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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: July 4, 2008
Star Spangled Banner Billy Joel Super Bowl 41 – 2/2007
It might not be the best rendition but check out the spot at about 1:48 in. Happy Fourth!
Posted in Blood Warmer, Holidays, Music
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Independence Day Thoughts
A quick collection of links to other writer’s. Spend this day appropriately but, if you find a few free minutes… go read some of these other posts. A Fourth to Remember – Hot Air Our Reason For Celebration I – … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Ray Charles – America the Beautiful
Happy Independence Day!
Posted in Holidays, Music
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Declaration of Independence
This is what today is all about. We celebrate it as a single day, but it was a long road to get to the signature day that we celebrate.
Posted in History, Holidays
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Ted Nugent – Star Spangled Banner Live
Since I am on a bit of a Ted Nugent kick right now. I give you a special bit of Ted to start the day off. Happy Fourth of July!
Posted in Blood Warmer, Holidays, Music
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Freedom
Over at “Eject, Eject, Eject” there is a nice essay that you should go read. Take a look. When I was a little kid, I asked my dad about an image I had seen of really huge numbers of prisoners … Continue reading
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Independence Day Is Here
Today marks the 232nd anniversary of the event that declared the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. Each of you will celebrate this day in your own way, with your own traditions. Stay Safe during this great holiday … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Iraq, Marine Sites
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