Slashdot Mirror
Youngest Galactic Supernova Found, But No Aliens
Simon Howes writes "After searching for decades, astronomers have found a supernova in our galaxy! So it wasn't little green men we were waiting for. It's located very near the center of the galaxy, about 28,000 light years away, and it's only at most about 140 years old. Quote from Bad Astronomy: 'If you're wondering what all the buzz has been about the past few days over a NASA discovery, then wait no longer. No, it's not aliens or an incoming asteroid. Instead, it's still very cool: astronomers have found the youngest supernova in the Milky Way.'" FiReaNGeL contributes a link to coverage on e! Science News; I think Wired's account of the super-hyped tele-press-conference is the funniest.
In the last 20 years the astronomy textbooks have been re-written a number of times on so many topics. This is one of those areas of science that is still being developed and written during our lifetime. Fascinating to watch the story unfold.
On a lighter note, I guess the Vatican and the pope are willing to recognize that "little green men" are allowed to exist as well. If you go by those rules, then "those 7 days when it all happened" were even busier than we thought!
And, yes, my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek!
www.effectiveelectrons.com "chips that work" Analog, RF, Mixed Signal
Wake me when they've discovered how Everything evolved from Nothing.
That's amazing. I'm at -1 Redundant for pointing out the redundant posts, most of which are insightful. I know, I know. I must be new here.
Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
That - by and large - they're all a bunch of asshole fucking faggots.