Three Stars Mysteriously Disappeared // So Much JWST News // Io's Global Magma Ocean

Fraser Cain19 minutes read

Three stars disappeared from Palomar Observatory's survey images in 1952, sparking theories like gravitational lensing or nuclear interference. Recent James Webb Space Telescope observations revealed gaps in Formalhaut's planet-forming disc, a jet stream on Jupiter, and volcanic hotspots on Io, while also showcasing detailed images of Ganymede and a debris disc around a white dwarf.

Insights

  • Despite advanced technology, astronomers have been unable to locate three stars that mysteriously vanished in 1952, leading to theories like gravitational lensing and nuclear fallout interference.
  • Observations by the James Webb Space Telescope have revealed gaps in a planet-forming disc around Formalhaut, identified a new weather feature on Jupiter, and provided insights into the composition of Ganymede, showcasing the telescope's ability to uncover hidden celestial phenomena and deepen our understanding of the cosmos.

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Recent questions

  • What mysterious event occurred at The Palomar Observatory in 1952?

    Three stars vanished in images taken 50 minutes apart.

  • What did James Webb Space Telescope observations reveal about the star Formalhaut?

    Gaps in the planet-forming disc around the star.

  • What new weather feature was discovered on Jupiter through James Webb observations?

    A jet stream stretching 4,800 kilometers with winds of 515 kilometers per hour.

  • What did detailed images of Ganymede by James Webb reveal about its poles?

    Differences in chemical composition, including unexpected substances like carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.

  • What did astronomers discover about a debris disc around a white dwarf?

    Silica materials and carbonates indicating crushed-up planets with liquid water.

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Summary

00:00

Mysterious Vanishing Stars and Cosmic Discoveries

  • Three stars mysteriously vanished in images taken 50 minutes apart in 1952 by The Palomar Observatory during an all-sky survey.
  • Astronomers have been unable to locate the missing stars even with powerful telescopes, leading to various theories including gravitational lensing or nuclear fallout interference.
  • Follow-up observations of the star Formalhaut with the James Webb Space Telescope revealed gaps in the planet-forming disc around the star, potentially indicating destroyed asteroid belts.
  • James Webb observations also clarified that nine of ten infrared objects embedded within the disc are background sources, ruling out large planets but suggesting smaller terrestrial planets.
  • A new weather feature, a jet stream, was discovered on Jupiter through James Webb observations, stretching 4,800 kilometers with winds of 515 kilometers per hour.
  • Detailed images of Ganymede by James Webb revealed differences in chemical composition around the poles, including unexpected substances like carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.
  • Astronomers discovered a debris disc around a white dwarf, containing silica materials and carbonates indicating crushed-up planets with liquid water.
  • Juno's flyby of Io captured images revealing 266 volcanic hotspots across the moon's surface, connected by a global magma ocean.
  • The largest-ever universe simulation, Flamingo, utilized 10,000 CPUs to model a 9.1 billion light-year block with 300 billion objects, providing accurate insights into the universe's structure.
  • Space Bites offers interviews with space scientists, astronauts, astronomers, and engineers, delving into their work and advancements in understanding the cosmos.

15:18

Exploring Milky Way, Starship, Jupiter, Venus Missions

  • Astronomers are eager to study the center of the Milky Way, which is home to a supermassive black hole and regions of star formation, despite being a radiation-pulverized area, leading to a proposal for hundreds of hours on the James Webb Space Telescope to uncover new insights.
  • SpaceX's Starship is prepared for flight, having completed tasks to address environmental concerns raised by the FAA, awaiting final approval to proceed with another test launch.
  • A spooky face-like image of Jupiter was captured by Juno during its 54th flyby, aligning with NASA's Halloween-themed posts, highlighting the vastness and unknown entities of the cosmos.
  • NASA's decision to prioritize two Venus missions over missions to IO and Neptune's moon Triton sparked disappointment among enthusiasts, missing out on the opportunity to explore IO's volcanic activity and unique features, emphasizing the desire for dedicated missions to IO in the future.
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