Our Hubble Space Telescope revealed that these things are hidden in the hearts of nearly every galaxy in the universe. Just last year our Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope traced an otherworldly ghost particle back to one of these monster black holes, providing additional insight into the many signals we’re picking up from some of the most feared creatures in the cosmic deep.īut it gets worse. You know those nightmares where no matter how fast you try to run you never seem to get anywhere? Black holes are a sinister possible version of that dream - especially because they’re real! If you get too close to a black hole, there is no possibility of escape. Read on to discover some of these strange cosmic beasts, but beware - sometimes fact is scarier than fiction. Many of them are invisible to our eyes, so we have to use special telescopes to see them. Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: Ī quiet, starry night sky might not seem like a very eerie spectacle, but space can be a creepy place! Monsters lurk in the shadowy depths of the universe, sometimes hidden in plain sight. This material forms a tail that stretches millions of miles. They range from a few miles to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet. It will be a late waning Moon, with the New Moon on July 20, so the viewing conditions should be good as long as the weather cooperates.Ĭomet NEOWISE is about 3 miles across and covered in soot left over from its formation near the birth of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago - a typical comet.Ĭomets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock and ices. EDT = NEOWISE elevation: ~17° Space Station elevation: ~07° EDT = NEOWISE elevation: ~10° Space Station elevation: ~08° EDT = NEOWISE elevation: ~13° Space Station elevation: ~18° EDT = NEOWISE elevation: ~08° Space Station elevation: ~14° Approximate times and locations of the conjunctions are listed below (the exact time of the conjunction and viewing direction will vary slightly based on where you are in the Washington, DC area): For several evenings, there will be a brief conjunction as the International Space Station will appear to fly near the comet in the northeast sky. There will be a special bonus for viewers observing comet NEOWISE from the northeast United States near Washington, DC. Just after sunset, look below the Big Dipper in the northwest skyĮach night, the comet will continue rising increasingly higher above the northwestern horizon. Using binoculars will give viewers a good look at the fuzzy comet and its long, streaky tail.įind a spot away from city lights with an unobstructed view of the sky If you’re looking in the sky without the help of observation tools, Comet NEOWISE will likely look like a fuzzy star with a bit of a tail. The object is best viewed using binoculars or a small telescope, but if conditions are optimal, you may be able to see it with the naked eye. Over the coming days it will become increasingly visible shortly after sunset in the northwest sky. Observers all over the world are hoping to catch a glimpse of Comet NEOWISE before it speeds away into the depths of space, not to be seen again for another 6,800 years.įor those that are, or will be, tracking Comet NEOWISE there will be a few particularly interesting observing opportunities this week.
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