#Tag · 𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶

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General_relativity

General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity, and as Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics. General relativity generalizes special relativity and refines Newton's law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time, or four-dimensional spacetime. In particular, the curvature of spacetime is directly related to the energy and momentum of whatever is present, including matter and radiation. The relation is specified by the Einstein field equations, a system of second-order partial differential equations.

Newton's law of universal gravitation, which describes classical gravity, can be seen as a prediction of general relativity for the almost flat spacetime geometry around stationary mass distributions. Some predictions of general relativity, however, are beyond Newton's law of universal gravitation in classical physics. These predictions concern the passage of time, the geometry of space, the motion of bodies in free fall, and the propagation of light, and include gravitational time dilation, gravitational lensing, the gravitational redshift of light, the Shapiro time delay and singularities/black holes. So far, all tests of general relativity have been shown to be in agreement with the theory. The time-dependent solutions of general relativity enable us to talk about the history of the universe and have provided the modern framework for cosmology, thus leading to the discovery of the Big Bang and cosmic microwave background radiation. ..
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity

* Credits: Wikimedia Commons

#space #blackhole #astronomy #science #nature #NASA #ESA

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 3 days ago

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The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes
* Scientific Visualization Credit: NASA, GSFC, Jeremy Schnittman & Brian P. Powell; Text: Francis J. Reddy
https://sedvme.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/francis.j.reddy
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/jeremy.d.schnittman
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/brian.p.powell
https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
If one black hole looks strange, what about two? Light rays from accretion disks around a pair of orbiting supermassive black holes make their way through the warped space-time produced by extreme gravity in this detailed computer visualization. The simulated accretion disks have been given different false color schemes, red for the disk surrounding a 200-million-solar-mass black hole, and blue for the disk surrounding a 100-million-solar-mass black hole. For these masses, though, both accretion disks would actually emit most of their light in the ultraviolet. The video allows us to see both sides of each black hole at the same time. Red and blue light originating from both black holes can be seen in the innermost ring of light, called the photon sphere, near their event horizons. In the past decade, gravitational waves from black hole collisions have actually been detected, although the coalescence of supermassive black holes remains undiscovered.
https://www.nasa.gov/universe/new-nasa-visualization-probes-the-light-bending-dance-of-binary-black-holes/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200825.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accretion_disk
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190411.html
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14132/
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993AmJPh..61..619N/abstract
https://apod.nasa.gov/htmltest/rjn_bht.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon_sphere
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201104.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250506.html

#space #blackhole #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature #NASA #ESA

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 12 hours ago

IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/ixpe/nasas-ixpe-reveals-x-ray-generating-particles-in-black-hole-jets/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap031128.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240507.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250504.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization_(waves)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_Lacertae

https://home.cern/science/physics
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025arXiv250501832A/abstract
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/11_xrays/
https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/whelect.html
https://home.cern/news/news/physics/proton-century
https://chandra.si.edu/art/xray/

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250509.html

#space #blackhole #astroart #astronomy #physics #photography #science #nature #NASA

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 8 hours ago

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Animation: Spiral Disk around a Black Hole
Illustrated Animation Credit: ESA, NASA, Hubble, M. Kornmesser
https://esahubble.org/projects/anniversary/production_team/
https://www.spacetelescope.org/
https://www.esa.int/
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
What would it look like to orbit a black hole? Many black holes are surrounded by swirling pools of gas known as accretion disks. These disks can be extremely hot, and much of the orbiting gas will eventually fall through the black hole's event horizon -- where it will never be seen again. The featured animation is an artist's rendering of the curious disk spiraling around the supermassive black hole at the center of spiral galaxy NGC 3147. Gas at the inner edge of this disk is so close to the black hole that it moves unusually fast -- at 10 percent of the speed of light. Gas this fast shows relativistic beaming, making the side of the disk heading toward us appear significantly brighter than the side moving away. The animation is based on images of NGC 3147 made recently with the Hubble Space Telescope.

!>> https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190820.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190820.html

#space #blackhole #astronomy #astrophysics #science #NASA

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 3 days ago

The black hole’s extreme gravitational field redirects and distorts light coming from different parts of the disk, but exactly what we see depends on our viewing angle. The greatest distortion occurs when viewing the system nearly edgewise.

As our viewpoint rotates around the black hole, we see different parts of the fast-moving gas in the accretion disk moving directly toward us. Due to a phenomenon called "relativistic Doppler beaming," gas in the disk that's moving toward us makes that side of the disk appear brighter, the opposite side darker. This effect disappears when we're directly above or below the disk because, from that angle, none of the gas is moving directly toward us.

When our viewpoint passes beneath the disk, it looks like the gas is moving in the opposite direction. This is no different that viewing a clock from behind, which would make it look like the hands are moving counter-clockwise.

CORRECTION: In earlier versions of the 360-degree movies on this page, these important effects were not apparent. This was due to a minor mistake in orienting the camera relative to the disk. The fact that it was not initially discovered by the NASA scientist who made the movie reflects just how bizarre and counter-intuitive black holes can be!

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Jeremy Schnittman (NASA/GSFC)
Scott Wiessinger (USRA)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)

>>https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13326#section_credits

#space #blackhole #astrophysics #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature #NASA #ESA

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 12 hours ago

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IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia
https://www.nasa.gov/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_Lacertae

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250509.html

#space #blackhole #astroart #astronomy #physics #photography #science #nature #NASA

2025 May 9
An artist's illustration of what the surroundings of the supermassive black hole at the center of BL Lac is shown. A white jet protrudes horizontally toward the bottom of the image, emanating from a orange accretion disk surrounding a black hole. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia

Explanation:
How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth.

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
NASA Science Activation
& Michigan Tech. U. — 2025 May 9 An artist's illustration of what the surroundings of the supermassive black hole at the center of BL Lac is shown. A white jet protrudes horizontally toward the bottom of the image, emanating from a orange accretion disk surrounding a black hole. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia Explanation: How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 3 days ago

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Black Hole Accretion Disk Visualization

This new visualization of a black hole illustrates how its gravity distorts our view, warping its surroundings as if seen in a carnival mirror. The visualization simulates the appearance of a black hole where infalling matter has collected into a thin, hot structure called an accretion disk. The black hole’s extreme gravity skews light emitted by different regions of the disk, producing the misshapen appearance.

Bright knots constantly form and dissipate in the disk as magnetic fields wind and twist through the churning gas. Nearest the black hole, the gas orbits at close to the speed of light, while the outer portions spin a bit more slowly. This difference stretches and shears the bright knots, producing light and dark lanes in the disk.

Viewed from the side, the disk looks brighter on the left than it does on the right. Glowing gas on the left side of the disk moves toward us so fast that the effects of Einstein’s relativity give it a boost in brightness; the opposite happens on the right side, where gas moving away us becomes slightly dimmer. This asymmetry disappears when we see the disk exactly face on because, from that perspective, none of the material is moving along our line of sight.

Closest to the black hole, the gravitational light-bending becomes so excessive that we can see the underside of the disk as a bright ring of light seemingly outlining the black hole. This so-called “photon ring” is composed of multiple rings, which grow progressively fainter and thinner, from light that has circled the black hole two, three, or even more times before escaping to reach our eyes. ...

>> https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13326

#space #blackhole #astrophotography #astrophysics #photography #astronomy #science #nature #NASA

grobi @grobi@defcon.social · 3 days ago

Content Warning

>>https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13326#section_credits

#space #blackhole #astrophysics #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature #NASA #ESA

This illustration shows how direct and bent light rays from a black hole's accretion disk produce the apparent image and motion seen by an observer.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman — This illustration shows how direct and bent light rays from a black hole's accretion disk produce the apparent image and motion seen by an observer. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman

This image highlights and explains various aspects of the black hole visualization.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman — This image highlights and explains various aspects of the black hole visualization. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman

Natasha Jay 🇪🇺 @Natasha_Jay@tech.lgbt · 4 days ago

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This is Daphnis, one of Saturn's moons. This image shows its unusual gravitational effect on Saturn's rings ...

Daphnis is only about 8 km wide, but its gravity disturbs Saturn's A ring, creating ripples and edge waves. It orbits within the Keeler Gap, a 42 km-wide gap in the rings. This image shows how even small moons can shape massive ring systems

#Astronomy #Saturn

An image showing Daphnis and ripples in Saturn's rings

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · last week

Content Warning

"Jupiter Core" by XKCD comic (mirror bots @xkcd @xkcdbot ) - He starts with actual theories and then, as usual, gets distracted and his attention wanders off... Some shiny stuff.🪙🏴‍☠️ So far no squirrels.🐿️🐕 https://xkcd.com/3083/ #astronomy #planetary #space #WTF #humor

XKCD comic #3083 "Jupiter Core"

Transcript & explanation by ExplainXKCD https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3083:_Jupiter_Core

Transcript:
Current leading theories for what's in the center of Jupiter:

[Variations of Jupiter, except for the last are shown with about 1/8 of the planet chopped off to show the core.]

[Jupiter with liquid material at its core]
Diffuse mix of heavy elements and metallic hydrogen

[Jupiter with a rocky core]
Rocky core with metallic, hydrogen mantle

[Jupiter with a pile of coins for a core, with multiple dollar signs shown]
Valuable treasure

[Jupiter with Earth for a core]
Emergency backup Earth

[Hollow Jupiter with a rocky planet in the middle]
Regular planet pretending to be a gas giant to avoid attention

[Jupiter with a smooth ball for a core]
Hard ball from avocado

[Jupiter with a small version of Jupiter for a core]
Baby Jupiter, still gestating

[Jupiter as a flat circle, with nothing chopped off]
No core; flat Earth conspiracists are wrong about Earth but right about Jupiter

title text: Juno mission data suggests that Jupiter actually contains Matryoshka doll-style nested copies of every other planet in the Solar System.

explanation (truncated to fit alt text):
Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System, the fifth planet from the Sun, and the closest-in gas giant. The core of the planet is hidden by an enormous gaseous atmosphere, and this comic lists a number of theories about the structure of that core. [...] — XKCD comic #3083 "Jupiter Core" Transcript & explanation by ExplainXKCD https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3083:_Jupiter_Core Transcript: Current leading theories for what's in the center of Jupiter: [Variations of Jupiter, except for the last are shown with about 1/8 of the planet chopped off to show the core.] [Jupiter with liquid material at its core] Diffuse mix of heavy elements and metallic hydrogen [Jupiter with a rocky core] Rocky core with metallic, hydrogen mantle [Jupiter with a pile of coins for a core, with multiple dollar signs shown] Valuable treasure [Jupiter with Earth for a core] Emergency backup Earth [Hollow Jupiter with a rocky planet in the middle] Regular planet pretending to be a gas giant to avoid attention [Jupiter with a smooth ball for a core] Hard ball from avocado [Jupiter with a small version of Jupiter for a core] Baby Jupiter, still gestating [Jupiter as a flat circle, with nothing chopped off] No core; flat Earth conspiracists are wrong about Earth but right about Jupiter title text: Juno mission data suggests that Jupiter actually contains Matryoshka doll-style nested copies of every other planet in the Solar System. explanation (truncated to fit alt text): Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System, the fifth planet from the Sun, and the closest-in gas giant. The core of the planet is hidden by an enormous gaseous atmosphere, and this comic lists a number of theories about the structure of that core. [...]

Corey S Powell @coreyspowell@mastodon.social · 2 weeks ago

Content Warning

If you're curious how astronomers find & identify a disintegrating planet, here's the full paper.

The planet BD+05 4868 Ab used to be the size of Mercury. Now it's the size of the Moon. In a few million years, it will be gone.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adbf21 #science #nature #astronomy

3D simulation of 50,000 dust grains in the corotating frame of the orbiting planet, integrated for up to 30 planetary orbits. The host star is shown to scale, while the planet's size is inflated by a factor of 50. This is the view from above the plane of the planet's orbit.

CosmicRami @CosmicRami@aus.social · 3 weeks ago

Content Warning

You may have seen headlines today - such as in The New York Times - suggesting the possible detection of a biosignature on an exoplanet. It’s an exciting prospect, no doubt. But it’s also an extraordinary claim, and as the saying goes, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" (Carl Sagan).

While the molecule in question is associated with biological processes, it’s important to note that non-biological (abiotic) pathways for its formation exist as well (see: Reed et al. 2024 ApJL; Sanz-Novo et al. 2025 ApJL). These results are interesting, but far from conclusive.

Scientists work within a robust framework to test such claims. This includes:

- Peer review and replication
- Community feedback and critique
- Cross-validation through multiple instruments and techniques
- Avoiding sensationalism in science communication
- Building consensus through sustained investigation

I am looking forward to hearing more from the exoplanet and astrobiology communities on these findings before drawing conclusions.

In the meantime, the ripple effect of bold headlines - like "Possible Signs of Extraterrestrial Life" - has already begun. A friend at the dentist this morning spotted a very misleading headline about this on Channel 9 News!

This is where science communication becomes critical: managing public interest and excitement without compromising scientific accuracy.

We should use moments like these to show the process - how scientific ideas are proposed, tested, debated, and refined - to broader audiences. Whether we’re talking about space, climate change, or pandemics, this transparency is essential to building trust in science.

Aliens make for a great headline, but the real story is in how we do the science.

#JWST #Astronomy #Astrobiology #Astrodon #Science #ScienceCommunication

The search for life beyond Earth has led scientists to explore many suggestive mysteries, from plumes of methane on Mars to clouds of phosphine gas on Venus. But as far as we can tell, Earth’s inhabitants remain alone in the cosmos.

Now a team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s
atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae.

“It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life.

“This is a revolutionary moment,” Dr. Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.” — The search for life beyond Earth has led scientists to explore many suggestive mysteries, from plumes of methane on Mars to clouds of phosphine gas on Venus. But as far as we can tell, Earth’s inhabitants remain alone in the cosmos. Now a team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life. “This is a revolutionary moment,” Dr. Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”

Screenshot of NYTimes article with a picture of Earth and teh headline that reads "Astronomers Detect a Signature of Life on a Distant Planet"

Corey S Powell @coreyspowell@mastodon.social · 3 weeks ago

Content Warning

Possibly the weirdest planet yet discovered?

Newfound world 2M1510 (AB) b appears to orbit not one but two stars...and they are actually failed stars, known as brown dwarfs...and the planet orbits sideways, in a unique up-and-down polar orbit.

https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2508/ #space #science #astronomy #nature

Left: This image, taken in visible light, shows 2M1510 AB, a pair of brown dwarfs orbiting each other. The two brown dwarfs, A and B, are seen as a single source in this image, but we know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. When monitoring their orbits, astronomers found perturbations that can only be explained by the gravitational tug of an exoplanet circling both brown dwarfs in a perpendicular orbit. This system contains a third brown dwarf, 2M1510 C, which is located too far away to be responsible for these perturbations.

Right: This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are traveling. — Left: This image, taken in visible light, shows 2M1510 AB, a pair of brown dwarfs orbiting each other. The two brown dwarfs, A and B, are seen as a single source in this image, but we know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. When monitoring their orbits, astronomers found perturbations that can only be explained by the gravitational tug of an exoplanet circling both brown dwarfs in a perpendicular orbit. This system contains a third brown dwarf, 2M1510 C, which is located too far away to be responsible for these perturbations. Right: This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are traveling.

Dr. John Barentine FRAS @JohnBarentine@astrodon.social · 4 weeks ago

Content Warning

Concerns about the potential impact of obtrusive #SpaceAdvertising on the night sky continue to generate media stories. Here's one from @Tagesspiegel (auf Deutsch) for which I was interviewed recently.

https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/lasershow-statt-sterne-droht-bald-werbung-am-nachthimmel-13463614.html

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #NightSky #Astronomy

IOTA European Section @IOTA_European_Section@mastodon.online · last month

Content Warning

A shadow profile of asteroid (3560) Chenqian was measured during a stellar occultation for the first time by 3 observers in Germany and Poland on 2025 April 02.

The team of the Stellar Occultation Data Input System (SODIS) of IOTA/ES has calculated a preliminary profile of the asteroid of 31 x 22 km from these measurements.

https://cloud.occultwatcher.net/event/1552-3560-162731-647682-U055229

#astronomy #occultation #asteroid #citizenscience

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · 3 months ago

Content Warning

"Chance of 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 smashing into Earth rises yet again to 3.1%, #NASA reports" by @LiveScience - As astronomers' observations have narrowed the estimate of #asteroid #2024YR4's orbit, Earth's size is now a larger fraction of the reduced cross-section of possible paths. So probability goes up until impact is ruled out. 96.9% chance the eventually-narrowed path will eliminate impact with Earth. Computation continues. https://www.livescience.com/space/asteroids/chance-of-city-killer-asteroid-2024-yr4-smashing-into-earth-rises-yet-again-to-3-1-percent-nasa-reports #astronomy #LowFlyingRocks

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · 3 months ago

Content Warning

"NASA massively lowers impact risk of 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 to 1 in 360" by @Spacecom / @RobertLea - #Asteroid #2024YR4 dropped from 3 to 1 on the Torino Scale of impact hazards. Telescope observations have narrowed down its orbit estimate, and chances of impact in 2032. As of Tuesday it was listed as 3.1%. It dropped to 0.28% as of Thursday when the article was written. (Minor update to 0.36% today.) It's expected to drop to zero. https://www.space.com/asteroid-2024yt4-impact-risk-drop-nasa #astronomy #LowFlyingRocks

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · 2 months ago

Content Warning

I don't see new news articles yet. But I checked the #NASA JPL data on #asteroid #2024YR4. It has been dropped on the Torino Scale of impact hazards from 1 to 0, previously at 3 when it was in the news. Now 1 in 26000 chance of impact in the 2032 pass. 😌 Still expected to go to zero. Dark skies under a waning moon allowed enough observations to narrow down its orbit before it's too far away from Earth to see for 3 years. #astronomy #PlanetaryDefense #PlanetaryDefence #LowFlyingRocks #space

screenshot of NASA JPL data on asteroid 2024 YR4 forecasted near passes by Earth close enough for potential impact
the pass on 2032-12-22.59 is now listed as 3.9e-5 chance of impact

clicking on the 3.9e-5 yields more info:
Alternate Representations for Impact Probability = 3.9e-5
0.0039% chance of Earth impact
1 in 26,000 odds of impact
99.9961% chance the asteroid will miss the Earth — screenshot of NASA JPL data on asteroid 2024 YR4 forecasted near passes by Earth close enough for potential impact the pass on 2032-12-22.59 is now listed as 3.9e-5 chance of impact clicking on the 3.9e-5 yields more info: Alternate Representations for Impact Probability = 3.9e-5 0.0039% chance of Earth impact 1 in 26,000 odds of impact 99.9961% chance the asteroid will miss the Earth

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · 2 months ago

Content Warning

"You’re going to see more ‘city-killer’ asteroids, but fret not, MIT astronomer says" by KTLA Los Angeles - #Asteroid #2024YR4 is a useful example of what we're likely to see more often as astronomers get better equipment to locate rocks that have always been out there but previously passed unseen in the dark. Observation of an asteroid's orbit should look like this each time. https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/city-killer-asteroids-more-common/ #astronomy #PlanetaryDefense #PlanetaryDefence #LowFlyingRocks #space

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · 2 months ago

Content Warning

"Asteroid 2024 YR4 is going to miss Earth, but the story doesn’t end there" by @arstechnica / @sciguyspace - The orbit of #Asteroid #2024YR4 has been narrowed down enough to know it will not hit Earth. Get used to more asteroids being evaluated as potential threats. The good news is that humanity is increasingly able to find these threats which were already out there. Don't be a dinosaur.🦕🦖🌠 https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/asteroid-2024-yr4-may-be-a-dud-but-we-will-soon-find-many-more-threats/ #astronomy #PlanetaryDefense #PlanetaryDefence #LowFlyingRocks #space

Astro Hawk (Ian Kluft) 🚀🛰️ @AstroHawk@spacey.space · last month

Content Warning

"A Near-Miss with a City-Killer Asteroid Highlights Gaps in Earth’s Defenses" by @SciAm - Increasing capabilities to search for the next wayward #asteroid will mean recurring news like #2024YR4 where a threat is evaluated for potential collision course with Earth. At some point, we will find one headed here. Planning and test exercises try to become prepared for what to do when we know one is coming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-planetary-defenders-planned-to-stop-that-city-killer-asteroid/ #astronomy #PlanetaryDefense #PlanetaryDefence #LowFlyingRocks #space

Corey S Powell @coreyspowell@mastodon.social · last month

Content Warning

A lot of cosmic exploration centers around the questions "what is weird?" & "what is normal?"

Early studies of young stars found an abundance of huge planetary systems forming. New observations reveal the opposite: Lots of small systems, much more compact than our solar system.

https://www.astronomie.nl/nieuws/en/protoplanetary-discs-are-much-smaller-than-previously-thought-4477 #space #science #astronomy