A green-hued comet that has been lurking in the night sky for months is expected to be the most visible to stargazers this week as it gradually passes Earth for the first time in about 50,000 years.

WION Fineprint: Rare Green comet visible from Earth after 50,000 years

The citizens in the northwestern city of Bursa in Turkiye were left staggered after a lenticular cloud, resembling a UFO, appeared in the sky on Thursday morning. Seeing the UFO-resembling cloud, the people recorded it and clicked its pictures on their mobile phones.&nbsp;

ALSO READ| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pentagon-receives-several-hundreds-of-new-ufo-reports-no-evidence-of-alien-life-so-far-543908">Pentagon receives 'several hundreds' of new UFO reports, no evidence of alien life so far</a>

The cloud remained in the sky for an hour and was seen from the Gursu, Osmangazi, Kestel, Nilufer and Yildirim districts of Bursa.&nbsp;

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Turkey's Bursa region witnessed an incredible cloud formation… <a href="https://t.co/wOWnRTETHp">pic.twitter.com/wOWnRTETHp</a>
— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) <a href="https://twitter.com/TansuYegen/status/1616321090782994434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The website of the General Directorate of Meteorology shared information which stated that lens clouds were formed in the sky due to rough wind fluctuations and it is indicative of turbulence shifting downward in the sky.

WATCH | South Korea's missile test causes UFO scare

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A lot of citizens who were amazed by this natural phenomenon recorded the spectacular sight of the formation of a lens cloud on their mobile phones. The video and photos of clouds looking like UFOs were widely shared later on social media across the country.&nbsp;

The stationary cloud, which is formed due to an orographic event, appears in any geographic area where foehn winds are present.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The citizens in the northwestern city of Bursa in Turkiye were left staggered after a lenticular cloud, resembling a UFO, appeared in the sky on Thursday morning.

The citizens in the northwestern city of Bursa in Turkiye were left staggered after a lenticular cloud, resembling a UFO, appeared in the sky on Thursday morning. Seeing the UFO-resembling cloud, the people recorded it and clicked its pictures on their mobile phones. ALSO READ| Pentagon receives 'several hundreds' of new UFO reports, no evidence of alien life so far The cloud remained in the sky for an hour and was seen from the Gursu, Osmangazi, Kestel, Nilufer and Yildirim districts of Bursa. Turkey's Bursa region witnessed an incredible cloud formation… pic.twitter.com/wOWnRTETHp — Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) January 20, 2023 × The website of the General Directorate of Meteorology shared information which stated that lens clouds were formed in the sky due to rough wind fluctuations and it is indicative of turbulence shifting downward in the sky. WATCH | South Korea's missile test causes UFO scare A lot of citizens who were amazed by this natural phenomenon recorded the spectacular sight of the formation of a lens cloud on their mobile phones. The video and photos of clouds looking like UFOs were widely shared later on social media across the country. The stationary cloud, which is formed due to an orographic event, appears in any geographic area where foehn winds are present. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

A UFO? Citizens astonished after lens cloud in shape of UFO appears in Turkiye's sky

Have you ever noticed the number of stars that you can see with your naked eyes in the sky has reduced significantly over the last decade? New research shows that it’s actually due to the increasing&nbsp;light pollution&nbsp;worldwide. Light pollution is a phenomenon where the sky glows at night due to artificial lighting. BBC reported that a group of amateur astronomers and citizen scientists spent the last 12 years studying the sky to reach this conclusion. The amount of light that humans emit in the sky has constantly increased by 10% every year, as per the researchers. Dr Christopher Kyba, a scientist from the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, was quoted by the BBC as saying, "Our view of the stars is disappearing".

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas Plus | Digital Pollution: All you need to know&nbsp;

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<h2>LED lighting revolution contributing to light pollution</h2>

The European Space Agency in a study last year revealed that the LED lighting revolution throughout the world exacerbated the light pollution problem. The cheaper and better the lightning, the more it is wasted. Decorative lights, advertisement boards, street lights and lights on high-rise buildings have made our sky brighter and the light problem worse.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/life-fun/global-light-pollution-blurs-starry-nights-348">Global light pollution blurs starry nights&nbsp;</a>

<h2>Light pollution: A big threat to humans</h2>

Light pollution doesn’t just spoil the mesmerising view of the moon and stars, it also gravely impacts the sleeping behaviour of humans. Excessive lighting is linked to disrupted sleeping patterns and bad health, not just in humans but animals also. One study even linked excessive lighting to the local insect decline.

<h2>Light pollution reveals massive wastage of energy</h2>

Experts say that sky glow and sky brightness show how a tremendous amount of energy is being wasted every day, without people and governments even acknowledging this massive loss. Dr Kyba says, “There's a lot of room for improvement - if you light more carefully, you should be able to reduce skyglow, whilst still lighting the ground.”

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Have you ever noticed the number of stars that you can see with your naked eyes in the sky has reduced significantly over the last decade? New research shows that it’s actually due to the increasing light pollution worldwide.

Have you ever noticed the number of stars that you can see with your naked eyes in the sky has reduced significantly over the last decade? New research shows that it’s actually due to the increasing light pollution worldwide. Light pollution is a phenomenon where the sky glows at night due to artificial lighting. BBC reported that a group of amateur astronomers and citizen scientists spent the last 12 years studying the sky to reach this conclusion. The amount of light that humans emit in the sky has constantly increased by 10% every year, as per the researchers. Dr Christopher Kyba, a scientist from the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, was quoted by the BBC as saying, "Our view of the stars is disappearing". Watch: Gravitas Plus | Digital Pollution: All you need to know × LED lighting revolution contributing to light pollution The European Space Agency in a study last year revealed that the LED lighting revolution throughout the world exacerbated the light pollution problem. The cheaper and better the lightning, the more it is wasted. Decorative lights, advertisement boards, street lights and lights on high-rise buildings have made our sky brighter and the light problem worse. Also Read | Global light pollution blurs starry nights Light pollution: A big threat to humans Light pollution doesn’t just spoil the mesmerising view of the moon and stars, it also gravely impacts the sleeping behaviour of humans. Excessive lighting is linked to disrupted sleeping patterns and bad health, not just in humans but animals also. One study even linked excessive lighting to the local insect decline. Light pollution reveals massive wastage of energy Experts say that sky glow and sky brightness show how a tremendous amount of energy is being wasted every day, without people and governments even acknowledging this massive loss. Dr Kyba says, “There's a lot of room for improvement - if you light more carefully, you should be able to reduce skyglow, whilst still lighting the ground.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Why are stars disappearing from the sky?

For majority of us, Sun is somewhat of a standard. The largest body in the Solar System is a star that's many times massive than all the planets put together. But there are stars in the Universe many times more massive than our Sun.

Betelguese is one of them, the giant star is 14 times larger than the Sun. It is just 700 lightyears away from Earth. Now scientists have found that the red, giant star changed colour.

Betelguese is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. The researchers scoured ancient records and found a mention of the star in 2000-year-old Chinese text.

in 100 BCE, an astrologer in the court of Han dynasty mentioned Betelguese in his records. But he refers the star as being yellow in colour.

Betelguese is towards the end of his life. During its hayday, it was fusing hydrogen into helium. But now, with hydrogen depleting, it has become red and fusing helium into carbon and oxygen.

The study of change in colour is not for general amusement but it gives scientists a better estimate of its remaining life.

At the end of its life, Betelguese will explode in a supernova. Based on the&nbsp;study, researchers think that the supernova is 1.5 million years away.

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For majority of us, Sun is somewhat of a standard. The largest body in the Solar System is a star that's many times massive than all the planets put together. But there are stars in the Universe many times more massive than our Sun.

For majority of us, Sun is somewhat of a standard. The largest body in the Solar System is a star that's many times massive than all the planets put together. But there are stars in the Universe many times more massive than our Sun. Betelguese is one of them, the giant star is 14 times larger than the Sun. It is just 700 lightyears away from Earth. Now scientists have found that the red, giant star changed colour. Betelguese is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. The researchers scoured ancient records and found a mention of the star in 2000-year-old Chinese text. in 100 BCE, an astrologer in the court of Han dynasty mentioned Betelguese in his records. But he refers the star as being yellow in colour. Betelguese is towards the end of his life. During its hayday, it was fusing hydrogen into helium. But now, with hydrogen depleting, it has become red and fusing helium into carbon and oxygen. The study of change in colour is not for general amusement but it gives scientists a better estimate of its remaining life. At the end of its life, Betelguese will explode in a supernova. Based on the study, researchers think that the supernova is 1.5 million years away. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

One of the brightest stars in the sky changed its colour, says study

India faced Hong Kong in their second game in Asia Cup 2022 edition on Wednesday (August 31) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Beating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling contest, at the same venue, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. were favourites to get past minnows Hong Kong and did the same.

Being asked to bat first, India rode on Virat Kohli's calculative 44-ball 59 not out and Suryakumar Yadav's scintillating 26-ball unbeaten 68. At the start of the Indian innings, Rohit tried his best to up the ante before falling for a 13-ball 21. His partner KL Rahul failed to create an impact and scored an unimpressive 36 off 39 deliveries despite stitching a handy 56-run second-wicket stand with Virat. After his departure, SKY came and took on the Hong Kong bowlers with ease, maneuvering the field and resorting to his innovative shots. He ended with half a dozen sixes and as many fours. Out of his 6 sixes, four came in the final over.

In the 20th over, SKY went bonkers taking on&nbsp;Haroon Arshad all across the ground, accumulating a whopping&nbsp;26 runs (6, 6, 6, 0, 6, 2). With this, the 31-year-old topped the charts with the most sixes by an Indian in a T20 Asia Cup encounter. Before him, no Indian batter had hit in excess of 3 sixes in a single T20 Asia Cup match, hence, SKY has moved past all in style.

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In addition, Surya recorded the most runs by an Indian batter (26) in the final over of a T20I. Courtesy of his blitz, India posted a mammoth 192-2 and defended the target with ease -- despite the two young pacers Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan having an off day -- to restrict a spirited Hong Kong line-up for 152-5 in 20 overs. With the 40-run win, India join Afghanistan (who is in Group B) to qualify for the Super Four round.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/just-human-nature-ricky-ponting-recalls-his-mental-health-issues-as-he-rallies-behind-virat-kohli-511885">'Just human nature'- Ricky Ponting recalls his mental health issues as he rallies behind Virat Kohli</a>

At the post-match presentation, Player-of-the-Match SKY said, "Some of them (shots) are predetermined, this format is all about what you think and how you prepare before you go out to bat. At the same time, you got to be staying in the present as well. I felt the wicket was a bit slow. My plan was clear. My role was to go in and take the tempo up and just express myself, I just loved it. (Adapting to different positions) you got to be flexible, you should be equipped to bat at any number and I have opened as well. I have batted at all number. I really enjoyed it."

India faced Hong Kong in their second game in Asia Cup 2022 edition on Wednesday (August 31) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Beating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling contest, at the same venue, Rohit Sharma & Co.

India faced Hong Kong in their second game in Asia Cup 2022 edition on Wednesday (August 31) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Beating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling contest, at the same venue, Rohit Sharma & Co. were favourites to get past minnows Hong Kong and did the same. Being asked to bat first, India rode on Virat Kohli's calculative 44-ball 59 not out and Suryakumar Yadav's scintillating 26-ball unbeaten 68. At the start of the Indian innings, Rohit tried his best to up the ante before falling for a 13-ball 21. His partner KL Rahul failed to create an impact and scored an unimpressive 36 off 39 deliveries despite stitching a handy 56-run second-wicket stand with Virat. After his departure, SKY came and took on the Hong Kong bowlers with ease, maneuvering the field and resorting to his innovative shots. He ended with half a dozen sixes and as many fours. Out of his 6 sixes, four came in the final over. In the 20th over, SKY went bonkers taking on Haroon Arshad all across the ground, accumulating a whopping 26 runs (6, 6, 6, 0, 6, 2). With this, the 31-year-old topped the charts with the most sixes by an Indian in a T20 Asia Cup encounter. Before him, no Indian batter had hit in excess of 3 sixes in a single T20 Asia Cup match, hence, SKY has moved past all in style. A special innings by a special player - Suryakumar Yadav! pic.twitter.com/Hn7sYdZloY — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 31, 2022 × In addition, Surya recorded the most runs by an Indian batter (26) in the final over of a T20I. Courtesy of his blitz, India posted a mammoth 192-2 and defended the target with ease -- despite the two young pacers Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan having an off day -- to restrict a spirited Hong Kong line-up for 152-5 in 20 overs. With the 40-run win, India join Afghanistan (who is in Group B) to qualify for the Super Four round. ALSO READ | 'Just human nature'- Ricky Ponting recalls his mental health issues as he rallies behind Virat Kohli At the post-match presentation, Player-of-the-Match SKY said, "Some of them (shots) are predetermined, this format is all about what you think and how you prepare before you go out to bat. At the same time, you got to be staying in the present as well. I felt the wicket was a bit slow. My plan was clear. My role was to go in and take the tempo up and just express myself, I just loved it. (Adapting to different positions) you got to be flexible, you should be equipped to bat at any number and I have opened as well. I have batted at all number. I really enjoyed it."

Watch: 6, 6, 6, 0, 6, 2! Suryakumar Yadav goes bonkers vs Hong Kong, breaks Asia Cup T20 record in 20th over

The last supermoon of the year has illuminated the sky. Sturgeon moon is the final supermoon of 2022. Watch this report to know more.

The last supermoon of the year illuminates the sky

Earth's southernmost continent of Antarctica is having a dazzling mid-winter. The usually dark skies have been brushed with scintillating bright hues of purple, pink and orange. Together, creating a mirage, which looks straight out of a utopian dream.&nbsp;

Thanks to the Tongan volcano that erupted nearly seven months back in January, the entire skyline of Antarctica has been graced with a dreamy vision. Despite being over 7,000 kilometres away from Tonga, the great white continent has been affected, albeit aesthetically.

The stunning images were captured by&nbsp;Stuart Shaw,&nbsp;a New Zealand science technician&nbsp;who is currently stationed at Scott Base for the winter.

Reportedly, there is a significant deposit of aerosols in the stratosphere above the continent, which has contributed to the lilac sky. The volcanic eruptions usually release these aerosols which can hang and circulate around for months, often bending the light from Sun and creating these mesmerizing views.&nbsp;
<img alt="Aerosol detection above Antarctica. Pic Credit: NIWA" data-caption="Aerosol detection above Antarctica. Pic credit: NIWA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d205985b-41a0-40b1-a394-3c42868175fe" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/strato-layer-grahic.png" />
New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospherics (NIWA) which had received the images from Stuart, remarked&nbsp;that&nbsp;a similar phenomenon was recently witnessed in Australia and New Zealand last month.

&nbsp;

Earth's southernmost continent of Antarctica is having a dazzling mid-winter. The usually dark skies have been brushed with scintillating bright hues of purple, pink and orange.

Earth's southernmost continent of Antarctica is having a dazzling mid-winter. The usually dark skies have been brushed with scintillating bright hues of purple, pink and orange. Together, creating a mirage, which looks straight out of a utopian dream. Thanks to the Tongan volcano that erupted nearly seven months back in January, the entire skyline of Antarctica has been graced with a dreamy vision. Despite being over 7,000 kilometres away from Tonga, the great white continent has been affected, albeit aesthetically. The stunning images were captured by Stuart Shaw, a New Zealand science technician who is currently stationed at Scott Base for the winter. Reportedly, there is a significant deposit of aerosols in the stratosphere above the continent, which has contributed to the lilac sky. The volcanic eruptions usually release these aerosols which can hang and circulate around for months, often bending the light from Sun and creating these mesmerizing views. New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospherics (NIWA) which had received the images from Stuart, remarked that a similar phenomenon was recently witnessed in Australia and New Zealand last month.

Antarctica dazzles in bright lilac, orange skies at night; seven months after Tonga volcano eruption

Skies have been darkened in US' central Phoenix. The monsoon bought with it rain, dust storm and lightning. Power outages were reported from various regions.

Skies darkened in central Phoenix as the monsoon brings rain, dust storm and lightning

Dazzling tau Herculids meteor shower lights up sky. Check out these amazing photos

In a viral video, hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen appearing to fall from the sky. &nbsp;

Some of the birds couldn’t survive the fall and died. The mysterious incident has happened in the northern Mexican city of Cuauhtémoc. &nbsp;

The cause of the incident is still unclear. But experts say that a predatory bird making efforts to make the kill may be the reason. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-species-of-crocodile-from-cretaceous-period-found-in-australia-say-scientists-453388" hreflang="en">New species of crocodile from Cretaceous period found in Australia, say scientists</a>

The video is actually the footage from a security camera. &nbsp;

In it, a flock of migratory birds descended on to the houses like a cloud of black smoke. Some birds managed to fly off but others couldn’t make it and perished. In subsequent footage, carcasses of the distinctive black and yellow birds can be witnessed scattered on streets of the city. &nbsp;

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Moment hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky in Mexico leaving dead bodies strewn across the sidewalk... <a href="https://t.co/j1LqnnwGdW">pic.twitter.com/j1LqnnwGdW</a>
— ʍąɾէìղᎠօմցӀąʂ (@martinfactual) <a href="https://twitter.com/martinfactual/status/1493230663109156867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to local reports, the incident occurred on the morning of February 7. These birds usually breed farther north in the US and Canada. They migrate to south in Mexico for the winter. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-bring-silence-to-streets-paris-unveils-first-noise-radar-453353" hreflang="en">To bring ‘silence’ to streets, Paris unveils first noise radar</a>

Dr Richard Broughton, ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology, said that although a raptor cannot be seen in the footage, it must have been caused by a predatory bird only. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“This looks like a raptor like a peregrine or hawk has been chasing a flock, like they do with murmurating starlings, and they have crashed as the flock was forced low. You can see that they act like a wave at the beginning, as if they are being flushed from above,” Broughton said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a viral video, hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen appearing to fall from the sky. Some of the birds couldn’t survive the fall and died. The mysterious incident has happened in the northern Mexican city of Cuauhtémoc.

In a viral video, hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen appearing to fall from the sky. Some of the birds couldn’t survive the fall and died. The mysterious incident has happened in the northern Mexican city of Cuauhtémoc. The cause of the incident is still unclear. But experts say that a predatory bird making efforts to make the kill may be the reason. Also Read: New species of crocodile from Cretaceous period found in Australia, say scientists The video is actually the footage from a security camera. In it, a flock of migratory birds descended on to the houses like a cloud of black smoke. Some birds managed to fly off but others couldn’t make it and perished. In subsequent footage, carcasses of the distinctive black and yellow birds can be witnessed scattered on streets of the city. Stange stuff... Moment hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky in Mexico leaving dead bodies strewn across the sidewalk... pic.twitter.com/j1LqnnwGdW — ʍąɾէìղᎠօմցӀąʂ (@martinfactual) February 14, 2022 × According to local reports, the incident occurred on the morning of February 7. These birds usually breed farther north in the US and Canada. They migrate to south in Mexico for the winter. Also Read: To bring ‘silence’ to streets, Paris unveils first noise radar Dr Richard Broughton, ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said that although a raptor cannot be seen in the footage, it must have been caused by a predatory bird only. “This looks like a raptor like a peregrine or hawk has been chasing a flock, like they do with murmurating starlings, and they have crashed as the flock was forced low. You can see that they act like a wave at the beginning, as if they are being flushed from above,” Broughton said. (With inputs from agencies)

Hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds fall from sky in Mexico. Want to know why?

Stunning images of hot air balloons taking over the sky in Antequera, Spain, during King's cup

Fed up with traffic jams&nbsp;Imagine a world where your taxi takes to the skies and lands on top of your office building, recharges and sets off afresh.

That's the vision of Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Britain's Vertical Aerospace, which is set to raise $394 million in a merger with a blank-cheque New York-listed company, and who says his aircraft will be flying by the mid-2020s.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tesla-holds-giga-fest-at-disputed-german-factory-419364">Tesla holds 'Giga Fest' at disputed German factory</a>

And he's not alone. Some of the world's most high-profile engineers and airlines believe Vertical is onto something with its plan for zero-emission mini-aircraft to almost silently take four passengers through the skies for up to 120 miles (193 kms).

American Airlines, aircraft lessor Avolon, engineers Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, as well as Microsoft’s M12 unit are investing in the merger, which is expected to complete by the end of the year.

Fitzpatrick, who also set up OVO Energy, Britain's no.3 energy retailer, said Vertical flights between London's Heathrow airport and its Canary Wharf financial district will take 15 minutes and cost 50 pounds ($68) per passenger.

That potential is attracting airlines&nbsp;attention. More than 1,000 VA-X4 aircraft have been pre-ordered by customers. Interest in the zero-emission aircraft comes at a time when aviation companies are under mounting pressure from investors to help decarbonize the sector and boost their environmental, social and governance scores.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/jury-orders-tesla-to-pay-137-million-over-racist-treatment-418415">Jury orders Tesla to pay $137 million over racist treatment</a>

"We are going to sign deals. We`re finding the appetite and the demand from airlines to be really strong," Fitzpatrick told Reuters.

The biggest challenge for Vertical is certifying its aircraft, which Fitzpatrick said it is on track to do by the end of 2024, funded by new money from the merger.

Test flights

Fitzpatrick first had the idea back in 2015 when he sat for hours in 10 lanes of gridlocked traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Back then, there weren't many competitors, he said, but today analysts estimate there are more than 100 companies working on rival electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVOTL) aircraft.

The VA-X4 is still in construction and will start test flights early next year. Fitzpatrick believes Verticals partnerships will help it emerge as a winner.

Using battery technology from the car industry, and tried and tested electrical propulsion units and motors, and backed by Honeywell's electronics, Fitzpatrick has "no doubt" that the VA-X4 will fly.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/lucid-to-start-deliveries-of-electric-cars-with-range-exceeding-teslas-in-october-416769">Lucid to start deliveries of electric cars with range exceeding Tesla's in October</a>

Certification will depend on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

"The process of certifying the aircraft is known. The technologies are new, but the steps we need to go through are relatively similar to other aircraft," said Fitzpatrick, who has recruited senior engineers from both Airbus and Rolls-Royce.

Developing a new mode of transport comes with other challenges such as the infrastructure, but Fitzpatrick is confident.

"We're already in discussions with, for example, Heathrow Airport," he said, pointing out of his office window to potential skyport locations on rooftops.

As for convincing passengers, that's where airlines come in.

"I think the brand association with trusted airlines is really going to help passengers embrace the new technology," he said.&nbsp;

Fed up with traffic jams Imagine a world where your taxi takes to the skies and lands on top of your office building, recharges and sets off afresh. That's the vision of Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Britain's Vertical Aerospace, which is set to raise $394 million in a merger with a blank-cheque New York-listed company, and who says his aircraft will be flying by the mid-2020s.

Fed up with traffic jams Imagine a world where your taxi takes to the skies and lands on top of your office building, recharges and sets off afresh. That's the vision of Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Britain's Vertical Aerospace, which is set to raise $394 million in a merger with a blank-cheque New York-listed company, and who says his aircraft will be flying by the mid-2020s. Also read | Tesla holds 'Giga Fest' at disputed German factory And he's not alone. Some of the world's most high-profile engineers and airlines believe Vertical is onto something with its plan for zero-emission mini-aircraft to almost silently take four passengers through the skies for up to 120 miles (193 kms). American Airlines, aircraft lessor Avolon, engineers Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, as well as Microsoft’s M12 unit are investing in the merger, which is expected to complete by the end of the year. Fitzpatrick, who also set up OVO Energy, Britain's no.3 energy retailer, said Vertical flights between London's Heathrow airport and its Canary Wharf financial district will take 15 minutes and cost 50 pounds ($68) per passenger. That potential is attracting airlines attention. More than 1,000 VA-X4 aircraft have been pre-ordered by customers. Interest in the zero-emission aircraft comes at a time when aviation companies are under mounting pressure from investors to help decarbonize the sector and boost their environmental, social and governance scores. Also read | Jury orders Tesla to pay $137 million over racist treatment "We are going to sign deals. We`re finding the appetite and the demand from airlines to be really strong," Fitzpatrick told Reuters. The biggest challenge for Vertical is certifying its aircraft, which Fitzpatrick said it is on track to do by the end of 2024, funded by new money from the merger. Test flights Fitzpatrick first had the idea back in 2015 when he sat for hours in 10 lanes of gridlocked traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Back then, there weren't many competitors, he said, but today analysts estimate there are more than 100 companies working on rival electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVOTL) aircraft. The VA-X4 is still in construction and will start test flights early next year. Fitzpatrick believes Verticals partnerships will help it emerge as a winner. Using battery technology from the car industry, and tried and tested electrical propulsion units and motors, and backed by Honeywell's electronics, Fitzpatrick has "no doubt" that the VA-X4 will fly. Also read | Lucid to start deliveries of electric cars with range exceeding Tesla's in October Certification will depend on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). "The process of certifying the aircraft is known. The technologies are new, but the steps we need to go through are relatively similar to other aircraft," said Fitzpatrick, who has recruited senior engineers from both Airbus and Rolls-Royce. Developing a new mode of transport comes with other challenges such as the infrastructure, but Fitzpatrick is confident. "We're already in discussions with, for example, Heathrow Airport," he said, pointing out of his office window to potential skyport locations on rooftops. As for convincing passengers, that's where airlines come in. "I think the brand association with trusted airlines is really going to help passengers embrace the new technology," he said.

Flying taxis to take to the sky in mid-2020s, says UK's Vertical Aerospace

A&nbsp;large&nbsp;meteor illuminated the night sky in&nbsp;Norway early on&nbsp;Sunday morning.&nbsp;At least some of it seems to have also come rumbling down near Oslo, the capital of the country.&nbsp;

Steinar Midtskogen, a spokesperson for Norwegian Meteor Network, told CNN, “The meteor lit up the sky for a brief time as if broad daylight just after 1 am.”&nbsp;

In an email, Midtskogen said,&nbsp;"A minute later or more a loud rumbling sound could be heard over a large area, perhaps up to 100 km away from where the meteor was seen straight overhead."&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Remnants of bolid over Oslo (July 25, 2021, 01:09 CEST). Sound came more than 3 minutes later) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/meteor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#meteor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bolid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bolid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Norway?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Norway</a> <a href="https://t.co/qwzzTSdAqa">pic.twitter.com/qwzzTSdAqa</a>
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Some people, who were&nbsp;close to the meteor's path, also&nbsp;felt&nbsp;a shock wave, Midtskogen&nbsp;added.&nbsp;

"Doors and hatches were blown open and there were gusts of wind. No damage has been reported, though," Midtskogen said.&nbsp;

The meteor&nbsp;seems to have fallen&nbsp;at a&nbsp;distance&nbsp;of&nbsp;around&nbsp;24 km&nbsp;from&nbsp;Oslo,&nbsp;the&nbsp;expert said.&nbsp;

The spokesperson said as the&nbsp;meteors over Norway are not uncommon,&nbsp;the network has a number of cameras continuously monitoring the sky.&nbsp;

The meteor seems to have&nbsp;fallen in Lier as per&nbsp;preliminary analysis of videos from the cameras, he said.&nbsp;

A large meteor illuminated the night sky in Norway early on Sunday morning. At least some of it seems to have also come rumbling down near Oslo, the capital of the country.

A large meteor illuminated the night sky in Norway early on Sunday morning. At least some of it seems to have also come rumbling down near Oslo, the capital of the country. Steinar Midtskogen, a spokesperson for Norwegian Meteor Network, told CNN, “The meteor lit up the sky for a brief time as if broad daylight just after 1 am.” In an email, Midtskogen said, "A minute later or more a loud rumbling sound could be heard over a large area, perhaps up to 100 km away from where the meteor was seen straight overhead." Remnants of bolid over Oslo (July 25, 2021, 01:09 CEST). Sound came more than 3 minutes later) #meteor #bolid #Norway pic.twitter.com/qwzzTSdAqa — Tomas Mikoviny (@slowbrain) July 24, 2021 × Some people, who were close to the meteor's path, also felt a shock wave, Midtskogen added. "Doors and hatches were blown open and there were gusts of wind. No damage has been reported, though," Midtskogen said. The meteor seems to have fallen at a distance of around 24 km from Oslo, the expert said. The spokesperson said as the meteors over Norway are not uncommon, the network has a number of cameras continuously monitoring the sky. The meteor seems to have fallen in Lier as per preliminary analysis of videos from the cameras, he said.

Night sky gets illuminated by large meteor in Norway 

If you love to spend time in gazing upon the&nbsp;sky,&nbsp;you seem to be in for luck as you can get&nbsp;the&nbsp;dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon&nbsp;getting together.&nbsp;

According to a CNN report, which quoted&nbsp;EarthSky,&nbsp;Venus and Mars have been moving towards one another all weekend. They will&nbsp;come to&nbsp;their closest meeting&nbsp;during the early hours of Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

From&nbsp;the&nbsp;Earth, the planets will appear&nbsp;to be&nbsp;only half a degree apart, as&nbsp;per the&nbsp;NASA.&nbsp;This meeting of planets in the sky is&nbsp;called&nbsp;planetary conjunction.&nbsp;Although it is just an&nbsp;illusion as the two planets are extremely far away from each other in reality.&nbsp;

In a video on NASA's website,&nbsp;NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s&nbsp;research space scientist&nbsp;Giada&nbsp;Arney said, "Even during this conjunction, they will still be many millions of miles apart.&nbsp;But from our point of view here on Earth, they will appear to be close together."&nbsp;

As the&nbsp;timing of this meeting&nbsp;coincides with the young moon's return to the night sky,&nbsp;the&nbsp;conjunction of these planets&nbsp;will appear&nbsp;alongwith&nbsp;a slim crescent moon, which&nbsp;is only 10 per cent illuminated.&nbsp;

According to the NASA,&nbsp;skywatchers&nbsp;will be able to see the three celestial bodies both&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday and Tuesday evenings.&nbsp;

If you love to spend time in gazing upon the sky, you seem to be in for luck as you can get the dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon getting together. According to a CNN report, which quoted EarthSky, Venus and Mars have been moving towards one another all weekend.

If you love to spend time in gazing upon the sky, you seem to be in for luck as you can get the dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon getting together. According to a CNN report, which quoted EarthSky, Venus and Mars have been moving towards one another all weekend. They will come to their closest meeting during the early hours of Tuesday. From the Earth, the planets will appear to be only half a degree apart, as per the NASA. This meeting of planets in the sky is called planetary conjunction. Although it is just an illusion as the two planets are extremely far away from each other in reality. In a video on NASA's website, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s research space scientist Giada Arney said, "Even during this conjunction, they will still be many millions of miles apart. But from our point of view here on Earth, they will appear to be close together." As the timing of this meeting coincides with the young moon's return to the night sky, the conjunction of these planets will appear alongwith a slim crescent moon, which is only 10 per cent illuminated. According to the NASA, skywatchers will be able to see the three celestial bodies both on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Keep gazing as Mars, Venus, moon come close in the sky 

Explosions light up night sky in Gaza city

India sealed the T20I series against England after a dominating performance in the fifth match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-complete-game-virat-kohli-lauds-indias-batting-effort-against-england-in-5th-t20i-372010" hreflang="en">'A complete game': Virat Kohli lauds India's batting effort against England in 5th T20I</a>

India's batting performance impressed several cricketing legends, including West Indies' Ian Bishop. Former pace legend was mighty impressed with Suryakumar Yadav's innings in the fifth match.&nbsp;

He took to Twitter and wrote: "Sky is some player."

Former West Indian was also pleased to see Virat Kohli open the innings for Team India and wanted him to open more often.&nbsp;

“I would love to see Kohli open more often especially when India bat first in T20I,” Bishop said.

Virat led his team from the front after smashing unbeaten 80 runs off 52 balls. Rohit Sharma gave India a great start as he smashed 64 runs in 34 balls. Suryakumar Yadav's cameo of 32 runs in 17 balls powered India to a mammoth score of 225 runs on the board.&nbsp;

Skipper Kohli was impressed with his team's batting performance.&nbsp;

"It was a complete game for us. Totally outplayed the opposition. Even with so much dew coming in, like last game we've defended the total again. Today was a complete game. Despite Rishabh and Iyer not getting a chance we put on 225. Testimony to our batting depth," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

India sealed the T20I series against England after a dominating performance in the fifth match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. ALSO READ: 'A complete game': Virat Kohli lauds India's batting effort against England in 5th T20I India's batting performance impressed several cricketing legends, including West Indies' Ian Bishop.

India sealed the T20I series against England after a dominating performance in the fifth match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. ALSO READ: 'A complete game': Virat Kohli lauds India's batting effort against England in 5th T20I India's batting performance impressed several cricketing legends, including West Indies' Ian Bishop. Former pace legend was mighty impressed with Suryakumar Yadav's innings in the fifth match. He took to Twitter and wrote: "Sky is some player." Former West Indian was also pleased to see Virat Kohli open the innings for Team India and wanted him to open more often. “I would love to see Kohli open more often especially when India bat first in T20I,” Bishop said. Virat led his team from the front after smashing unbeaten 80 runs off 52 balls. Rohit Sharma gave India a great start as he smashed 64 runs in 34 balls. Suryakumar Yadav's cameo of 32 runs in 17 balls powered India to a mammoth score of 225 runs on the board. Skipper Kohli was impressed with his team's batting performance. "It was a complete game for us. Totally outplayed the opposition. Even with so much dew coming in, like last game we've defended the total again. Today was a complete game. Despite Rishabh and Iyer not getting a chance we put on 225. Testimony to our batting depth," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

'Sky is some player': Ian Bishop lauds Suryakumar Yadav's innings in fifth T20I

Indian young gun Suryakumar Yadav's stunning innings of 57 runs off 31 balls came to a controversial end after Dawid Malan took the catch in the deep. The replay, however, indicated that the ball might have hit the ground.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/netizens-hammer-third-umpire-after-suryakumar-yadavs-controversial-dismissal-watch-371475" hreflang="en">Netizens hammer third-umpire after Suryakumar Yadav's controversial dismissal - Watch</a>

As the soft signal was given out, the third umpire did not overturn the decision due to a lack of conclusive evidence. The decision became a topic of decision for many.

Former India wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta opined on the incident as he said that there was conclusive video proof that the ball had touched the ground.

"Fundamentally, what you are doing is telling the world that the on-field umpire is still the boss. He is the authority figure on the field. I am completely fine with that. But the other important thing, it's very difficult for an onfield umpire to figure out whether that was out or not out as you mentioned 40, 50, 60 yards from where they are," Deep Dasgupta said while speaking to Sports Today on Friday.

"It's very difficult. Someone who has taken the catch, Dawid Malan himself wasn't aware whether he had taken it legally or not. I think Virat mentioned and a few of us mentioned on-air as well, I think for a situation like this the umpire should have the option of saying you know what I am sorry but it's not possible for me to figure out whether it was out or not and then pass it on to the third umpire, it shouldn't be mandatory of umpires in these cases to kind of come up with the soft decision or soft signal," Dasgupta added.

"Even though the umpire said that the soft signal was out, I personally think that the video proof that we saw was conclusive enough to say that the ball had touched the ground. So even though the soft signal was out, I think the ball had touched the ground. I think that those pictures there were conclusive enough to kind of say it was not out," Dasgupta further said.

India will now lock horns with England for the series finale on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium.&nbsp;

Indian young gun Suryakumar Yadav's stunning innings of 57 runs off 31 balls came to a controversial end after Dawid Malan took the catch in the deep. The replay, however, indicated that the ball might have hit the ground.

Indian young gun Suryakumar Yadav's stunning innings of 57 runs off 31 balls came to a controversial end after Dawid Malan took the catch in the deep. The replay, however, indicated that the ball might have hit the ground. ALSO READ: Netizens hammer third-umpire after Suryakumar Yadav's controversial dismissal - Watch As the soft signal was given out, the third umpire did not overturn the decision due to a lack of conclusive evidence. The decision became a topic of decision for many. Former India wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta opined on the incident as he said that there was conclusive video proof that the ball had touched the ground. "Fundamentally, what you are doing is telling the world that the on-field umpire is still the boss. He is the authority figure on the field. I am completely fine with that. But the other important thing, it's very difficult for an onfield umpire to figure out whether that was out or not out as you mentioned 40, 50, 60 yards from where they are," Deep Dasgupta said while speaking to Sports Today on Friday. "It's very difficult. Someone who has taken the catch, Dawid Malan himself wasn't aware whether he had taken it legally or not. I think Virat mentioned and a few of us mentioned on-air as well, I think for a situation like this the umpire should have the option of saying you know what I am sorry but it's not possible for me to figure out whether it was out or not and then pass it on to the third umpire, it shouldn't be mandatory of umpires in these cases to kind of come up with the soft decision or soft signal," Dasgupta added. "Even though the umpire said that the soft signal was out, I personally think that the video proof that we saw was conclusive enough to say that the ball had touched the ground. So even though the soft signal was out, I think the ball had touched the ground. I think that those pictures there were conclusive enough to kind of say it was not out," Dasgupta further said. India will now lock horns with England for the series finale on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

'Dawid Malan himself wasn't aware': Deep Dasgupta on Suryakumar Yadav's controversial dismissal

Mumbai Indian beats Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets, with 5 balls to spare, in Match 48 of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>, at Abu Dhabi. Devdutt Padikkal’s 45-ball 74 first helped Bangalore reach 164/6. They could have scored more, had Jasprit Bumrah (4-1-14-3) not pegged them back with a double-wicket maiden in the 17th over before conceding just 5 in the 19th. Suryakumar Yadav (79* in 43) then saw Mumbai home.

Michael Vaughan was all in praise of Yadav in My11 Circle Cricbuzz Live: “Suryakumar Yadav was as good as it gets … He hit a boundary whenever he wished. He played cricket shots. There was not really a huge amount of funky [shots], they were just real high-class cricket strokes. Of all the players in the IPL this year, I don’t think I have seen a player play spin with so much ease … Anytime you feel he can hit the boundary.”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-suryakumar-yadav-responds-to-india-snub-with-another-match-winning-knock-338718">Suryakumar Yadav responds to India snub with another match-winning knock</a>

Despite his stellar show this season, Yadav has been left out of India’s T20I squad for the Australia tour later this year. Commenting on that, Simon Doull said: “All you can do is continually put your name in the selectors’ minds. There might be some on the bus, on the plane, ahead of you, but if you continually bang that door, at some stage they kind of have to open it up, they have to let you in … He cannot be far away from an India cap.”

Vaughan praised Padikkal: “He is high-class. I am pretty sure within the next few years we will see plenty of him. Not just in the IPL, but he will get international colours … He can go with the pressure, he has got nice awareness of the game situation, he plays spin nicely as well (which you should expect) and also plays the quicks with calmness and control. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, India has found another batsman.” Doull mentioned that Padikkal is also a brilliant slip fielder.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-jasprit-bumrah-achieves-major-landmark-in-t20-cricket-with-virat-kohlis-wicket-338612" hreflang="en">Bumrah achieves major landmark in T20 cricket with Virat Kohli's wicket</a>

Vaughan rated Bumrah as one of the three greatest bowlers in history, along with Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan.

After 12 matches, Mumbai are on top with 16 points. It will take a chain of improbable results for them to not qualify. RCB are still at second place, level on points but marginally ahead in net run rate (+0.048 to +0.03

Mumbai Indian beats Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets, with 5 balls to spare, in Match 48 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, at Abu Dhabi. Devdutt Padikkal’s 45-ball 74 first helped Bangalore reach 164/6.

Mumbai Indian beats Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets, with 5 balls to spare, in Match 48 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, at Abu Dhabi. Devdutt Padikkal’s 45-ball 74 first helped Bangalore reach 164/6. They could have scored more, had Jasprit Bumrah (4-1-14-3) not pegged them back with a double-wicket maiden in the 17th over before conceding just 5 in the 19th. Suryakumar Yadav (79* in 43) then saw Mumbai home. Michael Vaughan was all in praise of Yadav in My11 Circle Cricbuzz Live: “Suryakumar Yadav was as good as it gets … He hit a boundary whenever he wished. He played cricket shots. There was not really a huge amount of funky [shots], they were just real high-class cricket strokes. Of all the players in the IPL this year, I don’t think I have seen a player play spin with so much ease … Anytime you feel he can hit the boundary.” ALSO READ: Suryakumar Yadav responds to India snub with another match-winning knock Despite his stellar show this season, Yadav has been left out of India’s T20I squad for the Australia tour later this year. Commenting on that, Simon Doull said: “All you can do is continually put your name in the selectors’ minds. There might be some on the bus, on the plane, ahead of you, but if you continually bang that door, at some stage they kind of have to open it up, they have to let you in … He cannot be far away from an India cap.” Vaughan praised Padikkal: “He is high-class. I am pretty sure within the next few years we will see plenty of him. Not just in the IPL, but he will get international colours … He can go with the pressure, he has got nice awareness of the game situation, he plays spin nicely as well (which you should expect) and also plays the quicks with calmness and control. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, India has found another batsman.” Doull mentioned that Padikkal is also a brilliant slip fielder. ALSO READ: Bumrah achieves major landmark in T20 cricket with Virat Kohli's wicket Vaughan rated Bumrah as one of the three greatest bowlers in history, along with Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan. After 12 matches, Mumbai are on top with 16 points. It will take a chain of improbable results for them to not qualify. RCB are still at second place, level on points but marginally ahead in net run rate (+0.048 to +0.03

IPL 2020: Suryakumar Yadav was as good as it gets, says Michael Vaughan

Ultima Thule, the farthest cosmic body ever visited by a spacecraft, has been renamed Arrokoth, or "sky" in the Native American Powhatan language, following a backlash over the previous name's Nazi connotations.

The icy rock, which orbits in the dark and frigid Kuiper Belt about a billion miles beyond Pluto, was surveyed by the NASA spaceship New Horizons in January, with images showing it consisted of two spheres stuck together in the shape of a snowman.

Its technical designation is 2014 MU69, but the New Horizons team nicknamed it Ultima Thule (pronounced Tool-ey) after a mythical northern land in classical and medieval European literature described as beyond the borders of the known world.

That name sparked an angry reaction as it was co-opted by far-right German occultists in the early 20th century as the fabled ancestral home of "Aryan" people -- the term they used to describe proto-Indo-Europeans.

Members of Thule Society founded a political party that evolved into Adolf Hitler's Nazi party, and the term remains popular in alt-right circles.

It is, for example, also the name of a Swedish white-power rock group.

The new official name, which was chosen by the New Horizons team and ratified by the International Astronomical Union, was announced in a ceremony at NASA headquarters Tuesday.

A NASA statement made no mention of the controversy.

"The name 'Arrokoth' reflects the inspiration of looking to the skies and wondering about the stars and worlds beyond our own," said Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado.&nbsp;

Phoebe Farris, a professor emeritus in art and design at Purdue University who is herself of Powhatan-Pamunkey heritage, told AFP she was asked by NASA to approach Powhatan elders for their consent, and "all the feedback was positive and perceived as an honouring.

"Since we are the original inhabitants of what is now called North America, known to us as Turtle Island, it is fitting that 'discoveries' over our skies, on our land and in our waters should be given indigenous names," she added.

Both the Hubble Space Telescope, which found the object in 2014, and the New Horizons mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory are operated out of Maryland, whose Chesapeake Bay region is home to the Powhatan people.

Responding to a query by AFP, NASA emphasized Ultima Thule was only ever a nickname -- but did not comment on whether the Nazi controversy played a role in it being discarded.

Negative context

But astrophysicist Simon Porter, part of the team that made the discovery and co-investigator for New Horizons' current mission as it exits the solar system, told AFP: "Basically, not enough due diligence was done.&nbsp;

"Historically that name was very positive and (we) realized afterwards that under certain contexts it was negative."

Arrokoth is an example of a "cold classical object" which has remained undisturbed since the solar system formed some 4.5 billion years ago.

"So you're looking basically back in time at a snapshot of how the planets formed," said Porter.

"We're studying the surfaces of the object, studying what it's made out of, to try and figure out how the entire solar system was built."

The New Horizons spacecraft is now at the outer edges of the Kuiper Belt that extends from the orbit of Neptune and will join Voyager 1 and 2 beyond the Sun's sphere of influence and into interstellar space.

Ultima Thule, the farthest cosmic body ever visited by a spacecraft, has been renamed Arrokoth, or "sky" in the Native American Powhatan language, following a backlash over the previous name's Nazi connotations.

Ultima Thule, the farthest cosmic body ever visited by a spacecraft, has been renamed Arrokoth, or "sky" in the Native American Powhatan language, following a backlash over the previous name's Nazi connotations. The icy rock, which orbits in the dark and frigid Kuiper Belt about a billion miles beyond Pluto, was surveyed by the NASA spaceship New Horizons in January, with images showing it consisted of two spheres stuck together in the shape of a snowman. Its technical designation is 2014 MU69, but the New Horizons team nicknamed it Ultima Thule (pronounced Tool-ey) after a mythical northern land in classical and medieval European literature described as beyond the borders of the known world. That name sparked an angry reaction as it was co-opted by far-right German occultists in the early 20th century as the fabled ancestral home of "Aryan" people -- the term they used to describe proto-Indo-Europeans. Members of Thule Society founded a political party that evolved into Adolf Hitler's Nazi party, and the term remains popular in alt-right circles. It is, for example, also the name of a Swedish white-power rock group. The new official name, which was chosen by the New Horizons team and ratified by the International Astronomical Union, was announced in a ceremony at NASA headquarters Tuesday. A NASA statement made no mention of the controversy. "The name 'Arrokoth' reflects the inspiration of looking to the skies and wondering about the stars and worlds beyond our own," said Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado. Phoebe Farris, a professor emeritus in art and design at Purdue University who is herself of Powhatan-Pamunkey heritage, told AFP she was asked by NASA to approach Powhatan elders for their consent, and "all the feedback was positive and perceived as an honouring. "Since we are the original inhabitants of what is now called North America, known to us as Turtle Island, it is fitting that 'discoveries' over our skies, on our land and in our waters should be given indigenous names," she added. Both the Hubble Space Telescope, which found the object in 2014, and the New Horizons mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory are operated out of Maryland, whose Chesapeake Bay region is home to the Powhatan people. Responding to a query by AFP, NASA emphasized Ultima Thule was only ever a nickname -- but did not comment on whether the Nazi controversy played a role in it being discarded. Negative context But astrophysicist Simon Porter, part of the team that made the discovery and co-investigator for New Horizons' current mission as it exits the solar system, told AFP: "Basically, not enough due diligence was done. "Historically that name was very positive and (we) realized afterwards that under certain contexts it was negative." Arrokoth is an example of a "cold classical object" which has remained undisturbed since the solar system formed some 4.5 billion years ago. "So you're looking basically back in time at a snapshot of how the planets formed," said Porter. "We're studying the surfaces of the object, studying what it's made out of, to try and figure out how the entire solar system was built." The New Horizons spacecraft is now at the outer edges of the Kuiper Belt that extends from the orbit of Neptune and will join Voyager 1 and 2 beyond the Sun's sphere of influence and into interstellar space.

NASA renames faraway ice world after Nazi-link backlash

Total lunar eclipse woos sky watchers

U.S. media group&nbspComcast&nbspsubmitted a 22 billion pound($30.7 billion) bid for Sky on Wednesday, prompting the European pay TV group to drop its support for a lower offer from Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox.

Sky's independent directors welcomed&nbspComcast's 12.50 pound per share bid and said they would now engage with both&nbspComcast&nbspand Fox. They cautioned that neither bid could yet be put to shareholders and advised them to take no action for now.

The bid formalises an offer first made in February and puts pressure on Fox, which already has a 39-percent stake in Sky, to raise the 10.75 pound per share cash offer it first announced in December 2016. It said on Wednesday it remained committed to its offer and was considering its options.

The deal has been held up by concerns about the influence Murdoch could wield over public opinion through owning all of the broadcaster as well as British newspapers including The Times and The Sun.

The proposed combination has been further complicated by Fox's agreement to sell many of its TV and film assets to Walt Disney Co, including its stake in Sky, for $52 billion.

On Wednesday, Sky also welcomed commitments the U.S. cable giant had made to address potential public-interest concerns over Sky News, its influential 24-hour news channel.

"As a result of the announcement of this higher cash offer, the Independent Committee is withdrawing its recommendation of the offer announced by 21CF on 15 December 2016 and is now terminating the co-operation agreement entered into with 21CF on the same date," Sky said in a statement.

PJT Partners is the lead advisor for Sky.

Comcast&nbspChairman and Chief Executive Brian Roberts said Sky withdrawing its recommendation was what it wanted to achieve by formalising its offer on Wednesday.

"The board confirming they are going to focus on the shareholders, that's the perfect step as far as we are concerned today," he told reporters.

Sky is chaired by Murdoch's son James, who played a key role in building the company into a major European broadcaster with operations in Germany, Austria and Italy as well as Britain.

Sky formed a committee of independent directors to consider the bids, given James Murdoch's role as chief executive of Fox.

Sky shares were up 3.8 percent at 13.57 pounds by 1434 GMT - well above the offer price, implying that some shareholders anticipated a bidding war.&nbspComcast&nbspshares were 3.9 percent higher, while Fox's rose 2 percent and Disney gained 1.5 percent.

Morningstar analyst Allan Nichols said&nbspComcast's offer fully valued Sky, and any increase would be negative for&nbspComcast, Disney or Fox shareholders. That would likely keep a lid on a bidding war, he wrote in a research note.

Hedge fund Elliott has taken a stake of almost 3 percent in Sky, according to its latest filing, and other shareholders have also argued that Disney's agreement to buy Fox implies a higher value for Sky.

Little known in Europe, Philadelphia-based&nbspComcast&nbspis the biggest U.S. cable operator, owning broadcasters NBC, CNBC and MSNBC. It also owns movie studio Universal Pictures, home to "Minions" and "Jason Bourne" movies and some theme parks.

It said it had formalised its offer to coincide with its own results, giving it an opportunity to explain to investors the merits of the bid.

Its quarterly earnings topped Wall Street expectations on Wednesday. Its shares had fallen 14 percent since it proposed its bid in February.

Roberts said&nbspComcast&nbsphad been built through bold investments since it was founded by his father in 1963.

"When you see opportunities that won't come around again -- unique opportunities -- you have to consider that with extra focus," he said. "Sky will be our platform for growth across Europe."

He said&nbspComcast&nbspwas continuing to work with the European Commission on the regulatory process, and he did not believe a British investigation would be required.

"We believe in the importance of news and the integrity that underpins it (and) we have a proven track record of stewardship and investment," he said.

Comcast&nbspsaid it had secured a bridge loan of up to 16 billion pounds and a term loan credit agreement of up to 7 billion pounds to fund the deal.&nbsp

Sky's independent directors welcomed Comcast's 12.50 pound per share bid and said they would now engage with both Comcast and Fox

U.S. media group&nbspComcast&nbspsubmitted a 22 billion pound($30.7 billion) bid for Sky on Wednesday, prompting the European pay TV group to drop its support for a lower offer from Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox. Sky's independent directors welcomed&nbspComcast's 12.50 pound per share bid and said they would now engage with both&nbspComcast&nbspand Fox. They cautioned that neither bid could yet be put to shareholders and advised them to take no action for now. The bid formalises an offer first made in February and puts pressure on Fox, which already has a 39-percent stake in Sky, to raise the 10.75 pound per share cash offer it first announced in December 2016. It said on Wednesday it remained committed to its offer and was considering its options. The deal has been held up by concerns about the influence Murdoch could wield over public opinion through owning all of the broadcaster as well as British newspapers including The Times and The Sun. The proposed combination has been further complicated by Fox's agreement to sell many of its TV and film assets to Walt Disney Co, including its stake in Sky, for $52 billion. On Wednesday, Sky also welcomed commitments the U.S. cable giant had made to address potential public-interest concerns over Sky News, its influential 24-hour news channel. "As a result of the announcement of this higher cash offer, the Independent Committee is withdrawing its recommendation of the offer announced by 21CF on 15 December 2016 and is now terminating the co-operation agreement entered into with 21CF on the same date," Sky said in a statement. PJT Partners is the lead advisor for Sky. Comcast&nbspChairman and Chief Executive Brian Roberts said Sky withdrawing its recommendation was what it wanted to achieve by formalising its offer on Wednesday. "The board confirming they are going to focus on the shareholders, that's the perfect step as far as we are concerned today," he told reporters. Sky is chaired by Murdoch's son James, who played a key role in building the company into a major European broadcaster with operations in Germany, Austria and Italy as well as Britain. Sky formed a committee of independent directors to consider the bids, given James Murdoch's role as chief executive of Fox. Sky shares were up 3.8 percent at 13.57 pounds by 1434 GMT - well above the offer price, implying that some shareholders anticipated a bidding war.&nbspComcast&nbspshares were 3.9 percent higher, while Fox's rose 2 percent and Disney gained 1.5 percent. Morningstar analyst Allan Nichols said&nbspComcast's offer fully valued Sky, and any increase would be negative for&nbspComcast, Disney or Fox shareholders. That would likely keep a lid on a bidding war, he wrote in a research note. Hedge fund Elliott has taken a stake of almost 3 percent in Sky, according to its latest filing, and other shareholders have also argued that Disney's agreement to buy Fox implies a higher value for Sky. Little known in Europe, Philadelphia-based&nbspComcast&nbspis the biggest U.S. cable operator, owning broadcasters NBC, CNBC and MSNBC. It also owns movie studio Universal Pictures, home to "Minions" and "Jason Bourne" movies and some theme parks. It said it had formalised its offer to coincide with its own results, giving it an opportunity to explain to investors the merits of the bid. Its quarterly earnings topped Wall Street expectations on Wednesday. Its shares had fallen 14 percent since it proposed its bid in February. Roberts said&nbspComcast&nbsphad been built through bold investments since it was founded by his father in 1963. "When you see opportunities that won't come around again -- unique opportunities -- you have to consider that with extra focus," he said. "Sky will be our platform for growth across Europe." He said&nbspComcast&nbspwas continuing to work with the European Commission on the regulatory process, and he did not believe a British investigation would be required. "We believe in the importance of news and the integrity that underpins it (and) we have a proven track record of stewardship and investment," he said. Comcast&nbspsaid it had secured a bridge loan of up to 16 billion pounds and a term loan credit agreement of up to 7 billion pounds to fund the deal.

Comcast confirms US $31 billion bid for Sky, sparking battle with Fox

Skygazers could witness the glorious &#39;supermoon&#39; on Sunday night when the moon will be the brightest and biggest in at least next 15 years.&nbsp;

The next &#39;supermoon&#39; will happen in 2034.

At 21:17 pm IST the moon will appear about 7 per cent&nbsp;bigger and&nbsp;15 per cent&nbsp;brighter. However, the difference will not be very noticeable.&nbsp;

The rare sighting happens when the Moon reaches its closest point in its orbit around Earth.

The full moon on Sunday night marks the first and only supermoon of 2017.&nbsp;

According to reports, NASA informed that the supermoon on Sunday is the first in a series of three supermoons and the other two will appear on January 1 and 31, 2018.

The last supermoon was seen on November 14, 2016.&nbsp;

The full moon on Sunday night marks the first and only supermoon of 2017

Skygazers could witness the glorious 'supermoon' on Sunday night when the moon will be the brightest and biggest in at least next 15 years. The next 'supermoon' will happen in 2034. At 21:17 pm IST the moon will appear about 7 per cent bigger and 15 per cent brighter. However, the difference will not be very noticeable. The rare sighting happens when the Moon reaches its closest point in its orbit around Earth. The full moon on Sunday night marks the first and only supermoon of 2017. According to reports, NASA informed that the supermoon on Sunday is the first in a series of three supermoons and the other two will appear on January 1 and 31, 2018. The last supermoon was seen on November 14, 2016.

'Supermoon' to brighten skies on Sunday

21st Century Fox said Thursday that Sky had agreed to a takeover offer worth $14.8 billion as tycoon Rupert Murdoch bids to create a global media giant.&nbsp;

Murdoch&#39;s Fox group said in a statement &quot;that it has reached agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer&quot; to buy the rest of the European pay broadcaster, beyond the 39 percent it already owns.&nbsp;

The deal is worth &pound;10.75 ($13.40)&nbsp;per Sky share, or $14.8 billion (14.2 billion euros ) in total for the cash purchase, the statement said.

&quot;As the founding shareholder of Sky, we are proud to have participated in its growth and development,&quot; 21st Century Fox said in its statement.

&quot;The enhanced capabilities of the combined company will be underpinned by a more geographically diverse and stable revenue base,&quot; the company said.

&quot;It will also create an improved balance between subscription, affiliate fee, advertising and content revenues. This combination creates an agile organization that is equipped to better succeed in a global market.&quot;

21st Century Fox is one of the world&#39;s largest entertainment companies, with a vast portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets across six continents.

Its broadcasting and cable properties include including FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, National Geographic Channels, STAR India, 28 television stations in the United States and more than 300 international channels.

(AFP)

The acquisition is another step for Fox owner Rupert Murdoch in his pursuit to build a global media giant

21st Century Fox said Thursday that Sky had agreed to a takeover offer worth $14.8 billion as tycoon Rupert Murdoch bids to create a global media giant. Murdoch's Fox group said in a statement "that it has reached agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer" to buy the rest of the European pay broadcaster, beyond the 39 percent it already owns. The deal is worth £10.75 ($13.40) per Sky share, or $14.8 billion (14.2 billion euros ) in total for the cash purchase, the statement said. "As the founding shareholder of Sky, we are proud to have participated in its growth and development," 21st Century Fox said in its statement. "The enhanced capabilities of the combined company will be underpinned by a more geographically diverse and stable revenue base," the company said. "It will also create an improved balance between subscription, affiliate fee, advertising and content revenues. This combination creates an agile organization that is equipped to better succeed in a global market." 21st Century Fox is one of the world's largest entertainment companies, with a vast portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets across six continents. Its broadcasting and cable properties include including FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, National Geographic Channels, STAR India, 28 television stations in the United States and more than 300 international channels. (AFP)

21st Century Fox announces $14.8 bn deal to take over Sky

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