Latest news with #Uranus
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Space Out With 11 Far-Out Songs
By Maya Salam Dear listeners, Outer space is my Roman Empire: I am on some level obsessing about it whenever I have a free moment. I will devour true stories of discovery and space travel or mind-bending concoctions of science fiction — I'm here to be fascinated, thrilled and terrified by it all. So when researchers recently suggested that the Earth may actually be trapped in a giant cosmic void, my thoughts, more intensely than usual, drifted to our odd little marble's place in the vast expanse of the universe. In fact, it was on this very day 67 years ago that NASA was founded, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. So there's no better time than now for a playlist about the great unknown that surrounds us. Let's rock out on this rock together, shall we? Maya The first song on Pink Floyd's first album, 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' (1967), opens with the voice of Peter Jenner, the band's manager, reading out names of the moons of Uranus and a handful of planets through a megaphone, almost mimicking the effect of an interplanetary transmission. 'Pluto was not discovered till 1930,' you can hear him say if you listen closely. Pink Floyd would of course go on to become beloved for its music's ability to transport the psyche to astral planes. For something more familiar that's still on topic, try most any track off 'The Dark Side of the Moon.'▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Like 'Astronomy Domine,' this track from Kate Bush's 1985 album, 'Hounds of Love,' opens with an crackly missive, this time a comms recording from the Columbia Shuttle: 'Columbia now nine times the speed of sound,' it starts. Before long, Bush breaks in with her signature otherworldly, soul-awakening vocals that lead to a meditative Georgian chant performed by the Richard Hickox Singers. 'In some ways, I thought of it as a lullaby for the Earth,' Bush has said. 'It was the idea of turning the whole thing upside down and looking at it from completely above.' ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Practically any song from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust era would be at home on this list. (He embodied a rock star who communicates with extraterrestrial beings in the face of a coming apocalypse on Earth.) But it's this earlier track — from the 1969 album that later became known as 'Space Oddity' — about a fictional astronaut named Major Tom who loses contact with ground control, that gets me every time. Bowie was in part inspired to write it after watching Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey,' one of my favorite films. The track was also intentionally released on July 11, 1969, to dovetail with real life: The Apollo 11 mission, which would culminate with humans setting foot on the moon for the first time, launched just days later. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Björk has never seemed to be from this planet, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Virtually all her songs sound like an interstellar broadcast. This one off 'Biophilia' from 2011 opens and closes with a trippy sound comparable to the unsettling requiem motif in '2001: A Space Odyssey.' In between is a surprisingly tender ode to the creation of the universe. Interestingly, her lyrics here are more immediately legible than in much of her work. 'Heaven's bodies, whirl around me, make me wonder,' she sings. 'And they say back then our universe wasn't even there, until a sudden bang.' ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Even time I hear this gorgeous, delicate song by the indie-rock singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens from his 2005 LP 'Illinois,' I so wish its two minutes were just the start of a much longer musical experience. Punctuated with lilting flute, it reflects on a true story from 2000, in which police officers and others reported seeing lights in triangular formation around 4 a.m. near Highland, Ill. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Elton John's hit 'Rocket Man,' about the fragmented life of an astronaut, is a natural fit for this list, but this 1974 track off the less-celebrated album 'Caribou' is a bop that tells a tale of alien abduction while exploring earthbound feelings of alienation. It also celebrates John's emotive, rock-soul voice at its peak. Like 'Rocket Man,' it was inspired by his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin's love of science fiction. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube When I was a teenager in the 1990s, I had a 'Soundgarden' baby tee that I wore until it was threadbare. I kind of wish I'd framed it because it represents the beginning of my interest in (and my fear of) our place in the cosmos, in no small part because of the song and video for 'Black Hole Sun,' off the band's 1994 grunge classic, 'Superunknown.' The video, which shows delusionally happy suburbanites whose grins get creepily distorted as a black hole comes to swallow up humanity, was like nothing I'd ever seen. It's a psychedelic image that, for better or worse, shaped me. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube If you are here for the intergalactic theme, but some of the songs above are too melancholy, take a sharp turn toward the funky with the entirety of Parliament's 1975 album, 'Mothership Connection.' The flying-saucer cover art alone is worth the cost of admission. This track about desperate funk-less alien beings wanting to save their dying world by siphoning off the band's superpower is undeniably danceable. 'Like a streak of lightning it came, filling my brain with pain,' the lyrics go. 'Without saying a word, this voice I heard, 'Give up the funk, you punk.'' ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube This song is not about literal aliens, but the vibe is supernatural in the most fabulous of ways. From Beyoncé's 2022 studio album, 'Renaissance' — 'a dazzling nightclub fantasia,' as our pop music critic Lindsay Zoladz put it — this funky, synthy, layered track explores themes of Afrofuturism and queer liberation, and is simply out of this world. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube If you ever get the chance to watch the 1986 horror-comedy musical 'Little Shop of Horrors' with me, skip it. I know every word to the entire film, about a sentient alien plant hungry for human blood, and I don't restrain myself. This theatrical funk-rock track — written by the musical's creators, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and sung by Levi Stubb, the voice of Audrey II in the movie — accompanies the film's climatic scene, a fever-dream battle between man and extraterrestrial. It also earned an Oscar nomination for best original song, one of only a few songs sung by a movie's villain to do so, with profanity no less. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Originally recorded in 1954 by Kaye Ballard as 'In Other Words,' it was Frank Sinatra's 1964 interpretation that quickly became an anthem of sorts for the NASA Apollo moon missions, which ran from 1961 to 1972. Legend has it that the song was played both during the Apollo 10 mission, which orbited the moon in 1969, and Apollo 11, before it landed on the moon, making Neil Armstrong the first human to walk on its surface. In 2012, at Armstrong's memorial service, the jazz singer Diana Krall performed a plaintive version of the song in a tear-jerking tribute. ▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube The Amplifier Playlist 'Space Out With 11 Far-Out Songs' track listTrack 1: Pink Floyd, 'Astronomy Domine'Track 2: Kate Bush, 'Hello Earth'Track 3: David Bowie, 'Space Oddity'Track 4: Björk, 'Cosmogony'Track 5: Sufjan Stevens, 'Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois'Track 6: Elton John, 'I've Seen the Saucers'Track 7: Soundgarden, 'Black Hole Sun'Track 8: Parliament, 'Unfunky UFO'Track 9: Beyoncé, 'Alien Superstar'Track 10: Levi Stubbs, 'Mean Green Mother From Outer Space'Track 11: Frank Sinatra, 'Fly Me to the Moon'
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
What we know about the search for ‘Planet Nine' in our solar system
Is there a massive undiscovered planet on the outer reaches of the Solar System? The idea has been around since before the discovery of Pluto in the 1930s. Labelled as planet X, prominent astronomers had put it forward as an explanation for Uranus 's orbit, which drifts from the path of orbital motion that physics would expect it to follow. The gravitational pull of an undiscovered planet, several times larger than Earth, was seen as a possible reason for the discrepancy. That mystery was ultimately explained by a recalculation of Neptune 's mass in the 1990s, but then a new theory of a potential Planet Nine was put forward in 2016 by astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown at Caltech (the California Institute of Technology). Their theory relates to the Kuiper Belt, a giant belt of dwarf planets, asteroids and other matter that lies beyond Neptune (and includes Pluto). Many Kuiper Belt objects – also referred to as trans-Neptunian objects – have been discovered orbiting the Sun, but like Uranus, they don't do so in a continuous expected direction. Batygin and Brown argued that something with a large gravitational pull must be affecting their orbit, and proposed Planet Nine as a potential explanation. This would be comparable to what happens with our own Moon. It orbits the Sun every 365.25 days, in line with what you would expect in view of their distance apart. However, the Earth's gravitational pull is such that the Moon also orbits the planet every 27 days. From the point of view of an outside observer, the Moon moves in a spiralling motion as a result. Similarly, many objects in the Kuiper Belt show signs of their orbits being affected by more than just the Sun's gravity. While astronomers and space scientists were initially sceptical about the Planet Nine theory, there has been mounting evidence, thanks to increasingly powerful observations, that the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects are indeed erratic. As Brown said in 2024, 'I think it is very unlikely that P9 does not exist. There are currently no other explanations for the effects that we see, nor for the myriad other P9-induced effects we see on the Solar System.' In 2018, for example, it was announced that there was a new candidate for a dwarf planet orbiting the Sun, known as 2017 OF201. This object measures around 700km across (Earth is roughly 18x bigger) and has a highly elliptical orbit. This lack of a roughly circular orbit around the Sun suggested either an impact early in its lifetime that put it on this path, or gravitational influence from Planet Nine. Problems with the theory On the other hand, if Planet Nine exists, why hasn't anyone found it yet? Some astronomers question whether there's enough orbital data from Kuiper objects to justify any conclusions about its existence, while alternative explanations get put forward for their motion, such as the effect of a ring of debris or the more fantastical idea of a small black hole. The biggest issue, however, is that the outer Solar System just hasn't been observed for long enough. For example, object 2017 OF201 has an orbital period of about 24,000 years. While an object's orbital path around the Sun can be found in a short number of years, any gravitational effects probably need four to five orbits to notice any subtle changes. New discoveries of objects in the Kuiper Belt have also presented challenges for the Planet Nine theory. The latest is known as 2023 KQ14, an object discovered by the Subaru telescope in Hawaii. It is known as a 'sednoid', meaning it spends most of its time far away from the Sun, though within the vast area in which the Sun has a gravitational pull (this area lies some 5,000AU or astronomical units away, where 1AU is the distance from the Earth to the Sun). The object's classification as a sednoid also means the gravitational influence of Neptune has little to no effect on it. 2023 KQ14's closest approach to the Sun is around 71AU away, while its furthest point is about 433AU. By comparison, Neptune is about 30AU away from the Sun. This new object is another with a very elliptical orbit, but it is more stable than 2017 OF201, which suggests that no large planet, including a hypothetical Planet Nine, is significantly affecting its path. If Planet Nine exists, it would therefore perhaps have to be farther than 500AU away from the Sun. To make matters worse for the Planet Nine theory, this is the fourth sednoid to be discovered. The other three also exhibit stable orbits, similarly suggesting that any Planet Nine would have to be very far away indeed. Nonetheless, the possibility remains that there could still be a massive planet affecting the orbits of bodies within the Kuiper Belt. But astronomers' ability to find any such planet remains somewhat limited by the restrictions of even unmanned space travel. It would take 118 years for a spacecraft to travel far enough away to find it, based on estimates from the speed of Nasa's New Horizons explorer. This means we'll have to continue to rely on ground- and space-based telescopes to detect anything. New asteroids and distant objects are being discovered all the time as our observing capabilities become more detailed, which should gradually shed more light on what might be out there. So watch this (very big) space, and let's see what emerges in the coming years. Ian Whittaker is a Senior Lecturer in Physics at Nottingham Trent University.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Horoscope today, July 29 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column is being kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. ♈ ARIES March 21 to April 20 You're working on your relationships, your way – as the moon and Uranus team up in your chart. You can dare to say those words you know may shake things up – but also introduce some new ideas. READ MORE MYSTIC MEG When solid love is the base, so much can fly free. If you start the day single, an eccentric Aquarius can seem intriguing. 3 Your daily horoscope for Tuesday ♉ TAURUS April 21 to May 21 Pluto power comes into your zone with something to prove. This can mean a surprise set of ambitions suddenly take centre stage, or you plan a total revamp of an existing work team. Change is good when it's for the right reasons, but bad when it links to jealousy or regret in any way. Do ask yourself these questions. Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♊ GEMINI Your ideas about how you want to look, or feel, are the ones to follow – so do close your ears to outside noise, even from someone influential. That style you've been considering trying is ready for a reveal. Neptune's sensitive side could make you over-reactive to well-meant words or actions, do take time to think first. May 22 to June 21 Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♋ CANCER June 22 to July 22 The heart of a home may be changing, but you can cope with this when you rate the future above the past. It's tempting to stick to familiar paths, but this is a day for bold directions and to be the leader. The sun's cash-based energy links new income to something you really believe in, and are prepared to prove it. Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♌ LEO July 23 to August 23 Self-doubt can be the result of Mercury's backwards track – but you can deal with this by exploring tricky questions, rather than trying to ignore them. That person who always seems to oppose your ideas may never change – so perhaps you need distance between you. Respect is the key aspect of romance. Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions Most read in The Irish Sun ♍ VIRGO August 24 to September 22 You may resist taking some promises on trust – due to your cautious nature. But there is support in your chart for a few more risks. What these are, and how you do this, is your choice. Your love instincts are on high alert, and even if your head says no, your heart can already be speeding towards a fun Sagittarius. Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 Your love instincts are on high alert Credit: Getty ♎ LIBRA September 23 to October 23 As moon insight grows stronger, logical concerns can recede – this can be a brilliant balance for passion decisions that have plagued you. Including whether to get back in touch with someone you can't let go. But at work, it's important to keep a level head, be realistic about a team that may need a serious rethink. Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions List of 12 star signs The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below. Capricorn: Aquarius: Pisces: Aries: Taurus: Gemini: Cancer: Leo: Virgo : Libra: Scorpio: Sagittarius: ♏ SCORPIO October 24 to November 22 You do love a secret, for all sorts of reasons – but this is a day to rise up against this and be as open as you can. If you're not feeling a recent romance change, you can express this kindly but clearly. Plus the time may have come to take a long-time crush out of the darkness and into the light. Just one look can be all it takes. Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♐ SAGITTARIUS November 23 to December 21 Running anything from a project to a party is your star skill. This can spill over into a business idea that mixes fun and finances in new levels, and restores your faith in your own future. Laughter has a place in love, and can remind partners what they rate in each other. Single? The One loves 'S' music. Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♑ CAPRICORN December 22 to January 20 Your progress bar is set to speed up as your success sector lights up from within. Recognising what you do well is a more positive approach than regretting mistakes and letting them drag you back. The right partner is the one who supports you but doesn't shy away from highlighting where you're playing safe. Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 Single? An Aries is so unlikely, yet so tempting Credit: Supplied ♒ AQUARIUS January 21 to February 18 Pluto's pull on you can present you with a dilemma – how far can you push a plan that may go against other people's opinions? The rest of your chart is so well-balanced, you can find a way to make this work. But be prepared to offer concessions. A role in the spotlight is about to come back – this time accept it. Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♓ PISCES February 19 to March 20 The right changes for you are right there – yet still you may hesitate. Your task is to set aside that need to keep everyone happy, and focus on yourself. It's not easy for you, but it offers the way forward. If you're in love, shared security may wobble, it stays strong. Single? An Aries is so unlikely, yet so tempting… Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Horoscope today, July 29 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column is being kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up ♈ ARIES March 21 to April 20 You're working on your relationships, your way – as the moon and Uranus team up in your chart. You can dare to say those words you know may shake things up – but also introduce some new ideas. When solid love is the base, so much can fly free. If you start the day single, an eccentric Aquarius can seem intriguing. 3 Your daily horoscope for Tuesday ♉ TAURUS April 21 to May 21 Pluto power comes into your zone with something to prove. This can mean a surprise set of ambitions suddenly take centre stage, or you plan a total revamp of an existing work team. Change is good when it's for the right reasons, but bad when it links to jealousy or regret in any way. Do ask yourself these questions. Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♊ GEMINI Your ideas about how you want to look, or feel, are the ones to follow – so do close your ears to outside noise, even from someone influential. That style you've been considering trying is ready for a reveal. Neptune's sensitive side could make you over-reactive to well-meant words or actions, do take time to think first. May 22 to June 21 Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♋ CANCER June 22 to July 22 The heart of a home may be changing, but you can cope with this when you rate the future above the past. It's tempting to stick to familiar paths, but this is a day for bold directions and to be the leader. The sun's cash-based energy links new income to something you really believe in, and are prepared to prove it. Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♌ LEO July 23 to August 23 Self-doubt can be the result of Mercury's backwards track – but you can deal with this by exploring tricky questions, rather than trying to ignore them. That person who always seems to oppose your ideas may never change – so perhaps you need distance between you. Respect is the key aspect of romance. Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♍ VIRGO August 24 to September 22 You may resist taking some promises on trust – due to your cautious nature. But there is support in your chart for a few more risks. What these are, and how you do this, is your choice. Your love instincts are on high alert, and even if your head says no, your heart can already be speeding towards a fun Sagittarius. Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 Your love instincts are on high alert Credit: Getty ♎ LIBRA September 23 to October 23 As moon insight grows stronger, logical concerns can recede – this can be a brilliant balance for passion decisions that have plagued you. Including whether to get back in touch with someone you can't let go. But at work, it's important to keep a level head, be realistic about a team that may need a serious rethink. Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♏ SCORPIO October 24 to November 22 You do love a secret, for all sorts of reasons – but this is a day to rise up against this and be as open as you can. If you're not feeling a recent romance change, you can express this kindly but clearly. Plus the time may have come to take a long-time crush out of the darkness and into the light. Just one look can be all it takes. Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♐ SAGITTARIUS November 23 to December 21 Running anything from a project to a party is your star skill. This can spill over into a business idea that mixes fun and finances in new levels, and restores your faith in your own future. Laughter has a place in love, and can remind partners what they rate in each other. Single? The One loves 'S' music. Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♑ CAPRICORN December 22 to January 20 Your progress bar is set to speed up as your success sector lights up from within. Recognising what you do well is a more positive approach than regretting mistakes and letting them drag you back. The right partner is the one who supports you but doesn't shy away from highlighting where you're playing safe. Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 Single? An Aries is so unlikely, yet so tempting Credit: Supplied ♒ AQUARIUS January 21 to February 18 Pluto's pull on you can present you with a dilemma – how far can you push a plan that may go against other people's opinions? The rest of your chart is so well-balanced, you can find a way to make this work. But be prepared to offer concessions. A role in the spotlight is about to come back – this time accept it. Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♓ PISCES February 19 to March 20 The right changes for you are right there – yet still you may hesitate. Your task is to set aside that need to keep everyone happy, and focus on yourself. It's not easy for you, but it offers the way forward. If you're in love, shared security may wobble, it stays strong. Single? An Aries is so unlikely, yet so tempting… Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Aquarius Horoscope Today for July 29, 2025: Avoid major investments that are risky
Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Stay cool today Prefer a happy love affair, and ensure you stay committed at the workplace. Your financial status is good. But avoid large investments. Health demands care. Aquarius Horoscope Today: Read our expert astrological predictions to find out what the stars have in store for you.(Freepik) Stay committed to the official assignments and you'll see the results. Settle all love relationship issues. Avoid major investments that are risky. Health also requires care. Aquarius Love Horoscope Today Your lover may not be happy with you, and attitude issues may be a major reason. You must be accommodating in nature, and there should also be proper communication between the two. This will help settle the issues. Some females will prefer coming out of a toxic love affair, while single natives will also find success in finding new love. Married natives must also be ready to compromise on various topics to stay happy. Aquarius Career Horoscope Today Wealth will come in, but it is crucial to have control over the expenditure. You should not blindly invest in speculative businesses. However, the day is good to buy a new house or car. There will also be moments to celebrate, and you may spend money. Those of you who have been working closely in self-employment will earn good returns today. Students planning for higher studies abroad will also clear major hurdles today in terms of funds. Aquarius Money Horoscope Today No major monetary issue will come up, and you will be good to buy electronic appliances. This is the right time for those who are planning to sell their family or ancestral property. Some students would need to pay fees for education, and businessmen will receive pending dues in the first half of the day. Businessmen will clear long-standing dues. There will be an urgent need within the family for money, and you are expected to provide monetary assistance. Aquarius Health Horoscope Today Be careful while taking part in adventure sports and avoid traveling to hilly terrains today. Some natives may develop migraines or viral fever that may impact their daily lives. Those who are traveling should carry a medical kit along with them. Avoid riding a bike at high speeds today, and wear a helmet. Try to avoid eating oily food and food from outside. Aquarius Sign Attributes Strength: Tolerant, Ideal, Friendly, Charitable, Independent, Logical Weakness: Disobedient, Liberalistic, Rebel Symbol: Water carrier Element: Air Body Part: Ankles & Legs Sign Ruler: Uranus Lucky Day: Saturday Lucky Color: Navy Blue Lucky Number: 22 Lucky Stone: Blue Sapphire Aquarius Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Good compatibility: Leo, Aquarius Fair compatibility: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Less compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: E-mail: djnpandey@ Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
