Nov 13 - Galaxy Doppelgangers

November 13 Galaxy Doppelgangers by:

View larger. | A Hubble Space Telescope image of the 4 visible arcs associated with the Sunburst Arc galaxy. This exceedingly distant galaxy helps create one of the brightest gravitational lenses known. Within these 4 visible arcs are at least 12 images - 12 doppelgangers, or illusory images - of the galaxy. Read more.

Hubble captures a dozen galaxy doppelgangers The distant galaxy in this image is nicknamed the Sunburst Arc. It's been lensed into multiple arcs by a massive, intervening galaxy cluster. A recent study revealed that the 4 bright arcs in this Hubble image contain 12 images - cosmic doppelgangers - of the galaxy, which is very distant indeed at 11 billion light-years away. Read more about how the Sunburst Arc gives astronomers a window on the very early universe. Another cool catch: A record-setting X-ray burst The sudden spike of X-rays released as much energy in 20 seconds as our sun does in nearly 10 days. Turns out it was a massive thermonuclear flash on a pulsar, the crushed remains of a star that exploded as a supernova long ago. Watch a video and read more. Ultima Thule renamed to avoid Nazi link In a naming ceremony held yesterday in Maryland, NASA gave the distant Kuiper Belt object formerly known as 2014 MU69 - later known as Ultima Thule - yet another new name. The new name is Arrokoth. This object was visited by the New Horizons spacecraft - same craft that visited Pluto in 2015 - earlier this year. Read more.

EarthSky lunar calendars are back in stock We're guaranteed to sell out, get one while you can! Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep going. Purchase here.

Tonight … Aldebaran is the star near the moon Aldebaran - Eye of the Bull in Taurus - is in the moon's glare tonight. More here, including the story of Aldebaran when it joined with another bright star, Capella, to appear as a double pole star.

Moon halo over Pikes Peak View larger. | This ring around the moon is called a 22-degree halo by skywatchers. The mountain below is Pikes Peak, in Colorado, the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rockies. Image via Joe Randall. Thanks Joe!  Submit your photo to EarthSky here! Did a friend forward EarthSkyNews to you? Click here to get your own subscription!

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