August 2020

Extremely high-resolution ALMA images revealed a hot “blob” in the dusty core of Supernova 1987A (inset), which could be the location of the missing neutron star

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Two articles published in “The Astrophysical Journal” reports two studies on the supernova SN 1987A remnants. Two teams of researchers led by Phil Cigan of the British University of Cardiff and Dany Page of the National Autonomous University of Mexico respectively used observations conducted with the ALMA radio telescope and follow-up theoretical studies to bring evidence that a neutron star formed after the supernova. If these results are confirmed, it would be the youngest known neutron star.

The Crew Dragon Endeavor spacecraft after splashdown (Image NASA TV)

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A little while ago SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavor spacecraft ended its SpX-DM2 (SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2) or SpaceX Demo-2 mission on behalf of NASA by landing without problems. On board were American astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who finished SpaceX’s first crewed mission in the Atlantic Ocean off Pensacola, Florida. The Crew Dragon left the International Space Station almost a day earlier. Shortly after splashing down, the SpaceX ship called “Go Navigator” went to retrieve the Crew Dragon and its crew to transport them to the coast.