astronomy, Author at Hermanus Astronomy

New mass map of a distant galaxy cluster is the most precise yet

General Articles, Slider / By astronomy / 2 August, 2014 2 August, 2014

Created using observations from Hubble’s Frontier Fields observing program, the map shows the amount and distribution of mass within MCS J0416.1–2403. By Hubble ESA, Garching, Germany | Published: Thursday, July 24, 2014 Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have mapped the mass within a galaxy cluster more precisely than ever before. Created using observations …

New mass map of a distant galaxy cluster is the most precise yet Read More »

X-Ray Glow Evidence of Local Hot Bubble

Blog, Slider / By astronomy / 2 August, 2014 2 August, 2014

Scientists have confirmed that the soft X-ray glow permeating the sky has two sources: one inside the solar system, one outside. For over a decade, astronomers have debated the source of a soft X-ray glow that permeates the sky. Some thought the solar wind might be responsible, while others suspected an enormous bubble of hot …

X-Ray Glow Evidence of Local Hot Bubble Read More »

Mysterious X-ray signal from space

Blog / By astronomy / 8 July, 2014 8 July, 2014

A mysterious X-ray signal has been found in a detailed study of galaxy clusters using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton. One intriguing possibility is that the X-rays are produced by the decay of sterile neutrinos, a type of particle that has been proposed as a candidate for dark matter. While holding exciting potential, …

Mysterious X-ray signal from space Read More »

Ten Years at Saturn: Cassini’s 10 Greatest Pictures

General Articles / By astronomy / 8 July, 2014 8 July, 2014

On July 1, 2004 at 12:12 a.m. ET—10 years ago—the main engine on board the Cassini space probe cut off. When the burn was over, Cassini had achieved a milestone in human history: It became the first spacecraft to enter Saturn orbit. Click here to read Phil Plait’s article and view these spectacular images.

Why Do We Have a Two-Faced Moon?

General Articles / By astronomy / 8 July, 2014 8 July, 2014

Our Moon is weird. It’s pretty big compared with Earth, for one. It has a way lower density than Earth, but seems to have some similarities in chemical composition to our planet. It’s also two-faced: The near side looks a lot different than the far side, as you can see from the Lunar Reconnaissance …

Why Do We Have a Two-Faced Moon? Read More »

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31