Radiant Planet

Aug 30, 2019 Venus is a highly energetic domain. The European Space Agency’s Venus Express was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 9, 2005. It subsequently entered orbit around Venus on April 11, 2006. Its mission was designed to answer several questions about the enigmatic planet: 1. Why…

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The Electromagnetic Cosmos

Aug 28, 2019 Magnetic fields in space are difficult for astronomers to explain. In a previous Picture of the Day, physicists from Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPL) announced that “turbulence” in plasma creates magnetic fields. However, they do not understand how those small fields can coalesce into one large…

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Not Gas

Aug 27, 2019 Nebulae are electrical phenomena. As written in previous Pictures of the Day, plasma behavior is unfamiliar. It is sometimes difficult to see the differences between plasma and a gas. Plasma’s similarities to gas are overshadowed by its failure to correspond with gas kinetics. Since the light frequencies…

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The Darkest Dark

Aug 26, 2019 The Universe is composed primarily of dark matter, according to modern cosmologists. More than 95% of all that exists cannot be seen by even the highest resolution instruments. Their premise is based on several assumptions. For example, current estimates conclude that the Universe is 13.7 billion years…

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Plasma Connection

Aug 22, 2019 Enceladus reveals an electric circuit with Saturn. Recently, the Picture of the Day discussed the discovery of heavy molecules in the geyser eruptions from the south pole of Enceladus. Similar to those found elsewhere, such as the dwarf planet, Ceres, the molecules are probably the result of…

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Cataclysmic Variables

Aug 21, 2019 Some stars fluctuate erratically. According to astrophysicists, a nova explosion occurs when a white dwarf star draws matter away from a companion star onto its surface. Gravity then compresses the material against the white dwarf’s rigid exterior, where it reaches fusion temperatures because of the extreme pressure….

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