Latest news with #M31
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lumberjack Jet-Powered One-Way Attack Munition Can Drop Its Own Precision Bomblets
Northrop Grumman has just unveiled its new Lumberjack loitering one-way attack drone at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington, D.C., at which TWZ is in attendance. We talked to Michael Bastin, Director of Technology for the firm, on the show floor to get the low-down on Lumberjack and what it brings to the table. The jet-propelled weapon falls into the U.S. military's Group 3 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) category, defined as designs weighing between 55 and 1,320 pounds, able to fly at between 3,500 and 18,000 feet, and having top speeds of between 100 and 250 knots. Lumberjack can be launched from the surface or the air. It carries a payload size similar to that of a 250-pound class Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). It can be configured for kinetic strike, including dropping submunitions of its own, or other roles, such as acting as an electronic warfare platform or reconnaissance. This flexibility comes via a modular center base compartment. 'Because it is air-launched and/or ground-launched, and it has a several hundred-mile range, you can basically put in kinetic effects from a forward-deployed ground base — very modular — it's a two-man lift. So you can have an ability to sort of reach out and defend surface and land capabilities, as well as air deploy, and have non-kinetic electronic warfare protection for your main forces,' Bastin told us. It can also trade its range for loitering endurance, staying in the air over an area for 'a couple hours.' In terms of launch options, Bastin told us that 'we've demonstrated two different launchers. One is an electric rail system developed for… the Navy, intended actually to launch off of ships. So you could actually launch this off of surface vessels. We've also launched it using a pneumatic technique, which is field-deployable. It's very similar to what's being employed currently in Europe… If the ground forces want it, it's basically a large, effectively a potato gun. Very cheap, very easy to build. You can build it in, you know, local components.' Cost-wise, Lumberjack is aiming to come in at around '$75 to $100k,' per weapon, according to Bastin. This would be a comparatively attractive price, especially for a modular kamikaze drone that is jet-powered and can fly at least a few hundred miles. This would equate to roughly half the cost of a Hellfire missile. Alternately, a single 227mm M31 GMLRS guided artillery rocket, which has a range of around 50 miles, costs around $150k. Lumberjack would not strike as fast as the M31, but it would cover a much larger area and do so more flexibly from a single position than current GMLRS offerings, and even the forthcoming GMLRS-ER, which has nearly double its progenitor's range. With this in mind, from a single ground position, Lumberjack would allow a very small team to take on targets anywhere in a circle ranging at least 200 miles (possibly significantly further) in any direction, and do so relatively rapidly thanks to the Lumberjack's jet speed. Once again, this is a capability far beyond the range of traditional and guided rocket artillery systems, and one that can be employed without the need to put airpower overhead. That is a huge amount of territory that can be put at risk very cheaply. The ability for a single Lumberjack to attack multiple small targets geographically separated using submunitions on its one-and-only sortie it will fly is also a major plus, both in terms of value and flexibility. Lumberjack's potential use as a ship-based weapon is also attractive, especially due to its cost, range, and smaller size. Its loitering ability could come in use for many roles, from electronic warfare to reconnaissance, but especially for setting up force protection pickets between the ship and potential small surface threats. You can read all about how a weapon just like this could be a huge plus for surface combatants in this past feature of ours. As for air launch capabilities, that seems a little less defined as of now. The weapon has roughly the same size and mounting provisions as a Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), Bastin told us, and the company is working with a 'number of government partners' investigating a variety of launch platforms. When it comes to the possibility of putting this on fast jets, not just slower helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, there are 'customers interested in certifying it for that,' Bastin said. Then there is the fairly bizarre name, Lumberjack. Bastin wasn't sure how that came about, but as we look at the concept and its submunitions dropping capability, as well as other Northrop Grumman products, it may be that it is intended to drop Hatchet, the company's 6lb micro guided munition, which is already finding its way onto other Group 3 unmanned aircraft. The pairing of these two concepts together would be highly logical and would up the procurement case for Lumberjack. According to Bastin, Lumberjack has been undergoing test flights and demonstrations since last year in conjunction with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E). The system is at the point now that Northrop Grumman is looking for a customer to move it out of the experimental development realm. We will keep an eye on how Lumberjack progresses, but it certainly fits with the broader trends in warfare we are experiencing. Whether or not it will actually get a chance to take a chop at the enemy on a real battlefield, we'll have to wait and see. Howard Altman contributed to this story. Contact the author: Tyler@
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Stunning space photograph captures the majestic Andromeda Galaxy floating in a sea of faint, glowing nebulae
On a quiet hilltop in Portugal, beneath one of Europe's darkest skies, a photographer has captured more than just a galaxy. He's captured a dream, five years in the making. Miguel Claro , a renowned astrophotographer and science communicator based in Lisbon, has unveiled his latest cosmic masterpiece: a breathtaking deep-space portrait of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), surrounded by wisps of glowing red gas and a sea of stars. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Taken from the Dark Sky Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada, this image isn't just a scientific feat, it's a deeply personal journey through time, space, and passion. Started in 2020, achieved in 2025 — A dream that took five years Claro first attempted to photograph Andromeda enveloped in faint hydrogen clouds back in 2020, using a DSLR camera. "That image stayed with me," he reflects. "It whispered that there was more to be seen, more to be told." Inspired by recent scientific discoveries, including a newly identified oxygen-III (OIII) emission arc near Andromeda, Claro returned to the galaxy. This time, he came with new equipment, refined skills, and a vision shaped by years of experience. How do he photograph light invisible to the naked eye He spent 80 hours collecting light from the heavens, using a special dual-band filter to detect Ha and OIII emissions, ionised gases invisible to the naked eye. His goal was ambitious: to reveal not only Andromeda's famous spiral structure but also the delicate veil of glowing hydrogen gas surrounding it, and perhaps even the elusive OIII arc. Though the arc proved too faint for his current setup, the image still offers a profound glimpse into the galaxy's environment. OIII signals reveal potential planetary nebulae hidden within its arms. The result is a hauntingly beautiful celestial scene, a swirling galactic city glowing softly amidst clouds of cosmic mist, framed by stars of every colour. Image credits: Miguel Claro What makes this image more than just a scientific achievement What makes this project resonate isn't just the astronomical achievement, but the emotional undertone. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'This image is my way of connecting Earth and sky,' Claro says. 'Of showing that beauty exists far beyond our planet, and yet, it's deeply human to want to reach for it.' Claro's photograph, now available as fine art prints, is more than wall decor. It's a conversation starter, a reminder of the mysteries above, and a tribute to perseverance. Through trials, technical challenges, and long nights under cold skies, he has managed to turn scientific data into something poetic. His work not only bridges the gap between art and science, but also brings the cosmos a little closer to those of us who spend our nights looking up in wonder. 'I hope when people look at this image, they feel part of something vast and beautiful,' he says. 'Because we are.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Gorgeous deep space photo captures the Andromeda Galaxy surrounded by glowing gas
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Miguel Claro is a professional photographer, author and science communicator based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular images of the night sky. As a European Southern Observatory Photo Ambassador and member of The World At Night and the official astrophotographer of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, he specializes in astronomical "Skyscapes" that connect both Earth and the night sky. Five years after my first attempt to capture the Andromeda Galaxy surrounded by faint hydrogen alpha (Ha) clouds taken with a DSLR camera back in 2020, and inspired by the recent discovery by Strottner-Drechsler-Sainty of the oxygen-III (OIII) emission arc, I decided to get back to M31 and try my luck. Spanning approximately 220,000 light-years across, the Andromeda Galaxy is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which also contains the Milky Way, the Triangulum galaxy, and about 30 other smaller galaxies. I decided to present my final view of M31 in a little different way, framing with a rotation that could help direct our attention to the most interesting parts of the immersive scene, keeping in mind to preserve the natural level of brightness of the core. The image features a long integration of around 80 hours in HaOIII emission using a dual band filter, to show the colorful field of faint glowing ionized hydrogen gas where the galaxy seems to be immersed in. Despite these faint clouds, all the galaxy shape has a strong emission visible with Ha 3nm filter. The large-scale cloud formations visible in the foreground belong to our own Milky Way galaxy, as do the several distinct colorful stars which surround the diffuse spiral shape of M31. While its spiral arms stand out in visible light, the arms look like rings when viewed in ultraviolet light. Being sites of intense star formation, the rings have been interpreted as evidence that Andromeda collided with its smaller neighboring elliptical galaxy M32 more than 200 million years ago. RELATED STORIES: — Geminid meteor shower fills the sky with 'shooting stars' in spectacular time-lapse photos — Astrophotographer captures a 'Great Dragon' in the Pelican Nebula (photo) — Stunning space photo captures bright blue shock wave around double star system Even with all my efforts and challenges along the way, 80 hours where not enough to achieve the demanding level of good data needed for revealing the faint OIII arc, specially difficult in One Shot Color (OSC) cameras, so after analyzing the data with the help of my experienced friend Yann Saint, I took the decision of not include the OIII data on the arc for being insufficient to reveal the proper expected shape and detail. Still, the OIII signal included and visible in the arms of M31 could reveal dozens of planetary nebulas. I hope you enjoy my result. The image was captured from Dark Sky Alqueva Observatory, in Cumeada, Portugal. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and if you want to support my work as an independent artist, you can buy one of my images as a print and a piece of art or a wall decor for your sweet home! Explore the size options and different types available on my Print gallery. Meanwhile, you can sign-up my newsletter to get early access of future releases.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Our galactic neighbor Andromeda has a bunch of satellite galaxies — and they're weirdly pointing at us
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Our neighboring Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, or M31) appears to sport a lopsided arrangement of satellite galaxies that defy scientific models, stumping astronomers who are also trying to figure out why so many of this galaxy's family members point in our direction. All but one of M31's brightest 37 satellites are on the side of the Andromeda spiral that faces our Milky Way galaxy – the odd one out being Messier 110, which is easily visible in amateur images of the Andromeda Galaxy. "M31 is the only system that we know of that demonstrates such an extreme degree of asymmetry," Kosuke Jamie Kanehisa of the Institut für Physik und Astronomie at Universität Potsdam in Germany told According to cosmology's standard model, the universe is filled with vast clouds of dark matter. Within these clouds, large galaxies such as Andromeda and our Milky Way grow — and they grow by merging with myriad smaller dwarf galaxies that have been pulled in by the gravity of the dark matter. The dwarf galaxies that we see around large galaxies today are the leftovers of this formation process. According to this picture of "hierarchical growth," these dwarf satellite galaxies should be spread randomly around larger galaxies. However, that's not quite what astronomers are finding. A large fraction of M31's dwarf satellites are confined to a plane around the Andromeda Galaxy, as confirmed earlier in 2025 by the Hubble Space Telescope, and a similar satellite plane exists around the Milky Way. There's also tentative evidence for a plane of satellites around another nearby galaxy, Centaurus A. For galaxies farther afield, it's difficult to find faint dwarf galaxies and measure the distance to them, so astronomers cannot say for certain what those systems are doing. However, even the planes of satellites scientists have confirmed are difficult to explain in the standard model of cosmology. And now, M31 and its satellites have become even more mysterious, with almost all those satellites positioned on the side of M31 that faces the Milky Way. New simulations by Kanehisa, along with his Potsdam colleagues Marcel Pawlowski and Noam Libeskind, show that, according to cosmology's standard model, the odds of having such a lopsided arrangement are less than 0.3%. And yet, the closest galaxy to us is beating those odds. So when is a coincidence just a coincidence, and when does it open a window into a deeper mystery? The dwarf galaxies are all orbiting M31 at different velocities and distances; in another billion years, they will be more spread out. So, on the face of it, the current alignment could just be seen as a coincidence. However, the low probability of this coincidence occurring means that it is the kind of coincidence that scientists have a hard time believing in. If something in the cosmos appears a certain way, it's usually because something has caused it to be like that. Still, there's no firm evidence pointing towards any particular explanation so far, other than that for this alignment to be present now, its cause must be recent. "The following is speculation, but I expect the underlying culprit behind the M31 system's discrepancy with cosmological expectations to be some unique accretion history," said Kanehisa. "The fact that we see M31's satellites in this unstable configuration today —-- which is strange, to say the least — may point towards many having fallen in recently, possibly related to the major merger thought to have been experienced by Andromeda around two to three billion years ago." This major merger involved a mid-size galaxy being consumed by the larger Andromeda Galaxy. The Hubble Space Telescope's recent deep-dive into Andromeda has been able to track the disorder in M31 that the merger left in its wake: streams of stars cannibalized from the galaxy eaten by M31 and producing a burst of star formation. However, even if the dwarf galaxies are recent arrivals that lagged behind that galaxy merger, it still doesn't quite explain why they are all on the side of M31 that faces our Milky Way galaxy. Another thought is, well, could the dwarf galaxies on our side of M31 be literally pointing at the culprit? Not so fast. If our Milky Way did play a role, then we might expect our system of dwarf satellites to display their own lopsidedness towards M31 — but they do not, and gravitational tidal forces between the two galaxies are not strong enough to pull M31's dwarfs into this arrangement. There are also some caveats to note about the improbable lopsidedness exhibited by M31's satellites. Accurate data regarding the motion of the dwarf galaxies is known for only four of M31's satellites (five if IC 10 is counted, which is a contested member of the M31 system), which means that simulations can be a little rough. However, astronomers are aiming to determine the motions for at least a dozen of M31's dwarfs to high precision within another year or two with the release of the next dataset from the Gaia astrometric mission. "Once we have a more substantial sample of M31 dwarfs with proper motions, we should be better positioned to study the time evolution of the observed asymmetry," said Kanehisa. In other words, we would be able to better understand for how long this lopsided alignment can stay in place. Another caveat is that there likely remains many fainter, as yet undiscovered, satellite dwarf galaxies around M31. We know that this is probably the case because cosmology's standard model predicts that there should be more dwarf satellites around both M31 and our Milky Way than we have currently found. These undiscovered dwarfs would be small and contain few stars, making them hard to identify. Indeed, the faintest dwarf galaxy currently known around M31, named Andromeda XXXV, was found on the far side of M31 and does not fall into the lopsided pattern of the others. "We need to wait and see if the global asymmetry persists with the detection of fainter dwarfs, although if we found that only brighter dwarfs participated in the asymmetry, this would also raise some more questions as to their origin," said Kanehisa. Related Stories: — How did Andromeda's dwarf galaxies form? Hubble Telescope finds more questions than answers — Hubble Space Telescope reveals richest view of Andromeda galaxy to date (image) — Temperamental stars could be ruining our view of thousands of exoplanets, Hubble Telescope finds The final caveat is that perhaps the alignment of M31's system is not as improbable as we think. Very few galaxies beyond our Local Group have had their dwarf families mapped out in detail — the galaxies are just too far away and too faint, and those that we can detect do not have accurate distance measurements, so we can't say for sure which side of their parent galaxy they are on. "We can't yet be sure that similar extreme systems don't exist out there, or that such systems would be negligibly rare,' said Kanehisa. The Andromeda Galaxy's family of dwarfs are an enigma. First it was the unusual flat plane around which more than half of them orbit, and now this lopsidedness. It just goes to show that sometimes it is our closest neighbors who are the ones that turn out to be most alien to us. The findings were published on April 11 in the journal Nature Astronomy.
