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A tiny, dim satellite galaxy of the Milky Way discovered
In a fascinating new discovery, astronomers have located the Milky Way’s smallest and faintest satellite galaxy ever detected. This minuscule galaxy, named Ursa Major III / UNIONS 1 (UMa3/U1), is a real cosmic hidden gem due to its extremely low luminosity and scarcity of stars. With only about 60 stars, UMa3/U1 is more akin to an open cluster in terms of star count rather than a typical galaxy.
The breakthrough was detailed in a recent paper titled “Ursa Major III/UNIONS 1: the darkest galaxy ever discovered?” published in The Astrophysical Journal. The lead author of the study, Simon Smith, who is an astronomy graduate student at the University of Victoria, BC, Canada, remarked on the galaxy’s close proximity to Earth despite its challenging detection.
UMa3/U1, located in the Ursa Major constellation approximately 30,000 light-years from the Sun, poses an intriguing mystery with its ancient stars over 10 billion years old and minuscule size of only 10 light-years across. Despite its small mass, the galaxy stands out due to the significant presence of dark matter, making it a unique celestial body in the cosmos.
The discovery of UMa3/U1 was made possible through the Ultraviolet Near Infrared Optical Northern Survey (UNIONS) at the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) and the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) in Hawaii. Follow-up observations with Keck Observatory’s Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph (DEIMOS) provided conclusive evidence that UMa3/U1 is indeed a gravitationally bound system, solidifying its status as a dwarf galaxy.
One of the key questions surrounding UMa3/U1 is its long-term survival given its feeble stellar mass. The fact that this diminutive galaxy has endured the harsh tidal forces of the Milky Way’s disk points towards a potential dark matter influence in preserving its integrity. Further investigations are warranted to unravel the mysteries surrounding this enigmatic cosmic entity.
As researchers delve deeper into understanding UMa3/U1 and its dark matter composition, the implications for cosmological models such as the Lambda Cold Dark Matter theory could be profound. The intricate interplay between dark matter and celestial objects like UMa3/U1 opens a new frontier in our exploration of galaxy formation and evolution.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding UMa3/U1’s origins and future, scientists remain optimistic about the prospects of uncovering more hidden gems in the cosmic landscape. The discovery of this elusive dwarf galaxy challenges our preconceptions of galaxy classification and prompts a reevaluation of our understanding of the cosmos.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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