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From today's featured article
Diagram of Ursa Minor's seven brightest stars, forming the shape of a "Little Dipper"
Ursa Minor (Little Bear) is a constellation in the northern sky. It is colloquially known as the Little Dipper because its seven brightest stars appear to form the shape of a ladle (diagram pictured). It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. Polaris, its brightest star, is currently less than one degree away from the north celestial pole. Because this position stays nearly fixed as the Earth rotates, the star has traditionally been important for navigation, particularly by mariners. Polaris is a yellow-white supergiant and the brightest Cepheid variable star in the night sky, ranging in apparent magnitude from 1.97 to 2.00. Beta Ursae Minoris, also known as Kochab, is an aging star that has swollen and cooled to become an orange giant with an apparent magn
itude of 2.08, only slightly fainter than Polaris. The constellation also contains an isolated neutron star—Calvera—and H1504+65, the hottest white dwarf yet discovered, with a surface temperature of 200,000 kelvin. Planets have been detected orbiting four of the constellation's stars, including Kochab. (Full article...)
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Did you know...
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
... that Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (pictured), the second holiest mosque of Islam, was built by Muhammad partly on a burial ground?
... that Indian otorhinolaryngologist Mohan Kameswaran performed the first auditory brainstem implant surgery in South Asia, and later became the first in Asia to perform the procedure on a child?
... that Priscilla Laws conceived AtariLab after seeing a computer chart temperatures in real time and realizing it would make lab work easier?
... that Sir George Kenning called his Derby car showroom Morris House and it was opened by Sir William Morris?
... that in 1920, a deadly arson attack occurred at the offices of the Federación Obrera de Magallanes trade union in Punta Arenas, Chile?
... that five-time Pro Bowl linebacker John Offerdahl founded a chain of bagel restaurants, helped rescue an elderly couple from drowning, and may have foiled a murder attempt?
... that The Talk of the Town was the first Tennessee Walking Horse to win three World Grand Championships, and one of only two horses ever to do so?
... that the second time that Christina Carpenter was placed in a cell, it had no door?
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In the news
Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is recaptured six months after escaping from prison.
North Korea conducts its fourth nuclear test, claiming to have used a hydrogen bomb.
A terrorist attack at India's Pathankot Air Force Station kills at least seven members of the security forces.
Saudi Arabia executes Nimr al-Nimr for his role in the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests.
Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay take their seats on the United Nations Security Council.
IUPAC and IUPAP confirm the discoveries of chemical elements 113, 115, 117 and 118.
Ongoing events: Syrian Civil War European migrant crisis
Recent deaths: Pierre Boulez
On this day...
January 10
Lucas gusher at the Spindletop oil field
Lucas gusher at the Spindletop oil field
9 – The Western Han dynasty of China ended after the throne was usurped by Wang Mang, who founded the Xin Dynasty.
236 – Pope Fabian, who is said to have been chosen by the Holy Spirit by having a dove land on his head, began his papacy.
1645 – William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury and a fervent supporter of King Charles I, was beheaded in the midst of the English Civil War.
1901 – The first great gusher of the Texas Oil Boom was discovered in the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont, Texas, US.
1941 – Greco-Italian War: The Greek army captured the strategically important Klisura Pass in Albania.
1993 – The Braer Storm, the strongest extratropical cyclone ever recorded in the North Atlantic, reached its peak intensity.
More anniversaries: January 9 January 10 January 11
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Current date: January 10, 2016 (UTC) Reload this page
Today's featured picture
Scelophysa trimeni
A male Scelophysa trimeni feeding on Arctotis decurrens in Port Nolloth, South Africa. This species of scarab beetle is found exclusively in South Africa. Males are covered in minute sky-blue scales while the scales of the females are sienna brown. Both are important pollinators in the region, especially for Mesembryanthemum and some daisy species.
Photograph: Julia W
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