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APOD
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
On the Origin of Gold
Explanation: Where did the gold in your jewelry originate? No one is completely sure . The relative average abundance in our Solar System appears higher than can be made in the early universe , in stars , and even in typical supernova explosions . Some astronomers have suggested , and many believe, that neutron-rich heavy elements such as gold might be most easily made in rare neutron -rich explosions such as the collision of neutron stars . Pictured here is an artist's illustration depicting two neutron stars spiraling in toward each other, just before they collide . Since neutron star collisions are also suggested as the origin of short duration gamma-ray bursts , it is possible that you already own a souvenir from one of the most powerful explosions in the universe.
Editorial Note: This “best of” APOD ran previously on 2011 September 11 .
News Note: The next APOD will debut during an NSF discovery announcement and press briefing on Monday.
| Date | October 15, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Illustration Credit: Dana Berry , NASA |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |