News Archive Search
First Stars May Not Have Been Monsters
Shortly after the "Dark Ages" of the Cosmos the first stars popped into existence -- but they weren't the galactic Goliaths we thought they were.
Shortly after the "Dark Ages" of the Cosmos the first stars popped into existence -- but they weren't the galactic Goliaths we thought they were.
Astronomy
Source: Discovery Channel News
Posted on: Monday, Nov 14, 2011, 8:22am
Rating: | Views: 1131 | Comments: 0
Source: Discovery Channel News
Posted on: Monday, Nov 14, 2011, 8:22am
Rating: | Views: 1131 | Comments: 0
Hubble uncovers tiny galaxies bursting with starbirth in early Universe 
The galaxies are churning out stars at such a rate that the number of stars in them would double in just ten million years. For comparison, the Milky Way has taken a thousand times longer to double its stellar population.
The galaxies are churning out stars at such a rate that the number of stars in them would double in just ten million years. For comparison, the Milky Way has taken a thousand times longer to double its stellar population.
Astronomy
Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre
Posted on: Thursday, Nov 10, 2011, 12:00pm
Rating: | Views: 1305 | Comments: 0
Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre
Posted on: Thursday, Nov 10, 2011, 12:00pm
Rating: | Views: 1305 | Comments: 0
Discovery of 2 types of neutron stars points to 2 different classes of supernovae
Astronomers at the universities of Southampton and Oxford have found evidence that neutron stars, which are produced when massive stars explode as supernovae, actually come in two distinct varieties. Their finding also suggests that each variety is produced by a different kind of supernova event.
Astronomers at the universities of Southampton and Oxford have found evidence that neutron stars, which are produced when massive stars explode as supernovae, actually come in two distinct varieties. Their finding also suggests that each variety is produced by a different kind of supernova event.
Astronomy
Source: University of Southampton
Posted on: Wednesday, Nov 09, 2011, 5:15pm
Rating: | Views: 5051 | Comments: 0
Source: University of Southampton
Posted on: Wednesday, Nov 09, 2011, 5:15pm
Rating: | Views: 5051 | Comments: 0
Hubble directly observes the disc around a black hole
An international team of astronomers has used a new technique to study the bright disc of matter surrounding a faraway black hole. Using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, combined with the gravitational lensing effect of stars in a distant galaxy [1], the team measured the disc's size and studied the colours (and hence the temperatures) of different parts of the disc. These observations show a
An international team of astronomers has used a new technique to study the bright disc of matter surrounding a faraway black hole. Using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, combined with the gravitational lensing effect of stars in a distant galaxy [1], the team measured the disc's size and studied the colours (and hence the temperatures) of different parts of the disc. These observations show a
Astronomy
Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 1:45pm
Rating: | Views: 1341 | Comments: 0
Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 1:45pm
Rating: | Views: 1341 | Comments: 0
City lights could reveal E.T. civilization
In the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, astronomers have hunted for radio signals and ultra-short laser pulses. In a new paper, Avi Loeb (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) and Edwin Turner (Princeton University) suggest a new technique for finding aliens: look for their city lights.
In the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, astronomers have hunted for radio signals and ultra-short laser pulses. In a new paper, Avi Loeb (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) and Edwin Turner (Princeton University) suggest a new technique for finding aliens: look for their city lights.
Astronomy
Source: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 1:30pm
Rating: | Views: 1254 | Comments: 0
Source: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 1:30pm
Rating: | Views: 1254 | Comments: 0
9 new gamma pulsars
Pulsars are the lighthouses of the universe. These compact and fast-rotating neutron stars flash many times per second in the radio or gamma-ray band. Pure gamma-ray pulsars are extremely difficult to find despite their high energy because they radiate very few photons per unit of time.
Pulsars are the lighthouses of the universe. These compact and fast-rotating neutron stars flash many times per second in the radio or gamma-ray band. Pure gamma-ray pulsars are extremely difficult to find despite their high energy because they radiate very few photons per unit of time.
Astronomy
Source: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 11:15am
Rating: | Views: 1120 | Comments: 0
Source: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 11:15am
Rating: | Views: 1120 | Comments: 0
Scientists study the 'galaxy zoo' using Google Maps and thousands of volunteers
The reddest galaxies with the largest central bulb show the largest bars -gigantic central columns of stars and dark matter-, according to a scientific study that used Google Maps to observe the sky. A group of volunteers of more than 200,000 participants of the galaxy classification project Galaxy Zoo contributed to this research.
The reddest galaxies with the largest central bulb show the largest bars -gigantic central columns of stars and dark matter-, according to a scientific study that used Google Maps to observe the sky. A group of volunteers of more than 200,000 participants of the galaxy classification project Galaxy Zoo contributed to this research.
Astronomy
Source: FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 10:30am
Rating: | Views: 1193 | Comments: 0
Source: FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
Posted on: Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 10:30am
Rating: | Views: 1193 | Comments: 0
Mysterious absorption lines could illuminate 90-year puzzle
The discovery of 13 diffuse interstellar bands with the longest wavelengths to date could someday solve a 90-year-old mystery.
The discovery of 13 diffuse interstellar bands with the longest wavelengths to date could someday solve a 90-year-old mystery.
Astronomy
Source: Rochester Institute of Technology
Posted on: Thursday, Nov 03, 2011, 12:00pm
Rating: | Views: 1170 | Comments: 0
Source: Rochester Institute of Technology
Posted on: Thursday, Nov 03, 2011, 12:00pm
Rating: | Views: 1170 | Comments: 0
What's Happening on Uranus? You're Invited
What's happening on Uranus? A giant white dot has appeared atop the clouds on the eighth planet from the sun, probably a storm of methane gas. Astronomers have used Facebook -- not some closed scholarly network -- to invite amateur enthusiasts to look for themselves.
What's happening on Uranus? A giant white dot has appeared atop the clouds on the eighth planet from the sun, probably a storm of methane gas. Astronomers have used Facebook -- not some closed scholarly network -- to invite amateur enthusiasts to look for themselves.
Astronomy
Source: ABC News
Posted on: Thursday, Nov 03, 2011, 10:53am
Rating: | Views: 1086 | Comments: 0
Source: ABC News
Posted on: Thursday, Nov 03, 2011, 10:53am
Rating: | Views: 1086 | Comments: 0
Observations of gamma-ray burst reveal surprising ingredients of early galaxies
Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest explosions in the Universe. They are first spotted by orbiting observatories that detect the initial short burst of gamma rays.
Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest explosions in the Universe. They are first spotted by orbiting observatories that detect the initial short burst of gamma rays.
Planets smashed into dust near supermassive black holes
Fat doughnut-shaped dust shrouds that obscure about half of supermassive black holes could be the result of high speed crashes between planets and asteroids, according to a new theory from an international team of astronomers. The scientists, led by Dr. Sergei Nayakshin of the University of Leicester, publish their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Fat doughnut-shaped dust shrouds that obscure about half of supermassive black holes could be the result of high speed crashes between planets and asteroids, according to a new theory from an international team of astronomers. The scientists, led by Dr. Sergei Nayakshin of the University of Leicester, publish their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Astronomy
Source: University of Leicester
Posted on: Friday, Oct 28, 2011, 1:30pm
Rating: | Views: 1161 | Comments: 0
Source: University of Leicester
Posted on: Friday, Oct 28, 2011, 1:30pm
Rating: | Views: 1161 | Comments: 0
Most pristine known asteroid is denser than granite
The lumpy asteroid Lutetia may be a whole, unbroken building block left nearly untouched since the solar system's birth
The lumpy asteroid Lutetia may be a whole, unbroken building block left nearly untouched since the solar system's birth
Astronomy
Source: New Scientist
Posted on: Friday, Oct 28, 2011, 7:28am
Rating: | Views: 1106 | Comments: 0
Source: New Scientist
Posted on: Friday, Oct 28, 2011, 7:28am
Rating: | Views: 1106 | Comments: 0
Three new planets and a mystery object discovered outside our solar system
Three planets -- each orbiting its own giant, dying star -- have been discovered by an international research team led by a Penn State University astronomer. Using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the astronomers observed the planets' parent stars -- called HD 240237, BD +48 738, and HD 96127 -- tens of light years away from our solar system.
Three planets -- each orbiting its own giant, dying star -- have been discovered by an international research team led by a Penn State University astronomer. Using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the astronomers observed the planets' parent stars -- called HD 240237, BD +48 738, and HD 96127 -- tens of light years away from our solar system.
Astronomy
Source: Penn State
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 27, 2011, 2:00pm
Rating: | Views: 1270 | Comments: 0
Source: Penn State
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 27, 2011, 2:00pm
Rating: | Views: 1270 | Comments: 0
Astronomers pin down galaxy collision rates by comparing Hubble images to supercomputer simulations
A new analysis of images from the Hubble Space Telescope combined with supercomputer simulations of galaxy collisions has cleared up years of confusion about the rate at which smaller galaxies merge to form bigger ones. This paper, led by Jennifer Lotz of Space Telescope Science Institute, is about to be published in the Astrophysical Journal. Galaxies grow mostly by acquiring small
A new analysis of images from the Hubble Space Telescope combined with supercomputer simulations of galaxy collisions has cleared up years of confusion about the rate at which smaller galaxies merge to form bigger ones. This paper, led by Jennifer Lotz of Space Telescope Science Institute, is about to be published in the Astrophysical Journal. Galaxies grow mostly by acquiring small
Astronomy
Source: University of California - Santa Cruz
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 27, 2011, 10:45am
Rating: | Views: 1504 | Comments: 0
Source: University of California - Santa Cruz
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 27, 2011, 10:45am
Rating: | Views: 1504 | Comments: 0
Faraway Eris is Pluto's twin
In November 2010, the distant dwarf planet Eris passed in front of a faint background star, an event called an occultation. These occurrences are very rare and difficult to observe as the dwarf planet is very distant and small. The next such event involving Eris will not happen until 2013. Occultations provide the most accurate, and often the only, way to measure the shape and size of a distant So
In November 2010, the distant dwarf planet Eris passed in front of a faint background star, an event called an occultation. These occurrences are very rare and difficult to observe as the dwarf planet is very distant and small. The next such event involving Eris will not happen until 2013. Occultations provide the most accurate, and often the only, way to measure the shape and size of a distant So
Astronomers discover complex organic matter in the universe
In today's issue of the journal Nature, astronomers report that organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the Universe. The results suggest that complex organic compounds are not the sole domain of life but can be made naturally by stars.
In today's issue of the journal Nature, astronomers report that organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the Universe. The results suggest that complex organic compounds are not the sole domain of life but can be made naturally by stars.
Astronomy
Source: The University of Hong Kong
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011, 4:00pm
Rating: | Views: 2632 | Comments: 0
Source: The University of Hong Kong
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011, 4:00pm
Rating: | Views: 2632 | Comments: 0
2,000-year-old stellar mystery solved
In 185 A.D., Chinese astronomers saw mysterious "guest star" that appeared in the sky, lingered eight months
In 185 A.D., Chinese astronomers saw mysterious "guest star" that appeared in the sky, lingered eight months
Astronomy
Source: CBSNews
Posted on: Tuesday, Oct 25, 2011, 9:12am
Rating: | Views: 1103 | Comments: 0
Source: CBSNews
Posted on: Tuesday, Oct 25, 2011, 9:12am
Rating: | Views: 1103 | Comments: 0
Comet Storm Brings Seeds of Life in Distant Solar System
A fusillade of comets 400 trillion miles away may be a replay of the early days of Earth
A fusillade of comets 400 trillion miles away may be a replay of the early days of Earth
Astronomy
Source: TIME Magazine
Posted on: Friday, Oct 21, 2011, 9:08am
Rating: | Views: 1065 | Comments: 0
Source: TIME Magazine
Posted on: Friday, Oct 21, 2011, 9:08am
Rating: | Views: 1065 | Comments: 0
Record-breaking photo reveals a planet-sized object as cool as the Earth
The photo of a nearby star and its orbiting companion -- with a temperature like a hot summer day in Arizona -- will be revealed by Penn State Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Kevin Luhman during a presentation at the Signposts of Planets conference at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on 20 October 2011. A paper describing the discovery will be published in the Astrophysical
The photo of a nearby star and its orbiting companion -- with a temperature like a hot summer day in Arizona -- will be revealed by Penn State Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Kevin Luhman during a presentation at the Signposts of Planets conference at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on 20 October 2011. A paper describing the discovery will be published in the Astrophysical
Astronomy
Source: Penn State
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, 4:15pm
Rating: | Views: 2917 | Comments: 0
Source: Penn State
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, 4:15pm
Rating: | Views: 2917 | Comments: 0
Spiral arms hint at the presence of planets
A new image of the disk of gas and dust around a sun-like star has spiral-arm-like structures. These features may provide clues to the presence of embedded but as-yet-unseen planets.
A new image of the disk of gas and dust around a sun-like star has spiral-arm-like structures. These features may provide clues to the presence of embedded but as-yet-unseen planets.
Astronomy
Source: National Science Foundation
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, 2:15pm
Rating: | Views: 1132 | Comments: 0
Source: National Science Foundation
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, 2:15pm
Rating: | Views: 1132 | Comments: 0
Blue stragglers
Mysterious "blue stragglers" are old stars that appear younger than they should be: they burn hot and blue. Several theories have attempted to explain why they don't show their age, but, until now, scientists have lacked the crucial observations with which to test each hypothesis.
Mysterious "blue stragglers" are old stars that appear younger than they should be: they burn hot and blue. Several theories have attempted to explain why they don't show their age, but, until now, scientists have lacked the crucial observations with which to test each hypothesis.
Astronomy
Source: Northwestern University
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, 12:45pm
Rating: | Views: 1144 | Comments: 0
Source: Northwestern University
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, 12:45pm
Rating: | Views: 1144 | Comments: 0
VISTA finds new globular star clusters and sees right through the heart of the Milky Way
The dazzling globular cluster called UKS 1 dominates the right-hand side of the first of the new infrared images from ESO's VISTA survey telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. But if you can drag your gaze away, there is a surprise lurking in this very rich star field — a fainter globular cluster that was discovered in the data from one of VISTA's surveys. You will have to look closely to
The dazzling globular cluster called UKS 1 dominates the right-hand side of the first of the new infrared images from ESO's VISTA survey telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. But if you can drag your gaze away, there is a surprise lurking in this very rich star field — a fainter globular cluster that was discovered in the data from one of VISTA's surveys. You will have to look closely to
Astronomy
Source: ESO
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011, 11:45am
Rating: | Views: 1142 | Comments: 0
Source: ESO
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011, 11:45am
Rating: | Views: 1142 | Comments: 0
Celestial Camouflage
Out of this world, or close to home? These "galaxies" may not be what they seem, so fire up your telescope and stir up your imagination.
Out of this world, or close to home? These "galaxies" may not be what they seem, so fire up your telescope and stir up your imagination.
Binoculars alert: Halley's Comet to put on meteor show
Cosmic "litter" left behind by Halley's Comet will look like fireballs in the sky
Cosmic "litter" left behind by Halley's Comet will look like fireballs in the sky
Astronomy
Source: CBSNews
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011, 8:24am
Rating: | Views: 1076 | Comments: 0
Source: CBSNews
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011, 8:24am
Rating: | Views: 1076 | Comments: 0
Dark matter mystery deepens
Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is home to a strange substance called dark matter. Dark matter is invisible, betraying its presence only through its gravitational pull. Without dark matter holding them together, our galaxy's speedy stars would fly off in all directions. The nature of dark matter is a mystery -- a mystery that a new study has only deepened.
Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is home to a strange substance called dark matter. Dark matter is invisible, betraying its presence only through its gravitational pull. Without dark matter holding them together, our galaxy's speedy stars would fly off in all directions. The nature of dark matter is a mystery -- a mystery that a new study has only deepened.
Astronomy
Source: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Posted on: Monday, Oct 17, 2011, 4:30pm
Rating: | Views: 1284 | Comments: 0
Source: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Posted on: Monday, Oct 17, 2011, 4:30pm
Rating: | Views: 1284 | Comments: 0
Pluto's rival is tinier but shinier than thought
Eris, the dwarf planet that got Pluto kicked out of the planet club, is actually no bigger than Pluto, new observations suggest – but it's blindingly bright
Eris, the dwarf planet that got Pluto kicked out of the planet club, is actually no bigger than Pluto, new observations suggest – but it's blindingly bright
Astronomy
Source: New Scientist
Posted on: Friday, Oct 14, 2011, 8:31am
Rating: | Views: 1115 | Comments: 0
Source: New Scientist
Posted on: Friday, Oct 14, 2011, 8:31am
Rating: | Views: 1115 | Comments: 0
Hubble survey carries out a dark matter census
Cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 (or MACS 1206 for short) is one of the first targets in a Hubble survey that will allow astronomers to construct the highly detailed dark matter maps of more galaxy clusters than ever before. These maps are being used to test previous but surprising results that suggest that dark matter is more densely packed inside clusters than some models predict. This might mean that
Cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 (or MACS 1206 for short) is one of the first targets in a Hubble survey that will allow astronomers to construct the highly detailed dark matter maps of more galaxy clusters than ever before. These maps are being used to test previous but surprising results that suggest that dark matter is more densely packed inside clusters than some models predict. This might mean that
Astronomy
Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 11:15am
Rating: | Views: 1198 | Comments: 0
Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 11:15am
Rating: | Views: 1198 | Comments: 0
Near-Earth Asteroid Discovered via Crowdsourcing
The ESA's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) program has scored it's first near-Earth hit: an asteroid called 2011 SF108.
The ESA's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) program has scored it's first near-Earth hit: an asteroid called 2011 SF108.
Astronomy
Source: Discovery Channel News
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 8:07am
Rating: | Views: 1143 | Comments: 0
Source: Discovery Channel News
Posted on: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 8:07am
Rating: | Views: 1143 | Comments: 0
Clearing the cosmic fog of the early universe: Massive stars may be responsible
The space between the galaxies wasn't always transparent. In the earliest times, it was an opaque, dense fog. How it cleared is an important question in astronomy. New observational evidence from the University of Michigan shows how high energy light from massive stars could have been responsible.
The space between the galaxies wasn't always transparent. In the earliest times, it was an opaque, dense fog. How it cleared is an important question in astronomy. New observational evidence from the University of Michigan shows how high energy light from massive stars could have been responsible.
Astronomy
Source: University of Michigan
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011, 1:15pm
Rating: | Views: 1156 | Comments: 0
Source: University of Michigan
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011, 1:15pm
Rating: | Views: 1156 | Comments: 0
Distant galaxies reveal the clearing of the cosmic fog
An international team of astronomers used the VLT as a time machine, to look back into the early Universe and observe several of the most distant galaxies ever detected. They have been able to measure their distances accurately and find that we are seeing them as they were between 780 million and a billion years after the Big Bang [1].
An international team of astronomers used the VLT as a time machine, to look back into the early Universe and observe several of the most distant galaxies ever detected. They have been able to measure their distances accurately and find that we are seeing them as they were between 780 million and a billion years after the Big Bang [1].
Astronomy
Source: ESO
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011, 12:15pm
Rating: | Views: 1121 | Comments: 0
Source: ESO
Posted on: Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011, 12:15pm
Rating: | Views: 1121 | Comments: 0
 |
 |
Friends