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Wednesday, June 30, 2021

June 30 - Gulp! Black Holes Eat Neutron Stars

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Artist’s concept of a black hole swallowing a city-sized neutron star. Image via Carl Knox/ OzGrav/ Swinburne University/ The Conversation.

Big gulp! 2 black holes swallow neutron stars

On January 5, 2020, both LIGO and Virgo observed gravitational waves - distortions in the fabric of space-time - produced by the final 30 seconds of a merger between a neutron star and a black hole. Just 10 days later, LIGO and Virgo detected gravitational waves from a 2nd collision between a neutron star and a black hole. Both collisions happened around 900 million years ago, long before the first dinosaurs appeared on Earth. Read more.

Meet the world's first wooden satellite

Yes, a satellite made of wood. It's called WISA Woodsat, and it'll test how plywood panels endure and behave in the extreme conditions of space. It's designed by Finnish Arctic Astronautics and is slated to launch from the Mahia Peninsula complex in New Zealand in November of this year. Read more.

Today in science: The Tunguska explosion

On today's date in 1908, the largest asteroid impact in Earth’s recorded history struck on a warm summer morning in Siberia, Russia. The blast flattened an estimated 80 million trees over an area of 830 square miles (2,150 square km). This impact is now known as the Tunguska event. We celebrate Asteroid Day each year on its anniversary. Read more.

Astronomers and science aficionados, represent!

Everyone needs a go-to, cozy sweatshirt to curl up in, so go for one that's soft, smooth, and stylish. It's also perfect for when you’re stargazing on these cool summer evenings. What are you waiting for?
 

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The Teapot guides you to the galactic center

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Kannan A. in Singapore captured this photo of the constellation Sagittarius, with its Teapot asterism, in late May. Thank you, Kannan A! The coming weeks, into August and early September, are a great time to view the Teapot in Sagittarius. It's is easy to spot if you have a dark sky. And it points the way toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Read more.

Pacific Northwest hit with exceptional heat

This map shows air temperature anomalies across the continental U.S. and Canada on June 27, when all-time heat records began to be broken. Red areas are where air temperatures climbed more than 27 degrees F (15 degrees C) higher than the 2014-2020 average for that date. Seattle reached 104 F (40 C) that day. Portland reached 112 F (44 C). In Canada, the town of Lytton, British Columbia, hit 116 F (47 C): the highest temperature on record anywhere in Canada on any date. The map is derived from the Goddard Earth Observing System model and depicts air temperatures at 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) above the ground. Via NASA Earth Observatory. Read more.

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