Green Fireball over Mi. (No Green men found.)
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...that is pretty speedy in the atmosphere...
Scientists mapped the shape of a supernova for the first time ever -- and it's not what we expected
November 30, 2025
On April 10, 2024, the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) detected first light from an explosion of a massive star with roughly 12 to 15 times the sun’s mass.
Just 26 hours later, astronomers pointed the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile at the supernova, as this early and brief window provided a rare opportunity to study the initial phase of a star’s death.
The stunning image is an artist's interpretation, showcasing the supernova explosion as revealed by the VLT data.
Thanks to some quick observations, astronomers were able to detect the explosion’s shape during its earliest moments --- a phase that would not have been seen if observed just one day later.
Known as SN 2024ggi, this supernova explosion took place in the galaxy NGC 3621, which is located approximately 22 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra.
An image captured by the VLT on April 11, 2024 shows the location of this explosion within the galaxy.
A massive star maintains its near-perfect spherical shape due to a delicate balance between the inward pull of its own gravity, and the outward force of the nuclear fusion-powered radiation generated at its center.
When this balance is lost, the star dies --- gravity finally overpowers the pressure holding its core up, causing it to collapse under its own weight.
This collapse pulls all the outer layers inward. These outer layers then rebound and create a powerful shock wave that rips the star apart.
Once the shock breaks through the star’s surface, it releases a lot of energy, increasing the supernova’s brightness dramatically. But how that shock forms and travels outward has long been one of the most debated fundamental questions.
There is a short-lived window, after the explosion has occurred but before it starts to interact with its surroundings, during which astronomers can catch a glimpse of its initial "breakout" shape.
Using spectropolarimetry --- a technique that sorts light by its wavelengths and reveals the direction in which the light waves vibrate — scientists with the VLT captured this shape for the first time.
Data from the VLT’s FORS2 instrument, the only facility in the Southern Hemisphere that is capable of making such a measurement, showed that the first light from the exploding star wasn’t emitted in all directions equally.
Instead, the initial shock was stretched along one axis, like an olive --- meaning the explosion wasn’t perfectly spherical.
As the blast expanded, its light began to reveal the supernova’s interaction with the gas surrounding the star.
Around day 10, the hydrogen-rich outer layers of the star became visible, and these layers were found to be aligned with the same axis as the first-day shock.
This means the core explosion had a stable, directional shape from the very beginning, suggesting an underlying mechanism that drives a consistent orientation.
Study of the unprecedented view has ruled out some of the current supernova models while supporting others and provides new details about the catastrophic deaths of massive stars.
https://www.livescience.com/space/scientists-mapped-the-shape-of-a-supernova-for-the-first-time-ever-and-its-not-what-we-expected-space-photo-of-the-week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHHpONuSZA8
It's a space peanut!!!
Another NUT CASE solved! 🤪😂🤪🤣
I did a link post the other day mocking the "comet Atlas" Psyop folks.
"Scientists With the International Asteroid Warning Network Start To Track Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas as It "aPpRoAcHeS eArTh" | Ffs... I'm more concerned with the dazzling, GREEN METEORS soon to come."
I'm glad you shared this Alsan. I think the green meteorites are going to be so epic, it's going to be all anyone is talking about online very soon.
Doesn't the color of metal burning tell what element it's made of? Brave AI:
Several metals produce a green flame when burned, primarily due to the emission of light at specific wavelengths as excited electrons return to lower energy levels. Copper is one of the most well-known metals that burns green, particularly in its +2 oxidation state (copper(II)), which produces a green flame. The green color can vary depending on the compound and oxidation state; for example, copper(II) non-halide compounds yield a green flame, while copper(II) halides produce a blue-green flame.
Boron also produces a bright green flame, which is characteristic of boric acid or borax when burned. Barium salts are another source of green flames, typically appearing as pale green, apple green, or yellow-green. Manganese(II) and molybdenum can also produce yellow-green flames. Thallium emits a pure green flame, and zinc compounds may produce a blue-green to pale green flame. In pyrotechnics, barium chloride (BaCl) is a common emitter for green light, with strong emission bands around 511–533 nm. The presence of chlorine in the compound can influence the color, as seen in copper(II) halides forming blue-green flames.
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.
Possibly related (kek):
THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS | Full Length Classic Sci-Fi Movie | English
After an unusual meteor shower leaves most of the human population blind, a merchant navy officer must find a way to conquer tall, aggressive plants which are feeding on people and animals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Elc86DMkA
I.m not eating my veggies anymore! Ahaaa 😂🤣🤣
In Day of the Triffids, the veggies eat you.