Hubble survey captures iconic spiral galaxy NGC 2903 The iconic appearance of a spiral galaxy is exemplified here in the form of the stunning NGC 2903, imaged by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. It shows off whirling, pinwheeling arms with scatterings of sparkling stars, glowing bursts of gas, and dark, weaving lanes of cosmic dust. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Observations unveil chemical structure of the protoplanetary disk Oph-IRS 67 Using the Submillimeter Array (SMA), astronomers have conducted a molecular line study of the protoplanetary disk Oph-IRS 67, uncovering essential information about its chemical structure. Results of this study were presented in a paper published June 3 on the arXiv pre-print server. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Black hole simulation solves a mystery about their accretion disks A new study by an international team of astrophysicists have validated an age-old theory about how accretion disks behave. The post Black hole simulation solves a mystery about their accretion disks appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
You Can Use a Live Webcam to Watch NASA Build the Mars 2020 Rover NASA’s next mission to the surface of Mars is called the 2020 rover (in case you didn’t know already.) It’s planned launch date is July 17th, 2020, and it should land at Jezero Crater on Mars on February 18th 2021. The rover is still under construction at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California. Now … Continue reading “You Can Use a Live Webcam to Watch NASA Build the Mars 2020 Rover” The post You Can Use a Live Webcam to Watch NASA Build the Mars 2020 Rover appeared first onRead More →
The Japanese asteroid-hunter had another photo opportunity when it dropped a target marker on asteroid Ryugu Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft just launched its second target marker to the surface of the asteroid Ryugu. The post The Japanese asteroid-hunter had another photo opportunity when it dropped a target marker on asteroid Ryugu appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
Don’t Worry About Asteroid 2006QV89. There’s Only a 1 in 7000 Chance It’ll Hit the Earth in September Whenever scientists announce an upcoming close encounter with an asteroid, certain corners of the internet light up like the synaptic rush that accompanies a meth binge, with panicky headlines shouted straight from the brain stem. But never mind that. We’re not that corner of the internet. We’re sober, yo! The fact of the matter is, … Continue reading “Don’t Worry About Asteroid 2006QV89. There’s Only a 1 in 7000 Chance It’ll Hit the Earth in September” The post Don’t Worry About Asteroid 2006QV89. There’s Only a 1Read More →
Europe is Working On a Reusable Space Transport System: Space Rider The ESA is developing its own spacecraft capable of re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. The reusable spacecraft is called the Space RIDER (Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return), and the ESA says that the Space Rider will be ready for launch by 2022. It’s being designed to launch on the Vega-C rocket from Europe’s spaceport in … Continue reading “Europe is Working On a Reusable Space Transport System: Space Rider” The post Europe is Working On a Reusable Space Transport System: Space Rider appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
Image: Mature galaxy mesmerizes in new Hubble view This striking image was taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), a powerful instrument installed on the telescope in 2009. WFC3 is responsible for many of Hubble’s most breathtaking and iconic photographs. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Detection of powerful winds driven by a supermassive black hole from La Palma The supermassive black holes in the centres of many galaxies seem to have a major influence on their evolution. This happens during a phase in which the black hole is consuming the material of the galaxy in which it resides at a very high rate, growing in mass as it does so. During this phase, the galaxy has an active galactic nucleus (AGN). phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Researchers spot ridge of radio emissions joining two galaxy clusters An international team of researchers has found evidence of a ridge of radio emissions joining two galaxy clusters. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their find and how it fits into cosmological theory. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
There’s a Ring of Cool Gas Wrapped Around the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole There’s a lot going on at the center of our galaxy. A supermassive black hole named Sagittarius A-Star resides there, drawing material in with its inexorable gravitational attraction. In that mind-bending neighbourhood, where the laws of physics are stretched beyond comprehension, astronomers have detected a ring of cool gas. Sagittarius A-Star, or Sag. A* for … Continue reading “There’s a Ring of Cool Gas Wrapped Around the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole” The post There’s a Ring of Cool Gas Wrapped Around the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole appeared first onRead More →
Planck finds no new evidence for cosmic anomalies ESA’s Planck satellite has found no new evidence for the puzzling cosmic anomalies that appeared in its temperature map of the Universe. The latest study does not rule out the potential relevance of the anomalies but they do mean astronomers must work even harder to understand the origin of these puzzling features. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Name an exoplanet In recent years, astronomers have discovered thousands of planets and planetary systems orbiting around nearby stars. Some are small and rocky like the Earth, whilst others are gas giants like Jupiter. It is now believed that most stars in the Universe could have planets orbiting them and that some of them may have physical characteristics that resemble those of the Earth. The sheer number of stars in the Universe, each potentially with orbiting planets, along with the ubiquity of pre-biotic compounds, suggests that extraterrestrial life may be likely. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Most-detailed-ever simulations of black hole solve longstanding mystery An international team has constructed the most detailed, highest resolution simulation of a black hole to date. The simulation proves theoretical predictions about the nature of accretion disks—the matter that orbits and eventually falls into a black hole—that have never before been seen. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
A double asteroid came uncomfortably close this weekend. Here’s what astronomers saw Using the Very Large Telescope, a team of ESO scientists took some stunningly clear images of a double asteroid that recently swung by Earth. The post A double asteroid came uncomfortably close this weekend. Here’s what astronomers saw appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
Engineers are Still Troubleshooting Why Mars InSight’s Mole is Stuck and Won’t Go Any Deeper NASA’s Mars InSight Lander was always a bit of a tricky endeavour. The stationary lander has one chance to get things right, since it can’t move. While initially the mission went well, and the landing site looked good, the Mole is having trouble penetrating deep enough to fulfill its mission. InSight landed on Mars on … Continue reading “Engineers are Still Troubleshooting Why Mars InSight’s Mole is Stuck and Won’t Go Any Deeper” The post Engineers are Still Troubleshooting Why Mars InSight’s Mole is Stuck and Won’t Go Any DeeperRead More →
Astronomers See an Enormous Coronal Mass Ejection… On Another Star! For the first time ever, astronomers have witnessed a coronal mass ejection (CME) on a star other than our very own Sun. The star, named HR 9024 (and also known as OU Andromeda,) is about 455 light years away, in the constellation Andromeda. It’s an active, variable star with a strong magnetic field, which astronomers … Continue reading “Astronomers See an Enormous Coronal Mass Ejection… On Another Star!” The post Astronomers See an Enormous Coronal Mass Ejection… On Another Star! appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
Cool, nebulous ring around Milky Way’s supermassive black hole New ALMA observations reveal a never-before-seen disk of cool, interstellar gas wrapped around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. This nebulous disk gives astronomers new insights into the workings of accretion: the siphoning of material onto the surface of a black hole. The results are published in the journal Nature. phys.org Go to SourceRead More →
Astronomers See Adorable Baby Planets Forming Around a Young Star 370 light years away from us, a solar system is making baby planets. The star at the center of it all is young, only about 6 million years old. And its babies are two enormous planets, likely both gas giants, nursing on gaseous matter from the star’s circumsolar disk. The host star in this system … Continue reading “Astronomers See Adorable Baby Planets Forming Around a Young Star” The post Astronomers See Adorable Baby Planets Forming Around a Young Star appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
Is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Vanishing as We Near Opposition 2019? Jupiter observation season is neigh, and with it, the largest planet in our solar system is as mysterious as ever. The post Is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Vanishing as We Near Opposition 2019? appeared first on Universe Today. Universe Today Go to SourceRead More →
