Astronomers have discovered a giant 'blinking' star in the middle of the Milky Way.

[the other mike]

VVV-WIT-08, as it's named, is 25,000 light-years from Earth, but scientists
say it's a star 100 times bigger than our sun and the "blinking' occurs as a giant unidentified companion with a decades-long orbit passes by, likely an enormous Saturn-like planet.

blinking star

 

[Moonglow]

Maybe they have a five year old playing with the light switch?

 

[Asclepias]

25K light years? Thats hard to comprehend in terms of time. We are in the Milky Way and they are just now discovering this?

 

[the other mike]

25K light years? Thats hard to comprehend in terms of time. We are in the Milky Way and they are just now discovering this?

Time itself is a mystery, but most people think
the Milky Way is a candy bar.

 

[Asclepias]

1.5 quintrillion miles away. You would die a couple of million times trying to walk there.

 

[the other mike]

1.5 quintrillion miles away. You would die a couple of million times trying to walk there.

Even Mars is a 6 month trip at best, if and when we attempt it....and we haven't even been to the moon in 50 years. (that we know of ) Isn't China planning a space station there ?

 

[Asclepias]

1.5 quintrillion miles away. You would die a couple of million times trying to walk there.

Even Mars is a 6 month trip at best, if and when we attempt it....and we haven't even been to the moon in 50 years. (that we know of ) Isn't China planning a space station there ?

2028 I believe.

 

[Wuwei]

VVV-WIT-08, as it's named, is 25,000 light-years from Earth, but scientists
say it's a star 100 times bigger than our sun and the "blinking' occurs as a giant unidentified companion with a decades-long orbit passes by, likely an enormous Saturn-like planet.

Being so close, I would guess that it was only found recently because it's hard to see that it is "blinking" when it happens so seldom. The orbiting companion would have a regular period which could only be determined for sure after three times around. That would require many decades.

.

 

[Quasar44]

VVV-WIT-08, as it's named, is 25,000 light-years from Earth, but scientists
say it's a star 100 times bigger than our sun and the "blinking' occurs as a giant unidentified companion with a decades-long orbit passes by, likely an enormous Saturn-like planet.

blinking star
View attachment 502896

Unfortunately..it’s so far that humans will never reach it
That is hundreds of trillions of miles

 

[Quasar44]

VVV-WIT-08, as it's named, is 25,000 light-years from Earth, but scientists
say it's a star 100 times bigger than our sun and the "blinking' occurs as a giant unidentified companion with a decades-long orbit passes by, likely an enormous Saturn-like planet.

blinking star
View attachment 502896

Maybe it’s a planet full of Jews and they’re blowing out the Hanukkah candies on the menorah

 

[the other mike]

Maybe it’s a planet full of Jews and they’re blowing out the Hanukkah candies on the menorah

You're trying to be funny right, so the kids will
know this wasn't a personal shot at me ?

 

[the other mike]

Unfortunately..it’s so far that humans will never reach it
That is hundreds of trillions of miles

We may never travel at light speed, but eventually we may
invent an unmanned go-cam that can do it.... through advances in AI and nanotechnology.

 

[Quasar44]

Unfortunately..it’s so far that humans will never reach it
That is hundreds of trillions of miles

We may never travel at light speed, but eventually we may
invent an unmanned go-cam that can do it.... through advances in AI and nanotechnology.

Yes exactly that is the key

 

[Wuwei]

An earth sized array of radio-telescopes was able to image a black hole. If optical frequencies are needed, an earth sized optical array would be extremely difficult, but may be possible sometime.

Even if it were possible, the problem with sending a probe 25,000 light years away is that it would take 25,000 years for the image to get back to earth.

.

 

[the other mike]

An earth sized array of radio-telescopes was able to image a black hole. If optical frequencies are needed, an earth sized optical array would be extremely difficult, but may be possible sometime.

Even if it were possible, the problem with sending a probe 25,000 light years away is that it would take 25,000 years for the image to get back to earth.

.

If we start spending less time and resources on war, maybe we'll keep on
advancing. On the other hand, it could be worse.

Just 500 years ago, we thought the earth was flat, and just 50 years ago we were a sneeze away from nuclear winter.

 

[Likkmee]

An earth sized array of radio-telescopes was able to image a black hole. If optical frequencies are needed, an earth sized optical array would be extremely difficult, but may be possible sometime.

Even if it were possible, the problem with sending a probe 25,000 light years away is that it would take 25,000 years for the image to get back to earth.

.

If someone went to the moon...say...in 1969 or so(theoretically)....how long for Algores internet to transmit "Houston, we gots a problem?" I get a 5-10 minute delay in my messages to LIR....One hour away by car... 15-20 minutes on my 86 v-max.

 

[Wuwei]

If we start spending less time and resources on war, maybe we'll keep on
advancing. On the other hand, it could be worse.

Just 500 years ago, we thought the earth was flat, and just 50 years ago we were a sneeze away from nuclear winter

It seems that large companies are taking over the work that was NASA's domain. There is certainly a profit motive. Meanwhile basic research by the government is declining. It's hard to say where this will go.

.

 

[the other mike]

.

If someone went to the moon...say...in 1969 or so(theoretically)....how long for Algores internet to transmit "Houston, we gots a problem?" I get a 5-10 minute delay in my messages to LIR....One hour away by car... 15-20 minutes on my 86 v-max.

You're from Costa Rica ?
I knew a guy from there named Cochise (if that's how he spelled it -ko-chees)around 1983- 84 on Hilton Head Island SC. We used to get toot out the wazoo from him and his roommate Ricardo (From Colombia).

 

[Quasar44]

.

If someone went to the moon...say...in 1969 or so(theoretically)....how long for Algores internet to transmit "Houston, we gots a problem?" I get a 5-10 minute delay in my messages to LIR....One hour away by car... 15-20 minutes on my 86 v-max.

You're from Costa Rica ?
I knew a guy from there named Cochise (if that's how he spelled it -ko-chees)around 1983- 84 on Hilton Head Island SC. We used to get toot out the wazoo from him and his roommate Ricardo (From Colombia).

Where in the USA have you mostly lived !!

 

[the other mike]

Where in the USA have you mostly lived !!

Long story short, .... Born in Brooklyn, NY. Grew up in Kentucky, W Virginia and Ohio. Moved to NYC, then back to Ohio. Then onto Kentucky again, South Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas.