Every week, TecMundo and #AstroMiniBR select the most relevant astronomical curiosities produced by their collaborators on the X profile to share with you a little more about our unusual and awe-inspiring universe!
#1: Beautiful Pencil Nebula
?? If you were on Earth 11,000 years ago, you may have seen a huge explosion in the sky!
Today, we see what’s left of that explosion: the Pencil Nebula, a shock wave left by a supernova in the constellation Velame.#AstroMiniBR ©via APOD pic.twitter.com/QRM20vMyDB
— Thiago Flaulhabe (@TFlaulhabe) February 24, 2024
The Pencil Nebula, also known as NGC 2736, is a fascinating structure located about 800 light-years from Earth in the constellation Vela. This nebula is the remnant of a supernova – a star explosion that occurred approximately 11,000 years ago.
Estimated length is about 5 light years The Pencil Nebula is notable for its thin, long filaments that resemble pencil lines in the night sky., from which its popular name is derived. The Pencil Nebula attracts attention with its brightness and detailed structure, which can be seen especially in radio wavelengths and optical light.
This glow is a result of the supernova shock wave still interacting with surrounding interstellar material. The high speed of this shock wave, traveling at over 650,000 kilometers per hour, heats the gas around it, causing it to glow brightly.
Detailed studies of this nebula Help astronomers better understand the dynamics of supernova explosions and the physical processes occurring in the ejected material provide valuable information about the evolution of stars and the composition of the interstellar medium.
#2: The birth of a new star system!
Is this HL Tauri disk a proto-planetary disk – a structure that can evolve and give rise to planets?
In ?? we see the dust in this system. but between the rings?? We have water vapor in regions, exactly where planets can form.#AstroMiniBR pic.twitter.com/3B3SbJz1jC
— Yanna Martins Franco (@martins_yanna) March 4, 2024
HL Tauri is a young star located about 450 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. This star has attracted the attention of astronomers due to its protoplanetary disk, a structure of gas and dust that surrounds the star and is in the process of planet formation.
Only about a million years old, HL Tauri is considered an extremely young star in astronomical termsIt provides a unique opportunity to study the early stages of planet formation.
The image you see above is the HL Tauri observation made by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile; This reveals impressive detail of the protoplanetary disk, showing light and dark concentric rings that indicate the site of new planet formation.
The discoveries around HL Tauri challenge traditional models of planet formation and suggest that planets may form much faster than previously thought. With its fascinating properties and relative closeness to Earth, the HL Tauri system is one of the objects in modern astronomy that has attracted the greatest interest from the planetary science community.
#3: Storms on Martian soil!
Sandstorms are common on Mars. In 2018, a global storm covered the Opportunity robot’s solar panels, ending its mission. However, you can also witness red dust storms in the desertified lands of the Earth. #AstroMiniBR https://t.co/IFqzxzPxwP pic.twitter.com/MUeRkoDNQC
— Deep Sky Project (@CeuProfundo) March 23, 2024
Storms on Mars are dramatic and frequent weather events that occur due to the planet’s unique atmospheric conditions. The Martian atmosphere, composed mainly of carbon dioxide, is extremely thin, allowing winds to form easily.
On Mars, dust storms can reach speeds of up to 100 km per hour, lifting fine dust particles from the surface and creating clouds that can cover large areas of the planet. In some cases, These storms can become so intense that they engulf the entire planet, Lasting from a few weeks to several months, developing into real global storms.
These storms have a significant impact on Mars exploration, especially for missions using solar-powered equipment.
Suspended dust can block sunlight, reduce the efficiency of solar panels, and affect the operation of surface rovers and probes. In addition, fine dust can seep into the mechanisms of these equipment, causing wear and possible malfunctions.
Scientists have sought to understand the dynamics and patterns of these storms as a crucial consideration for planning future human missions to the red planet. ensuring that eventual astronauts are adequately prepared to face these unique climate challenges.
Did you like the content? So always stay up to date with the latest astronomical curiosities at TecMundo. Until later!
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
