Hubble captures amazing star explosion in four-year time-lapse video

[editor]

This is simply incredible:

The unusual variable star V838 Monocerotis (V838 Mon) continues to puzzle astronomers. This previously inconspicuous star underwent an outburst early in 2002, during which it temporarily increased in brightness to become 600,000 times more luminous than our Sun. Light from this sudden eruption is illuminating the interstellar dust surrounding the star, producing the most spectacular "light echo" in the history of astronomy. As light from the eruption propagates outward into the dust, it is scattered by the dust and travels to the Earth. The scattered light has travelled an extra distance in comparison to light that reaches Earth directly from the stellar outburst. Such a light echo is the optical analogue of the sound echo produced when an Alpine yodel is reflected from the surrounding mountainsides. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has been observing the V838 Mon light echo since 2002. Each new observation of the light echo reveals a new and unique "thin-section" through the interstellar dust around the star. This video morphs images of the light echo from the Hubble taken at multiple times between 2002 and 2006. The numerous whorls and eddies in the interstellar dust are particularly noticeable. Possibly they have been produced by the effects of magnetic fields in the space between the stars.

 

[Sprocket.]

Makes me feel very humble. In the overall scheme of things.

 

[kenny g]

Not sure how they justify however millions are spent on this kind of thing when I can get similar effects after a few pints staring at the bathroom floor. Surely must be a correlation between developments in CGI and so-called astronomical discoveries?

 

[Badgers]

Hubble on the Bubble: Can NASA fix the world’s most famous telescope?

Hubble Space Telescope went offline in early June, and NASA engineers are trying to fix it.

www.syfy.com

 

[clicker]

Hubble trouble .

 

[wayward bob]

just having a nap

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Hubble on the Bubble: Can NASA fix the world’s most famous telescope?

Hubble Space Telescope went offline in early June, and NASA engineers are trying to fix it.

www.syfy.com

Turn it off and on again, failing that, give it a whack.

 

[Signal 11]

They just tweeted that it's working again.

 

[Badgers]

Yes

First Images From Revived Hubble Telescope Are These Jaw-Dropping Galaxies

The two galaxies are absolutely stunning.

screenrant-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Badgers]