Goodbye to our Solar System as we know it

Astronomers confirm there is a new planet orbiting the Sun beyond Pluto. 

I doubt that it's "new", just newly discovered. Anyway, here 'tis...

Astronomers find a new denizen in the deep black of the solar system

 From Phil Plait's "Bad Astronomy Newsletter" (to which you SHOULD subscriber /free)

2017 OF201 is a giant iceball far, far beyond Neptune...and it complicates things for Planet Nine.

That's a LONG walk... to the most distant galaxy

The James Webb Space Telescope’s latest find is yet another record-breaker: the most distant galaxy ever detected, shining just 280 million years after the Big Bang.

See the Gizmodo Article

Jupiter the Dieter - Used to be twice as big

In a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, Konstantin Batygin (PhD '12), professor of planetary science at Caltech; and Fred C. Adams, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Michigan; provide a detailed look into Jupiter's primordial state.

Jupiter Was Formerly Twice Its Current Size and Had a Much Stronger Magnetic Field - www.caltech.edu

Nasa warns of huge solar flares causing blackouts on Earth

The Sun’s most active region is turning to face Earth, bringing spectacular auroras and occasional blackouts.

Looks like it might be an interesting week ..

Take a look: Nasa warns of huge solar flares causing blackouts on Earth

CHINESE ROCKET PLUME AND AN AURORA SURPRISE

 CHINESE ROCKET PLUME AND AN AURORA SURPRISE: A Chinese rocket powered by cutting-edge methane fuel lit up the night sky over the USA last night, putting on an unexpected show. Sky watchers already out photographing auroras—visible as far south as New Mexico thanks to a surprise geomagnetic storm—snapped stunning images of the rocket's glowing exhaust. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.

Aurora alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when geomagnetic storms are underway.

Comet 46P Wirtanen - A cosmic event

The periodic comet (number 46P) Wirtanen is visiting us yet again. Does it about every 5 or 6 years depending on how close it gets to Jupiter. The actual nucleus is only about 3/4 of a mile in diameter, but the coma (its gas and dust envelope is currently 1.5 times the size of the Moon and it will probably get bigger still. It will be closest to Earth on this pass on 16 December at 11 million kilometers (a little more than 7 million miles. In the top 20 of close approaches since records were kept (ninth century AD). It might even make it to naked eye visibility even from Sun City. It will be visible to us Northeners beginning around 12 December and hanging in there until near the end of the month. First sighting should take place at about 5 AM on the 12th or 13th just South of the constellation Taurus.

To get more information visit Astronomy Picture of the Day www.APOD.com or www.SpaceWeather. com. It's a beautiful
shade of green. Lots of Pictuers.

There are at leasst three comets visibile from Earth right now but they all require binoculars or small telescopes. Information available at SpaceWeather.com.