The Tablet January 15, 2021
This image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has an unusual edge-on galaxy, revealing remarkable details of its warped dusty disc and showing how colliding galaxies trigger the birth of new stars. (Photo: CNS/NASA)
MANHATTAN After an unexpected 2020, this year began with Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn’s conjunction a nighttime view akin to the North Star that led the Magi to the Baby Jesus. For some, the sight was a reminder of just how beautiful God’s creation is, even in the most difficult times.
This year has already been another for unexpected firsts: one of Jupiter’s 79 moons Ganymede emitted an FM radio signal strong enough to be picked up by a NASA spacecraft. No radio waves like it have ever been detected from this planet’s moon prior, and perhaps it could be a new step towards communication tools beyond our galaxy.