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Using multiple telescopes around the world, including ESO facilities 🔭, astronomers have discovered a new type of cosmic object: a massive magnetic helium star 🤯. The discovery sheds light on the mysterious origin of magnetars — a super-dense type of dead stars with the most powerful magnetic fields in the Universe.

Known as HD 45166 and located about 3000 light-years away, this star had been observed for over 100 years. Astronomers knew that it was rich in helium, but could not fully explain its enigmatic nature 🤔

The mystery was finally solved when the new observations showed that its entire surface has a magnetic field almost 100,000 times stronger than Earth's, making it the most magnetic massive star found to date!

And calculations suggest that, when HD 45166 will collapse under its own gravity, its magnetic field will strengthen even further, and the star will end its life as a magnetar.

More info ➡️ https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2313/

Artist’s impression by ESO/L. Calçada

Happy Independence Day
🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳

International Moon Day

Aphelion Day 2022: Earth will be at it's farthest point from the Sun today.

The nearest point or the shortest distance from the Sun to the Earth is called as Perihelion, whereas, the farthest point or the farthest distance from the Sun to the Earth is called as Aphelion.

Astronomy Fun Facts

"From the Mercury's surface Sun looks three times bigger than viewed from the Earth!"

Mercury Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie

Smiling in the sky 😄

NGC 4565: Galaxy on Edge
Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Sherick

Explanation: Magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4565 is viewed edge-on from planet Earth. Also known as the Needle Galaxy for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many telescopic tours of the northern sky, in the faint but well-groomed constellation Coma Berenices. This sharp, colorful image reveals the galaxy's boxy, bulging central core cut by obscuring dust lanes that lace NGC 4565's thin galactic plane. NGC 4565 itself lies about 40 million light-years distant and spans some 100,000 light-years. Easily spotted with small telescopes, sky enthusiasts consider NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece Messier missed.

NASA APOD

Wow facts!

About 33 light-years away is an exoplanet called Gliese 436 b. The planet is composed of different water elements, which form burning ice. In other words, the ice on the planet remains solid due to pressure, while the extreme surface temperature of 570° F (300° C) super-heats the water, causing it to come off as steam.

Image Credit: NASA
rd.com

A Digital Lunar Eclipse.

Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Cain

NASA APOD