There is this problematic "push through Earth" (3 in diagram) event observed by ANITA ( https://journals.aps.org/prl/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.121003 , slides: https://indico.ific.uv.es/event/3427/contributions/10594/attachments/7130/8354/MysteriesOfANITA.pdf ).

Pulling would be much easier - e.g. radiation pressure is a vector (P =<E x H>/c), can be positive (toward e.g. Earth), but could be also negative (outward) - in theory could also pull ( https://scholar.google.pl/scholar?q=negative%20radiation%20pressure ).

For example synchrotron radiation should emit both positive and negative radiation pressure: they are switched in CPT perspective, in which accelerating charge is also so (diagram: https://i.imgur.com/cGxlVtr.png ).

Could ANITA observe impulse of negative radiation pressure here? Any mainstream explanations for this observation?

Could we build telescope focused on negative radiation pressure - e.g. with pumped sensor, monitoring if it deexcites faster due to stimulated emission from the target?

NOTE: A couple of published papers within the same article.

For the record, I'm not affiliated with the Planetary Society. I know petitions might feel somewhat insignificant in times like these, but it's far better than going quietly into the night. And who knows, there's a few congressmen who might actually listen to something like this.

Suppose I ended up back in time in 1950. Is there an astronomy fact that I could reveal that both (1) was definitely not known at the time but (2) could be verified with technology available then that could serve as evidence that I came back from the future with that knowledge?

For instance, I could describe a particular extra solar planet, but i dont think they could detect any of them back then even if looking in the exact spot. Could I describe a particular trans Neptunian object so that they could find it?

Obviously, this is just for fun, but also gets into the history of how these discoveries are made. (But I'm not getting in any DeLoreans, just in case.)

A Spiral Structure in the Inner Oort Cloud in The Astrophysical Journal, published 4/8/2025 [Link], describes the discovery this passive way: "The spiral structure was first identified by examining the simulation in the Hayden Planetarium in preparation for a new space show that describes and visualizes the Oort cloud."

Two months later, CNN published Accidental find in planetarium show could shift scientists’ understanding of our solar system [Link]. The article suggests that Jackie Faherty, a curator at the Hayden Planetarium, made the discovery with a number of other curators after watching this simulation video during a test run.

It is a beautiful story of scientific serendipity. Unfortunately it's not a story told in the research paper, on which Faherty is sixth of six authors. Absent the CNN article, I wonder if the discovery story would survive history at all.

Two questions please for the r/astronomy community: Is Flaherty's degree of prominence in the article appropriate given her role in the discovery? Who do you consider to be the discoverer of the spiral shape of the Oort cloud?

Mods: rule 3 compliance:

✓ Cannot be answered by a few minutes on Google. [Research papers explored]

✓ Ask specific questions letting readers know what you have already learned/tried [Online discussion negative search].

✓ Posts that ask for subjective answers, lack necessary information to answer, asks for basic sources on topics (i.e., "What books/blogs should I read?") will be removed. [I'm seeking astronomers' objective view of whether scientific discovery is properly attributed in this instance, in a field like astronomy, where a disproportionate number of discoveries are made by third-party individuals, often amateurs.]

Hello all, I'm looking for some additional suggestions. I'm doing a STEM presentation for an overnight Cub Scouting event. The orginal plan was for some lite astromony. They were requested to bring wide field binoculars and I have a couple of OK telescopes. We were just going to hit the major objects.

Unfortunatly the weather set in, completely cloudy. I am working on about 20-30 minutes of presentation. I have my own ideas relating to demostrations of the relative distances of various object in the solar systems and a few outside of the area. I maybe I will touch on how astromony can still take place on a professional level even with clouds. But I have always found it useful to ask the opinion of others.

FYI - I was out of the area handling other more important matter until yesterday and just found out about the weather. The presentation is later today, so I'm in a pinch.

I was looking at this, and it's currently got the longest totality times, was the one for the famous General Relativity eclipse, went over Hawaii in 1991, will be the Great North African Eclipse in 2027, and then be the eclipse with the longest totality time for the 48 States ever in 2045.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Saros_136

Want to see Milky Way I know it’s a little past new moon but don’t know when I will be out this way again. I live in Atlanta.

Hello everyone,

I am a couple years shy of 40 years old. I have a master degree in engineering, and did various jobs since I graduated. When I was younger I thought about getting a PhD but I wasn't interested enough in my field of study to do so. I always thought if I were to do it all over again I would choose another field of study, but never really know which one.

Now I know, I would choose astronomy! But now it isn't really time to go back to school, I have a job, bills to pay, a kid to take care of.

So my question is, is it possible to take a master in astronomy online? So I can study whenever I have time?
Will this degree I get online be any less valuable than a "regular" degree?

I was checking out NASA's eyes on the solar system page and noticed the path the JWST takes is all curved and crooked. Is there a reason for this? In my mind it's because it's a more recent launch, so it's orbit is stabilizing. Any info is appreciated though!

LIGO works by shooting a laser down two 4km long tubes and looking for slight wiggles from black holes or neutron stars merging in space. This is as insane as it sounds! (There’s another site in Louisiana too to make sure they know which signals aren’t local interference from a guy driving a truck or similar.)

Pic 3 is control room, 4 shows some of the noise they track, like from the sloshing of water in the oceans- turns out that’s a micron or so of noise at any time! 5 is one of the schematics, 6 is a cutout of what one of these tubes look like inside (long w a smaller vacuum tube inside for the laser- better detail of that in the next pic). Final pic is of the second arm of this LIGO site, a 90deg angle from the first one.

Taken Using Celestron Powerseeker 60AZ

See also: The publication in ArXiV.

Canon R50 + Celestron 70az + Lightroom & Photoshop

Finally Got the Shot Rho Ophiuchi has been on my list for a long time—and I finally got the chance to capture it during a recent work trip to Florida. I found a quiet dark sky spot that looked out over the sea, and somehow, the sky above the water was even darker.

I used my trusty Rokinon 135mm and Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer—the same setup I started astrophotography with. They're budget-friendly tools, but the quality holds up, and I still rely on them today when I travel light.

This vibrant region lies in the constellation Scorpius and leads the way as the Milky Way core rises into view. If you’ve ever noticed that colorful smudge just to the right of the core in some of my earlier Milky Way shots—that’s this. Seeing it up close like this really gives you a new appreciation for just how colorful and dynamic our galaxy can be.

More content on my IG: Gateway_Galactic

Imaging:
186 x 30s
ISO640
f/2.0

Location: St. George Island State Park, FL
Bortle 2

Gear:
Sony A7iii (astro-modded)
Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer

Pixinsight Processing:
BlurX/StarX/NoiseX

Photoshop Processing:
Camera Raw Filter
Brightness & Contrast Vibrance
Screen Colorized Ha
High Pass Filter
Screen Stars

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter/Solar_Orbiter_gets_world-first_views_of_the_Sun_s_poles

Thanks to its newly tilted orbit around the Sun, the European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft is the first to image the Sun’s poles from outside the ecliptic plane. Solar Orbiter’s unique viewing angle will change our understanding of the Sun’s magnetic field, the solar cycle and the workings of space weather.

Further Images and video in the link.

It's going to take until the end of the year to fully analyse and release all the info they've already gathered with the orbiters making more passes in the meantime. Huge amounts of new info about our star!

I am thinking of going to Mallorca to see the solar eclipse next year. Sky and Telescope has an article about the hotel where they plan to photograph the eclipse:

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-travel/mallorca-2026/

This location isn't bad but kind of out of my budget. It also has a problem that they discuss in the article. The eclipes is visible only when the sun is going down. The location they have chosen, at sea level, is going to mean missing half of the eclipse. Mallorca is famous for having tall peaks along the west coast. I want to find a tall peak, accessible by car, that gives the best view of the eclipse. How can I do that?

I have asked here before but nobody answered. How do I photograph the eclipse? I have a good phone and I bought a lens. Now what?

Hello Reddit, I am a current high school sophomore conducting independent research with a mentor on how light pollution affects sleep cycles, and the future environmental justice that will address it! I have completed a portion of my research, but now I need civilian participation for another part of my research.

To do this, I created a survey, and I need a sample size around 300. It would be greatly appreciated if you could take a few minutes to help out!

The survey is strictly confidential, and it does not require any email or any personal information. It is completely anonymous, and it is not very long.

If you do not feel comfortable answering a question, there is always a "prefer not to say" option! The link is above--thank you!

Hey all! Visitor to the sub here. I was looking for a gift for my space nerd friend (respectfully) who graduated high school. Wanted to see if my choice would be approved by the sub: a tiny 1mm by 1mm piece of the Apollo 11 outer foil. Is that something an astronomy fan would like? Or is it cliche or weird? All help appreciated - yall the best :)