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- Portrait of a Doomed Asteroid
A new study provides a possible explanation of mysterious X-ray flares detected by the Chandra K-ray Observatory for several years in the region of Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A*. The study suggests a cloud around Sgr A*, a supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, which contains hundreds of trillions of asteroids and comets that have been stripped from their parent stars. The flares occur when asteroids of six miles or larger in radius are consumed by the black hole. An asteroid that undergoes a close encounter with another object, such as a star or planet, can be thrown into an orbit headed towards Sgr A*. If the asteroid passes within about 100 million miles of the black hole, roughly the distance between the Earth and the sun, it is torn into pieces by the tidal forces from the black hole. These fragments would then be vaporized by friction as they pass through the hot, thin gas flowing onto Sgr A*, similar to a meteor heating up and glowing as it falls through Earth's atmosphere. A flare is produced and eventually the remains of the asteroid are swallowed by the black hole. Image Credit: Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
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Daily Archives: January 21, 2008
Michael Yon
For those of you who know Michael Yon, and his writings this is probably old news. The NY Times, has a piece in today’s paper on Michael. Give it a read here. Then get on over to Michael’s site and … Continue reading
Posted in GWOT, Iraq
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Blogburst – Marine Family In Need
There is a bit of a blogburst going on to help the family of one of our own. The winner of the Bronze Star no less. Please go HERE for the whole story. H/T to Michelle Malkin, and Flopping Aces … Continue reading
Posted in Blogburst, USMC
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Extended Version – America’s Marines
For those of you who missed the commercial version, here is the extended version. [vodpod id=ExternalVideo.466754&w=425&h=350&fv=] from our.marines.com posted with vodpod This makes me want to sign on all over again. If I could just get an age waiver. Go … Continue reading
Posted in USMC
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