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Entire article and pretty pictures here.
On January 5, 2003, Titan - Saturn's largest moon and the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere - crossed in front of the Crab Nebula, a bright, extended X-ray source. Titan's transit enabled Chandra to image the one-arcsecond-diameter X-ray shadow cast by the moon (inset). This tiny shadow corresponds to the size of a dime as viewed from about two and a half miles.
This may have been the first transit of the Crab Nebula by Titan since the nebula was formed by a supernova that was observed to occur in the year 1054. The next similar conjunction will take place in the year 2267, so this was truly a once in a millennium event.Posted by Ted at April 7, 2004 07:13 AM
The next similar conjunction will take place in the year 2267, so this was truly a once in a millennium event.
Gah. Who writes this stuff? Astronomer Barbie?
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 7, 2004 02:07 PMLOL I know, I had to back up and reread that too.
Posted by: Ted at April 7, 2004 02:13 PMNo, it was Astronomer Malibu Stacey; "Don't ask me, I'm just a girl. *gigglegiggle*"
Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 7, 2004 08:53 PM