Content Warning

#Space 🌌 is a far more logical, sensible place to do #fusion, because that’s where it wants to happen anyway. In 📆 2027, we’re going to send a small part of #Sunbird in #orbit. The first #functional Sunbird will be ready four to five years later. Sunbird could deliver #cargo to #Mars 🔴 in under six months https://edition.cnn.com/science/nuclear-powered-rocket-pulsar-space-spc/index.html

#SpacecraftPropulsion#FusionPropulsion#PulsarFusion

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

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

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

Content Warning

A while back (around seven months ago) I posted an image of ISS (first image), but captured FROM ABOVE (higher orbit). This is the work of Aussie company HEO!

This type of work is really fascinating as things (like satellites) are all moving at high velocities up there (28,000 km/h) - so other things (like other satellites or space stations) zip past quickly. You would then need to 'de-zip' the object to make a crisp clear image.

Well, they've done it again.

This time, imaging the Chinese Space Station (second image) from a distance of 83 kilometres (resolution of 0.17 m/px) 🤯

This is really cool stuff. I promise.

📸 BlackSky / HEO

#Space#EarthObservation#SpaceStation #Astrodon

Content Warning

Tornadoes in space:

This new JWST image shows a jet shooting out from a newborn star; the colors indicate infrared emission from hydrogen, carbon monoxide & dust.

JWST is so sensitive that it also captured many distant background galaxies, including one at the tip of the tornado & others shining right through it.

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2025/news-2025-112 #space #science #art

Content Warning

Hubble image of Arp 194, also known as UGC 6945.

The upper component of this interacting galaxy group has two nuclei that appear to be connected and in the early stages of merging along with trails of blue super star clusters. The lower component of the group is a single large spiral galaxy with its own star clusters.

Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team
Source: https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2009/18/2542-Image.html

#ArpGalaxy#Galaxy#Space#Astronony

A group of three interacting spiral galaxies which resembles a question mark. At the top of the frame are two spiral galaxies in the process of merging. One of these galaxies has a bright yellow core connected to a short bar and two loose spiral arms. This forms a S-shape. Above this is another circular, yellow galaxy core which overlaps with the top spiral arm of the S-shaped galaxy. On the outer edges of the spiral arms are blue star clusters. Together these form the top curved half of the question mark. To the right of the S-shaped galaxy is a small, relatively normal-looking spiral galaxy, which is likely in the background. At the bottom of the frame is another large spiral galaxy. This galaxy has a bright core and somewhat ill-defined spiral arms which wind counterclockwise around the core. On the bottom half of the galaxy are blue star clusters. This forms the dot of the question mark. Connecting the merging galaxies at the top of the frame and the spiral at the bottom of the frame is a string of blue super star clusters, seen as large blue dots. This forms the straight part of the question mark. On the black background of space are several yellow and red dots, which are background galaxies.
A group of three interacting spiral galaxies which resembles a question mark. At the top of the frame are two spiral galaxies in the process of merging. One of these galaxies has a bright yellow core connected to a short bar and two loose spiral arms. This forms a S-shape. Above this is another circular, yellow galaxy core which overlaps with the top spiral arm of the S-shaped galaxy. On the outer edges of the spiral arms are blue star clusters. Together these form the top curved half of the question mark. To the right of the S-shaped galaxy is a small, relatively normal-looking spiral galaxy, which is likely in the background. At the bottom of the frame is another large spiral galaxy. This galaxy has a bright core and somewhat ill-defined spiral arms which wind counterclockwise around the core. On the bottom half of the galaxy are blue star clusters. This forms the dot of the question mark. Connecting the merging galaxies at the top of the frame and the spiral at the bottom of the frame is a string of blue super star clusters, seen as large blue dots. This forms the straight part of the question mark. On the black background of space are several yellow and red dots, which are background galaxies.