Latest news with #Stellarium
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Tomb built for Alexander the Great's best friend is aligned with winter solstice, study suggests
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A grand tomb that may have been built for Alexander the Great's best friend and bodyguard around 2,300 years ago has an astronomical secret: Its burial chamber is aligned so that sunlight enters it on the winter solstice, a new study proposes. However, not everyone agrees with this interpretation. Some experts note that the ancient Macedonians used a lunisolar calendar, meaning the winter solstice's date would have moved from year to year. The tomb, now called the Kasta monument (also known as the Kasta tomb or Kasta tumulus), is near the ancient city of Amphipolis in northern Greece. In 2014, archaeologists excavated the tomb's burial chamber and found the skeletal remains of at least five people. For whom the monument was built is a matter of debate, but Hephaestion (also spelled Haphaestion), whose death in 324 B.C. sent Alexander the Great into severe grief, is considered a leading candidate by some scholars. In the new study, independent researcher Demetrius Savvides created a 3D model of the tomb and used Stellarium, an astronomical program that tracks how the positions of the sun and stars change over time, to re-create what the sky around the tomb looked like in 300 B.C. He found that on Dec. 21, the date of the winter solstice, the sun's light would have fully illuminated the burial chamber between approximately 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time, Savvides wrote in a study published May 15 in the Nexus Network Journal. Related: Was Alexander the Great eaten by sharks? Inside the wild theories for what happened to the iconic ruler's body. Sunlight reaches other parts of the monument at different times, he found. Around late July, it touches the entrance. Throughout autumn, the sunlight gradually travels on and near two carved sphinxes and finally passes between them, fully illuminating the burial chamber on the winter solstice. "It is highly probable that rituals were held within or in close proximity to the Kastas Monument, particularly on and around the winter solstice," Savvides told Live Science in an email. Initially, when the tomb was being built, it had no orientation to the winter solstice. But during its construction, the design was changed to create the solstice alignment, Savvides wrote in the paper. An alignment like this would have symbolized "themes of renewal, life, and cosmic order," Savvides said in the email. These themes are also seen in the tomb decoration, which shows a mosaic of Persephone, a goddess of vegetation and agriculture who is also queen of the underworld, Savvides noted. In addition, the tomb has a possible depiction of Cybele, a goddess who was associated with birth and fertility and was married to Attis, a god also associated with vegetation who died and was resurrected. One interesting question this research raises is whether Alexander the Great's tomb, which was constructed in Alexandria, had a burial chamber with an alignment like this, Savvides said. "The use of solar illumination and a consistent geometric design aligns with Hellenistic traditions where rulers, like Alexander the Great, used solar symbolism to reinforce their authority," Savvides said. "If we were to locate Alexander's tomb, it might resemble the Kastas Monument," Savvides said. Alexander's tomb has never been found and might be underwater or underneath Alexandria. Juan de Lara, a researcher at the University of Oxford who has investigated the alignments of ancient Greek buildings, had mixed reactions to the research. RELATED STORIES —Did Alexander the Great have any children? —How did Alexander the Great die? —'I nearly fell out of my chair': 1,800-year-old mini portrait of Alexander the Great found in a field in Denmark "I think it's great that scholars are asking these questions and using this technology to generate new ideas. In the case of the tomb, the researcher presented daring hypotheses," de Lara told Live Science in an email. "However, we must remember to be very careful when relating such findings to 'solar' events, as the Macedonians used a lunisolar calendar — meaning that the dates shifted from year to year." In other words, their winter solstice would have fallen on a different day each year, meaning this day of illumination might have been difficult to observe annually as the day changed. Additionally, de Lara noted that northern Greece is very cloudy in the winter and the effect may not have been noticeable.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Rare 'Parade of Planets' Is Happening This Week. How to See the 3-Planet Alignment
Rise and shine, there's a cosmic treat in store! As the moon wanes after its last-quarter phase, the pre-dawn hours grow darker, setting the stage for a stunning planetary alignments don't happen every day, so if you're an early riser or looking for a reason to wake up before sunrise, this week's 3-planet alignment will be worth it. After all, when was the last time you caught three bright celestial bodies in such close proximity? A mini parade of planets will align above the eastern horizon, offering stargazers their very own cosmic makes this event so special? In addition to the beauty and divine timing surrounding this rare event, it reminds us of the sacred planetary rhythms happening a pair of binoculars and set your alarm! Here's how, when and where to watch this week's 3-planet alignment. This week, a beautiful lineup of Saturn, Venus and the moon will rise before the sun, and adorn the night three planets will be visible to the naked eye: Saturn up high, the moon just below and Venus glimmering brightly near the horizon. Saturn will be the dimmest of the trio, but still visible. The best time to catch a glimpse of the planetary alignment is from May 20 to May 24. Read below for a detailed breakdown of the moon's stages for best viewing. Tuesday, May 20: The moon will reach its last-quarter phase, rising at about midnight and setting just after noon. Thursday, May 22: The crescent moon will appear just a few degrees from Saturn an hour or so before dawn, while Venus shines brightly lower in the sky. Friday, May 23: The moon, now at a slimmer crescent, will sit close to Venus, while Saturn remains May 24: This is your last chance to catch a glimpse of the moon before it vanishes into the sun's glare for the new moon phase. Rising on the lower eastern horizon about an hour before sunrise, it will sit beside Venus. Together with Saturn, all three planets will appear in a line from top to bottom. Between May 20 and May 24, Venus, Saturn and the moon will be visible to the naked eye when looking toward the eastern horizon. With a pair of binoculars, far away from major light pollution, conditions will be just right for viewing. You could also catch a glimpse of 'Earthshine' on May 23, which is when the glow on the dark side of the moon is caused by the sunlight's reflection from the Earth's find the best viewing time for your location, Time and Date recommends using their Night Sky Tool. Be sure to select the correct date and look in the pre-dawn hours. Moreover, for the most accurate location-specific information, refer back to online planetariums such as Stellarium. Read the original article on People
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
What is the best time to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2025? Where and how can I see it in Australia?
Stargazers and early risers are in for a stellar show this week, with one of the biggest meteor showers in the southern hemisphere due to light up the skies. The meteors — called the Eta Aquariids – pass through the atmosphere every year, but 2025 is due to be particularly luminous as the moon won't be visible when they arrive. Here's how to catch a view of the celestial delight. The good thing is this particular meteor shower not only happens every year, but spans multiple days. McElroy said Wednesday 7 May would be the 'best day' for stargazers, with around two dozen meteors expected to pass per hour. But if it happens to be cloudy that day, you won't blink and miss it. The shower will continue to have a strong showing on the days preceding and following 7 May, before tapering off at the end of the month. 'Often these things are quite short-lived … it'll peak this week but it will continue,' McElroy said. Unfortunately, though, the best viewing window is between 3am and 5am – 'not for the faint-hearted or those who feel the cold'. If you happen to find yourself awake in the early dawn, though, you're in luck. The Eta Aquariids can be viewed anywhere in the world, but they are best seen from the southern hemisphere where the shower will rise in the pre-dawn, darkened sky. In Australia, every state and territory will be able to witness the display. But McElroy said areas with the lowest light pollution would have the greatest visibility – such as Uluru and remote parts of the Northern Territory. 'These things aren't enormously bright, so you want to get away from as much light pollution as you can,' McElroy said. 'If you're in the city, get into the suburbs and away from bright lights.' Australia is lucky. McElroy said the best skies she has seen have been in Australia and in Chile because they look towards the centre of the Milky Way. 'In the northern hemisphere, you spend most of the year looking to the outskirts, but our winter happens to have the Milky Way's centre up in sky, and parts of Australia are very dark with a lot of protected [areas], like national parks,' she said. After heading outside, McElroy said you should first 'check the weather … That's the most important part. If it's cloudy you're not going to see anything, which is the curse of astronomy.' Then, turn off any porch or external lights and look away from bright street lights or your phone – which resets our daytime vision. 'Our eyes have a high dynamic range, and it takes 10 to 20 minutes to adjust to the night sky,' McElroy said. 'Grab a blanket, have a lie down and stay out there for an hour.' The constellation of Aquarius, where the meteors will appear, are in the north-east of the sky. Apps such as Star Mapper or Stellarium can help display the correct spot – but make sure you keep your brightness down. The Eta Aquariids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley's Comet hundreds of years ago. Dr Rebecca McElroy, an astrophysicist from the University of Southern Queensland, said Earth passes through the debris field every year. As the bits of rock and dust hit the atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up and create bright streaks – creating what we call meteors. 'Meteors tend to look like a bright streak going by, like a shooting star, but more,' McElroy said. 'Occasionally they happen just randomly – when something of a high density is in our path.' It is known as 'Eta Aquariids' because of the part of the sky in which the meteors appear – which is near the star Eta Aquarii in the constellation of Aquarius. There are four meteor showers similar to Eta Aquariids which occur throughout the year – most notably, the Orionids meteor shower, which is also caused by the Halley's Comet debris trail and happens in October. But McElroy said meteor showers can also be a great gateway to look at the rest of the sky. 'A meteor shower is great, but we are blessed with fantastic skies in Australia, especially in the winter,' she said. 'We will be able to see whole band of Milky Way, and if you stay outside for longer, you'll see more and more fainter stars light up. You can look for the Southern Cross, spot some star clusters or the Emu constellation. 'Come for the meteors, stay for the Milky Way.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Look up! What's going on in the May night sky?
Eyes to the sky for the month of May, for a chance to spot pieces of Halley's Comet streaking by overhead. Here is the Astronomical Guide to May 2025: May 3-4 — Mars near the Waxing Crescent Moon May 4 — First Quarter Moon May 5-6 — eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks May 12-13 — Full Flower Moon May 20 — Last Quarter Moon May 22-24 — Waning Crescent Moon near Saturn and Venus May 27 — New Moon May 28 — eta Aquariid meteor shower ends May 31 — Mars near the Waxing Crescent MoonThe astronomical events for May 2025, including the phases of the Moon, planetary conjunctions, and meteor showers. (Scott Sutherland, moon graphics from NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio, conjunctions courtesy Stellarium) The Waxing Crescent Moon will be in the western sky from the first to the third of the month, in the hours just after sunset. Look on the night of the 3rd to see it near the planet Mars and the Beehive Cluster. The First Quarter Moon is on the 4th, with a Waxing Gibbous Moon passing through our skies each night after until the Full Flower Moon on the night of the 12th to 13th. This Flower Moon is the final micromoon of 2025. As this Full Moon is farther away from Earth than a typical Full Moon, it will appear smaller and dimmer in the sky. Check it out just after sunset or just before sunrise, though, for it to look substantially larger, thanks to the mysterious Moon Illusion. Passing through its Waning Gibbous phase from the 13th to the 19th, the Last Quarter Moon will occur on the 20th. The Waning Crescent Moon can then be seen in the predawn sky each morning from the 21st through the 26th. Check it out, low in the sky along the eastern horizon, on the mornings of the 22nd through 24th to catch it passing by the planets Venus and Saturn. The Crescent Moon passes by the planets Venus and Saturn in the predawn sky from May 22nd through 24th. (Stellarium/Scott Sutherland) The New Moon is on the 27th, giving us our darkest skies of the month. It's a great time for stargazing! After which the cycle begins again as the Waxing Crescent Moon will once again grace our evening skies until the end of the month. See it near the planet Mars again on the night of the 31st. DON'T MISS: Spring Constellations dominate the night sky during the month of May. To the south, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Serpens/Ophiuchus, and Aquila are visible in the evening sky each night, with Hydra stretching across much of the horizon as well. The constellations in the southern sky at midnight on May 15, 2025. (Stellarium) After midnight, Sagittarius, Capricornus, and Aquarius follow along, with Pisces rising towards dawn. To the north, Cassiopeia, Ursa Major ("The Big Dipper"), and Ursa Minor ("The Little Dipper") remain the easiest constellations to pick out, as they circle the north celestial pole. The constellations in the northern sky at midnight on May 15, 2025. (Stellarium) Cygnus, Hercules, Boötes, and Draco also feature prominently. SPACE WEATHER: Back on April 19, Earth crossed into a stream of dusty debris in space, left behind by famous Halley's Comet. This began the yearly eta Aquariid meteor shower. Although it started off slowly through the latter half of April, this shower quickly reaches its peak once we transition into May. According to NASA, the best time to view the eta Aquariids is between May 3rd and 9th. However, the morning of May 6 is when the meteor shower peaks. The radiant of the eta Aquariid meteor shower — the location in the sky where the meteors appear to originate from — in the predawn hours of May 6, 2025. (Stellarium/Scott Sutherland) The 'radiant' of the shower only crests the eastern horizon just after 3 a.m., local time. As a result, the eta Aquariids are definitely an 'early riser' meteor shower, and it only offers a short window each morning to see it. During the peak, from around 3 a.m. through morning twilight on the 6th, observers with a clear, dark sky could see anywhere from 20-40 meteors per hour. Give yourself about 20 minutes without any exposure to bright light (including your smartphone) for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Then, look straight up, taking in as much of the sky above as possible, as their brief flashes can show up at any point overhead. Urban light pollution will reduce the number of visible meteors, as the glare of illumination from buildings, street lights, and signs 'washes out' the sky, so only the brightest meteors can shine through. Fortunately, with the Waxing Gibbous Moon setting in the west just as the eta Aquariid radiant rises in the east, the sky should be free from lunar light pollution, providing excellent viewing conditions for the show. However, check your weather forecast before going out, to ensure that the sky above you isn't overcast, so at least some portion of the sky is available to watch for meteors. READ MORE: One fascinating phenomenon we can see with the eta Aquariids is 'persistent trains' — a glowing trail left behind after a meteor winks out, which can persist in the air for anywhere from minutes to hours. Four frames taken from a persistent train video, shot on October 21, 2022, show the initial Orionid meteor flash, and three views of the persistent train that developed in its wake. (Brenda Tate/Tim Doucette/UGC) Exactly what causes persistent trains is still something of a mystery. Meteor scientists (meteoriticists) have some hypotheses, but the phenomenon has been difficult to study in detail, as it has only rarely being captured on camera. Although the eta Aquariids peak early in the month, this shower has a very long 'tail' to it. Even though NASA recommends seeing the shower up until the 9th, we can still spot bits of Halley's Comet occasionally streaking through the predawn sky right up until Earth exits the comet's debris stream on May 28. Click here to view the video
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
International Dark Sky Week 2025: See these 10 night sky sights to celebrate
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. April 21 - 28 is International Dark Sky Week, a global celebration of the night sky during which like-minded organizations and people take action to raise awareness of an inevitable aspect of modern-day life: the rising scourge of light pollution. Light pollution is a serious issue for night sky enthusiasts hoping to explore the cosmos from our vantage point on Earth, and is the primary reason why powerful observatories are built in remote locations, such as the Atacama Desert in Chile. Even so, a 2022 study from the Royal Astronomical Society showed that artificial light was polluting the skies over most observatories, while suggesting that immediate action would be needed to safeguard these scientific bastions. But the loss of dark skies is felt far beyond its harmful effects on astronomy. "From the darkness needed for a restful night's sleep to the activities we enjoy beneath the stars, the night plays a crucial role in protecting healthy wildlife ecosystems, advancing science and exploration, preserving cultural knowledge, and much more," reads a post on the International Dark Sky website. Astronomers measure the apparent brightness of a night sky object by its magnitude. The lower this value is, the brighter an associated object is in the night sky. Under good night sky viewing conditions the human eye is capable of picking out objects with a magnitude of around +6, which allows us to view over 9,000 stars without the need for telescopes or binoculars. However, under artificial city lights that limit drops to a magnitude of +3, which renders many deep sky objects and stars lost to sight. To celebrate International Dark Sky Week 2025, we've put together a list of 10 night sky objects visible over the coming days that showcase the majesty of the post-sunset realm. The majority of viewing targets are easily accessible to newcomers using nothing but the naked eye and a dark sky, although some may benefit from the use of a stargazing smartphone app such as Stellarium, or Starry night. However, some of the latter selections in our list would benefit from being viewed through a pair of binoculars, or a telescope, to bring out their true beauty. While the most impressive sights will be found under clear, unspoiled dark skies, many of the viewing targets can be observed in urban areas. Regardless of where you are, be sure to let your eyes adjust to the dark for at least 20 minutes to get the most out of your skywatching experience, and to use a red light when extra illumination is needed to save your night vision! The seven bright stars that form the Big Dipper - also known as the Plough - are among the most famous stellar formations in the Northern Hemisphere. In reality, the stars of the Big Dipper are separated from one another by near unimaginable tracts of space, but from the seemingly unchanging perspective of Earth they come together to create a distinctive bowl and handle shape. The Big Dipper is what is known as an asterism - the term given to a recognizable formation of stars that belongs to an even larger grouping of stellar bodies called a constellation. The Big Dipper's constellation Ursa major - the Great Bear - happens to be a circumpolar constellation, which means that it's always above the horizon in the northern hemisphere, particularly during spring, when it is particularly high overhead. If you're having difficulty spotting this bright asterism then why not turn to a stargazing app, many of which have free functionality and the best of which can be found in our handy guide! The next object on our tour is the magnitude +2 star Polaris, which can be located with the help of the bright stars Merak and Dubhe, which form the outer edge of the Big Dipper's 'bowl'. Simply trace an imaginary line from the base of the bowl (Merak) out through Dubhe, and the next bright star that the line intersects will be Polaris! Polaris is also known as the North Star, owing to the fact that it just so happens to be positioned extremely close to the north celestial pole, which is essentially an extension of Earth's geographic north pole, and around which the entire sky seems to rotate. As such, Polaris held a special significance to our ancestors, who used it to determine their latitude on Earth during long sea voyages. However, the celestial north pole is slowly wandering away from Polaris as a result of a wobble in the rotation of Earth's axis. According to NASA a new North Star will be crowned in around 12,000 years in the bright star Vega. Betelgeuse - or Alpha Orionis if you want to be fancy - is one of the largest stars visible in the Northern Hemisphere. According to NASA, the red supergiant is estimated to shine brighter than up to 14,000 suns. Despite being a mere 10 million years old, Betelgeuse is already nearing the end of its mighty existence, having already expended most of its hydrogen reserves needed to fuel the fusion reaction that prevents the gigantic stellar body from collapsing in on itself. At any point in the next 100,0000 years Betelgeuse could run out of the last of its hydrogen, and end in a cataclysmic supernova explosion that would be visible on Earth, even during the day. To find Betelgeuse in the April night sky, you need only look to the western sky soon after sunset, and locate the three bright stars Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka that line up horizontally to form an asterism known as Orion's belt. Then, trace a line up from Mintaka and slightly to the right, to find Betelgeuse. Space agencies and private companies alike have their sights set on exploring the secrets of the Red Planet, with a view to one day putting human boots on its barren surface. During April, Mars is located relatively close to the bright stars Castor and Pollox, which can be found 40 degrees upwards from Betelgeuse in the direction of your local zenith, which is the patch of space directly above your head. The width of your fist from your thumb to the outside of your hand equals around 10 degrees in the sky. With that in mind, all you need to do is stack four fists on top of Betelgeuse, and you will find Castor and Pollux waiting for you side by side. Mars can then be seen as a bright red point of light to the upper left of the two stars. Less than 10 degrees to the upper left of Mars this week is the Beehive cluster, which appears as a fuzzy patch of light to the naked eye under clear dark skies, and something all the more spectacular with the aid of a pair of binoculars, or telescope. According to NASA, the Beehive cluster is home to around 1,000 stars that are loosely bound together by gravitational attraction. The enormous stellar beehive is thought to be 600 - 700 million years old, and was initially mistaken as a nebula by the famed astronomer Galileo Galilei when he observed it in the early 1600s. A pair of good binoculars will reveal tens of stars clustered together in the Beehive, while a telescope could reveal hundreds more of the blue-white stellar bodies. The eastern pre-dawn horizon in late April is a veritable planet bonanza, with Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Neptune all crowding in together into a relatively small patch of sky. The planets are best viewed in the hour preceding dawn, and will require a clear view of the horizon. Venus, the brightest of the planetary quartet, will be visible roughly 10 degrees above the horizon, while Saturn will be visible to the lower right a short distance away. Mercury, the last of the easily visible planets, may also be visible almost directly on the horizon. Neptune will be visible through binoculars or a telescope below Venus and to the left of Saturn, forming a planetary triangle. As always, readers are reminded to exercise extreme caution when using a telescope or binoculars in close proximity to the rising sun. Named for its aesthetic similarity to the iconic piece of headwear, the Sombrero galaxy (M 104) is one of the most iconic and easily recognizable cosmic objects discovered by astronomers to date. The galaxy is tilted almost edge-on to Earth, and features a bright active core and thick, shadowy dust lanes that span some 50,000 light years across. With a magnitude of +8 the vast galaxy sits just outside of the perception range of the human eye. However, it can be spotted under dark skies using a pair of binoculars, which will reveal the vast structure of gas and stars as a small smudge of light. Through a larger telescope it is possible to gain greater levels of detail. Be sure to check out guides for the best binocular and telescope deals to help you find the optics you need to see the Sombrero Galaxy and other deep sky wonders. A good way to locate the Sombrero Galaxy is to pick out the magnitude 2.8 star Kraz near the southern horizon after dark, and then look upwards until you find the similarly bright star Porrima to the right of Spica. M 104 can be found roughly half way between the two. Located 34,000 light-years from Earth, the globular cluster Messier 3 (M3) is known to contain over 500,000 stars. Despite its stelliferous nature, the deep sky object was initially mistaken for a nebula by its discoverer Charles Messier back in 1764, though this wrong would later be put right by William Herschel some 20 years later, when he resolved individual stars within the cluster. As explained by NASA, the best way to find Messier 3 is to return to the Big Dipper asterism, and draw an imaginary line connecting the star at the very end of the handle, Alkaid, and Arcturus. Then, using a starfinding app, find the magnitude 2.84 star Cor Caroli. The globular cluster we seek is located a third of the way towards Cor Caroli. Bode's galaxy is located some 11.6 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major, and is one of the brightest galaxies to be found in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of +6.9. The cosmic structure was discovered in 1774 by German astronomer Johann Elert Bode, and later imaged by the Hubble telescope to magnificent effect. One way to find Bode's galaxy is to locate Dubhe in the bowl of the Big Dipper, along with the magnitude +3.5 star Muscida. Find the halfway point between the two, and head in the direction of Polaris. This imaginary line will bring you close to our target, along with the dimmer galaxies M82, and NGC 3077. As noted by NASA, it is possible to spot Bode's galaxy as a smudge of light in the spring sky with a pair of binoculars. However, a small telescope will be needed to resolve the galaxy's bright core, which is suspected to play host to a monstrous singularity 15 times the mass of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. Our final entry is the Andromeda galaxy, a vast spiral galaxy located some 2.5 million light years from Earth, which is destined to collide and merge with the Milky Way some 4.5 billion years from now to form an even larger elliptical galaxy. During spring, the Andromeda galaxy is best viewed in the hours before dawn by looking to the north eastern horizon and finding the prominent star Mirach close to the horizon. The Andromeda galaxy will be located a little under 10 degrees above Mirach, visible as a fuzzy patch of light to the naked eye.
