Hubble finds Earendel the Mariner!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Well, not quite literally as per Prof Tolkein.

Due to an unusual gravitational lensing, Hubble has detected what the astronomers think is the earliest star ever found, possibly formed only 900 million years after the Big Bang. It may even be a Population III star, although that seems doubtful. The light from it has taken 12.9 billion years to reach us.

So what do a bunch of science geeks decide to name the earliest star ever found? Earendel. It’s the Old English word for the morning star, and was the inspiration for Tolkein’s name for Eärendil the Mariner.

And one of the astro-geeks shows off her elvish tatoos:

Next up: James Webb may be taking a look at it.

2

Very cool — thanks for sharing.

3

Heated debate over on Wikipedia over the name for the article. Should it be

  • " WHL0137-LS" ?

  • Or “Earendel” ?

Naming policies being bandied about, Wikipedians in congress assembled, many electrons being disturbed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:WHL0137-LS#Requested_move_1_April_2022

4

Hubble in its last gasp steals Webb’s fire!

5

The sons of Fëanor swear to return it!

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With both hands, Hubble gives.

7

Cool pic of the Lidless Eye. Why doesn’t it show up when I follow the link?

8

Wikipedia articles sometimes link in the preview to the photos used for portals on the topic. That picture is linked to the Astronomy project, so seems to get picked up with that article, even though not used in the article.

That particular object is the

The lead picture is infrared false colours, but if you go into that article, you’ll see the image lower on, with visible light filters, as taken by Hubble.

9

James Webb has taken a look at Earendel: