Space Discussion Thread

[paul1598419]

Some great news! Looks like the James Webb telescope is now fully deployed!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1479880178021060609

I've been watching this too. It is quite remarkable!

 

[Ears and Eggs]

Looks like the same team that captured that amazing image of the M87 Supermassive black hole have also now captured an image of Sagittarius A*.

Black hole at center of Milky Way pictured for first time

The photo, which shows an oval-shaped void surrounded by a bright ring of glowing gas, is only the second image captured of a black hole.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[RedCowboy]

Something interesting.

Astronomers Watched a White Dwarf Turn into a Thermonuclear Fireball

Astronomers have spotted the X-ray flash that's the first sign of a white dwarf erupting into a nuclear-fusion fireball.

skyandtelescope.org

also a lunar eclipse on the 16th

Witness a Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday, May 15–16

The full Flower Moon ducks inside Earth's shadow in a total lunar eclipse this month. Prepare for all the highlights of the special event.

skyandtelescope.org

sky and telescope news

Astronomy & Observing News Archives

Keep up to date with the latest astronomy news, the newest astronomical discoveries, and the hottest tips for observing celestial happenings.

skyandtelescope.org

 

[Ears and Eggs]

Looks like the first full image from the James Webb space telescope will be coming tomorrow:

There will be an event at 5PM ET tomorrow for the reveal:

Biden to unveil first photo from James Webb Space Telescope

The image, known as “Webb’s First Deep Field,” will be the deepest and highest-resolution view of the universe ever captured. Biden is scheduled to release it on Monday.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Ears and Eggs]

The first full image from the James Webb telescope, of the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723!

NASA’s Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is overflowing with detail.

www.nasa.gov

 

[Ears and Eggs]

Wow, some more images are being released this morning, including this amazing view of the Southern Ring Nebula:

First Images from the James Webb Space Telescope

The dawn of a new era in astronomy has begun as the world gets its first look at the full capabilities of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).

www.nasa.gov

 

[JSmith]

It still completely blows my mind that all these lights are whole other galaxies, there must be life out there somewhere!

 

[Unown (WILD)]

It still completely blows my mind that all these lights are whole other galaxies, there must be life out there somewhere!

It still completely blows my mind how you spammers love to spam.

 

[Ears and Eggs]

Darn, looks the first SLS launch has been postponed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1564232429279272962

 

[paul1598419]

Darn, looks the first SLS launch has been postponed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1564232429279272962

Yeah, this happens from time to time. I would rather they get everything right than to rush into this new moon shot. I am looking forward to it as I remember watching the first one back in 1969. That was awesome!

 

[RedCowboy]

Darn, looks the first SLS launch has been postponed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1564232429279272962

I'm just glad we are finally going back even though this is an unmanned mission, but with the possibilities of mining helium-3 things could get interesting.

Here's something else interesting, it's not space aviation, but flying cars in China will be a real thing.

China plans to launch flying taxis by 2025

China’s government has set an ambitious timetable to allow flying vehicles to carry passengers for short distances by 2025. On August 22, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) sta…

asiatimes.com

 

[paul1598419]

It seems far more likely that this ride shearing service that is on par with the U.S.'s timetable will just be small aircraft that already exist now. I wouldn't expect to see flying cars in just three years.

 

[RedCowboy]

If you're fixated on the word " car " then try to comprehend that I was using " car " as a general term for " vehicle " in the context that I used it, which is not unusual when people refer to " flying cars " of or in the future, most people I expect envision something like the bubble top wheelless vehicle George Jetson flew. ( See image of Jetsons " flying car " above. )

However as for flying cars based upon the root word " carriage " denoting a wheeled vehicle, while you may not expect it they already exist.

That said the flying taxi the article refers to would likely be a multirotor type and may or may not have wheels, but being a taxi I expect it just might have wheels to maneuver once it lands, so they may be more carriage like that you think.

 

[Ears and Eggs]

Darn, postponed again. Looks like another stupid hydrogen leak.

NASA scrubs second Artemis I launch attempt

The $4.1 billion test flight was to be the first step in NASA’s Artemis program of renewed lunar exploration.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[RedCowboy]

I'm looking forward to seeing it too and the Artemis II mission later, that said I would rather they be extra cautious than have a disaster, hydrogen in the presence of oxygen can make for a very brisant (((( KA-BOOM ))))

 

[Ears and Eggs]

Yeah, definitely better to take as many attempts as needed rather than have it blow up or something. Wonder what happens to the fuel when the launch gets cancelled like this. Guess they can defuel the rocket and store the fuel in some tanks nearby for the next launch?