The white dwarf acting as a magnifying glass in space

Astronomers have observed a white dwarf, a dense, compact, burnt-out star acting as a magnifying glass for another star that it is orbiting.

Nature reports that physicists Ethan Kruse and Eric Agol from the University of Washington in Seattle, noticed an increase of 0.1 per cent in the larger star’s brightness every 88 days that lasted for 5 hours.

 Using data from NASA’s Kepler spacecraft they observed that the star’s gravitational effect was acting like a magnifying glass every time it crossed the line of sight between the other star and Earth, leading to an increase in the star’s overall brightness.

Watch the white dwarf in action and see why astronomers are excited by this outer space phenomenon.

Watch the white dwarf in action below and see why astronomers are excited by this outer space phenomenon.

Video of white dwarf orbiting a star

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26 atom-bomb-scale asteroid impacts since the year 2000

At a press conference on April 22nd at the Museum of Flight, three prominent astronauts supporting the B612 Foundation presented a visualization of new data showing evidence for 26 atom-bomb-scale asteroid impacts since 2000. The evidence comes from recently released data from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, which operates a network of sensors that monitors Earth around the clock listening for the infrasound signature of nuclear detonations.

 Between 2000 and 2013, this network detected 26 explosions on Earth ranging in energy from 1 to 600 kilotons — all caused not by nuclear explosions, but rather by asteroid impacts. To put that in perspective, the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 exploded with an energy impact of 15 kilotons.

For more info on this story follow the link below:

Atom Bomb Scale Asteroid

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Cassini satellite discovers evidence of ocean on Saturn’s moon Enceladus

SCIENTISTS have uncovered a vast ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn’s little moon Enceladus.

Italian and American researchers made the discovery using Cassini, a NASA-European spacecraft still exploring Saturn and its rings 17 years after its launch from Cape Canaveral.

This new ocean of liquid water  as big as or even bigger than North America’s Lake Superior is centred at the south pole of Enceladus and could encompass much if not most of the moon. Enceladus is about 499 kilometres in diameter.

For the full story please follow the below link:

Saturns Moon Enceladus

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Ecuador’s ‘Throat Of Fire’ Volcano Belches Column Of Ash & Smoke

A Volcano in central Ecuador has spewed up a column of hot ash and smoke 10 kilometres high, increasing fears of an eruption.

Activity has been building at the Tungurahua volcano 130 kilometres south of the capital Quito since early February.

For more pics and video of the volcano follow the below link:

Throat Of Fire

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Three Explosions on the Sun!

Just lately the Sun has been providing quite a show, 2 X Class solar flares in the space of a few weeks and now, just last night, 3 explosions.  There is also the question if the 3 explosions were in fact one.

 

 

 

 

Check out the link below for some awesome footage and decide for yourself?

 

Explosions On The Sun

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