The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
Tag: astronomy
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
Another Earth just twelve light years away?
Another Earth just twelve light years away?
Another Earth just twelve light years away?
The first galaxies?
Watch a three mile wide asteroid fly past the Earth – live tonight from 5 to 11 pm (Eastern)!
Watch a three mile wide asteroid fly past the Earth – live tonight from 5 to 11 pm (Eastern)!
Watch a three mile wide asteroid fly past the Earth – live tonight from 5 to 11 pm (Eastern)!
Looking at the Earth from space at night.
The planet that never sleeps: Looking at the Earth from space at night.
The planet that never sleeps: Looking at the Earth from space at night.
The GAO is concerned about the future budget and schedule of the James Webb Space Telescope.
O goody: The GAO is concerned about the future budget and schedule of the James Webb Space Telescope.
This is very bad news if true for NASA’s astronomy program. Webb was originally budgeted at $1 billion and scheduled to launch in 2011. Its budget is now $8.8 billion and its launch is now set for October 2018. And until it launches there is little money to build any other space telescope.
O goody: The GAO is concerned about the future budget and schedule of the James Webb Space Telescope.
This is very bad news if true for NASA’s astronomy program. Webb was originally budgeted at $1 billion and scheduled to launch in 2011. Its budget is now $8.8 billion and its launch is now set for October 2018. And until it launches there is little money to build any other space telescope.
Andromeda wants you!
The newly launched Andromeda Project will use people power to examine thousands of Hubble Space Telescope images of the galaxy to identify star clusters that hold clues to the evolution of galaxies. Anyone can take part by going to The Andromeda Project.
The newly launched Andromeda Project will use people power to examine thousands of Hubble Space Telescope images of the galaxy to identify star clusters that hold clues to the evolution of galaxies. Anyone can take part by going to The Andromeda Project.
The biggest black hole yet found, 17 billion times the mass of our sun.
The biggest black hole yet found, 17 billion times the mass of our sun.
The unusual black hole makes up 14 percent of its galaxy’s mass, rather than the usual 0.1 percent. … NGC 1277 [the galaxy] lies 220 million light-years away in the constellation Perseus. The galaxy is only ten percent the size and mass of our own Milky Way. Despite NGC 1277’s diminutive size, the black hole at its heart is more than 11 times as wide as Neptune’s orbit around the Sun.
Based on these measurements, it appears that this black hole is literally eating this galaxy whole.
The biggest black hole yet found, 17 billion times the mass of our sun.
The unusual black hole makes up 14 percent of its galaxy’s mass, rather than the usual 0.1 percent. … NGC 1277 [the galaxy] lies 220 million light-years away in the constellation Perseus. The galaxy is only ten percent the size and mass of our own Milky Way. Despite NGC 1277’s diminutive size, the black hole at its heart is more than 11 times as wide as Neptune’s orbit around the Sun.
Based on these measurements, it appears that this black hole is literally eating this galaxy whole.
NASA is soliciting ideas on how to use the two Cold War era telescopes given to the space agency by the military.
NASA is soliciting ideas on how to use the two Cold War era telescopes given to the space agency by the military.
Both telescopes are comparable in size to the Hubble Space Telescope.
NASA is soliciting ideas on how to use the two Cold War era telescopes given to the space agency by the military.
Both telescopes are comparable in size to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Impressive radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2007 PA8 were taken during its recent fly-by of Earth.
Impressive radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2007 PA8 were taken during its recent fly-by of Earth.
The images … reveal possible craters, boulders, an irregular, asymmetric shape, and very slow rotation. The asteroid measures approximately one mile wide (about 1.6 kilometers).
The asteroid poses no threat to Earth. The resolution of the images, however, is astonishing, especially considering it was done by radar.
Impressive radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2007 PA8 were taken during its recent fly-by of Earth.
The images … reveal possible craters, boulders, an irregular, asymmetric shape, and very slow rotation. The asteroid measures approximately one mile wide (about 1.6 kilometers).
The asteroid poses no threat to Earth. The resolution of the images, however, is astonishing, especially considering it was done by radar.
An exhumation of the body of Danish astronomy Tycho Brahe has proven he was not murdered.
An exhumation of the body of Danish astronomy Tycho Brahe has proven he was not murdered as speculated by some.
An exhumation of the body of Danish astronomy Tycho Brahe has proven he was not murdered as speculated by some.
The Subaru telescope in Hawaii has taken an image of an exoplanet.
The Subaru telescope in Hawaii has taken an image of an exoplanet.
The press release is not clear, but I think this is an image in optical wavelengths, which I also think is a first.
Update: on further research, it turns out the image is in the infrared, not optical. Nonetheless, it is a remarkable image, and will make possible some interesting spectroscopic research.
The Subaru telescope in Hawaii has taken an image of an exoplanet.
The press release is not clear, but I think this is an image in optical wavelengths, which I also think is a first.
Update: on further research, it turns out the image is in the infrared, not optical. Nonetheless, it is a remarkable image, and will make possible some interesting spectroscopic research.
A planet without a star, only 100 light years away.
A planet without a star, only 100 light years away.
A planet without a star, only 100 light years away.
The discovery of volcanoes on Io
On March 8, 1979, as Voyager 1 was speeding away from Jupiter after its historic flyby of the gas giant three days earlier, it looked back at the planet and took some navigational images. Linda Morabito, one of the engineers in charge of using these navigational images to make sure the spacecraft was on its planned course, took one look at the image on the right, an overexposed image of the moon Io, and decided that it had captured something very unusual. On the limb of the moon was this strange shape that at first glance looked like another moon partly hidden behind Io. She and her fellow engineers immediately realized that this was not possible, and that the object was probably a plume coming up from the surface of Io. To their glee, they had taken the first image of an eruption of active volcano on another world!
Today, on the astro-ph preprint website, Morabito has published a minute-by-minute account of that discovery. It makes for fascinating reading, partly because the discovery was so exciting and unique, partly because it illustrated starkly the human nature of science research, and partly because of the amazing circumstances of that discovery. Only one week before, scientists has predicted active volcanism on Io in a paper published in the journal Science. To quote her abstract:
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Astronomers have found a super-earth exoplanet inside its star’s habitable zone.
Worlds without end: Astronomers have found a super-earth exoplanet inside its star’s habitable zone.
The planet is large enough that it might be more like Neptune, but if it should have any earth-sized moons they will definitely be capable of supporting life.
Update: The science paper included a wonderful graphic comparing the solar system of this star with that of our own solar system. I have posted this graphic below the fold. HD40307g is the potentially habitable planet.
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Worlds without end: Astronomers have found a super-earth exoplanet inside its star’s habitable zone.
The planet is large enough that it might be more like Neptune, but if it should have any earth-sized moons they will definitely be capable of supporting life.
Update: The science paper included a wonderful graphic comparing the solar system of this star with that of our own solar system. I have posted this graphic below the fold. HD40307g is the potentially habitable planet.
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Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot continues to shrink.
The most distant supernova ever found.
Meteorite hunters in Poland have found Eastern Europe’s larges meteorite weighing almost 700 pounds.
Meteorite hunters in Poland have found Eastern Europe’s larges meteorite, weighing almost 700 pounds.
Meteorite hunters in Poland have found Eastern Europe’s larges meteorite, weighing almost 700 pounds.
More evidence of past glaciers on Mars.
More evidence of past glaciers on Mars.
More evidence of past glaciers on Mars.
Weirdness at the edge of the solar system.
Weirdness at the edge of the solar system.
Weirdness at the edge of the solar system.
A house-sized asteroid will zip past the Earth in February at a distance less than 14,000 miles.
Chicken Little report: A house-sized asteroid will zip past the Earth in February at a distance less than 14,000 miles.
The asteroid, referred to as 2012 DA14, has a diameter of approximately 45m and an estimated mass of 130,000 tonnes. It was discovered at the start of 2012 and is set to travel between the Earth and our geostationary communication satellites on 15 February 2013. At a distance of just 22,500km this will be the closest asteroid ‘fly by’ in recorded history. Asteroid and comet researchers will be gathering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, U.S., to watch the event, but experts say there is no chance of a collision – this time.
The claim that this is the closest “fly by” in recorded history sounds bogus to me, but because of the size of this asteroid the fly-by will nonetheless be quite interesting. Scientists should be able to get a very good look at 2012 DA14 as it goes by.
Chicken Little report: A house-sized asteroid will zip past the Earth in February at a distance less than 14,000 miles.
The asteroid, referred to as 2012 DA14, has a diameter of approximately 45m and an estimated mass of 130,000 tonnes. It was discovered at the start of 2012 and is set to travel between the Earth and our geostationary communication satellites on 15 February 2013. At a distance of just 22,500km this will be the closest asteroid ‘fly by’ in recorded history. Asteroid and comet researchers will be gathering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, U.S., to watch the event, but experts say there is no chance of a collision – this time.
The claim that this is the closest “fly by” in recorded history sounds bogus to me, but because of the size of this asteroid the fly-by will nonetheless be quite interesting. Scientists should be able to get a very good look at 2012 DA14 as it goes by.
Meteorite experts now think the rock that hit a pastor’s house could be a piece from last week’s San Francisco fireball.
The uncertainty of science: Meteorite experts now think the rock that hit a pastor’s house could be a piece from last week’s San Francisco fireball.
At first they said, “Yes it was from space,” then they said “No it is not from space.” Now they think yes.
The uncertainty of science: Meteorite experts now think the rock that hit a pastor’s house could be a piece from last week’s San Francisco fireball.
At first they said, “Yes it was from space,” then they said “No it is not from space.” Now they think yes.
Firing paintballs at an asteroid to prevent it from hitting the Earth.
Firing paintballs at an asteroid to prevent it from hitting the Earth.
Firing paintballs at an asteroid to prevent it from hitting the Earth.
A new study suggests that the exoplanet orbiting the star Formalhaut that was supposedly imaged and then later theorized to be nothing more than a dust cloud might be a planet after all.
The uncertainty of science: A new study suggests that the exoplanet orbiting the star Formalhaut that was supposedly imaged and then later theorized to be nothing more than a dust cloud might be a planet after all.
The uncertainty of science: A new study suggests that the exoplanet orbiting the star Formalhaut that was supposedly imaged and then later theorized to be nothing more than a dust cloud might be a planet after all.
The rock found on Sunday is not part of the meteor that fell over San Francisco last week.
False alarm: The rock found on Sunday is not part of the meteor that fell over San Francisco last week.
False alarm: The rock found on Sunday is not part of the meteor that fell over San Francisco last week.
The first mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope has been completed.
The first mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope has been completed.
This is the first of seven. It is also the largest single mirror ever polished, at 8.4 meters, or 27.5 feet across. When completed the GMT’s segmented mirror will be 25 meters across, or more than 82 feet.
The first mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope has been completed.
This is the first of seven. It is also the largest single mirror ever polished, at 8.4 meters, or 27.5 feet across. When completed the GMT’s segmented mirror will be 25 meters across, or more than 82 feet.
The supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way is about to get a snack.
The supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way is about to get a snack.
Update: The recently launched NuStar telescope in July detected its first flare from the central black hole (which by the way is called Sagittarius A* and is pronounced Sagittarius A-star). If the gas cloud produces any fireworks as it whips past the black hole in the coming year then NuStar should see it.
The supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way is about to get a snack.
Update: The recently launched NuStar telescope in July detected its first flare from the central black hole (which by the way is called Sagittarius A* and is pronounced Sagittarius A-star). If the gas cloud produces any fireworks as it whips past the black hole in the coming year then NuStar should see it.
The first piece of a meteor that fell over San Francisco on Wednesday has been found.
The first piece of a meteor that fell over San Francisco on Wednesday has been found.
The 2.2-ounce meteorite hit the roof of Rev. Kent and Lisa Webber on St. Francis Avenue on Thursday night, but they didn’t realize at the time what it was, according to Novato Patch.
The first piece of a meteor that fell over San Francisco on Wednesday has been found.
The 2.2-ounce meteorite hit the roof of Rev. Kent and Lisa Webber on St. Francis Avenue on Thursday night, but they didn’t realize at the time what it was, according to Novato Patch.
Astronomers now have the technology to observe Io’s volcanoes erupt, from Earth.
Astronomers now have the technology to observe Io’s volcanoes erupt, from Earth.
Astronomers now have the technology to observe Io’s volcanoes erupt, from Earth.
Kepler reveals our Sun might be more variable than we imagine
More exoplanet news: The problems of Kepler.
The article outlines the status — both good and bad — of Kepler in its hunt for Earthlike exoplanets.
I have already reported on Kepler’s failed reaction wheel. It no longer has a backup and needs every reaction wheel it has to keep it pointed in so precise a manner. Thus, the loss of one more wheel will shut the telescope down.
However, I had not been aware that the scientists now need more than twice as much time, eight years instead of three, to do their work, because they have discovered that sunlike stars are far more variable than expected. To quote the article,
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