Recording breaking Ghost-like Particle Discovered

Astronomers have used a giant, underwater telescope to detect the most energetic neutrino ever observed. So, what is a neutrino?

A neutrino is a tiny, neutral subatomic particle with a very small mass, much less than that of an electron. It comes in three types: electron neutrinos, muon neutrinos, and tau neutrinos. Neutrinos interact very weakly with other matter, allowing them to pass through most objects almost undetected. They are produced in various nuclear reactions, such as those in the sun, during supernovae, and in nuclear reactors. Despite their elusive nature, neutrinos are essential for understanding fundamental processes in the universe.

This artist's impression shows part of the KM3NET neutrino detector,
being built deep in the Mediterranean Sea.
It's not to scale — the detector units are just 30 cm across,
and they'll be spread across cubic kilometers under the sea.

On February 13, 2023, the Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss (ARCA) picked up a single muon that triggered more than a third of the site’s intricate sensors. The inbound trajectory of the muon, coupled with its extremely high energy, led KM3NeT researchers to conclude that the muon was the result of a 220 peta electrovolt (PeV) neutrino striking the Earth's atmosphere from space.

See the complete article at SkyandTelescope

Venus Shines Bright

The planet Venus will be the brightest object in evening sky on Valentine's Day. Kinda neat since in Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility. How fitting.

Venus’s greatest evening elongation in 2025 from the Northern Hemisphere
as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planets are exaggerated 600 times in size.
Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2025 Astronomical Calendar.

Venus reaches its greatest brilliancy for 2025 on February 14, where it is the evening star. You can't miss Venus! It outshines all other objects in our sky, except for the sun and moon. Look for it in the western sky just after sunset. In fact, it is so bright that you could probably see it before the sun sets if you know just where to look. And with small telescopes, it is visible in the daytime.

Check out EarthSky for more details about Venus, why it is so bright and why it appears sometime in the east and sometimes in the west but never all night long.

Soldier's Delight Star Party - this Saturday - Feb 15, 2025 - 6:30pm

Soldiers Delight Star Party - February 15, 2025

I am back from the frozen north of Norway, in search of the Northern Lights. Turns out it wasn't actually frozen at all! I'll explain during the session this coming Saturday. 

So come on out and join us for an exciting discussion of Gravity, Black Holes and what's up in the winter sky.

"Gravity and Black Holes"

Tonight, we delve into one of the most intriguing and enigmatic phenomena in the universe: black holes and the force of gravity that governs them. Black holes, with their immense gravitational pull, challenge our understanding of physics and the very fabric of space-time. These cosmic giants, formed from the remnants of massive stars, possess gravitational fields so strong that not even light can escape their grasp. Our discussion will explore the formation of black holes, the role of gravity in their behavior, and the profound implications they have for our understanding of the universe. Join me as we journey into the depths of these mysterious entities and uncover the secrets they hold about the nature of gravity and the cosmos.

All programs rain or shine. Time machines will be provided by the Westminster Astronomy Club.

Activity: Gravity Simulator: Explore Black Holes and Gravity

You can find out about special local events by contacting us at https://www.westminsterastro.org/

Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Eastern

Location: Soldiers Delight Environmental Area

5100 Deer Park Rd.

Owings Mills, MD 21117