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Astronomers Use AI to Find Elusive Stars 'Gobbling Up' Planets

Astronomers have recently found hundreds of “polluted” white dwarf stars in our home galaxy, the Milky Way. These are white dwarfs caught actively consuming planets in their orbit. They are a valuable resource for studying the interiors of these distant, demolished planets. They are also difficult to find. By using a novel form of artificial intelligence, called manifold learning, a team led by University of Texas at Austin graduate student Malia Kao has accelerated the process, leading to a 99% success rate in identification.

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks in Mid-August

The much beloved Perseid meteor show is already underway and expected to reach its peak August 12. That night, the first quarter moon will set around midnight, making the early morning hours optimal for meteor watching. Image credit: Arnas Goldberg.

Free Star Parties for Texas Educators in August

Texas educators and their families are invited to join McDonald Observatory for a free Star Party in August. Register with discount code TeachStars and bring your school ID for free admission.

Astronomers Image Cold Exoplanet 12 Light-Years Away

An international team of astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged an exoplanet roughly 12 light-years from Earth. The planet, Epsilon Indi Ab, is one of the coldest exoplanets observed to date.

Astronomers Better Identify Distance to the Cygnus Loop

The Cygnus Loop is the ethereal wreckage of a supernova explosion that occurred some 17,000-25,000 years ago. It is a cloud of dust and gas, called a nebula, steadily expanding outward from the original blast site. Though it is well researched, astronomers have struggled to precisely determine how far the Cygnus Loop is from Earth.