Fastest star in the west (or east, north and south)

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US 708 now holds the speed record for extragalactic stars: 2.7 million miles/hour! In this case it’s thought the velocity was provided by the supernova explosion of its white dwarf companion star as US 708 was transferring helium.

There is a total Lunar Eclipse Saturday – but not for us. Way out west totality begins a few hours before sunrise.

For us, the Moon is just east of Jupiter tonight, Venus is still brilliant after sunset, and Mars is now finally sinking lower in the west after a great apparition.

Image: ESA/Hubble, NASA, S. Geier

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