Milky Way Galaxy

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MarsMars
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Radioactive cosmic dust is raining down on Earth’s surface

Radioactive cosmic dust is raining down on Earth’s surface

It sounds worse than it is. In fact, it’s really cool and telling us about our local galactic neighborhood

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
supernovaesupernovae
+5+5
A low-mass star is screaming past us. Was it spat out by a supermassive black hole?
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A low-mass star is screaming past us. Was it spat out by a supermassive black hole?

It’s moving at 1.6 million kilometers per hour, and may be falling back into the galaxy

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
star clustersstar clusters
+4+4
The spectacular Sombrero galaxy

The spectacular Sombrero galaxy

Plus: the chance of the Milky Way and Andromeda colliding just went up. Maybe.

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
miscellanymiscellany
+7+7
Our Milky Way’s supermassive black hole has a hiccuppy past

Our Milky Way’s supermassive black hole has a hiccuppy past

It may erupt every few centuries, but don’t panic!

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
supernovaesupernovae
+7+7
Watch a supernova explosion sweep through space
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Watch a supernova explosion sweep through space

Animation shows X-rays from an exploded star as it expands over the decades

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
the Sunthe Sun
+4+4
Solar eclipse seen from space!

Solar eclipse seen from space!

Also, a small galaxy may be currently ramming through the Milky Way, so there’s that too

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
EarthEarth
+5+5
Today our planet will not be destroyed. Probably.

Today our planet will not be destroyed. Probably.

I mean, no promises. But it won’t be because the Maya predicted it.

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
astrophotographyastrophotography
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Mystery solved? Baffling huge nebula near Andromeda Galaxy is actually in our neighborhood

Mystery solved? Baffling huge nebula near Andromeda Galaxy is actually in our neighborhood

Weird arcing cloud of oxygen is most likely part of the Milky Way, not our giant neighbor

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
supernovaesupernovae
+5+5
The irony of Supernova 1885A

The irony of Supernova 1885A

It proved the Universe was bigger than astronomers thought, but they couldn’t believe it

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
supernovaesupernovae
+6+6
Yup. Young-Earth creationists are still wrong.

Yup. Young-Earth creationists are still wrong.

A claimed lack of supernovae explodes in their faces

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
the Sunthe Sun
+4+4
Star cluster vs. giant molecular cloud: who wins?

Star cluster vs. giant molecular cloud: who wins?

The answer surprised me, and I do so love being surprised.

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
PoliticsPolitics
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Did a smaller but still giant black hole recently merge with the one at the center of our galaxy?

Did a smaller but still giant black hole recently merge with the one at the center of our galaxy?

Also: RFK Jr. needs to be impeached

Philip Plait
Philip Plait