A rare occultation of the bright star Betelgeuse by asteroid 319 Leona turned up mixed results. In science and astronomy‚ sometimes a negative or subtle result can be as interesting as a positive one. That’s just what occultation-chasers where confronted with this past Monday evening on the night of December 11th/12th‚ when asteroid 319 Leona occulted (passed in front of) the +0.5 magnitude star Betelgeuse. The Event This was the most anticipated asteroid occultation of a bright star since 163 Erigone occulted Regulus on over the northeastern United States in 2014. Much like that event‚ Monday night’s occultation was a hit-or-miss affair along the 142 kilometer-wide path in terms of clouds. The track of the ‘asteroid’s shadow’ across the Earth crossed over the southern tip of Florida‚ the Atlantic and central Europe. Asteroid Leona (circled) approaches Betelgeuse. Credit: Tom Wildoner A Subtle Celestial Affair Nabbing an asteroid occultation usually means traveling to the path‚ and Monday night’s event was no exception. It was hoped that observers would see Betelgeuse wink out for a dozen-odd seconds. A study of the resulting light curve could not only refine the shape and size of the asteroid‚ but help to say something about the diameter of Betelgeuse itself. Plans were laid‚ and cameras and telescopes were at the ready for the best asteroid occultation of a bright star for 2023. But when the key moment came‚ observers saw nary a blip in brightness. Well‚ almost nothing. If you watch video recordings of the event‚ Betelgeuse did seem to quiver a bit at the key time. So‚ what happened? Betelgeuse (Betelgeuse‚ Betelgeuse) I think the key to the mystery lies in the nature of both of the objects involved. Betelgeuse is a variable star‚ and at roughly 550 light-years distant‚ one of the closest candidates to our solar system with a potential to go supernova. Remember the excitement back in late 2019 when the star conspicuously dimmed? At the time‚ there was hope that this was a harbinger for a cataclysmic event. Although Betelgeuse is crowned Alpha Orionis (the brightest star in Orion)‚ it often swaps places with the star Rigel as the lucida for the constellation Orion. An image of the surface of Betelgeuse‚ constructed using interferometry. Credit: Xavier Haubois (Paris Observatory). Now‚ Red Giant Betelgeuse is massive enough and close enough to show a tiny but discernible angular diameter. In fact‚ Betelgeuse was the first star to have its apparent angular diameter efectively measured. Astronomers Albert Michelson and Francis Pease completed this feat in 1920. They did this using a six-meter interferometer mounted on the front of the 2.5-meter telescope at Mount Wilson. They came up with a value of 47 mas (milli-arcseconds‚ or 1/1‚000th of an arcsecond). Today‚ the accepted value of the diameter of Betelgeuse is 45-55 mas. This makes Betelgeuse the second largest star in the sky in terms of apparent angular diameter‚ behind R Doradus at 57 mas. Asteroid 319 Leona‚ constructed from an occultation in September 2023. Credit: J.L. Ortitiz/MNRAS Letters Asteroid 319 Leona was discovered by astronomer Auguste Charlois from the Nice Observatory on the night of October 8th‚ 1891. Orbiting the Sun once every 6.3 years‚ 319 Leona is an estimated 80 by 55 kilometers across‚ yielding an angular size of about 46 mas in diameter. The asteroid was 2.763 Astronomical Units (AU) distant at the time of the event. Occultation Obfuscation Of course‚ 319 Leona‚ like most small asteroids‚ is oblong-shaped. I’m thinking what happened Monday night was a partial or annular occultation‚ which failed to dim mighty Betelgeuse entirely. Think of the strange potato-shaped eclipses that the rovers on Mars sometimes witness. These occur when the misshapen moons Phobos and Deimos pass in front of the Sun. Perseverance sees Phobos pass in front of the Sun. Credit: NASA “At least there was a very obvious dimming‚” Andreas Dill who recorded the event from Spain told Universe Today. “Whether this was because it was an annular or a partial eclipse remains to be analyzed. What I am eager to see‚ and what is the main goal of observations: will it be possible to reconstruct the surface of Betelgeuse from all the obtained light curves?” An early analysis of the occultation event‚ along with the extrapolated light curve. Credit: Domenico Licchelli Sure‚ maybe the occultation wasn’t a clean cut event. Still‚ those guttering flickers of the star could yield some interesting results. Maybe our understanding of the true size and nature of Betelgeuse is due for a slight revision. And someday‚ tonight or thousands of years from now‚ Betelgeuse will indeed go supernova. It will then put on a fine show‚ giving astronomers a chance to study such a spectacle up close. We can only hope this occurs in a month such as December‚ putting Betelgeuse in full view as a ‘Christmas Star’ like no other (June would put it almost directly behind the Sun!). After its final show is over‚ Betelgeuse will then ‘wink out’ for good‚ and Orion the Hunter will never truly look the same again. The post Betelgeuse Versus the Asteroid… What Happened? appeared first on Universe Today.

The year's highlights included one of classic rock's most important debuts. Continue reading…

A National Debt That Lives In Infamy

Whether you're cooking crab for the first time or looking to improve your technique‚ be sure to brush up on some of the most common mistakes home chefs make.

Good things come in threes‚ and three things come in cheese when it comes to making this copycat Starbucks sandwich.

Ashley Walters‚ a former Marilyn Mason assistant‚ has won an appeal in court to proceed with her lawsuit against the performer.   In May ’21‚ Walters sued Manson for sex discrimination‚ sexual harassment‚ sexual assault‚ interference with the exercise of civil rights‚ sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case was dismissed the following year because Walters reportedly attempted to circumvent the statute of limitations. But on December 13th‚ a tribunal with California’s Second Appellate District approved her appeal sending the case back to the lower court judge for trial. The post Ex-Manson Assistant’s Lawsuit To Proceed appeared first on RockinTown.

10/2 Stevie Nicks states‚ in a published interview‚ that she sees “no reason” to continue Fleetwood Mac without keyboardist and co-vocalist Christine McVie‚ who passed away the previous year.  10/5 Play ball! A scheduling conflict forces a change of venue for a Guns N’ Roses concert in Phoenix.   The show was originally scheduled to take place at Chase Field on October 11th.  Rather‚ the Arizona Diamondbacks‚ who advanced to the second round of the playoffs. take on the Los Angeles Dodgers that night in the stadium.  GN’R’s concert moves to Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre.  10/6 On “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” Paramore’s Haley Williams talks about the physical impact from her long-term headbang to songs during concerts. The vocalist had to undergo physical therapy on her neck to reduce the pain.  10/7 “Psycho” is Asking Alexandria’s second #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart following the one-week reign of “Alone Again” in ‘21.  10/7 KISS play their last concert in Australia at Sydney’s 85‚000 seat Accor Stadium.  The show is billed as “The Final Curtain.”  10/7 AC/DC give their first show in seven years at the Power Trip Festival in Indio‚ CA. The last time AC/DC performed live was in ’16‚ during the Rock or Bust Tour‚ with Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses) as their vocalist.  He filled in for Brian Johnson who was dealing with hearing issues.  10/8 Creed gets credit for helping lift the Texas Rangers to the major league baseball playoffs. The Rangers saw their season turn around when they started playing Creed in the clubhouse prior to games. According to Rangers’ pitcher Andrew Heaney listening to Creed was a means of “having fun” while dealing with the “rollercoaster of the second half” of the season. 10/08 During a concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas‚ U2’s Bono dedicates ‘Pride (In the Name of Love)’ to Israeli victims of Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of more than 900 Israelis. “Our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence.” says the singer who also reworks the lyrics to focus on the hundreds slaughtered.  10/10 Distrurbed’s David Draiman‚ who is of Jewish descent‚ denounces Hamas’s attack on Israel‚ which killed over 900 Israelis and wounded over 2‚400 others. “There’s no justification for the barbarity and the inhumanity that was on display over the course of the past few days against Jews in Israel‚ and there’s no justification for the support of the acts‚ the inhumane acts perpetrated against Jews all over the world‚” states Draiman.  10/11 The family of late KISS guitar tech Fran Stueber‚ who died in ‘21 while quarantining after contracting COVID during the band’s “End Of The Road” World Tour‚ files a wrongful death suit in L.A.‚ claiming both negligence and wrongful death and names KISS founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley‚ among others‚ for a “failure to enforce or have adequate COVID-19 policies or procedures (that) caused a COVID-19 outbreak amongst band members and tour personnel.”  10/11 Anberlin‘s Stephen Christian takes an indefinite hiatus from touring with the band.  Memphis May Fire‘s Matty Mullins is named as Christian’s replacement.  10/15 Mammoth WVH frontman Wolfgang Van Halen marries Andraia Allsop on the eighth anniversary of their first date during an intimate ceremony at their L.A. residence. 10/16 Papa Roach‘s “Last Resort“ surpasses one-billion streams on Spotify. The song originally appeared on the “Ready To Rumble” soundtrack before becoming the debut single from the band’s second studio album‚ “Infest.” 10/18 The Rolling Stones open RS No. 9 pop-up stores in New York City and Los Angeles. The stores mark the first time the brand is available outside the United Kingdom.  10/18 Staind frontman Aaron Lewis takes to Instagram to post a photo of him and three fellow hunters spelling out “Trump 24” using what appears to be 32 dead coyotes.  The post generates numerous negative comments – including a scathing shot from PETA (the animal rights group). 10/18 Dwight Twilley‚ power-pop pioneer best known for the song “I’m On Fire‚” dies at age 72.  10/21 Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is ‘totally fine’ with the Israel Defense Forces using his band’s most famous song‚ “We’re Not Gonna Take It‚” as a battle cry during a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’ deadly October 7th attack on Israel that claimed 1‚400 lives. 10/21 KISS members Paul Stanley‚ Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are at the Rock &; Roll Hall of Fame to receive Cleveland’s first-ever Music Keynote to the City and a KISS Day Proclamation for their immeasurable impact on culture and the music industry while exhibiting a love and commitment for Cleveland. Stanley calls Cleveland the band’s “home away from home.” 10/22 Dorothy‘s Dorothy Martin (pictured right) sings the National Anthem before the L.A. Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers football game in L.A. then she performs “Victorious” with guitarist Nita Strauss (pictured left) during the game.    10/23 Papa Roach announces that they have made a $150‚000 donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) “Talk Away The Dark” campaign. 10/24 Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Jeff Schroeder announces his departure from the band after 16 years. 10/24 Former L.A. Guns and W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley dies at the age of 67.  He had been battling a severe case of pneumonia for several weeks. 10/25 Dream Theater announce the return of drummer Mike Portnoy reuniting him with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. They formed the band in ’85 at the Berklee College Of Music. 10/26 Following Hardcore Punk bands Live Without and Wacko‚ Blink-182 live up to the “What The F*ck Is Up Denny’s ” meme when they play an unannounced show at a Denny’s in Long Beach‚ CA. Live Without’s ’13 Denny’s appearance has generated over 2-million YouTube views while Wacko’s ’19 Denny’s performance resulted in $1‚000 in damages. No damages are associated with Blink-182’s show. 10/26 Canadian telecommunications company Telus uses Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” in a campaign to promote the arrival of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro.  10/27 Butcher Babies perform for the first time without co-vocalist Carla Harvey (pictured) who has to undergo emergency eye surgery to resolve a longstanding condition. Co-vocalist Heidi Shepherd takes the lead for the Nottingham‚ U.K. concert. 10/28 Foo Fighters make their ninth appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” What’s interesting is actor Christopher Walken‚ the show’s host‚ correctly pronounced the group’s name after famously muffing it in ’03. The Foos perform “Rescued” and “The Glass.” 10/31 Greta Van Fleet‚ in conjunction with organic soda manufacturer Tribucha‚ launch Controlled Burn a special limited edition kombucha.   2023 The post Key Events: October 2023 appeared first on RockinTown.

"If Mike Johnson abuses the NDAA to smuggle into law an extension of the warrantless surveillance regime (FISA702) that the FBI exploited to spy ON AMERICANS more than TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND times in JUST ONE YEAR‚ he should be dumped just like McCarthy. No excuse." At a moment Republicans are continuing to hold out on their refusal to support a massive $111 billion supplemental spending package that Biden wants for Ukraine‚ Israel‚ and Taiwan – the Senate did manage to get something big done‚ namely passage of the mammoth $886 billion 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It passed on Wednesday‚ authorizing funding for the Department of Defense for this next year‚ in a vote of 87-13. Those voting against it included six Republicans‚ six Democrats‚ and an Independent. It now heads to the House where a vote is expected Thursday. The no votes included GOP hardliners who “have been criticizing House Republicans… after the text of the compromise with the Democrat-controlled Senate removed a number of conservative policy goals on transgender surgeries and abortion‚ among others‚” according to FOX. Other controversial‚ arguably more pressing aspects which also attracted a minority of Democrat criticism includes an amendment to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This controversially allows warrantless spying of foreign targets and Americans who have communications with those foreign subjects. The new extension in the NDAA authorizes it further until at least April 19.URGENT! Keep Alex Jones in the fight against the NWO! Please pray &; contribute at DefendJones.com today! Sen. Mike Lee raised the alarm on the FISA issue in particular‚ writing on X‚ “The Senate just voted to waive the point of order against the NDAA. 35 of us opposed the motion to waive. We needed only 41 to prevent this outcome‚ and to remove FISA 702 from the NDAA. This is not good. The House should #StopTheNDAA.” And here’s what Sen. Lee is urging Americans to do: It’s a new day in America. The Fourth Amendment still prohibits warrantless searches of Americans. FBI disregards that under FISA 702. The NDAA would further enable FBI’s lawless abuse of 702. One-third of the House can still stop the NDAA. Ask your representative to vote NO!!! Rand Paul was another objector. House Rep from the same state of Kentucky Thomas Massie had this to say: “It was close in the Senate‚ but now it’s up to the House tomorrow to stop the reauthorization of warrantless spying on Americans.” NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden also urged Americans to voice their opposition to the NDAA… If Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) abuses the NDAA to smuggle into law an extension of the warrantless surveillance regime (FISA702) that the FBI exploited to spy ON AMERICANS more than TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND times in JUST ONE YEAR‚ he should be dumped just like McCarthy. No excuse. pic.twitter.com/PecHIpknuC— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 13‚ 2023 Even CNN has highlighted that Section 702 easily sets up the government to exploit the law and conduct mass wireless spying‚ a severe violation of the Fourth Amendment. “The searches are governed by a set of internal rules and procedures designed to protect Americans’ privacy and civil liberties‚ but critics say that loopholes allow the FBI to search the data it collects for Americans’ information– as opposed to from foreign adversaries – without proper justification‚” CNN writes. Also interesting is another fight centered on historic abuse of government power‚ as The Hill details:  The rocky relationship between Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)‚ a rising conservative populist star‚ is in the spotlight after McConnell played a leading role in killing a Hawley-sponsored amendment to the annual defense bill.   WATCH: Senate Adopts Hawley Amendment Providing Funding for Victims of STL Region Nuclear Contamination "For fifty years‚ the federal government has put into the water‚ into the soil‚ into the air of St. Louis and surrounding regions radioactive nuclear material." pic.twitter.com/MeUvKZ6A5o— Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) July 28‚ 2023 Further‚ “Hawley says McConnell was dead set on killing his provision‚ which would have provided compensation to St. Louis-area residents who were exposed to radiation from improperly stored nuclear waste left over from the Manhattan Project in the 1940s.” Owen Shroyer returns to his throne

The organization’s budgets for 2024 will be boosted by between 12% and 30% NATO members have agreed to significantly increase the organization’s civil and military budgets for 2024. The extra operational funding has been touted as a sign of solidarity within the US-led military bloc. The spending boost was approved by the governing North Atlantic Council at a meeting on Wednesday‚ according to a NATO statement. Its civil budget for next year has been increased by 18.2% from 2023‚ amounting to $477 million. Its military budget will rise by 12% compared to last year‚ amounting to $2.2 billion. The NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP)‚ the third major spending component‚ will see a 30% annual increase to $1.4 billion in 2024. “Common funding demonstrates allied solidarity and collective will. In turbulent times‚ we need this more than ever‚” bloc Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said of the budgets. NATO normally coordinates the contributions of member states in its missions‚ as opposed to fielding a military force of its own. It has guidelines on the level of defense spending and preferred military hardware‚ but otherwise participants are technically free to allocate their resources as they see fit‚ unless the cornerstone clause of mutual defense is invoked.Save 40% on DNA Force Plus NOW! Try it today and see why so many listeners have made it an essential part of their daily routine! In practice‚ critics say‚ NATO serves as a vehicle for the geopolitical and economic interests of its biggest defense spender‚ the US‚ which gives other members protection in exchange for supporting Washington’s agenda. The common funding covers the costs of NATO operations‚ including personnel salaries‚ joint air defenses and communications‚ as well as certain training exercises. The costs are split among member states based on the size of their economies‚ with the US footing roughly half of the bill. Russia‚ which considers NATO a hostile organization and a threat to its national security‚ has warned that the bloc aspires to an increasingly global role‚ especially as the US ramps up competition with China. Moscow has cited NATO’s expansion in Europe and the intention to eventually absorb Ukraine as a key cause of the ongoing hostilities with its neighbor. NATO members and leadership claim that the Ukraine crisis necessitates increased spending by its members. Owen Shroyer returns to his throne

The ongoing United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai is offering a wide variety of gourmet food options from vendors who serve beef‚ even as it prepares a report that is expected to call for the West to reduce consumption of beef.