NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered a crisp mid-infrared image of a system of four serpentine spirals of dust, one expanding beyond the next in precisely the same pattern. These shells were emitted over the last 700 years by two aging Wolf-Rayet stars in a system known as Apep, named after the Egyptian god of chaos.
Astronomers have studied two red giants, BH2 and BH3, each orbiting dormant black holes in binary systems Gaia BH2 and Gaia BH3. BH2 shows signs of having consumed its companion star, indicated by its age and rotation, while BH3 is an ancient star defying cosmological expectations by lacking predicted brightness oscillations. These systems are among the closest black hole binaries to Earth, located 3,800 and 1,900 light-years away respectively in the constellations Centaurus and Aquila.
The theory that life on Earth began with molecules delivered from space gains support from recent findings on asteroid Bennu. Samples from Bennu, a primitive asteroid largely unchanged since the solar system’s formation 4.6 billion years ago, contain 14 amino acids and five nucleobases, essential building blocks of proteins and genetic material. Notably, traces of tryptophan, an amino acid never definitively found in extraterrestrial material before, were also tentatively detected. These discoveries confirm that both protein components and genetic blueprints coexist in the same extraterrestrial source, reinforcing the idea that life’s origins may be linked to cosmic deliveries.
The far side of the Moon is incredibly different from the Earth-facing side. 66 years later, we know why the Moon’s faces are not alike.
It’s that time of year, for the little red envelopes to wing their way across Bainbridge Island! Battle Point Astronomical Association is grateful for the continued partnership of One Call for All in this island tradition and for your generous donation.
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, Dec 20th, 2 – 5 pm: Join us for an all-ages Open House solstice event held at BARN (8890 Three Tree Ln NE, Bainbridge Island, WA). Drop by and learn more about Observatory programs, opportunities for education in the new year, and chat with friendly astronomers, Battle Point Astronomical Association Board members & staff. Come and celebrate the Winter Solstice, and looking forward to 2026!
Cosmic Conversations will be held on Tuesday November 18 from 7 7o 8:30 PM at the observatory and via Zoom. The Topic will be “Hot Stuff – Our Sun.”
Don’t have plans for the weekend of November 8th? Head on over to GeekGirlCon in Seattle to celebrate and honor the legacies of under-represented groups in science, technology, comics, arts, literature, game play, and game design!
We’re teaming up with Parks and Rec once again for out-of-this-world classes! Introduction to Astronomy 101 (ages 16+) is back with another fantastic lineup of classes to get you off to a great start in astronomy.
Keep an eye out on the BI Parks website for when they drop the winter catalog!