astronomy

Dying supergiant stars implicated in hours-long gamma-ray bursts

Blog / By / 27 April, 2013

The blasts emit surges of gamma rays as well as X-rays, and they produce afterglows that are visible at optical and radio energies. By NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland — Published: April 17, 2013 Three unusually long-lasting stellar explosions discovered by NASA’s Swift satellite represent a previously unrecognized class of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). …

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Flying Over the Earth at Night

General Articles / By / 4 April, 2013

Video Credit: Gateway to Astronaut Photography, NASA ; Compilation: David Peterson (YouTube); Music: Freedom Fighters (Two Steps from Hell)   Explanation: Many wonders are visible when flying over the Earth at night. A compilation of such visual spectacles was captured recently from the International Space Station (ISS) and set to rousing music. Passing below are …

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Space Weather Swings Between Extreme Effects

Blog / By / 31 March, 2013

Roughly every 11 years, headlines announce the peak of a natural variation known as the solar cycle, pointing to a proliferation of sunspots, potentially dangerous solar flares and beautiful aurora. This period of increased activity is known as solar maximum, the latest of which is predicted to arrive in August. But scientists who study the …

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This green meteorite that landed in Morocco in 2012 could be from Mercury. CREDIT: Stefan Ralew/sr-meteorites.de

Green Meteorite May Be from Mercury – a First

General Articles, Slider / By / 31 March, 2013

Scientists may have discovered the first meteorite from Mercury. The green rock found in Morocco last year may be the first known visitor from the solar system’s innermost planet, according to meteorite scientist Anthony Irving, who unveiled the new findings this month at the 44th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas. …

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ALMA- Extreme Precision Astronomy in the Desert

General Articles, Slider / By / 31 March, 2013

The Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, or ALMA, is already producing amazing science results. To see the telescope up close at an altitude of 16,500 feet (5,000 meters) is even more incredible. This high-precision instrument on top of the world is truly one of the most impressive sights that I have ever seen.   So what’s …

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