FfFfFfFF 58,068 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Astronomers have spotted a giant blinking star, 100 times the size of the sun, lurking near the heart of the Milky Way. Telescope observations revealed that over a few hundred days the enormous star, which lies more than 25,000 light years away, dimmed by 97% and then slowly returned to its former brightness. The unexpected and dramatic darkening was probably caused by an orbiting planet or companion star surrounded by a disc of opaque dust crossing in front and blocking out light that would otherwise have reached Earth. Astronomers noticed the mysterious dimming star in data gathered by the Vista telescope, operated by the European Southern Observatory in Chile. The instrument has been watching a billion stars for nearly a decade in search of examples that varied in brightness in the infrared realm of the electromagnetic spectrum. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jun/11/astronomers-find-blinking-giant-star-near-heart-of-milky-way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meta Mart 352 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Space is so cool By Century's End We Will Have Another Lady Gaga Album Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CautiousLurker 19,709 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Ignore her and keep moving, she's probably just drunk... It's a joke! When you give me that look, it's a joke! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,841 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Wow thats crazy... I find it awesome how 2/3 of stars are smaller than our sun yet the largest stars can be soooooooooooooooo much bigger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneaky Oliver 22,972 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Is it the first ever "blinking" star? I have never heard about it before Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSUNAMI 21,297 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 4 minutes ago, Sneaky Oliver said: Is it the first ever "blinking" star? I have never heard about it They're called Pulsars. It's pretty interesting read. Google it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,841 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 34 minutes ago, Sneaky Oliver said: Is it the first ever "blinking" star? I have never heard about it before 28 minutes ago, TSUNAMI said: They're called Pulsars. It's pretty interesting read. Google it. @Sneaky Oliver Im pretty sure pulsars only apply to neutron stars if im not mistaken and not to a large main sequence star But even if im wrong about that blinking stars and pulsars are a totally seperate thing im pretty sure... A pulsar sends consistent pulses of magnetic energy towards earth and thats why they are called pulsars (usually only neutron stars have enough power to show a consistent powerful pulse like that) A blinking star refers more to variations in light emited which more often than not have to do with stuff orbiting directly in the way and dims the light of star towards earth on and off... although an old dying star near end of its life can also have inconsistent brightness on its own like the large star beatelgeuse but I dont know if it gets the same name "blinking star" for that or not So pulsars and dimming stars are a totally seperate thing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSUNAMI 21,297 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 1 minute ago, Economy said: Im pretty sure pulsars only apply to neutron stars if im not mistaken to to a large main sequence star But even if im wrong about that blinking stars and pulsars are totally seperate im pretty sure... A pulsar sends consistent pulses of magnetic energy towards earth and thats why they are called pulsars (usually only neutron stars have enough power to show a consistent powerful pulse like that) A blinking star refers more to variations in light emited which more often than not have to do with stuff orbiting directly in the way and dims the light of star towards earth on and off So pulsars and dimming stars are a totally seperate thing Yeah, I didn't completely understand the difference and if there is a difference but I guess that the difference is exactly what you described. But nevertheless it's interesting how alive these space objects are Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,841 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 4 minutes ago, TSUNAMI said: Yeah, I didn't completely understand the difference and if there is a difference but I guess that the difference is exactly what you described. But nevertheless it's interesting how alive these space objects are It really is. Im fascinated with space and pretty obsessed But here, if ur interested, this is what a pulsar actually is: Most videos on youtube are longer and more detailed but to not make u whatch something long, the 1.5 minute video very much explains the basics very well @Sneaky Oliver may also be interested. A blinking star like in the OP is different. But these tiny neutron stars are powerful little buggers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkTheFunk 125,703 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 It's not blinking, something is just passing infront of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,841 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Just now, PunkTheFunk said: It's not blinking, something is just passing infront of it. I think its just the name its given for it for the effect tho regardless of whats causing it? Im not 100% sure tho Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneaky Oliver 22,972 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 I love GGD because we go from celeb stan discussions to astronomical conversations within a few clicks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helxig 45,330 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 1 hour ago, CautiousLurker said: Ignore her and keep moving, she's probably just drunk... 1 minute ago, Sneaky Oliver said: I love GGD because we go from celeb stan discussions to astronomical conversations within a few clicks There's no other forum like it! It's why I stay I'll be myself until they fūcking close the coffin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,841 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 1 minute ago, Sneaky Oliver said: I love GGD because we go from celeb stan discussions to astronomical conversations within a few clicks I spend way more time on world news or conversation on this site than talking about celebs or even Gaga herself @Admin this was a smart way to retain people. Love that forum sections feature Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imnotyourbabe10 6,120 Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 And here comes my GGD Existential Crisis On topic, thank you OP for the continuously neat threads about science, space, nature, and so forth...glad to be alive when we can share these findings! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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