Latest news with #Centaurus
Forbes
4 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Scientists: Webb Telescope May Find Planet Around Closest Bright Star
Alpha Centauri, one of the two "Pointer Stars" that help stargazers find the Southern Cross in the ... More Southern Hemisphere, may have a planet in orbit around it. If it does, the Webb Telescope will find it — as long as it's Jupiter-sized. The closest star to the sun, Proxima Centauri, has a planet. It may even have two planets. Proxima Centauri is located in the constellation Centaurus, visible only from the southern hemisphere, but it's a red dwarf star too small to be seen. That brightest star in Centaurus — and the third brightest in the entire night sky — is Alpha Centauri. It's two stars (Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B) orbiting each other, with Proxima Centauri orbiting them every 550,000 years, in a weird-sounding (but not rare) three-star solar system. Does Alpha Centauri have planets around it? It's a Holy Grail among planet-hunters, mostly because Alpha Centauri is only 4.37 light-years distant. Since it's so close to the solar system, it's theoretically an ideal target for astrometry (the study of the movements of stars and celestial bodies), as well as for direct infrared imaging using the James Webb Space Telescope, two techniques that can detect planets orbiting distant stars — exoplanets. A new paper published this week in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society details the use of the Webb telescope to study Alpha Centauri in February 2025. Although it didn't detect any planets, it provides glimpses of what may still be hiding around the star. The Alpha Centauri star system — a triple-star planetary system. According to the paper, the Webb telescope's Mid-InfraRed Instrument would have detected gas giant planets like Jupiter at about twice the Earth-sun distance from Alpha Centauri A if they were roughly similar to Earth's temperature. It's tricky because, in a system with two bright stars, light pollution is always a problem. Although the Webb telescope has a coronagraph disc to block the light from the host star (by creating an artificial eclipse) to help it detect planets in the vicinity, it doesn't have two coronagraphs to use on two separate stars. Despite that — and despite Alpha Centauri Ac being five billion years old, meaning any planets in its orbit would likely be very old, cool and therefore dim — the scientists think the Webb telescope can still be used to find large Jupiter-sized planets in its orbit. The authors call Alpha Centauri "an exceptional but challenging target for exoplanet searches." This early conclusion is based on just one set of observations from February 2025. Webb also observed Alpha Centauri A in August 2024 and April 2025, so more conclusions — and possibly a discovery of a planet — could be imminent. Illustration of the Earth-like exoplanet Proxima Centauri b orbiting the star Proxima Centauri. ... More (Illustration by Tobias Roetsch/Future Publishing via Getty Images) In 2016, astronomers found an exoplanet in Proxima Centauri's habitable zone and named it Proxima Centauri b. This exoplanet orbits its star every 11 days from just 5% of the Earth-sun distance from the star. Proxima Centauri b is thought to orbit the star's 'habitable zone,' which is defined as a distance that allows temperatures to be warm enough for liquid water to pool on the planet's surface. However, it's thought that Proxima Centauri sometimes unleashes a massive stellar flare — an energetic explosion of high energy radiation — that would make life as we know it impossible on any planets in orbit. A paper in 2020 suggested that Proxima Centauri may be orbited by a second "super-Earth" sized planet (bigger than Earth, but smaller than Uranus) about the same distance from its star as Mars is from the sun. If it exists, it orbits Proxima Centauri every 5.2 Earth years. Barnard's star is one of the fastest-moving stars in the night sky because it's just six light-years from the solar system. In October 2024, scientists unveiled a planet around it thought to be about half the size of Venus. Called Barnard's b, it's around 20 times closer than Mercury is to the sun. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Oh My God Centauri
Last weekend, after some intense strategic planning as part of my day job, I finally managed an entire night under the stars at my new observing site out in Middlemarch. No clouds. No wind. Just the hush of the Taieri and a sky so dark it felt like I'd stepped into space. I'd been itching to test my astronomy gear out there and I knew exactly what I wanted to photograph: Omega Centauri. Or, as I like to call it, Oh My God Centauri. You see, Omega isn't your run-of-the-mill deep sky object. It's a globular cluster — an enormous swarm of ancient stars bound together by gravity. More than 10 million suns packed into a ball about 150 light-years across, orbiting our Milky Way like a bee around a honeypot. It sits high in the southern sky early in the night, glittering like a celestial snow globe. Omega Centauri resides in the constellation Centaurus, a sprawling figure representing a wise centaur from Greek mythology — sometimes identified as Chiron, tutor to heroes like Hercules. It's a rich part of the sky, but few objects anywhere can compete with Omega's sheer majesty. I remember the first time I saw it, I actually gasped. My photograph from Middlemarch doesn't quite capture that gasp — but it comes close. In the image, you can see the subtle hues of the stars: some glowing blue-white with youth and energy, others tinged with orange and red, ancient and cooling. The colours tell stories of stellar lifetimes, of nuclear fire slowly fading across billions of years. Omega Centauri is about 16,000 light-years away. That means the light that hit my telescope last Saturday left the cluster shortly after our ancestors who I'm sure my fellow columnist Tom Higham would explain, were first shaping tools on the savannah. That's the magic of deep-sky photography — you're not just capturing light, you're catching time. There's something humbling about sitting alone on a cold paddock, camera clicking away, with a million stars staring back at you from the deep past. I packed up just before dawn, with the Milky Way arching overhead and a thermos of lukewarm tea in my hand, already planning my next night out under that Middlemarch sky.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centaurus secures key licence for Brazilian nickel sulphide project
Centaurus Metals has secured an installation licence for its 100%-owned Jaguar nickel sulphide project in northern Brazil's Pará State. The licence, which has been granted by Pará's state environmental agency, Semas, authorises the company to initiate construction activities for the project under its existing design. Valid until March 2029, the licence allows Centaurus to build a nickel concentration plant along with related infrastructure including pits, dams and waste piles. The licence also allows for activities such as vegetation clearing and fauna management during construction along with the main water permits. Centaurus Metals managing director Darren Gordon said: 'The grant of the installation licence puts us firmly on the path to make a final investment decision [FID] later in the year, once a suitable financing package is secured, and enables the company to start construction of one of the world's most significant new nickel sulphide mines. 'Jaguar is a significant project for the region and for local communities, and will generate significant economic, social and community benefits over a long period of time. We are looking forward to working with all key stakeholders over the coming months to bring this fantastic project to fruition.' Situated in the western part of Carajás Mineral Province of Brazil, the Jaguar project was acquired from Vale in April 2020. The project includes various nickel sulphide deposits and exploration targets within a 30km² land package. The issuance of the installation licence clears the way for the formal granting of the mining lease, the last condition to be met after the grant of technical approval in December 2023. Centaurus expects to secure the mining lease in the coming months. The earlier issued preliminary licence/installation licence for the powerline in February 2024 allows for its construction pending engineering completion, funding and landowner agreements. "Centaurus secures key licence for Brazilian nickel sulphide project" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centaurus secures key licence for Brazilian nickel sulphide project
Centaurus Metals has secured an installation licence for its 100%-owned Jaguar nickel sulphide project in northern Brazil's Pará State. The licence, which has been granted by Pará's state environmental agency, Semas, authorises the company to initiate construction activities for the project under its existing design. Valid until March 2029, the licence allows Centaurus to build a nickel concentration plant along with related infrastructure including pits, dams and waste piles. The licence also allows for activities such as vegetation clearing and fauna management during construction along with the main water permits. Centaurus Metals managing director Darren Gordon said: 'The grant of the installation licence puts us firmly on the path to make a final investment decision [FID] later in the year, once a suitable financing package is secured, and enables the company to start construction of one of the world's most significant new nickel sulphide mines. 'Jaguar is a significant project for the region and for local communities, and will generate significant economic, social and community benefits over a long period of time. We are looking forward to working with all key stakeholders over the coming months to bring this fantastic project to fruition.' Situated in the western part of Carajás Mineral Province of Brazil, the Jaguar project was acquired from Vale in April 2020. The project includes various nickel sulphide deposits and exploration targets within a 30km² land package. The issuance of the installation licence clears the way for the formal granting of the mining lease, the last condition to be met after the grant of technical approval in December 2023. Centaurus expects to secure the mining lease in the coming months. The earlier issued preliminary licence/installation licence for the powerline in February 2024 allows for its construction pending engineering completion, funding and landowner agreements. "Centaurus secures key licence for Brazilian nickel sulphide project" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centaurus Financial, Inc. Donates Nearly $90,000 to Orange County Animal Rescue Group
ANAHEIM, Calif., March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Animals, and helping them live better lives, are near and dear to the heart of Ron King, CEO of Centaurus Financial, Inc., an independent broker/dealer based in Anaheim, California. So, as part of the firm's annual Sponsor Appreciation Day, a local rescue group, Shamrock Rescue Foundation, was the beneficiary of money raised via donations at the daylong event, which included a golf tournament, putting contest, barbecue dinner and cocktails. Centaurus holds the annual event to thank its hard-working partners for all they do. The 21st annual Sponsor Appreciation Day was held in December at Strawberry Farms, a tranquil, rural spot in the heart of busy Orange County, California. "Shamrock Rescue takes the animals that no one wants from the shelters where they face almost certain death," King said as the day began. "They offer hope to the sick and injured, to animals who no one else wants. They rehabilitate them and find them loving homes. And 100 percent of every dollar raised goes to the animals' care. All the work is done by volunteers." The nearly $45,000 donated at the tournament was matched by Centaurus and Ron and Charice King, netting nearly $90,000 for Shamrock Rescue. About Shamrock Rescue Foundation Shamrock Rescue Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) company that saves dogs and other animals who are in danger of being put to death in public shelters. These animals often have little to no hope of a better life, or of a life at all. Without Shamrock Rescue's intervention, many animals who are now living happy lives with loving families would not have had a chance. After the animals are rescued, they are examined by a veterinarian, microchipped, spayed and neutered. If additional health care is needed, Shamrock provides it. The dogs are placed in foster homes or boarded until permanent homes can be found for them. One hundred cents of every dollar Shamrock receives goes directly to the animals. All expenses associated with running the foundation are absorbed by the founders and volunteers. For more information about Shamrock Rescue Foundation, please visit or contact Maryanne Dell at (714) 270-4187. About Centaurus Financial, Inc. Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Centaurus Financial, Inc. is a national independent broker/dealer licensed to offer securities, investment advisory services and insurance products. Centaurus is a registered investment adviser with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of both FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and SIPC (the Securities Investor Protection Corporation). For more information about Centaurus, please visit For registered representatives, financial advisors or insurance agents interested in joining Centaurus Financial, please visit Centaurus Financial's website for financial professionals at or contact John Trentor at (800) 880-4234. Media contact: Maryanne Dell, mdell@ 714-456-1790 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Centaurus Financial, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
