LIGO discovers another neutron star collision
The Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, also called LIGO for short, has detected gravitational waves from yet another neutron star collision, its second one after the groundbreaking 2017 detection provided the first direct evidence of Einstein's theory of general relativity. However, only one of the two detectors caught the explosion and there was no detectable flash of light, making it difficult for researches to pinpoint the collision's location.
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Two asteroids coming towards Earth in 2020
American space agency NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies has identified two asteroids that will pass close to the Earth in 2020, with the first, named 2020 EF, passing near the Earth at a speed of 10,000 mph. At 98 feet, 2020 EF is too small to cause significant damage in case of collision, while the second asteroid, 2020 DP4, measuring 180 feet with a speed of 18,000 mph.
nasa space asteroid earth speed collision agency united-states center near-earth studies 2020-ef 2020-dp4
TechTimes
Scientists warn new satellite networks could hamper space observation
Astronomers at The International Astronomical Union have issued an official warning saying that the large number of satellite networks currently being built in the Earth's orbit by companies such as Starlink, will produce a large amount of light pollution. This excess light could make seeing the stars and space via telescopes much harder.
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TechCrunch
Scientists find the first ever asteroid orbiting the Sun closer than Venus
Researchers at the Palomar Observatory in southern California have discovered the first ever Vatira asteroid, which is a rare kind of asteroid found in the interior of the Earth's orbit. While Vatira asteroids were theorized in 2012, no proof had been found until now. The asteroid has been named 2020 AV2, and orbits the Sun once every 151 days, staying between Mercury and Venus' orbits.
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