Space Telescope
What is the latest information about asteroid 2024 YR4 and its potential impact with Earth?
Scientists have updated the probability of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth to 3.1%, an increase of about 1% from previous reports. The asteroid, roughly the size of the Statue of Liberty, could potentially wipe out a city if impact occurs. However, there remains a 96.9% chance it will miss Earth entirely. Scientists plan to use the James Webb Space Telescope to better observe the asteroid before it disappears behind the sun until 2028. With over seven years to prepare for the 3.1% impact possibility, NASA has time to monitor and potentially develop mitigation strategies for this city-destroying threat.
Watch clip answer (00:47m)
NBC News
15:31 - 16:19
What is the Einstein Ring recently discovered by astronomers and why is it significant?
An Einstein Ring is a rare gravitational lensing phenomenon where light from a distant galaxy is bent by the gravitational field of a closer galaxy. The recently discovered Einstein Ring involves NGC 6505, an oval-shaped galaxy about 600 million light years from Earth, which bends light from a second galaxy approximately 6 billion light years away. The discovery was made using the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope. This phenomenon was first theorized by Albert Einstein in 1936 as part of his general Theory of relativity, but he believed they would be too difficult to observe. This discovery is significant because it confirms Einstein's century-old prediction and demonstrates how modern telescope technology now enables detection of such cosmic phenomena.
Watch clip answer (01:43m)
WION
00:02 - 01:46
How does the Einstein Ring discovery help test Einstein's theory of general relativity?
This Einstein Ring discovery allows researchers to test Einstein's theory of general relativity by measuring the lensing galaxy's mass in two ways: by analyzing how light bends and by observing the velocity of its stars. Einstein's theory predicts these values should be identical, making any discrepancy significant for gravitational models. When researchers calculated the mass of the lensing galaxy, they found it slightly higher than expected based on its estimated star count. This discrepancy may indicate the presence of dark matter clustering at the galaxy's center. While this finding provides fascinating insights into both general relativity and dark matter distribution, further observations of similar lenses will be needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Watch clip answer (00:55m)
WION
02:12 - 03:07
What is significant about the newly discovered Einstein Ring and how does it help test Einstein's theory of general relativity?
The newly discovered Einstein Ring around galaxy NGC 6505 is exceptionally bright compared to other known Einstein Rings and provides a unique opportunity to test Einstein's theory of general relativity. Researchers can measure the lensing galaxy's mass in two ways: by analyzing how light bends and by observing the velocity of its stars. Einstein's theory predicts these values should be identical. When calculations were performed, researchers found the mass to be slightly higher than expected based on the estimated number of stars, which could indicate the presence of dark matter. The ring's proximity to Earth and Euclid telescope's imaging capabilities make it easier to distinguish the four images of the distant galaxy, making this a valuable discovery for testing gravitational models.
Watch clip answer (01:03m)WION
01:46 - 02:50
How does the Einstein Ring discovery help test Einstein's theory of general relativity?
This discovery provides a unique opportunity to test Einstein's theory of general relativity by measuring the mass of the lensing galaxy in two ways: by analyzing light bending patterns and by observing the velocity of stars within the galaxy. According to Einstein's theory, these two measurements should yield identical values. When researchers calculated the mass, they found it slightly higher than expected based on the estimated number of stars, revealing a discrepancy that may be attributed to dark matter clustering at the galaxy's center. This finding potentially confirms Einstein's predictions while simultaneously revealing the presence of dark matter, though further observations of similar lenses are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Watch clip answer (00:55m)WION
02:12 - 03:07
What is the significance of the Einstein Ring discovered by the Euclid telescope?
The Einstein Ring discovered using the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope provides a unique opportunity to test Einstein's general theory of relativity. This exceptionally bright ring was formed as light from a distant galaxy was bent by a closer lensing galaxy. Researchers can measure the lensing galaxy's mass in two ways: by analyzing light bending and by observing stellar velocity. When calculated, the mass was slightly higher than expected based on visible stars, potentially indicating dark matter clustering at the galaxy's center. This discrepancy offers valuable insights into gravitational models and dark matter distribution.
Watch clip answer (01:35m)WION
01:24 - 03:00