Supernovae produce some of the most powerful explosions in the cosmos, expelling a doomed star’s contents at velocities reaching 10 percent the speed of light. It usually takes a few weeks or months for a supernova to fade into nothingness, but astronomers have now documented a record-setting case in which a star was extinguished in just a few days. Continue reading Rare Type of Supernova Extinguishes Star at Unprecedented Speed
Tag Archives: Kepler Space Telescope
It Rains Rubies and Sapphires on This Distant Jupiter-Like Planet
A Jupiter-like planet located 1,000 light-years from Earth is exhibiting some rather strange meteorological behavior. The clouds on this planet appear to be made from corundum—the same mineral that produces rubies and sapphires.
Continue reading It Rains Rubies and Sapphires on This Distant Jupiter-Like Planet
The Most Mysterious Star in Our Galaxy
Astronomers have spotted a strange mess of objects whirling around a distant star. Scientists who search for extraterrestrial civilizations are scrambling to get a closer look.