Quark stars and strange stars are largely theoretical at this point, but observations released by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory on April 10, 2002 detected two candidates, designated RX J1856.5-3754 and 3C58, which had previously been thought to be neutron stars. Based on the known laws of physics, the former appeared much smaller and the latter much colder than it should be, suggesting that they are composed of material denser than neutron-degenerate matter. However, these observations have been under attack by researchers who say the results were not conclusive; it remains to be seen how the question of quark star or strange star existence will play out. Recently a third star, XTE J1739-285, [3] has been observed by a team led by Philip Kaaret of the University of Iowa, and also reported as a possible candidate.
I know.Evidence != Communication
They could tell us how to solve global warming XD
If there is inteligent life thats taken to the stars it's LIFAO (Laughing its ****ing ass off) at usQFT
If there is inteligent life thats taken to the stars it's LIFAO (Laughing its ****ing ass off) at usQFT
Quoted For Truth.I think I was the one who said it was "Quite Effing True" because I didn't know what it actually stood for.
Or Quite ****ing True
I thought it was Lobo.Quoted For Truth.I think I was the one who said it was "Quite Effing True" because I didn't know what it actually stood for.
Or Quite ****ing True
Are the Shivans actually real (Holy ****...that would scare me)
Season 4 Battlestar Galactica SpoilerThat's season 3.Spoiler:They probably spotted Kara's pristine Viper in orbit and thought they should warn us about the big fleet that may arrive in the next few months
But evidence of dark matter would be pretty cool. I'm not so sure about intelligent life, that seems like something that the US Government would rather announce more officially.
No, season 4.Season 4 Battlestar Galactica SpoilerThat's season 3.Spoiler:They probably spotted Kara's pristine Viper in orbit and thought they should warn us about the big fleet that may arrive in the next few months
But evidence of dark matter would be pretty cool. I'm not so sure about intelligent life, that seems like something that the US Government would rather announce more officially.
I think it's a black hole at the center of the galaxy
I hope he's just joking, people have known about that for how long now?I think it's a black hole at the center of the galaxy
*Epic facepalm* How old are you?
Wait, it's been proven that there's a supermassive black hole there? I thought that was just a theory.Pretty sure its old news.
Damn American government and their secrets :doubt:
For all we know, they could've discovered FTL travel, found habitual planets, as well as intelligent life by now.
****ing spell checker told me too put "habitual" :wakka:Damn American government and their secrets :doubt:Yeah, planets that habitually smoke drugs!!!! :p :lol:
For all we know, they could've discovered FTL travel, found habitual planets, as well as intelligent life by now.
Habitable!!!!!!
Wait, it's been proven that there's a supermassive black hole there? I thought that was just a theory.Same here. A popularized theory :P
The Galactic Center is the rotational center of the Milky Way galaxy. It is located about 7.6 kiloparsecs (24,800 LY) away from the Earth,[1] in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, where the Milky Way appears brightest. Scientists hypothesize that a supermassive black hole lies in the Galactic Center of the Milky Way, and most (if not all) other galaxies.Wikipedia is just wikipedia, but I don't recall seeing actual proof anywhere.
Wikipedia is just wikipedia, but I don't recall seeing actual proof anywhere.Yeah, it's not like there's be numerous observations supporting the theory, ranging from gamma bursts to entire stars orbiting it.
Yeah, it's not like there's be numerous observations supporting the theory, ranging from gamma bursts to entire stars orbiting it.[citation needed]
The most recent supernova in our galaxy has been discovered by tracking the rapid expansion of its remains. This result, using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array, will help improve our understanding of how often supernovae explode in the Milky Way galaxy.
The supernova explosion occurred about 140 years ago, making it the most recent in the Milky Way. Previously, the last known supernova in our galaxy occurred around 1680, an estimate based on the expansion of its remnant, Cassiopeia A.
Finding such a recent, obscured supernova is a first step in making a better estimate of how often the stellar explosions occur. This is important because supernovae heat and redistribute large amounts of gas, and pump heavy elements out into their surroundings. They can trigger the formation of new stars as part of a cycle of stellar death and rebirth. The explosion also can leave behind, in addition to the expanding remnant, a central neutron star or black hole.
The recent supernova explosion was not seen with optical telescopes because it occurred close to the center of the galaxy and is embedded in a dense field of gas and dust. This made the object about a trillion times fainter, in optical light, than an unobscured supernova. However, the remnant it caused can be seen by X-ray and radio telescopes.
"We can see some supernova explosions with optical telescopes across half of the universe, but when they're in this murk we can miss them in our own cosmic backyard," said Stephen Reynolds of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who led the Chandra study. "Fortunately, the expanding gas cloud from the explosion shines brightly in radio waves and X-rays for thousands of years. X-ray and radio telescopes can see through all that obscuration and show us what we've been missing."
Astronomers regularly observe supernovae in other galaxies like ours. Based on those observations, researchers estimate about three explode every century in the Milky Way.
"If the supernova rate estimates are correct, there should be the remnants of about 10 supernova explosions that are younger than Cassiopeia A," said David Green of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, who led the Very Large Array study. "It's great to finally track one of them down."
The tracking of this object began in 1985, when astronomers, led by Green, used the Very Large Array to identify the remnant of a supernova explosion near the center of our galaxy. Based on its small size, it was thought to have resulted from a supernova that exploded about 400 to 1000 years ago.
Twenty-two years later, Chandra observations revealed the remnant had expanded by a surprisingly large amount, about 16 percent, since 1985. This indicates the supernova remnant is much younger than previously thought.
That young age was confirmed in recent weeks when the Very Large Array made new radio observations. This comparison of data pinpoints the age of the remnant at 140 years - possibly less if it has been slowing down - making it the youngest on record in the Milky Way.
Besides being the record holder for youngest supernova, the object is of considerable interest for other reasons. The high expansion velocities and extreme particle energies that have been generated are unprecedented and should stimulate deeper studies of the object with Chandra and the Very Large Array.
"No other object in the galaxy has properties like this," Reynolds said. "This find is extremely important for learning more about how some stars explode and what happens in the aftermath."
These results are scheduled to appear in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages the Chandra program for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory controls Chandra's science and flight operations from the Chandra X-ray Center in Cambridge, Mass.
Additional information and images are available at:
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Yeah, it's not like there's be numerous observations supporting the theory, ranging from gamma bursts to entire stars orbiting it.[citation needed]
Yeah, it's not like there's be numerous observations supporting the theory, ranging from gamma bursts to entire stars orbiting it.[citation needed]
http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2002/pr-17-02.html (http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2002/pr-17-02.html)
Video for people too lazy to read:
http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2002/video/vid-02-02.mpg (http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2002/video/vid-02-02.mpg)