Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

Skylon Defunct, Radian PFV01 Test Flights Begin

Sooner or later, I figure someone will develop a spaceplane that takes off from places like Tampa International Airport, carries passengers and cargo to low Earth orbit, and flies back: either to the airport it came from, or the next … Continue reading

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Vega, a Closer Look: Smooth Disc, No Planets, Starspots

A little over a week ago, scientist published a detailed analysis of Vega’s surprisingly planet-free debris disc. Vega, one of the brightest stars in Earth’s sky, may have planets: but the October 31 paper rules out any Saturn-size or larger … Continue reading

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Surrounded by Beauty and Wonders: T Tauri Stars and Nebulae

“…All of us dwell under the same sky. All of us are moved by the beauty revealed in the cosmos and reflected in the study of the heavenly bodies and substances. In this sense, we are united by the desire … Continue reading

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First Helene, Now Milton; Yikes: Another Major Hurricane

First, the good news. Folks in Florida knew that another major hurricane was heading their way. That, and some out-of-the-box thinking, helped them get ready. Now, the bad news. Folks in Florida were still cleaning up after Hurricane Helene, when … Continue reading

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Porphyrion: Black Hole Jets on a Cosmic Scale

We’ve known about “black hole jet systems” for some time, but never one as big as Porphyrion: a 23,000,000 light-year giant. I’ll be talking about that today, along with how astronomers have been studying it, a plausible explanation for its … Continue reading

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