Catalina Sky Survey finds 700 "optical transients" and 177 supernovae.Byline: ANI Washington, August 25 (ANI): Astronomers, using astronomical data from the University of Arizona's Catalina Sky Survey Catalina Sky Survey is a project to discover comets and asteroids, and to search for near-earth objects. More specifically, to search for potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), that may pose a threat of impact. , have found more than 700 unique "optical transients," or objects that change brightness on time scales of minutes to years, as well as 177 supernovae. Their discoveries include the most energetic supernova supernova, a massive star in the latter stages of stellar evolution that suddenly contracts and then explodes, increasing its energy output as much as a billionfold. ever seen, and a nearby stellar explosion in the Antennae galaxy that is helping astronomers refine the cosmic distance scale. Unlike most dedicated supernova surveys, Catalina Sky Survey telescopes cover the entire sky each month, allowing the team to record supernovae in dim galaxies where others weren't looking. The survey data includes 185 cataclysmic variable stars Cataclysmic variables (CV), (also U Geminorum Stars) are a class of binary stars containing a white dwarf and a companion star. The companion star is usually a red dwarf, although in some cases it is another white dwarf or a slightly evolved star (subgiant). , which is about three out of every four such objects discovered over the same time span and more than the Sloan Digital Sky Survey The Sloan Digital Sky Survey or SDSS is a major multi-filter imaging and spectroscopic redshift survey using a dedicated 2.5-m wide-angle optical telescope at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. The project was named after the Alfred P. found in six years. This result suggests that cataclysmic cat·a·clysm n. 1. A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change. 2. A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust. 3. A devastating flood. variables are more common than previously thought. The survey also found 32 blazars, or beamed active galactic nuclei. These very compact and highly variable energy sources are among the most violent phenomena in the universe. Other findings include about 30 stellar flares, which are large explosions in stellar atmospheres, and about 100 highly erratic light sources that include active galactic nuclei, high proper motion stars and sources that remain unknown. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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