Day: December 9, 2023

There is apprehension about whether an asteroid will fully eclipse a giant star, leading to a unique blackout, or create a ‘ring of fire’ effect, where a thin, bright ring of the star would remain visible to many observers in some parts of the world.

The late hours of next Monday will mark the beginning of a striking astronomical event, extending into the early hours of Tuesday and captivating skywatchers and astronomers alike.

This event features the passage of Leona, an asteroid, across the luminous star Betelgeuse, creating a temporary eclipse and presenting a rare opportunity for astronomical observation.

Betelgeuse, a red supergiant, is the uppermost star in the constellation of Orion.

Source

Earlier, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida touted Japan’s biggest defense build-up since the Second World War as a “turning point in history.” Japanese militarization envisaging doubling the nation’s defense spending within the next five years has sparked concerns among many countries of the Asia-Pacific region, considering the nation’s past.

Japan, which has embarked on an unprecedented military build-up of late, is at “a historic crossroads,” and must develop nuclear weapons, former editor for The New York Times Barry Gewen has argued.

Citing the “current geopolitical situation in Asia,” and the “present disarray in Washington,” Japan really does not have any other choice, he wrote in The National Interest.

Source