Latest news with #Pleiades
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
These 3 popular skywatching star clusters may be branches of the same family tree
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Three of the most popular targets for astronomers of all skill levels are the Seven Sisters (the Pleiades), the Hyades and the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC), which is the central "star" in Orion's Sword. Now, scientists have discovered that these celestial bodies may have more in common than once thought. The star clusters may share a common origin mechanism, they say, despite the fact that the three clusters are all different ages and are located at different distances from Earth. This new research suggests looking at the three star clusters is like looking at three snapshots taken of the same person at three different stages of their life, from infancy to old age. The youngest of these open clusters is the ONC at 2.5 million years old. Located around 1,350 light-years away and packed with thousands of young stars embedded in the stellar cloud that created them, it is one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way. Located 444 light-years from Earth, the Pleiades is less densely packed than the ONC, but it is much more ancient at 100 million years old. However, the Hyades, located 151 light-years away, has fewer stars that are even more thinly spread out and is around 700 million years old. Yet, as diverse as these star clusters seem, the team's new research suggests they share a particular kind of ancestor. "Our highly precise stellar dynamics calculations have now shown that all three star clusters originated from the same predecessor," team member and University of Bonn researcher Pavel Kroupa said in a statement. Star clusters on the same cosmic family tree The team compares the varied ages and conditions in these three star clusters to looking at the same human being through photos that document the stages of their life. The densely packed ONC is the baby, the more dispersed Pleiades is the adolescent, and the Hyades is the elderly person. Though the three clusters didn't form from the same molecular cloud of dense gas and dust, they can be compared to the same person being born three times in different parts of the globe. "From this, we can learn that open star clusters seem to have a preferred mode of star formation," Kroupa explained. "It appears that there is a preferred physical environment in which stars form when they evolve within these clouds." The question is: How does a cluster like the ONC develop into one like Pleiades and then age into a cluster like the Hyades? Kroupa and colleagues, including team leader Ghasem Safaei from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, set about answering this question with computer simulations. Star clusters grow old gracefully The team's simulations revealed the forces acting between stars in a cluster. This allowed the scientists to model the life cycle of such a collection of stars from a gas-rich, dense infancy through gradual expansion and gradual gas and star loss over the course of 800 million years. The results obtained by the team closely reflected the changes in structure and composition between the phases we see exemplified by the ONC, the Pleiades and the Hyades. "This research shows that it is entirely plausible that star clusters such as the ONC follow a development path that transforms them into systems like Pleiades and later on Hyades," Hosein Haghi, study team member and a researcher at the University of Bonn, said in the statement. The team's results indicated that clusters like the ONC can lose up to 85% of their stellar population and yet hang on to coherent structures when they reach ages similar to that of the Hyades while passing through a stage that resembles the Pleiades. The team's research also suggests that the fact these three clusters appear close together in the night sky over Earth, despite being widely separated in the cosmos, may be more than a mere coincidence. This positioning could, in fact, be related to the way star clusters form and evolve in relation to our galaxy. "This research gives us a deeper understanding of how star clusters form and develop and illustrates the delicate balance between internal dynamics and external forces such as the gravitational pull of the Milky Way," team member Akram Hasani Zonoozi of the University of Bonn said in the statement. Related Stories: — Hubble Space Telescope reveals richest view of Andromeda galaxy to date (image) — Hubble Telescope spies newborn stars in famous Orion Nebula (photo) — NASA wants a 'Super-Hubble' space telescope to search for life on alien worlds Beyond the research's importance for our understanding of star clusters and their evolution, the team's work demonstrates the power of combining simulations with astronomical observations. This research was published on Friday (July 18) in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
See the moon cross the Pleiades for the last time this year on July 20
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If you live anywhere in the contiguous U.S. or Canada, and clear skies are forecast for early Sunday morning, July 20, then be sure to step outside after midnight and before the first light of dawn. Look low in the east-northeast sky for a slender crescent moon just four days before new phase and 23% illuminated, gracefully approaching the Pleiades star cluster. This will mark the third and final lunar occultation of the Pleiades in 2025, promising a very beautiful scene in steadily held binoculars or a small telescope. Earlier this year, there were two other moon-Pleiades encounters. On the evening of January 9th, an 82%waxing gibbous moon temporarily hid the Pleiades for parts of the U.S., Canada and Central America and then during the overnight hours of February 5-6, a 61% waxing gibbous moon passed in front of the cluster. If you caught one, or both of the first two events (or if you didn't), make a note on your calendar to watch this final moon-Pleiades rendezvous of the year. In this upcoming case, you will either have to stay up through the night (to await moonrise, which will occur around 1:00 a.m. local daylight time) or set your alarm for the predawn morning hours. In addition, since the moon will be a lovely waning crescent, as opposed to a waxing gibbous in January and February, stars will disappear first along the bright lunar crescent. You'll need at least a small telescope, for binoculars probably won't be enough for following stars in the final minutes or seconds as the moon's glare, sunlit edge creeps up to them. But practically any telescope will magnify enough to do the trick. Use 50x magnification, perhaps more if your scope has a solid mount that allows easy tracking. Stars will reappear about an hour later from behind the moon's dark limb in dramatic fashion: appearing to suddenly "pop-on" as if someone threw a switch. Here, binoculars should do fine, especially if you mount them on a tripod, provided you're watching at exactly the right moment. In Canada's Maritime Provinces and the northeastern U.S., advancing morning twilight will be an issue, since the eastern sky will be brightening as the moon approaches the Pleiades. As a result, the disappearance of some stars will not be visible because the sky will be too bright. Nonetheless, the view in binoculars of the crescent moon sitting to the upper right of the star cluster will still make for a very pretty sight. Farther west, the sky will be darker, but the moon and the Pleiades will be lower. This will be especially true for the far-western states and the Canadian province of British Columbia; therefore, a clear and unobstructed view toward the east-northeast is recommended. Below are two timetables giving local circumstances for the disappearance and reappearance of the four brightest members of the Pleiades that will be occulted. The information is based in part on data generated by the International Occultation Timers Association (IOTA) and is valid for fourteen U.S., two Canadian and one Mexican city. Keep in mind, however, that many other stars not listed here will also be occulted. If the disappearance or reappearance of a star takes place during dawn twilight, the time is provided in italic font. Also, take note that if the disappearance or reappearance of a star occurs near or soon after the start of civil twilight (roughly 40 minutes before sunrise), it is assumed that the sky would probably be too bright to easily see it. In addition, the moon might miss the star entirely. In both such cases, the time is omitted. All times are in local civil time. Location Electra Alcyone Atlas Maia Los Angeles —— 2:21 a.m. —— —— Seattle 2:03 am. 2:39 a.m. 3:16 a.m. —— Tucson —— 2:18 a.m. —— 2:07 a.m. Denver 2:35 a.m. 3:27 a.m. —— —— Helena 2:52 a.m. 3:36 a.m. 4:19 a.m. —— Monterrey 2:13 a.m. 3:28 a.m. —— 2:44 a.m. Austin 3:17 a.m. 4:26 a.m. —— 3:51 a.m. Kansas City 3:30 a.m. 4:31 a.m. —— 4:10 a.m. Winnipeg 3:50 a.m. 4:43 a.m. —— —- N. Orleans 3:16 a.m. —— —— 3:48 a.m. Chicago 3:33 a.m. 4:41 a.m. —— 4:12 a.m. Atlanta 4:21 a.m. —— —— 4:54 a.m. Miami 4:15 a.m. —— —— 4:42 a.m. Washington 4:30 a.m. —— —— 5:05 a.m. New York 4:35 a.m. —— —— —— Boston 4:39 a.m. —— —— —— Montreal 4:42 a.m. —— —— —— Location Electra Alcyone Atlas Maia Los Angeles 2:15 a.m. 3:10 a.m. —— —— Seattle 2:22 a.m. 3:31 a.m. 4:01 a.m. —— Tucson 2:13 a.m. 3:04 a.m. —— 2:27 a.m. Denver 3:21 a.m. 4:19 a.m. —— —— Helena 3:26 a.m. 4:31 a.m. 4:56 a.m. —— Monterrey 3:05 a.m. 3:35 a.m. —— 3:33 a.m. Austin 4:11 a.m. 4:51 a.m. —— 4:38 a.m. Kansas City 4:24 a.m. 5:16 a.m. —— 4:46 a.m. Winnipeg 4:37 a.m. —— —— —— N. Orleans 4:11 a.m. —— —— 4:43 a.m. Chicago 4:31 a.m. —— —— 4:57 a.m. Atlanta 5:18 a.m. —— —— 5:52 a.m. Miami 5:03 a.m. —— —— 5:44 a.m. Washington —- —— —— —— New York —— —— —— —— Boston —— —— —— —— Montreal —— —— —— —— Specific times and zones of visibility Courtesy of IOTA, detailed prediction pages are available for each of the four brightest stars — Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, and Maia. These include Universal Time (UT) disappearance and reappearance data, as well as Mercator maps showing where each occultation will be visible. For example, from St. Louis, Missouri (in Central Daylight Time, UTC–5), Maia will disappear at 4:06 a.m. CDT and reappear at 4:51 a.m. CDT. At the moment of reappearance, the sun will be about 11 degrees below the horizon, meaning Maia should reappear in a twilight sky. TOP TELESCOPE PICK Want to see the moon and Pleiades together? The Celestron NexStar 8SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 8SE review. In addition to the timetable, a world map (Mercator projection) is provided, showing the region where the occultation will be visible. The boundaries are in different colors. The Cyan boundaries show the curves of the occultation disappearance or reappearance at moonrise or moonset. A continuous white line marks the nighttime northern and southern limits of the occultation. A continuous blue line denotes the occultation limits occurring during twilight, while a dotted red line depicts the occultation limits occurring in daylight. For Alcyone, the occultation takes place over much of the western U.S. For Atlas, visibility occurs over the northwest U.S., western Canada and Alaska. For Electra, visibility will be over much of the U.S. and Canada, while the occultation of Maia will be visible primarily over the central and southern U.S. and Mexico. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope and other publications.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Dawn-lit dance of moon, stars
If you're up early on Monday wrap up warm and step outside. Look northeast just before 6.30am and you'll see something quietly beautiful: the crescent moon drifting close to Matariki, the star cluster, also known as the Pleiades. It's a slow celestial conversation, one that unfolds above frost-covered roofs and sleeping streets. From here in Otago, with our crisp, dark winter skies, the view is magnificent. Through binoculars, the moon will appear barely five degrees from Matariki — close enough to feel intimate. And just to the right, bright Venus blazes away, unmistakable in the constellation Taurus. Jupiter, still low, will just be rising. Matariki isn't just a pretty knot of stars. It's a cluster of hot, young suns around 440 light years away, born together in a stellar nursery and now slowly drifting apart. Māori see it as a mother and her children, each with a role in sustaining life on Earth. The cluster's annual return to the dawn sky marks the New Year in the Maramataka — the Māori lunar calendar — and invites us to reflect, remember and reset. Western mythology calls them the Seven Sisters, the daughters of Atlas, pursued by Orion. To their right shines Aldebaran, a red giant star — Taurus's eye — burning steadily just 65 light years from here. Although it appears close to the Hyades star cluster, Aldebaran isn't a member. It's just passing through our line of sight. There's a quiet synchronicity in the date. Fifty six years ago, on July 21 1969 (New Zealand time), Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon. This same moon — now older, pocked and luminous — will be keeping company with Matariki in the still before dawn. I've seen this sky from sea and summit, city and rural, and it never fails to move me. There's something about watching the moon brush past ancient stars that puts things in perspective. So, boil the kettle, pull on your coat and look up. The universe is doing its thing, and it's worth watching.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Don't Miss The Moon Eclipse The ‘Seven Sisters' This Weekend
The waxing crescent Moon in deep evening twilight with stars beginning to appear, with the Moon in ... More Taurus above the Pleiades cluster at right and below the Hyades and Aldebaran above This was March 31, 2017 from Cape Conran, West Cape area, on the Gippsland Coast of Victoria, Australia The Moon looks turned around from what we are used to seeing it in the northern hemisphere in the evening sky This is a stack of 8 exposures, mean combined to smooth noise, for the ground and one exposure for the sky An added Orton Effect gaussian blur layer adds the dreamy soft-focus effect for the ground Taken as part of a 700-frame time-lapse sequence. (Photo by: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/UIG via Getty Images) Universal Images Group via Getty Images Early risers in North America are in for a skywatching spectacle on Sunday, July 20, as two of the most beautiful objects in the night sky meet head-on. A waning crescent moon, just 24% lit, will appear to cross directly in front of the Pleiades star cluster (also known as M45 and the 'Seven Sisters') in what astronomers call an occultation, an appulse, or an eclipse. The rare event will be visible before sunrise across the U.S., Canada and parts of Mexico. From other parts of the world, the moon won't pass directly in front of the cluster, but it will still be unusually close. Sunday, July 20: Moon And The Pleiades Stellarium To catch the moon and the Pleiades together, you'll want to be outside between about 2:00 a.m. EDT when the pair rise in the east-northeast and 5:00 a.m. EDT when dawn breaks, according to During the event, the moon will pass in front of the brightest stars of the Pleiades, including Alcyone, the brightest, briefly blocking them before revealing them again. If you observe after about 3:00 a.m. EDT, you'll see Venus will rise below the pair. The entire spectacle is, of course, nothing more than a line-of-sight illusion. While the moon will be about 226,000 miles (364,000 kilometers) distant, the Pleiades is 445 light years. To put that in perspective, light from the moon will take just 1.3 seconds to reach your eyes. In contrast, light from the Pleiades takes 445 years — that's the late 16th century before telescopes were invented. This long exposure picture taken on December 23, 2017 shows the Pleiades, as seen from Bago, ... More Myanmar. (Credit: YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images All you need is an alarm clock and a clear view of the east-northeast horizon. The soft glow of the crescent moon in front of the star cluster will be a stunning spectacle — to the naked eye or through binoculars. Get up closer to dawn the following morning, July 21, and you'll see the moon below the Pleiades, making a four-pointed shape with Venus and Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. Later this month, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower will peak around July 30. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Prima Mente Launches Pleiades, a Large-Scale Human Whole-Epigenome Foundation Model with Clinical Applications for Alzheimer's Disease
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Prima Mente today announced the launch of Pleiades, a family of large-scale foundation models created to understand the epigenomic and molecular landscape of human disease. Pleiades represents generative transformers (90M, 600M, and 7B parameters) trained on 1.9 trillion tokens at single-nucleotide resolution. The work is introduced in a newly released preprint, authored in collaboration with researchers from University of Oxford, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and University of Gothenburg. Trained on a methylation atlas of human cell types as well as cell-free DNA (cfDNA), Pleiades represents a new era in Alzheimer's research and translational medicine – offering the ability to detect disease-relevant signals from blood with unprecedented resolution across cellular subtypes, identify molecular profiles for experimental design, and reveal targets for early intervention. 'We believe epigenetics and cfDNA offer one of the most powerful, underutilized entry points into understanding the brain,' said Ravi Solanki, CEO of Prima Mente. 'They give us a non-invasive lens into cellular activity and dysfunction – particularly in neurodegeneration – at a resolution that was unimaginable just a few years ago. With Pleiades, we're building the AI infrastructure to translate that signal into meaningful discovery, diagnosis, and eventually, intervention.' In contrast to traditional models, Pleiades uses a large-scale transformer-based architecture to learn directly from raw sequencing data. It predicts the cell type of origin of cfDNA fragments, uncovers tissue and disease-specific methylation patterns, and generates synthetic cfDNA to power in silico experimentation. Critically, the team demonstrated that model performance scales reliably with data and compute, extending AI's scaling laws seen in large language and vision models to biology and laying the foundation for future multiomic modeling. The model has so far been applied to a variety of biological tasks, including tissue classification, disease detection, and fragment reconstruction, allowing it to generalize across tissues and diseases while learning shared representations of molecular function. In early Alzheimer's work, Pleiades has shown the ability to detect neuron- and microglia-, and T cell-derived cfDNA signatures that signal neurodegeneration before clinical symptoms appear. 'Pleiades represents an important step forward in how we study Alzheimer's disease using blood-based biomarkers,' said Professor Henrik Zetterberg, a leading researcher in neurodegeneration at the University of Gothenburg. 'Understanding the cell type origin and regulatory disruption at this level could enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis and reveal new biological pathways for intervention. I was thrilled to see the performance of the approach alongside the protein-based biomarkers—so much exciting research can be done and the technology really opens for personalized medicine approaches finding neurodegenerative disease subtypes with varying disease drivers.' Prima Mente has partnered with NVIDIA to scale training across DGX infrastructure, ensuring high-performance compute can be directed toward decoding the biology of complex disease. Additionally, to train and test Pleiades, Prima Mente worked with Nebius, Siam AI, and Eternis Labs for distributed compute infrastructure. The teams will continue to collaborate together on data collection and future training initiatives. Pleiades caps a period of strong momentum for Prima Mente. Alongside the model's release, the company built a wet lab for high-throughput multiomic data generation and has begun modeling disease progression across regulatory, transcriptomic, and proteomic layers. The company is launching a 1,000-patient Alzheimer's study next month and is actively building partnerships across AI, academia, and life sciences to translate these models into tools for discovery, diagnosis, and ultimately, intervention. About Prima Mente Prima Mente is based in San Francisco and London. Its mission is to build intelligent infrastructure to deeply understand the brain, protect it from neurological disease, and enhance it in health.
