ASTRONOMERS using our own Parkes Radio Telescope (The Dish) have just witnessed what they thought was impossible, the most powerful burst of radio energy ever seen in the universe.
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In less time than it takes to blink your eye, it hurled out as much energy as the Sun does in an entire day! Staggering stuff right?
The best guess is that astronomers witnessed for the very first time the formation of a monster, the most dangerous object in the Universe, a black hole.
In reality, the death of a giant star! What's even more staggering is that this blast came from an object 5.5 billion light years away, almost halfway cross the known Universe!
What this means is the signal picked up just now left that object before the formation of our solar system. It's been travelling towards us at the speed of light all that time, and it's just arriving now. Phew! And you wonder why I drink so much black coffee?
OK, let's come back down to Earth. The year 2015 is truly mystical for astronomical happenings.
Coming up we have six supermoons, four eclipses and lots of planetary canoodling to make for some very sizzling skies.
Moreover, many of these events coincide with earthly and spiritual happenings such as the spring equinox and Easter, in the ongoing, complex dance between the human and the cosmic.
February is ruled by planets, with Jupiter the star of the evening sky. It's as close to Earth as it ever gets and at its brightest.
Look for it around 8.30pm in the east. A medium sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands.
Ordinary binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.
Jupiter is certainly big and bright and the clearest planet seen in any telescope, but his buddies are also in there.
Watch as Mercury, Venus and Mars snuggle up in our western skies right after sunset. In fact, the Hastings skies are best from now till mid June. Go check it out.
Here's something to think about. Our first TV transmissions are now reaching other star systems dozens of light years away.
Just imagine, if ET is out there he should be just picking up the first runs of 'I Love Lucy.' Hmm, and you wonder why we haven't made contact yet.
