Yesterday I promised a longer explanation of what "day" means, and I try to be a man of my word.
And that word is "sidereal". Or "synodic".
[Bonus astronomy: old stars eat their planets!]
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Phil Plait
@badastro@mastodon.social
Posts
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Yesterday I promised a longer explanation of what "day" means, and I try to be a man of my word. -
Have you ever heard of Betty Webster?Have you ever heard of Betty Webster? I hadn't until recently, and she co-discovered the first black hole ever found! Here's her story, to honor her memory and fantastic accomplishment.
https://badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-woman-who-discovered-the-first-black-hole
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Welp, time to fess up: I've been lying to you for years.Welp, time to fess up: I've been lying to you for years. Years!
I've been saying the Milky Way has a flat disk. And it kinda is, but it also very much isn't. It's warped. And corrugated!
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-is-the-milky-way-warped/
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Holy moly did we get a close shave from an asteroid last week: it missed Earth by *230 km*!Holy moly did we get a close shave from an asteroid last week: it missed Earth by *230 km*! Barely above the atmosphere.
OTOH it was only about the size of a beachball, so no worries either way. Meet 2025 UC11.
https://badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/a-wee-asteroid-came-very-close-to-us-last-week
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An update on my COVID, and a fun exploration into why compressed air sprays are so freaking cold!Please note that I am NOT looking for advice on any of my health issues. I've already had one person recommend homeopathy to me, and you can imagine how I felt about that.
But in general — online and IRL — don't reply with advice to people who have not actively asked for it.
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An update on my COVID, and a fun exploration into why compressed air sprays are so freaking cold!An update on my COVID, and a fun exploration into why compressed air sprays are so freaking cold! The answer, of course, is SCIENCE.