AAVSO Alert Notice 453Dr. Noel Richardson, Georgia State University, has requested monitoring of the luminous blue variable (LBV) prototype S Doradus as part of a multiwavelength campaign he is coordinating to study the photosphere of this star. At present the observations planned include:
1. UV Spectroscopy from HST… Read the rest of this article
New images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft show the moon’s crust is being stretched, forming minute valleys in a few small areas on the lunar surface. Scientists propose this geologic activity occurred less than 50 million years ago, which is considered recent compared to the moon’s age of more than 4.5 billion years.
A team of researchers analyzing … Read the rest of this article
Note to sky watchers: Put on your winter coats. What you’re about to read might make you feel an uncontrollable urge to dash outside.
The brightest planets in the solar system are lining up in the evening sky, and you can see the formation – some of it at least – tonight.
Go out at sunset and look west. Venus … Read the rest of this article
ESA’s Planck mission has revealed that our Galaxy contains previously undiscovered islands of cold gas and a mysterious haze of microwaves. These results give scientists new treasure to mine and take them closer to revealing the blueprint of cosmic structure.
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This all-sky image shows the distribution of carbon monoxide (CO), a molecule used by astronomers to trace molecular clouds across …
Researchers announced the finding at a press conference on Jan. 31, 2012. It’s based on data from NASA’s IBEX spacecraft, which is able to sample material flowing into the solar system from interstellar space.… Read the rest of this article
Vega, ESA’s new launch vehicle, is ready to operate alongside the Ariane 5 and Soyuz launchers after a successful qualification flight this morning from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
On 13 February 2012, the first Vega lifted off on its maiden flight from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Credits: ESA – S. Corvaja, 2012
With Vega extending the family … Read the rest of this article
ESA’s Venus Express spacecraft has discovered that our cloud-covered neighbour spins a little slower than previously measured. Peering through the dense atmosphere in the infrared, the orbiter found surface features were not quite where they should be.
Venus Express in orbit since 2006 around our nearest planetary neighbour. Credits: ESA
Using the VIRTIS instrument at infrared wavelengths to penetrate the … Read the rest of this article
Join the European Space Agency for the first qualification flight of the Vega launch vehicle on Monday 13 February, with a launch window open from 11:00 to 13:00 CET (10:00 to 12:00 GMT). Vega will lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, to release nine satellites into orbit and add a new capability to Europe’s fleet of launch … Read the rest of this article
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recorded a scene on Jan. 29, 2012, that includes the first color image from orbit showing the three-petal lander of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Spirit mission. Spirit drove off that lander platform in January 2004 and spent most of its six-year working life in a range of … Read the rest of this article
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On 13 February, the European Space Agency will perform the first qualification flight of its brand new Vega launch vehicle.
The very first Vega will lift off … Read the rest of this article
The Sun Now (Visible light)
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The Sun Now (H-Alpha light)
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Aurora Oval
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Aurora Oval
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