet undetected population of Venus co-orbiters may pose to Earth, and to investigate their detectability from Earth and space observatories," the authors wrote. 3 Only one of the 20 known asteroids has an orbital eccentricity below 0.38 - with 0 being a perfectly circular orbit and 1 meaning an elliptical or oval-shaped orbit. This means some asteroids with wider orbits will be easier to spot, but those with minor orbital eccentricities may be difficult to detect. However, Venus asteroids with an orbital eccentricity higher than 0.38 could "pose a collisional hazard to Earth," the researchers warned. Co-orbital asteroids - ones that share an orbit with their nearby planet - are also known for having unpredictable orbits. This makes it harder to figure out how dangerous they are. Cold War era Soviet spaceship that was meant to reach Venus to FINALLY crash back to Earth at 17,000mph "The co-orbital asteroids of Venus are highly chaotic, with Lyapunov times of the order of 150 years," the authors explained. The Lyapunov time refers to how long an object's orbit takes to become unpredictable because of chaotic dynamics. So scientists have no idea how the orbit of an asteroid will evolve over the next 150 years, and if it could collide with Earth in the future. It's unclear how big the Venus asteroids are. But even a relatively small asteroid of 150 meters in diameter could strike Earth with a force equal to hundreds of megatons of TNT, Universe Today reported. For context, that is thousands of times more potent than the atomic bombs dropped in World War 2. The researchers said that more research is required to determine just how many asteroids are hiding near Venus. But since they are only observable periodically due to the Sun's glare, research from Earth's perspective might be difficult - even with powerful telescopes. The researchers suggest, therefore, that the best way to learn more about these hidden asteroids is to get a closer look. "Observations conducted from Venus' orbit, positioned facing away from the Sun, may enhance the detection of these bodies," the researchers explained.
Times of Oman
25-05-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
First day of Eid Al Adha expected to be on this date
Muscat: The first day of Eid Al Adha is expected to be on Friday June 6, 2025 in most Muslim countries, said the International Astronomical Center. The Islamic world will observe the crescent moon of Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 AD. The crescent moon can be seen with a telescope in Central and Western Asia, most of Africa, and Europe, and with the naked eye in large parts of the Americas. Since the crescent moon can be seen in the Islamic world on Tuesday, Wednesday, May 28, is expected to be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah, and Friday, June 6, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha in most Islamic countries. Regarding the position of the crescent moon on Tuesday, May 27, in some Arab and international cities, the surface calculations of the crescent moon at sunset are as follows: In Jakarta, the moon sets 9 minutes after sunset, at an age of 9 hours and 2 minutes. The crescent moon cannot be seen in Jakarta even with a telescope. In Abu Dhabi, the moon sets 38 minutes after sunset, at an age of 13 hours and 29 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 7.7 degrees. In Mecca, the moon sets 39 minutes after sunset, at 14 hours and 17 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 8.1 degrees. The crescent moon can only be seen with a telescope in Abu Dhabi and Mecca. In Amman and Jerusalem, the moon sets 48 minutes after sunset, at a age of 14 hours and 46 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 8.4 degrees. In Cairo, the moon sets 47 minutes after sunset, at an age of 14 hours and 54 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 8.5 degrees. In Rabat, the moon sets 58 minutes after sunset, at 17 hours, and its distance from the sun is 9.9 degrees. Seeing the crescent moon in Amman, Jerusalem, Cairo, and Rabat is difficult with the naked eye and requires very clear skies. To understand the meaning of these numbers, it is worth noting that the shortest period of a crescent that could be seen with the naked eye was 29 minutes, while the shortest age of a crescent that could be seen with the naked eye was 15 hours and 33 minutes. It is not sufficient for the crescent to be longer than these values for it to be seen, as the sighting of the crescent is related to other factors such as its angular distance from the sun and its distance from the horizon at the time of observation.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
AI and the "next big thing" in astronomy
AI - Artificial Intelligence - is increasingly a part of our daily lives and the more we use it, the more conversations there are about whether we use it too much - even amongst scientists themselves. Anna Scaife is a Professor of Radio Astronomy from the University of Manchester. Here for a lecture series at the invitation of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, Anna's talk is entitled "How Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we do Astronomy - and why that's not necessarily a bad thing." She joins Kathryn from Rakiura, Stewart Island to explain how AI could help astronomers solve one of the biggest scientific questions of all time. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
James Webb Space Telescope identified Milky Way's cosmic twin from the universe's first billion years
Astronomers have discovered Zhúlóng, an enormous spiral galaxy observed as it was just 12.8 billion years ago, challenging current theories about galaxy formation . Identified through the James Webb Space Telescope 's PANORAMIC survey, Zhúlóng shows a well-defined spiral structure—unexpected for such an early stage in the universe. Until now, spiral galaxies were rarely seen beyond 11.5 billion years ago. With a diameter of 62,000 light-years and a stellar mass comparable to the Milky Way, Zhúlóng suggests that mature, organized galaxies may have formed much earlier than scientists once believed. Zhúlóng: A mature galaxy born in the universe's first billion years Astronomer Mengyuan Xiao and his team from the University of Geneva state, "Zhúlóng reveals that mature galaxies formed much earlier than previously thought, within the first billion years following the Big Bang." Their research, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, describes the galaxy's 'highly evolved structure,' which includes a classical quiescent bulge, a star-forming disk, and grand-design spiral arms. These spiral arms stretch from the nucleus to the galaxy's outer regions, defining its grand-design spiral shape. Such complex features are typically seen in older galaxies, making Zhúlóng's early development—just one billion years after the Big Bang—especially significant and challenging earlier models of galaxy formation. Consequences of James Webb Space Telescope identified-twin galaxy formation and evolution "Our discovery provides essential constraints for models of massive galaxy formation and the origins of spiral structures in the early universe," the researchers state. Earlier, it was assumed that the development of spiral galaxies was a slow process, with these structures forming predominantly after the first billion years of cosmic history. However, the detection of Zhúlóng suggests that the processes responsible for galaxy formation, such as star settling into disks and the formation of spiral arms, might have occurred much more rapidly. This challenges existing models and calls for a reassessment of factors like gas dynamics, star formation rates, and the role of dark matter halos. Zhúlóng's swift evolution within 800 million years after the Big Bang offers a new benchmark for astrophysical models and simulations aimed at understanding the early universe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo A Milky Way twin like never before found by James Webb Space Telescope 'Zhúlóng stands out due to its striking resemblance to the Milky Way in terms of shape, size, and stellar mass,' says Xiao. With a diameter of around 62,000 light-years and a mass comparable to that of the Milky Way, Zhúlóng is a close cosmic relative despite its ancient origins. The galaxy's central black hole appears inactive, indicating a decline in its star formation rate, which is estimated to be between 20 and 155 solar masses per year. This suggests a shift from a highly active star-forming phase to a more mature, stable state. The galaxy's well-formed classical bulge and star-forming disk further confirm its advanced structural development, providing a rare glimpse into the Milky Way's early evolutionary stages. A new timeline perspective of Galaxy after James Webb Space Telescope's discovery The discovery of Zhúlóng in such an early stage suggests that massive galaxies could form up to ten times faster than previously believed. This revised timeline challenges traditional views on the pace of cosmic evolution during the first billion years after the Big Bang. Investigating the factors that enabled Zhúlóng's rapid formation will provide insights into the conditions of the early universe, including the availability of cold gas, star formation efficiency, and feedback from black holes or supernovae. As the JWST continues its study of the Cosmic Dawn, findings like Zhúlóng will enhance our understanding of how the universe evolved from its primordial state to a structured cosmos filled with complex galaxies like the Milky Way. Also read: 8 interesting scorpion facts that will blow your mind: Know about their characteristics, origin and more
