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The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
A solar eclipse will pass over the same place twice in less than a year
The next two total solar eclipses will both pass over the same country, each occurring less than a year apart. Spain is the only country in the world to experience the path of totality for the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, as well as the eclipse on 2 August 2027, offering sky gazers a unique opportunity to witness the celestial event. Six of the top 10 sunniest cities in Europe are in Spain, meaning there is little chance it will be obscured by clouds. Taking place at the height of the August tourist season, the Great European Eclipse of 2026 will see the path of totality cross over most of northern Spain, as well as the Balearic islands. A third eclipse will also be visible in Spain in January 2028, though it will only be an annular solar eclipse. This is were the Moon covers the Sun's centre but leaves the outer edges visible to produce a 'ring of fire'. All three of the solar eclipses will be visible from the UK as partial solar eclipses, though the chance of clear skies is less certain. Astronomers recommend using special glasses to view the eclipses to avoid damage, or to use home made projection equipment to track the Moon's progression as it passes in front of the Sun. "You mustn't look at it with the naked eye, you mustn't look at it with a telescope – unless you have the right kind of filters,' said Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. "It's perfectly possible to take a picture of a solar eclipse. My recommendation would be that if you're projecting the image onto a piece of white card, that you just photograph the projection and then you can see the progression of the eclipse and see that bite taken out of the Sun as the Moon moves across it."
International Business Times
17-07-2025
- Science
- International Business Times
Uranus is Leaking Heat Like Never Before — Experts are Baffled!
Back in 1986, Voyager 2 had discovered a surprisingly low amount of internal heat from Uranus when it passed the planet. Since then, scientists have thought of Uranus as the odd man out of the family of giant planets in our solar system, which also includes Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune. These planets all have a tendency to release more heat into space than they take in from the sun. According to a recent study, published Monday in Geophysical Research Letters, Uranus does have an internal heat source like its planetary siblings, which may have led scientists to misinterpret the data from Voyager 2. Uranus emits 12.5% more internal heat than it takes in from the Sun. Compared to the other three giant planets, which release over 100% of the solar energy they receive, that is still a significant reduction in heat. However, the study that analyzed decades' worth of archival data on the ice giant shows that Uranus doesn't deviate significantly from the general knowledge of scientists regarding the formation and evolution of giant planets. The researchers examined data on Uranus's global energy balance over an 84-year orbit of the Sun in order to arrive at this conclusion. The team discovered significant seasonal swings caused by the planet's erratic variations in sunlight exposure after combining this observational data with computational models. The latest results align with a previous study on Uranus' energy balance that was published in May in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The study, however, said that neither study provides a definitive explanation for why Uranus's internal heat is significantly lower than that of the other gas and ice giants. According to a statement from the researchers, Uranus might have had a "different interior structure or evolutionary history compared to the other giant planets." Additionally, the study discovered that Uranus's energy levels fluctuate in accordance with its 20-year seasons. According to the study, these variations "provide observational constraints that can be used to develop theories of planetary formation for giant planets," in conjunction with the planet's heat budget. As a result, Uranus is addressed as well as questioned in the paper, which the researchers point to as a compelling argument for further NASA exploration of the icy planet. Liming Li, study co-author and physicist at the University of Houston, said, "By uncovering how Uranus stores and loses heat, we gain valuable insights into the fundamental processes that shape planetary atmospheres, weather systems, and climate systems," adding, "These findings help broaden our perspective on Earth's atmospheric system and the challenges of climate change."
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers Spot a 7-Billion-Year-Old Comet From Beyond the Solar System
Astronomers have their eyes on a mysterious object zipping through the Solar System, and if their hunch is right, it could be the oldest visitor humanity has ever observed. Comet 31/ATLAS, first detected on July 1, has been identified as only the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through our solar neighborhood. But what sets this icy traveler apart isn't just its origins. It's the staggering possibility that it may be 7 billion years old. That would make 31/ATLAS older than the Solar System itself. Researchers believe the comet may have formed in the thick disk of the Milky Way, a region populated by some of the galaxy's oldest stars. Unlike most comets, which are leftovers from the formation of nearby star systems, this one likely wandered the galaxy for billions of years before crossing paths with us. If that's true, 31/ATLAS could give scientists a rare glimpse into how the early Milky Way, and maybe even planetary systems, came its exact origin remains unknown, researchers at the Royal Astronomical Society's 2025 National Astronomy Meeting presented evidence showing the comet's speed and orbit suggest an ancient, interstellar origin. They used data from ESA's Gaia satellite to simulate the comet's possible journey across the galaxy, analyzing the movements of over a billion stars to back up their findings. Unlike its infamous predecessor 'Oumuamua, which sparked alien theories back in 2017, or the comet 2I/Borisov spotted in 2019, 31/ATLAS appears to have been a frozen planetesimal—one of the original building blocks of how it got here and why it's moving the way it is remain open questions. Scientists hope further observations will reveal whether 31/ATLAS contains particles from some of the earliest stars in the galaxy, essentially making it a cosmic time capsule. For now, the icy wanderer continues its journey past the Sun, carrying billions of years of galactic history along for the Spot a 7-Billion-Year-Old Comet From Beyond the Solar System first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 17, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Perseid meteor shower set to light up the night sky; Know the dates, when and where to watch, best viewing tips
One of the most spectacular celestial events of the year is back, and despite a bright moon interfering with the view, the Perseid meteor shower is still set to put on a dazzling show. Often considered the crown jewel of annual meteor showers, the Perseids are a summertime favorite for skywatchers across the Northern Hemisphere, offering a combination of high meteor counts and fast streaking fireballs. This year, the shower will be active from July 17 through August 23, with peak activity expected in the pre-dawn hours of August 13. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence Project Management PGDM Finance others Technology healthcare Degree Product Management Data Science Design Thinking Public Policy Data Science Leadership CXO Healthcare Operations Management MBA Management MCA Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Others Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Visualization Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making Analytics Strategy & Implementation Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Applied Business Analytics Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details What causes the Perseids? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The Perseids occur each year when Earth passes through the debris trail left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle , a 16-mile-wide icy body that last passed near the Sun in 1992 and won't return until 2126. As the planet moves through this stream of leftover comet particles, the tiny bits, many no larger than grains of sand, hit Earth's atmosphere at incredibly high speeds and burn up in bright flashes of light. Those flashes, or meteors, appear to radiate from a point in the sky near the constellation Perseus , giving the shower its name. Live Events The Perseids are known for producing particularly bright, long-lasting meteors, with many leaving glowing trails or even ending in explosive bursts of light known as fireballs. What to expect in 2025 Under perfect conditions, away from city lights, on a moonless night, observers can typically expect 50 to 75 meteors per hour during the peak of the Perseids. However, this year's peak comes with a caveat as the Moon will be 84 percent full on the night of August 12–13, and its brightness is expected to drown out some of the fainter meteors. Still, astronomers estimate that up to 25 meteors per hour may remain visible, particularly the brightest and most dramatic ones. 'While the Moon's glare will reduce visibility, the Perseids are resilient,' said Dr. Elena Serrano, an astronomer at the Royal Astronomical Society . 'It may not be a perfect year, but it's still well worth stepping outside to catch the brightest meteors streaking across the sky.' Best viewing tips To maximize your chances of seeing the show, find a dark, open area well away from city lights, such as a park, rural field, or mountain lookout. Experts recommend arriving at your chosen location at least an hour before dawn, when the skies are darkest and Perseus is higher in the sky, and allowing your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. No telescope or binoculars are needed; in fact, the wide view of the naked eye is ideal. Just lie back, look northeast toward Perseus, and scan the sky. Avoid using phones or bright flashlights, which can compromise your night vision. 'Watching a meteor shower is one of the most accessible and awe-inspiring ways to connect with the universe,' said Serrano. 'All you need is a clear sky, a little patience, and maybe a blanket or reclining chair.' Can't catch them? There's more to come If clouds or moonlight spoil your view this time, don't worry, meteor season is just getting started. The Orionids peak in October, and the Geminids, another fan favorite, will make their appearance in December, often boasting high meteor rates and brilliant fireballs of their own.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What astronomers recently discovered about space using supercomputers
There could be many more satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way than previously thought or observed, according to astronomers. As many as 100 undiscovered galaxies that are too faint to be seen could be surrounding the galaxy that houses Earth and the solar system, new research has found. MORE: Webb telescope discovers stars forming in 'toe beans' of Cat's Paw Nebula Cosmologists at Durham University in England made the discovery using a new technique that combines the highest-resolution supercomputer simulations in existence with mathematical modeling, they announced at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Durham on Friday. The supercomputer predicted the existence of missing "orphan" galaxies -- suggesting that up to 100 or more satellite galaxies are orbiting the Milky Way at close distances. "We know the Milky Way has some 60 confirmed companion satellite galaxies, but we think there should be dozens more of these faint galaxies orbiting around the Milky Way at close distances," said Isabel Santos-Santos, the lead researcher at Durham University's Institute for Computational Cosmology, in a statement. If the galaxies are seen by telescopes, it could provide strong support for the theory on Lambda Cold Dark Matter -- the standard model of cosmology that explains the large-scale structure how galaxies form, the researchers said. The model suggests that galaxies form in the center of "gigantic" clumps of dark matter called halos and hypothesizes that ordinary matter in the form of atoms represents only 5% of the Universe's total content, while 25% is cold dark matter, and the remaining 70% is dark energy. MORE: Astronomers spot 'interstellar object' speeding through solar system Most of the galaxies in the Universe are satellite low-mass dwarf galaxies that orbit around a more massive galaxy, such as the Milky Way, according to astronomers. The existence of these galaxies poses challenges to LCDM because the model suggests the presence of many more companion galaxies than previous simulations have produced, the researchers said. But the new technique allowed the scientists to track the abundance, distribution and properties of the orphan galaxies. The model provides "clear illustration" of the power of physics and mathematics, Carlos Frenk, a co-researcher at the Institute for Computational Cosmology, said in a statement. "Using the laws of physics, solved using a large supercomputer, and mathematical modelling we can make precise predictions that astronomers, equipped with new, powerful telescopes, can test," Frenk said. "It doesn't get much better than this." Existing cosmological simulations do not have the resolution needed to study the faint satellite galaxies, the experts said. They also lack the precision needed to study the evolution of the small dark matter halos that host the dwarf galaxies, which leads to the artificial disruption of some halos, according to the researchers. "If our predictions are right, it adds more weight to the Lambda Cold Dark Matter theory of the formation and evolution of structure in the Universe," Santos-Santos said. MORE: How astronomers used gravitational lensing to discover 44 new stars in distant galaxy New advances in telescopes and instruments could eventually give astronomers the ability to detect the faint objects through viewing. "One day soon we may be able to see these 'missing' galaxies, which would be hugely exciting and could tell us more about how the Universe came to be as we see it today," Santos-Santos said.
