I. What are merging neutron stars? Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of massive stars that have exploded in supernovae. They are composed almost entirely of neutrons and are about the size of a city but contain more mass than our sun. When two neutron stars orbit each other and eventually collide, they create a … Read more
I. What is the Perseid Meteor Shower? The Perseid Meteor Shower is one of the most popular and well-known meteor showers that occurs annually. It is known for its bright and numerous meteors that streak across the night sky, creating a spectacular display for skywatchers. The Perseids are associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits … Read more
I. What are Radio Galaxy Lobes? Radio galaxy lobes are large, diffuse regions of radio emission that extend far beyond the visible boundaries of a galaxy. These lobes are typically associated with active galactic nuclei (AGN), which are powered by supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. The radio emission from these lobes is … Read more
I. What is a Bok Globule? Bok Globules are small, dark, dense clouds of gas and dust found in interstellar space. They were first discovered by astronomer Bart Bok in the 1940s, hence the name “Bok Globule.” These mysterious objects are often referred to as “miniature versions of dark nebulae” due to their similar appearance … Read more
I. What are Cosmic Necklaces? Cosmic Necklaces are a fascinating phenomenon in the universe that involves the formation of long, narrow structures of gas and dust that resemble a string of beads. These structures are often found in regions of space where stars are being born, and they play a crucial role in the formation … Read more
I. What is Shapiro Delay? Shapiro Delay, also known as gravitational time delay, is a phenomenon in which the time it takes for a signal to travel from one point to another is affected by the presence of a massive object, such as a planet, star, or black hole. This delay is a result of … Read more
I. What is an Accretion-powered Star? Accretion-powered stars are a unique class of celestial objects that derive their energy from the accretion of material from a companion star or a surrounding disk. This process involves the transfer of mass from one star to another, resulting in the release of a significant amount of energy. Accretion-powered … Read more
I. What is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation? Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) is a faint glow of radiation that fills the entire universe. It is the afterglow of the Big Bang, the event that created the universe around 13.8 billion years ago. CMB is the oldest light in the universe, dating back to just 380,000 … Read more
I. What is Albedo? Albedo is a term used in astronomy and climatology to describe the reflective properties of a surface. It is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface, with values ranging from 0 (no reflection) to 1 (total reflection). A surface with a high albedo reflects more sunlight and … Read more
I. What are Stellar Wind Bubbles? Stellar wind bubbles are large, expanding regions of hot gas and dust that are created by the powerful stellar winds of massive stars. These bubbles can vary in size, but typically range from a few light-years to hundreds of light-years across. They are often found in regions of space … Read more